Best Indian Restaurants in Sunderland

Sunderland has a long history of Indian restaurants, and the choice in 2026 runs from small street-food kitchens to a 250-seat dining room with its own lounge. This guide picks out five independent restaurants that are trading this year, all of which took part in Sunderland Restaurant Week in September 2026 or have current menus on their own websites. They are spread across the city centre, the area around Mowbray Park and the seafront at Seaburn, so there is something within reach whichever side of the river you live on.

Opening times below come from each restaurant's own website or listing. Hours change, particularly around Christmas, so it is worth checking before you set off.

My Delhi

My Delhi is in the Mowbray Park Centre on Borough Road and focuses on Indian street food rather than the classic curry-house menu. Expect small plates and snacks of the kind sold on the streets of Delhi, which makes it easy to order several dishes and share them around the table. The kitchen is halal and nut-free, and takeaway and delivery are also available. It is a few minutes' walk from the Park Lane interchange and the Empire, so it works for a meal before a show as well as a casual lunch or dinner.

Best for: Suits groups who like to share plates and anyone who wants something lighter than a full curry.

Babaji

Babaji on Mary Street is another street-food restaurant, and in 2026 it was named Street Food Restaurant of the Year at the Asian Restaurant and Takeaway Awards. It serves eat-in and takeaway, and Mary Street is just off the main shopping streets, so it is handy for a meal during a day in town.

Best for: Suits diners who want award-recognised street food close to the shops, to eat in or take away.

Mumbai Silk

Mumbai Silk opened in March 2018 in Temple Chambers on Douro Terrace, close to Mowbray Park. It describes itself as an Indian restaurant and cocktail bar, and the menu is halal. Alongside curries and tandoori dishes, the bar list gives it more of an evening-out feel than a traditional curry house.

The restaurant opens every day from 5pm to 11pm, and a set menu runs daily between 5pm and 7pm. That early window is useful for anyone eating before the theatre or a night out, and for families who prefer to eat earlier. Weekend tables fill up, so booking through the Mumbai Silk website is sensible.

Best for: Suits a halal meal with cocktails, or an early set-menu dinner before an evening out.

Saba Maison de Luxe

Saba Maison de Luxe on Low Row is the largest venue in this guide, with seating for more than 250 people across a restaurant, a lounge and private dining rooms in the building that was previously Victors. It calls itself a subcontinental Indian cuisine and lounge venue, and it was founded by Saba, who credits her father, Syed Khalid, as her inspiration.

The menu includes a wide range of vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free dishes, and there is a pre-theatre menu for people heading to a show. It opens from 5pm on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday and from 4.30pm Friday to Sunday. It is closed on Tuesdays, except in December. Its size makes it one of the more practical options in the city for birthday meals, family gatherings and work parties, and private dining can be arranged through the restaurant's website.

Best for: Suits large groups, celebrations and anyone who needs plenty of vegan or gluten-free choice.

Goa

Goa is on Queens Parade at Seaburn, a block back from the promenade and a short walk from Seaburn Metro station. The restaurant says it sources its spices from India and uses local seafood, which gives its menu a coastal slant compared with the city-centre options.

It opens from 5pm to 10pm on Monday and from Wednesday to Sunday, and is closed on Tuesdays. A happy hour runs from 5pm to 7pm. If you are spending the afternoon on the beach, Goa is an easy way to round off the day, and it saves residents of Seaburn, Fulwell and Roker a trip into town. Our Roker and Seaburn seafront guide has more ideas for the rest of the day.

Best for: Suits a seaside evening meal, or anyone living north of the river who wants a local curry.

Picking the right one

For shared plates and a quick, informal meal, the two street-food restaurants, My Delhi and Babaji, are the natural starting points. For a longer evening with drinks, Mumbai Silk and Saba Maison de Luxe both have bars, and Saba's size makes it the obvious choice for a big group. Goa is the pick if you are already at the coast.

Most of these restaurants also offer collection or delivery. If you are eating at home, our best takeaways in Sunderland guide covers more options. For a wider look at eating out across the city, see the best restaurants in Sunderland and our date night in Sunderland guide.

Know a place we have missed? Get in touch.