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).

Godavari is a South Indian franchise that opened its first Minnesota location in Eden Prairie’s mall. There’s chole bhature and biryani on the menu, but the real stars are the South Indian dishes: spongy idly served with chutneys, crispy Bengaluru butter dosas, vada (deep-fried lentil doughnuts) dunked in sambar. Save room for sweet halwa and rasmalai.

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 available. 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.

Namaste Café leans more to the Nepali border than the Indian one — this former Victorian home-turned cozy restaurant in Uptown is an excellent stop for curries, chaats, and cocktails. The whole menu here is organic: Start with light and crispy bhel puri or little flavor parcels of golgappa (a.k.a. pani puri, a.k.a puchka). The aloo bodi or Punjabi spinach paneer make for hearty vegetarian entrees. If you aren’t in any hurry, take a seat on Namaste’s patio, and enjoy a homemade chai.

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.

Spice & Tonic, a newcomer to the Indian cuisine scene, specializes in North Indian cuisine. Start with samosas or chicken pakora as an appetizer, order a sumptuous Peshawari naan (stuffed with a mash of sun-dried coconut, cashews, raisins, and cardamom) on the side, and finish with the matar paneer or chicken Makhani — or one of the restaurant’s seafood specialties, like fish vindaloo or shrimp curry.

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.

Indian Masala serves one of the metro’s most popular Indian buffets: Load up on chili paneer, hearty dal, chana masala, and aloo gobi, and entrees from Mughlai chicken to goat vindaloo. The restaurant also serves a number of South Indian specialities — from sambar vada to paneer, chicken, and mutton dosas — and serves and entirely vegan buffet on Wednesdays and Thursdays. The ice cream here is homemade.