Johor Bahru's Indian food scene is one of the most underrated aspects of the city's culinary identity. Across the old town, Jalan Wong Ah Fook, Taman Pelangi, and the various suburban neighbourhoods that fan out from the city centre, you will find Tamil Muslim mamak stalls, North Indian curry houses, banana leaf rice specialists, and dedicated briyani kitchens that have been perfecting their craft across multiple generations. The city's proximity to Singapore means it attracts a steady stream of cross-border diners who come specifically for the food, and the competition between restaurants keeps the quality high and the prices very competitive by regional standards. Here are 10 of the best Indian restaurants in JB to add to your itinerary.

Anjappar is a well-established name in South Indian cuisine with a strong following among diners who prioritise authenticity over ambience, and the Johor Bahru outlet maintains the same high standards that have made the brand a benchmark for Chettinad cooking in Malaysia. The menu leans heavily into the spiced, aromatic tradition of Tamil Nadu's Chettinad region, where liberal use of freshly ground pepper, kalpasi (stone flower), and star anise produces curries with a depth that is noticeably different from the more common Punjabi style. The pepper mutton fry and Chettinad chicken curry are the standout dishes, and the restaurant's thali set gives you an efficient tour of the full flavour profile in a single meal. Expect to pay around RM 20 to RM 45 per person for a full meal.

The Spice Kitchen has built a loyal following in JB for its ability to execute both North and South Indian dishes at a consistently high level, which is rarer than it sounds given how different the two culinary traditions actually are. The butter chicken here is rich without being sweet, the dals are properly reduced and seasoned rather than thin and afterthought-ish, and the tandoor section of the menu produces breads and kebabs with a genuine char from properly high-heat cooking. The restaurant is spotlessly clean, the service is prompt, and the portions are honest, which together explain the consistent full house on weekend evenings. Booking ahead for Friday and Saturday dinner is recommended.

Banana leaf rice is a ritual as much as a meal, and Karu's Indian Banana Leaf does it with the kind of care that justifies the regular queues at lunchtime. The leaf arrives piled with white rice, and servers move around the table with dishes of rasam, sambar, three or four vegetable sides, papadum, and a main protein of your choice, topping up the leaf until you signal you are done. The mutton varuval and the fried fish here are both worth ordering, and the fresh lime juice is the obvious accompaniment in JB's midday heat. Banana leaf is traditionally eaten with the right hand, and the relaxed atmosphere at Karu's makes it comfortable to do so even for first-timers.

Briyani in Johor Bahru reaches a genuinely high level at The Kittengi, where the rice is cooked to the proper dum method, layered with marinated meat in a sealed pot and allowed to steam together until the two components become inseparable in flavour and fragrance. The mutton briyani is the signature and the most popular order, with the meat tender enough to fall off the bone and the rice infused with saffron, ghee, and whole spices in a way that makes it deeply satisfying without heaviness. The chicken and fish briyani are equally well-executed, and the accompanying raita and curry gravy are made fresh rather than served from a bucket. Portions are large, and most diners find a single serving more than sufficient.

Chakra occupies a restored colonial-era bungalow in a setting that is genuinely distinctive compared to the typical shopfront Indian restaurant, and the elevated atmosphere is matched by a menu that takes some creative risks alongside the reliable classics. The restaurant has been praised for its mouthwatering and precisely seasoned food, with particular attention given to the balance of heat, sourness, and sweetness that defines good Indian cooking at this level. The chicken tikka masala is reliably excellent, and the paneer dishes are popular enough with vegetarians that they have clearly been treated as first-class menu items rather than afterthoughts. The colonial bungalow setting makes Chakra a natural choice for a more relaxed dinner rather than a rushed lunch.

Shami Banana Leaf Delights is one of JB's more accessible banana leaf rice spots, with a no-frills setup that focuses entirely on the quality of the food rather than the decor. The rice is freshly cooked, the curries change slightly from day to day depending on what the kitchen has prepared, and the sides include a reliable selection of vegetable dishes that make this a genuinely satisfying option for vegetarians and meat-eaters alike. The fish curry is a consistent highlight, cooked in a tamarind-based gravy with a pleasing tartness that cuts through the richness of the accompanying dishes. Prices are very reasonable, making it a favourite for office crowds and regulars who eat here multiple times a week.

V Spice Cafe handles the North Indian segment of JB's dining scene with a menu that covers the breadth of the tradition, from rich kurmas and kormas through to the fiercer vindaloo-style preparations that suit diners who want genuine heat. The naan is made to order in a proper tandoor, arriving at the table with a visible char on the surface and a pillowy interior that holds up well to being torn and used to scoop curry. The restaurant has a calm, well-lit interior that makes it suitable for family dinners or small group gatherings, and the service is attentive without being intrusive. The lamb rogan josh and the dal makhani are the two dishes most consistently mentioned in positive reviews, and both reward repeat visits.

7Spice positions itself as a destination for diners who want to explore Indian regional cooking beyond the predictable tikka masala and biryani circuit, with a menu that makes room for Keralan, Goan, and Hyderabadi preparations alongside the more familiar Punjabi standards. The Chettinad fish curry here is cooked in a thicker, more intensely spiced base than the typical version, and the restaurant's appam, a soft fermented rice pancake from South India, is an excellent vehicle for the various gravies on the menu. The restaurant is popular with Indian families living in and around JB, which is generally a reliable indicator of authenticity. Weekend lunch is the best time to visit for the widest variety of dishes.

No round-up of Indian eating in JB would be complete without acknowledging the role of the mamak stall, and Devi's Corner is among the most dependable of the genre in the city. Open from early morning through to the late hours of the night, the kitchen turns out murtabak, maggi goreng, roti tissue, and teh tarik at a pace and volume that reflect genuine popularity rather than tourist positioning. The murtabak here, stuffed with minced meat, egg, and onion and pressed flat on a hot griddle, is a particularly satisfying order at any time of day. Prices throughout the menu are low even by JB standards, and the round-the-clock availability makes Devi's Corner a reliable anchor for any itinerary that extends past midnight.

Restoran Subaidah is a long-running mamak institution in JB that has remained popular across generational shifts in the city's dining habits, sustained by a loyal base of regulars who return for the consistency of its curry dishes and the reliability of its operating hours. The nasi kandar here, a pile of rice served with a selection of curries poured over the top, is done in the classic Penang mamak style and is a genuinely filling and flavourful option at any meal. The lentil dhal is a standout, slow-cooked to a silky thickness that elevates even a simple roti canai breakfast into something worth remembering. The restaurant also does a well-spiced Mee Rebus that has developed its own following among regulars who order it as a standalone late-night meal.

Getting to Johor Bahru is simple whether you are flying into Senai International Airport from within Malaysia or crossing the Causeway from Singapore. Traveloka, Southeast Asia's leading travel platform trusted by over 100 million users, lets you compare and book flights to JB from Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Kota Kinabalu, and other Malaysian cities at competitive prices. Choose from a wide range of hotels in Johor Bahru through the Traveloka app, from city centre business hotels to properties near the Causeway that make cross-border movement easy.

Beyond the restaurants, JB has plenty to keep you busy between meals, and Traveloka's activities listings cover theme parks, cultural attractions, and day trips across Johor that pair well with a food-focused visit. Book a car rental through Traveloka to explore the city's neighbourhoods at your own pace, which is by far the most efficient way to work through a restaurant list spread across JB's various districts. An airport transfer from Senai Airport to your hotel removes any arrival hassle, leaving you free to focus on eating from the moment you land. Keep an eye on Traveloka promotions for deals on JB hotel bookings and download the app to manage the whole trip from one screen.