The 15 Best Indian Restaurants in Cardiff
Cardiff's Indian restaurant scene is one of the best-kept secrets in British dining. While the city does not have the headline-grabbing reputation of Birmingham or London, it has quietly assembled a collection of Indian restaurants that would hold their own in any city in the country. The concentration of quality along City Road — Cardiff's unofficial curry strip — is remarkable for a city of this size.
City Road, running from Roath towards the city centre, is where the story begins. This long, diverse road is home to a string of South Asian restaurants that reflect the city's Bangladeshi, Pakistani, and Indian communities. You will find everything here from traditional Bangladeshi curry houses serving generous portions of home-style cooking to refined Indian restaurants with carefully crafted menus and polished service. The side streets around Roath and Cathays add further depth, with smaller establishments that reward the adventurous diner.
Cardiff Bay and the city centre have seen their own wave of Indian restaurant openings in recent years. These tend towards the contemporary end of the spectrum — modern plating, regional Indian menus, and wine lists designed to complement South Asian flavours. Canton, with its already diverse food scene, has also welcomed some excellent Indian and Pakistani restaurants that draw from the area's multicultural energy.
Cardiff's Indian restaurants benefit from Wales's excellent local produce — Welsh lamb appears on many menus and brings a distinctly local character to classic dishes. Our guide ranks the best based on verified reviews, food quality, and the standards that local diners hold their favourites to.
The ranked list
Masala Hut (Malaysian & Indian Street Food)
Malaysian restaurant
Spice Village Indian Restaurant and Takeaway
Bangladeshi restaurant
How we chose these Restaurants
Our rankings are based on a combination of verified customer ratings, review volume, and editorial assessment. We prioritise businesses with consistently high ratings from a significant number of reviewers.
Every business on this list is a verified listing on The Desi Directory. We consider food quality, service, atmosphere, value for money, and authenticity when compiling our guides. Listings are updated regularly to reflect the latest ratings and reviews.
Businesses cannot pay for placement on this list. Our rankings are entirely merit-based and determined by genuine customer feedback.
Frequently asked questions
Related guides
The 15 Best Curry Houses in Birmingham
From the famous Balti Triangle to hidden gems in Sparkhill, here are Birmingham's 15 best curry houses in 2026. Rated by locals with prices, photos & directions.
Read guideThe 20 Best Indian Restaurants in London
The definitive guide to London's best Indian restaurants in 2026. From Brick Lane to Southall, Tooting to Wembley. Reviews, prices & booking info for all budgets.
Read guideThe 15 Best Curry Houses in Manchester
Discover Manchester's best curry houses in 2026, from the famous Curry Mile in Rusholme to hidden gems across the city. Reviews, prices & halal options.
Read guide