Happy Diwali! Each fall, the Indian festival of lights celebrates the triumph of light over darkness, good over evil. It’s the biggest holiday of the year in India! I can’t think of a better time to show our local Indian restaurants some love.
Don’t know what to order? Here is a great guide to help you navigate the menus. As Paradise Indian Grill points out on their blog, India is a large and diverse country; its cuisine is equally large and diverse! There is so much more than just chicken tikka masala and naan. Picking a buffet is a great way to sample a variety of dishes, or don’t be afraid to ask your server for recommendations.
(Want to teach your kids more about India? We love the book “P is for Poppadams”! )
**Buffets may not be available during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Melting Bite
Address: 1100 3rd Street SE Suite 3 & 4, Cedar Rapids
Website: meltingbite.com
Melting Bite is an Indian street food restaurant located inside NewBo City Market. Menu options range from basic, approachable curries, to classic chaat (a savory snack), to fusion items like Indian street tacos and the “currito”. Visit their website for menu item descriptions!
New York Gyro
Address: 808 7th Ave, Marion
Website: https://www.facebook.com/NewYorkGyroMarion
The best thing to come out of 2020, this new Marion restaurant is a family favorite! While gyro is not Indian (but so delicious!), they do have several Indian-inspired items on the menu. For a main, the lamb biryani is seasoned rice with lamb meat and vegetables. For dessert, gulab jamun is like a donut hole in a sweet saffron syrup. Check out their menu!
Paradise Indian Grill
Address: 5200 Fountains Dr NE Suite 100, Cedar Rapids
Website: https://www.paradiseofcr.com/
Paradise is an Indian restaurant and bar with both traditional and fusion recipes, primarily in the South Indian style of cooking and dishes. They offer five levels of spice to accommodate every palate. Choose between the small lunch buffet, dine-in, carry out, or even customized catering!
Persis Biryani Indian Grill
Address: 4862 1st Ave NE, Cedar Rapids
Website: https://persiscedarrapids.com/
Looking for a fancy new option for date night? Persis offers both fine dining and takeout! Their extensive menu offers a variety of both vegetarian and non-veg appetizers and entrees, breads, biryani, drinks, and desserts. They even have a kids menu! In my experience, their food tends to be on the spicier side, so don’t be embarrassed to ask for mild. They frequently run specials, so be sure to visit their Facebook page before ordering.
Taj Mahal Cuisine of India
Address: 3939 Center Point Rd NE, Cedar Rapids
Website: http://www.tajiowa.com
Taj Mahal has been serving the Cedar Rapids area for over 10 years. Their extensive menu has almost 150 items to choose from! They offer a buffet for both lunch and dinner, dine-in, carry-out, and catering. They also have a grocery section open seven days a week.
Taste of India
Address: 1060 Old Marion Rd NE, Cedar Rapids
Website: https://www.toicr.com/
Last but not least, Taste of India has a wide range of classic menu items. They offer a lunch buffet, dine-in, and carry-out. They work hard to separate the preparation of their vegetarian and non-veg dishes, and can also prepare dishes that are vegan, gluten-free, or according to the Jain Tradition. Recently they supported the community by providing free meals during the power outage following the derecho!
Taste of India Grocery
Address: 1060 Old Marion Rd NE, Cedar Rapids
Website: https://www.facebook.com/TOIGrocery/
Right next door to the restaurant, the Taste of India Grocery carries everything you need to bring the taste of India to your own kitchen, no matter your cooking ability. Frozen ready-to-eat curry? Pre-mixed spice blends and pastes? Bulk spices and dried lentils? They’ve got you covered! They also have a well-stocked produce section, a large selection of rices, and a variety of Indian snacks. In addition to Indian staples, I’ve also found treasures like whole milk yogurt for my toddler and whole nutmeg at a steal of a price.
Where do you go for the best Indian food in Cedar Rapids? Let us know in the comments or on our Facebook page!
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