Another week means it’s time to vote in another category of The Oregonian’s Readers Choice Awards: best Indian restaurant in the Portland area.
These restaurants have a lot of fans. All but one of the finalists had at least 20 nominations. In other categories, it’s only taken about 10 nominations to get on the voting ballot.
You can vote once a day at the bottom of this post or at this link until the poll closes at 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024. We’ll reveal the results Friday, Oct. 18 at oregonlive.com/readers-choice.
185th & Indian
Readers love the authentic flavors of this Beaverton restaurant, and several people say the biriyani is not to be missed. One person sang the praises of the Mysore bondas and said they were “better than the ones I have had in Bengaluru, India.”
743 S.W. 185th Ave., Beaverton, 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. and 5-9:30 p.m. Wednesday-Monday; 185thnindian.com
Bhuna
This Northwest Portland spot describes itself as Indian soul food. Our dining critic Michael Russel named it one of the best new restaurants in the area in 2019. He said, “Chef Deepak Kaul translates his high-end cooking experience at San Francisco restaurants into Portland’s first Kashmiri-focused restaurant.” One reader said, “Deepak’s food is a love letter to the cuisine he grew up eating and it shows every time his food warms your soul.”
704 N.W. 21st Ave., 12-9 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday, 12-8 p.m. Sunday; bhunarestaurant.com
Daawat a Ishq’s offerings include malai kofta, fried balls of potato and paneer.Mims Copeland | The Oregonian
Daawat a Ishq
Daawat a Ishq means “food is love,” and the restaurant aims to spread love through its north Indian offerings, including favorites like butter chicken and a wide selection of naan and paratha. One reader praised the “phenomenal food and amazing service,” and another was excited because “I don’t have to drive to Beaverton to get excellent Inidan food.”
5427 N.E. 42nd Ave., Portland, and 10820 N.E. Coxley Dr., Vancouver, 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. and 4-10 p.m. Wednesday-Monday, daawataishq.com
Desi Bites
If the number of nominations is anything to go by, Desi Bites is the best Indian food in the Portland area. With 120, it garnered more nominations than any restaurant in all of the Readers Choice Awards categories we’ve covered so far. One person said, “We love the food — taste is authentic Indian with distinct flavorful identities for north Indian vs. east Indian vs. south Indian dishes.” Many nominators praised the butter chicken.
16165 S.W. Regatta Lane, Suite 300, Beaverton, 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. and 4-9 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday; desibitesportland.com
DesiPDX
This food cart from chef/owner Deepak Saxena (who’s also behind Masala Lab) has a completely gluten-free menu with paleo and vegan options. Its website says, “DesiPDX is in ever evolving exploration in Indian Fusion fare incorporating traditional roots, many international influences, and Deepak’s own culinary whims.” One of our readers said, “The food is both traditional and modern, and the creative flavors never disappoint!”
4233 N. Mississippi Ave., 11:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Wednesday-Monday; 7151 N.E. Prescott St., 3-9 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday; desipdx.com
Dwaraka Indian Cuisine
Russell named Dwaraka one of 10 best inexpensive buffets a few years ago. He said the “flavors were subtle, with bright chutneys, basmati rice and butter chicken, plus a nice array of veggie curries that didn’t lean too hard into sugar or spice.” One reader said, “Been going for over 15 years and it’s never had a dip in quality. The meat is always tender, the sauces and curries are rich. Extremely affordable. Highly recommend the tikka masala, vindaloo, dal, naan and samosas.”
3962 S.E. Hawthorne Blvd., 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. and 5-9 p.m. daily; dwarakapdx.com
Maruti
This vegetarian restaurant with paleo, vegan and gluten-free options is a hit with meat eaters, too, according to the nominations we received. One reader said, “The food is incredible and the family that owns the restaurant are the nicest people. Everything on the menu is cooked expertly and with love.”
1925 S.E. Hawthorne Blvd., 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday (take out only), 11 a.m.-1:45 p.m. Wednesday-Friday and 5-8:45 p.m. Wednesday-Monday; maruti-restaurant.com
Masala Lab
This gluten-free brunch spot was picked by Russell as one of the area’s 25 best new restaurants in 2022. Its offerings include chaat hash, pakora waffles and saagshuka, a spinach-fused blend of Indian saag and North African shakshuka. One reader said they love the “classic brunch and diner style dishes, done with Indian flavor profiles that create a new and delicious experience every time.”
5237 N.E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday-Sunday; masalalabpdx.com
Swagat has one of our favorite Indian buffets.Michael Russell | The Oregonian
Swagat
Russell picked this restaurant with three locations as the No. 2 best Indian buffet when he last ranked them in 2019. He said, “Chicken makhani is tender and creamy. Palak paneer, aloo gobi and other vegetarian dishes are bright and fresh. Even the basmati rice is a cut above most of the competition.”One of our readers called the “most beautiful dinner on the planet,” and another proclaimed it the “best chicken tikka masala in Portland!”
2074 N.W. Lovejoy St., 4325 S.W. 109th Ave., Beaverton and 1340 N.E. Orenco Station Pkwy., Hillsboro, 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. and 5-9 p.m. daily; swagat.com
Vanakkam PDX
Just opened in April, this restaurant already has a lot of vocal fans. According to their website, the menu draws inspiration from India’s many regional cuisines, but it was the southern Indian fare our readers kept mentioning when they nominated Vanakkam. In addition to the food, readers praised the service and the price.
14740 Cornell Rd. #160, 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-midnight Friday-Saturday; vanakkampdx.com
Vote here
You can vote once a day until the poll closes at 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024. We’ll reveal the results Friday, Oct. 18 at oregonlive.com/readers-choice.
Mims Copeland is a social media producer and covers trending topics for The Oregonian/OregonLive. Reach her at [email protected]
Subscribe to The Best Thing I Ate This Week newsletter
Each week, restaurant critic Michael Russell takes Oregonian/OregonLive subscribers along on his culinary explorations. Not a subscriber? You can receive a few weeks of The Best Thing I Ate This Week newsletter as a free trial. Sign up here.
