Kumar’s, just off Highway 23 in Apple Valley, specializes in Tamil cuisine. Vegan and vegetarian options are plentiful. On the weekends, opt for the banana leaf meals, which include an array of foods and accompaniments in small, round dishes — from dal to Chennai chili chicken to yogurt and dessert — arranged on a broad green banana leaf, served with chapati and crunchy appalam (a.k.a. papadam).

Come to Kabob’s for the lunch thali, a sumptuous sampling of dishes, served daily from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. (think onion and chicken pakora, Andrha chicken curry, cabbage kootu, and more). Both vegetarian and non-vegetarian options are served. Beyond the Thali, Kabob’s has an extensive menu spanning everything from tandoor to rich curries to South Indian specialties, like masala dosas. Carrot and wheat halwas, basundi, and syrupy gulab jamun are on the dessert menu.

India Palace is a three-decade institution of Indian cuisine in the Twin Cities. In addition to the Uptown location, it has suburban outposts in Woodbury, Burnsville, and Roseville. The menu is built on family recipes passed between generations, and leans toward North Indian dishes like shahi chicken korma, lamb makhani, and rogan dosh, a Kashmiri dish of pan-roasted lamb in yogurt sauce. Indian Palace also serves an excellent lunch buffet. For dessert, try the kheer or homemade mango ice cream.

Hot Indian recently closed its Midtown Global Market, but it still operates a stand at Target Field (not to mention the State Fair). This spot is a go-to for rice bowls and Indian street food, from samosas to kati rolls (the paneer tikka is an excellent, filling option for vegetarians). Don’t miss the Indi Fries, a mix of russet and sweet potatoes breaded with rice and chickpea flour, served with a pickled aioli sauce.

Gorkha Palace, named for an ancient palace perched on a mountaintop in Nepal, is an organic restaurant that serves meals made with locally sourced ingredients and humanely raised meats. Must-tries include appetizers like the veggie pakora — crispy cabbage, onion, and jalapenos fritters are dipped in chickpea batter and fried — and the savory momos, perhaps the restaurant’s standout dish. Gorkha Palace grinds its own spices and makes its own ghee in-house.

Himalayan Restaurant on Lake Street delves into India, Nepalese, and Tibetan cuisine, and does it all exceptionally well. The creamy chicken tikka masala is excellent here, as are the kothe — steamed momos that are pan-fried and served with a savory tomato-cilantro chutney. On the side, savor the dense, flakey layers of a fresh-made aloo paratha, or extra buttery naan, and save room for desserts like kheer and mango pudding.

Namaste India serves a vast menu of Indian dishes (think everything from spicy mango lamb curry to richly aromatic beef biryani), but specializes in street food. The golgappa (also known as pani puri, puchka, and other names, in various regions of India) are crunchy semolina shells filled with a densely flavorful mix of chickpeas, potatoes, and spiced water. The spicy chole bhature, served with deep-fried bread, is another great bet.

A Grand Avenue staple in St. Paul, India House serves an extensive menu of North Indian dishes. Try the beef shahi korma, served in a creamy sauce and garnished with cashews, and raisins, or the baingan bharta — charcoal-baked eggplant served with fresh tomatoes, onions, and peas. India House also serves tender scallop saag, scallop masala, and scallop Kashmiri, in a unique take on some classic preparations.