A repurposed Long John Silver’s is home to one of the most reliably tasty South Indian spots in the greater metro area. Dosa South Indian Grill’s namesake dosa has a remarkably crispy exterior and a filling that’s the definition of savory elegance. Other dishes are pulled off with equal skill. The papdi chat, a happy symphony of textures and flavors, is a noteworthy standout. The bread selection has some enjoyable and hard-to-find choices, too, such as beignet-like bhatura and deep-fried poori.

The cuisine of Sri Lanka — the island country off the southeast tip of India — has a tropical bend, weaving coconut, fish, and fruits into its dishes. House of Curry’s pol roti, for example, has savory shredded coconut mixed into the dough. It’s a perfect complement to the fish coconut curry, which balances its creamy base with the fresh, acidic presence of tomato and lime, its flavors nodding to the Thai curries across the Bay of Bengal. Save room for watalappan, a tantalizing coconut custard served in sweet jaggery syrup.

With two suburban locations (in Eden Prairie and Eagan), Bay Leaf takes the “suburban Indian food is on fire” thesis to a new level. Its menu is sprawling (everything from North Indian tiffins and curries to South Indian dosas and parathas) and covers just about every conceivable base.  Lean on the breadth and depth of offerings to feed a diverse crowd, including vegetarians, vegans, and gluten-free eaters. The restaurant’s multiple locations and vastness of menu make it a reliable stop in the west or south metro.

Thaliwala, a sister restaurant to Minneapolis’s MomoDosa and Gorkha Palace, has a fast-casual feel. “Thali,” of course, means “plate” — these meals are served on round silver trays, with small portions of daal, peppery mustard greens, curried vegetables, and zippy cucumber salad complementing the rich main dish (paneer or chicken tikka masala, sautéed okra, pork, or lamb vindaloo). They’re the ultimate balanced meal, as nourishing as they are tasty. A sweet bite of cardamon-laced kheer brings them full circle.

Specializing in the Marathi cuisine of central-western India (including Mumbai), the contemporary, casual dining room of Muddy Tiger drills down into the snacky worlds of chaat and street food, serving up dishes with considerable textural complexity and brightness of flavor. The menu is focused, with a small section of chaat and street food augmented by a handful of rice bowls and wraps. The restaurant’s kheema pav (spiced ground lamb served on dinner rolls, loose meat sandwich-style) is remarkably rich and satisfying. A recent special vegetarian thali meal featured a wide variety of flavors and textures, including pillowy puri tailor-made for stuffing.

This sprawling suburban restaurant’s extensive (and budget-friendly) lunch buffet serves ample amounts of reliable favorites. The restaurant’s tandoor chicken is a standout among its strong roster (which includes butter chicken, saag paneer, chicken biryani, pakora, and so forth) — each leg boasts a serious amount of char and spice-driven flavor. Its dinner menu offers some intriguing dishes including deep-fried chickpea-flour-coated fish, honey chicken, pesto and mint-laden naans, goat dishes, South Indian pongal (a traditional rice dish), dosas, biryanis, and more.

Curry Corner’s comfortable, near-downtown Minneapolis dining room is thoroughly modern and sleek, and its menu is a happy cross-over between depth of flavor and current trends. It offers a thoughtful cocktail menu (the Blurry Curry, with its blend of coconut rum, cream of coconut, curry spices, and simple syrup is a revelation). The spicy ferocity of its beef josh is enchantingly good. For fruit and nut-laden Peshwari naan, Curry Corner does some of the best in town.

Spice and Tonic specializes in North Indian cuisine. Start with crispy veggie pakora as an appetizer, and pair sumptuous Peshwari naan (stuffed with a mash of sun-dried coconut, cashews, raisins, and cardamom) with murgh makhani — a.k.a. butter chicken, a rich tomato gravy dish that originated in the Indian capital city of New Delhi. Even better, Spice and Tonic has a full cocktail menu and a patio.