7 editor picks in Asheville.
7 indian places in Asheville we have eaten in, sorted by editor score. All cuisines in Asheville | Indian across every city.
Asheville's Indian scene is shaped largely by one influential family of restaurants built on regional Indian street food. Chai Pani on Banks Avenue in the South Slope is the flagship, a James Beard recognized kitchen, and its sibling Botiwalla brings Bombay grill flavors to Battery Park Avenue downtown. Mela on North Lexington Avenue covers the classic curry-house side downtown.
Meherwan Irani's Chai Pani opened in 2009 and won the 2022 James Beard Outstanding Restaurant award. Moved May 2024 to 32 Banks Ave on the South Slope.
OrderThe Sloppy Jai (Indian sloppy joe with a Punjabi spice mix), plus a plate of kale pakoras.
TipWalk-in lunches Mon-Fri are fastest; weekend dinners get a 60-90 minute wait without a reservation.
Mela Indian on North Lexington Avenue in Asheville has been the downtown dependable for regional Indian cooking since 2007. Lunch buffet weekdays, full menu.
OrderThe lamb vindaloo with garlic naan; the lunch buffet weekdays is one of Asheville's best deals.
TipBook on the operator site. The dining room is large; walk-ins generally get seated within 15 minutes.
Meherwan Irani's Chai Pani won the 2022 James Beard Outstanding Restaurant award. Moved May 2024 to 32 Banks Ave (South Slope). Indian street snacks, thalis.
OrderThe Sloppy Jai (Indian sloppy joe with Punjabi spice) and a plate of kale pakoras.
TipWalk-in lunches Mon-Fri are fastest; weekend dinners run 60-90 minutes without a reservation.
Botiwalla by Chai Pani on Battery Park Avenue is Meherwan Irani's tribute to the late-night sigri (grill) cart culture of India. Counter-service kababs.
OrderThe chicken tikka kabab roll with mint chutney, plus the Bombay grilled cheese.
TipOrder at the counter, take a seat. The 697 Haywood Road sister room is the West Asheville extension.
Botiwalla's second Asheville location on Haywood Road in West Asheville opened in 2022, grilling chicken tikka rolls, lamb seekh kababs and cheese kulcha.
OrderThe chicken tikka kabab roll, the cheese kulcha, and a Bombay grilled cheese.
TipCounter service. Patio takes walk-ins, easier than the Battery Park location for weekend evenings.
Mela Indian on North Lexington Avenue in Asheville has been the downtown dependable for regional Indian cooking since 2007. Lunch buffet weekdays, full menu.
OrderThe lamb vindaloo with garlic naan; the lunch buffet on weekdays is one of Asheville's best deals.
TipBook on the operator site for dinner. The lunch buffet runs 11:30-14:30 Mon-Sat.
Meherwan Irani's Chai Pani lays out a snack menu starting under $7 from its 32 Banks Ave South Slope home (moved 2024), three snacks landing under $20.
OrderIndian street snacks, chaat
TipLunchtime walk-in moves fastest. Order three small snacks for under $20; skip the thalis if you're keeping it cheap.
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