Lime & Lemon has a few locations in the Triangle, all serving a menu that spans the breadth of India’s various cuisines. Mainstays like channa masala, saag paneer, and lamb vindaloo can be found alongside less common dishes like navratan korma (a mild curry full of nuts, vegetables, and dried fruit) and the signature mango-lime chicken. All three locations are located close to universities, making it a great go-to option for hungry students and locals.

One of the newer additions to the Durham Food Hall, Mango Indian Grill is an establishment from the folks behind CholaNad in Chapel Hill. The name pays homage to the national fruit of India, and one of the standout dishes on the menu is the mango curry, a mild dish with mango, tomato, onion, and choice of protein. The other offerings lean heavy on Indian street food classics like chilli chicken, samosas, tandoor-roasted chicken wings, and a Chennai omelet filled with green chilies.

Viceroy is a little bit London and a little bit Mumbai, with a dark, moody interior reminiscent of a British pub and a menu serving what they call “modern Indian cuisine”. There are momo bhel (vegetable dumplings with crispy noodles and a housemade Szechuan sauce), peri peri boti (grilled beef kabobs in a Goan-inspired marinade), and aangara tikka (smoked and spiced chicken kabobs). For the true British-Indian experience go for the London mixed grill, a combination of hariyali chicken, lamb, masala shrimp, and the English classic — chicken tikka. The specialty cocktails are some of the most unique in town, and there is an extensive beer list and wine offerings as well.

Cholanad is Chapel Hill’s longtime Franklin Street go-to for South Indian cuisine. The menu has Tamil specialties like urulai kizhangu podimas (a mashed potato-based dish), mutton chukka varuval, and fish tawa fry. There are also dosas, curries, and a variety of starters like egg porival, tandoori wings, and chicken 65. The cocktails skew tropical, like the Cholanad Delight with Southern Comfort, mango puree, and a sweet and sour mix.

Tucked away in a quaint plaza on the Chapel Hill/Carrboro border, Vimala’s (as it’s known locally) is as much a social enterprise as it is a restaurant, and Vimala herself is something of an institution in town. The emphasis here is Indian specialities cooked using almost exclusively local ingredients, and no one is ever turned away for lack of funds. Many menu items draw from Vimala’s home state of Kerala, like dosas, a coconut and fennel beef curry, and a salmon curry Kerala-style.

Azitra serves lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch at its Brier Creek spot, and the menu is unlike almost any other Indian restaurant in the Triangle. Sure there’s naans, dals, and biryanis, but Azitra also has specialties like peppercorn mango lamb, pahadi murgh jhinga khurmani (tandoori chicken and shrimp in an apricot cream sauce), and amritsari salmon tikka in a North Indian-style marinade. For brunch try Azitra’s take on chicken and waffles — pan-friend chicken served over cherry and coconut stuffed naan with hot honey. The ambience leans white tablecloth, making it great for a celebratory dinner or date night.

On bustling Glenwood Avenue, Bazil serves lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch in sleek, spacious digs. Menu highlights include gingery, herby lamb do pyaza, chicken lajawab, and a whole biryani section. Seafood lovers should take note of a larger-than-usual seafood selection with options like lobster and crab malai tadka, shai sea bass (in a creamy sauce with cherries), and seafood malabar. Lunch includes a build-your-own curry menu, and brunch is a three-course, $29 prix fixe deal.

India’s next-door neighbor China has had a long and profound impact on the country’s culinary heritage, and Raleigh’s Kadhai celebrates that influence. There are more “traditional” menu items like lamb vindaloo, chicken korma, and aloo tiki, but also an Indo-Chinese menu with chicken Manchurian, fried rice, and chili paneer. Other unique menu items include lamb Patiala, done in the style of the royal courts of Patiala state with an aromatic masala mix of ground onion, ginger, garlic, and spices, and goat dhansak, a style of curry heavy on lentils that originated with the Parsi Zoroastrian peoples.

Urban Angeethi is named after the style of grill found across India, and in keeping with its namesake, the restaurant has an extensive selection of grilled dishes like jhinga dil tikka (sesame coated prawns), Kashmiri-style chicken kebabs, and a whole salmon in a yogurt marinade. There are also plenty of familiar curries like vindaloo, rogan josh, and tikka masala, as well as a fairly large selection of vegetarian entrees. Try the paneer pasanda — cubes of paneer cheese in a creamy cashew and almond paste sauce.

Cary’s Mirchi’s Indian Bar & Kitchen is another entry in the Triangle’s list of Indian restaurants that have moved towards the fine-dining, craft-cocktail style of service. The menu features a wide variety of appetizers, tandoor specialties, Indo-Chinese offerings, biryanis, and more, all designed to be piled upon the table and shared with friends and family. The mirapakaya chicken is a dish not found on many other menus — a spicy, almost dry-fried entree common to the coastal Indian state of Andhra.

Inchin’s is a small chain with just over two dozen locations in the United States and Canada, with its Morrisville location being one of two in North Carolina (the other is in Charlotte). Whereas some other area Indian restaurants have an Indo-Chinese section, Inchin’s entire menu is Indo-Chinese. There are Nepalese momos, chicken manchow soup, Chinese-style bhel, kung pao paneer, sambal lamb, and more. A kid’s menu will keep the little ones happy while the adults dig into a mouth-numbing plate of triple Szechuan noodles.

Biryani fans rejoice — an entire restaurant dedicated to the famous rice dish. The chef’s special is a choice of protein atop a steaming bowl of spiced rice, a bit like an Indian version of a Chipotle bowl. In addition, there are specific biryanis like egg biryani, Hyderabadi chicken dum biryani, and Lucknowi goat biryani. There is also a selection of non-biryani entrees like malai kofta, butter chicken, and lamb kebab, along with appetizers, breads, and desserts (a must-order is the double ka meetha, a bread pudding commonly found in Hyderabad).

The Chhote’s stall in downtown Raleigh’s Transfer Co. Food Hall churns out Indian street food classics like samsoas, bhaji, momos, and kathi rolls. There are also a few staple entrees like chana masala, pork vindaloo, or a classic curry with a choice of chicken or lamb. The masala chai is available hot or cold, and the mango lassi is a must. Fun fact — Chhote’s was founded by Mumbai native Anson Fernandes, who also founded Biryani Maxx.