Indian and South Asian Restaurants in Kitchener-Waterloo

*A guide to South Indian, North Indian, vegetarian, casual and contemporary South Asian dining across Kitchener and Waterloo.*

Last reviewed: July 15, 2026 | KW Foodies Editorial Team

"Indian food" covers many different cuisines. In Kitchener-Waterloo you'll find South Indian dosas, Hyderabadi biryani, North Indian curries, fully vegetarian menus and Indo-Chinese dishes. This guide separates them so you can pick the style you're after. For other cuisines, see the Kitchener-Waterloo Cuisine Guide.

Hours, menus and ownership change often at small independent restaurants, so check the restaurant's own page or call ahead before you go. If you have an allergy or follow halal, vegan or gluten-free rules, ask the staff directly; a menu label doesn't tell you how the kitchen handles cross-contact.

On this page

• Quick picks
• South Indian and vegetarian dining
• North Indian and broad regional menus
• Contemporary and casual South Asian restaurants
• Start with the region, not the heat
• Explore other Kitchener-Waterloo cuisine guides
• How places are chosen
• Frequently asked questions

Quick picks

• South Indian and Hyderabadi: Shiri's Kitchen, Waterloo
• Vegetarian group meal: HomeTaste, Kitchener and Waterloo
• Uptown sit-down dinner: Empress of India, Uptown Waterloo
• Special occasion: The Grand Mehfil, Kitchener
• Night out: Masti's Resto-Bar, Uptown Waterloo
• Indian and Hakka variety: Oh Bombay

South Indian and vegetarian dining

These restaurants are good for dosa, rice dishes and lentils, and for groups where vegetarian dishes are the main event.

Shiri's Kitchen

169 Lexington Court, Waterloo | Best for: South Indian and Hyderabadi cooking

A family-owned kitchen focused on Hyderabadi and South Indian food, with vegetarian and meat dishes. Go here if you want to move past the usual curry-and-naan order.

HomeTaste

130 Columbia Street West, Waterloo | Best for: fully vegetarian Indian food

HomeTaste is 100 percent vegetarian, which makes it easy for vegetarian groups. Vegans should still ask about dairy and ghee. Its format also suits a quick, casual meal where the table shares several dishes.

Back to quick picks

North Indian and broad regional menus

These menus lean on breads, tandoor dishes, curries and rice.

Empress of India

34 King Street South, Waterloo | Best for: a sit-down Indian meal in Uptown

A long-running Uptown restaurant with a broad menu. Handy before an Uptown event or for a group dinner near the ION line.

The Grand Mehfil

1400 Weber Street East, Kitchener | Best for: North Indian dining and celebrations

North Indian food in a more elaborate dining room. Choose it when the setting matters as much as the food.

Oh Bombay

29 King Street East, Kitchener | Best for: Indian and Hakka dishes, takeout

A broad Indian menu with a separate set of Hakka (Indo-Chinese) dishes. Good when a group wants variety.

Back to quick picks

Contemporary and casual South Asian restaurants

Modern places that pair Indian food with cocktails and a later night out.

Masti's Resto-Bar

128 King Street North, Waterloo | Best for: modern Indian food and an evening out

A contemporary Uptown resto-bar with Hyderabadi, Andhra and North Indian dishes. Good when dinner is going to turn into a night out.

Back to quick picks

Start with the region, not the heat

Choose by cooking style first: South Indian dosa, Hyderabadi biryani, North Indian breads and curries, a vegetarian menu or Hakka dishes. Ask directly about halal meat, nuts, dairy and gluten.

Explore other Kitchener-Waterloo cuisine guides

• Kitchener-Waterloo Cuisine Guide
• Italian and Mediterranean Restaurants in Kitchener-Waterloo
• Chinese Restaurants in Kitchener-Waterloo
• Japanese and Sushi Restaurants in Kitchener-Waterloo
• Korean Restaurants in Kitchener-Waterloo
• Vietnamese, Thai and Southeast Asian Restaurants in KW
• Middle Eastern and Shawarma Restaurants in KW
• Mexican and Latin American Restaurants in KW
• Caribbean Restaurants in Kitchener-Waterloo
• Ethiopian and East African Restaurants in KW
• German and Central European Restaurants in KW

How places are chosen

This is an editorial list. Restaurants cannot buy inclusion or a higher position; paid content is labelled separately.

Frequently asked questions

Which Indian restaurants are fully vegetarian?

HomeTaste is fully vegetarian. Vegans should ask about dairy and ghee.

Does mild Indian food have less flavour?

No. Heat is only one part of a dish. Ask staff which dishes are gentle but still well spiced.