Edinburgh’s best curries

If you are looking for a punchy curry at an extremely affordable price, Tuk Tuk is a must. The restaurant is big on sharing – with tapas-size dishes (‘road-side plates’, most priced between £5-£6) and large curries designed to be split between two – making it a perfect destination to catch up with friends. The vegetarian curry options are really special, the butter paneer being a firm favourite among guests. So too are the meat curries – the chef’s favourite ‘lamb lasooni’ is jam-packed with flavour and delicate textures. As if you needed any more convincing, there is a BYOB service, priced at just £1.50 per person to cover recycling.

Perhaps Edinburgh’s most famous Indian restaurant, Mother India’s Café is a bit of an institution. The menu changes seasonally, and is centred around small dishes, meaning you can sample several curries and bites all in one sitting. Lots of the dishes are comfortingly familiar – like the soothing butter chicken – but many pack more of a punch, like the emerald green king prawn saag or the haddock with puy lentils and lemon. Available for take-away too, Mother India is the perfect destination for a refined curry at a reasonable price.

Specialising in vegetarian cooking, Kalpna is a tour de force of all that Gujarati cuisine has to offer. Absolutely everything on the menu is meat-free: but fear not, you won’t feel like you’re missing out. The thali here is something to behold, made up of five different curries and sat alongside dips, pakoras and poppadoms, you’ll leave Kalpna feeling thoroughly satisfied.

There exists several Dishoom restaurants up and down the UK, but please don’t be put off by its ‘chain’ status. The staff are attentive and welcoming, and the interior feels sophisticated yet relaxed. Inspired by Bombay’s old Irani cafés, the menu at Dishoom is expansive. If you’re seeking a curry, the ‘Chicken Ruby’ will stand you in good stead: laced in a rich and silky ‘makhani’ sauce, it certainly isn’t lacking in flavour. Alternatively opt for something a little more off piece, like the ‘Chloe Puri’, a dish of puffed puris (Indian fried bread) served with a bowl of chickpea curry and sweet halwa.

Navadhanya is the place to go if you’re looking to eat Indian food in a slightly more formal way. The atmosphere is smart and the décor modern and sophisticated – a sure reflection of the restaurant’s exquisite food. Old favourites make an appearance, but each laced with a modern twist – think prawn jalfrezi spiced with fenugreek, or morel mushroom kofta with morel dumpling and cream. If you’re here to celebrate, why not order the seven-course tasting menu for a touch of theatricality and glamour. Expect to spend more than you would at a more ‘traditional’ curry house – Navadhanya is all about premium food and service.