Reliable Somerville staple Dosa N Curry boasts an entirely vegetarian menu that includes crispy banana pepper fritters, an array of dosas, and yogurt masala-marinated mushrooms roasted in a tandoor oven. If you want to sample a bunch of different dishes, go for the $14 lunch thali with an appetizer, a handful of curries, rice, salad, dessert, and a choice of naan or dosa. (Next-door sibling Veggie Crust also serves some fun Indo-Chinese and Indian dishes, including paneer tikka masala pizza.)

Himalayan Kitchen isn’t an entirely Indian restaurant: This Union Square shop — which recently reopened after undergoing a months-long renovation, adding a full bar so you can spike your mango lassi — specializes in Indian American fusion (see: chicken tikka pizza) and, hence the name, Himalayan dishes. The goat biryani is compulsory, as are the Nepali momo, served in a variety of tasty styles.

Longstanding Punjabi Dhaba is one of the best restaurants in Greater Boston. Everything here is good, but the tandoori chicken and vegetable korma are must-orders. The restaurant is typically bustling at lunch time.

Passage to India has been feeding hungry hordes of Cantabrigians for nearly three decades. Formerly a Porter Square institution, the restaurant moved to Cambridge Crossing this April, adding such niceties as a full bar and patio but maintaining an extensive list of lamb, chicken, seafood, and vegetarian standouts, as well as nearly a dozen different types of naan. (The family behind Passage also runs a food truck, Tandoor & Curry on Wheels, and recently moved Brookline’s Curry House to Passage’s old address as Jo’s Indian Kitchen.)

North Indian restaurant India Pavilion has been operating in Central Square for more than four decades. The keema chile masala, which is served with minced lamb, green peas, bell peppers, tomatoes, and a sauce made with onions and tomatoes, is especially worth an order. There’s also a full bar and a daily lunch buffet that runs until 3 p.m.

Customizable dosas are the draw at Madras Dosa Co., a shiny, relatively new Seaport spot focused on the wildly popular South Indian specialty made from a vegan, gluten-free batter of fermented rice and lentils. If there’s a line, plant yourself, because it’s worth the wait to fill a thin, golden-brown crepe with a wide variety of sweet and savory stuffings, from onion, ghee, and Lay’s chips to fruits, chocolate chips, and Nutella. (The same team is also behind downtown’s Vaanga, serving unexpected dishes like samosa burgers and “not the boring” idly with coconut chutney.)

Go to Kenmore Square’s North Indian haunt India Quality for biryani (especially the lamb) and aloo chole, a vegan dish with a base of potatoes and chickpeas. If you order your food spicy, India Quality won’t hold back. This has the same ownership as Punjab Palace, the essential spot for North Indian cuisine in Allston, where the order is lamb paneer masala (lamb and soft cheese cooked with creamy tomato sauce) or fish jalfrezi (pieces of fish cooked with mushrooms, onions, peppers, tomatoes and broccoli in a spicy sauce).

In the South End, order something from Mela Indian Restaurant’s “modern Indian creations” menu, especially the lamb bathed in coconut curry or the duck jalfrezi (duck breast sauteed with vegetables and spices).

Head to Jamaica Plain’s Tikki Masala for pan-fried shrimp tossed with mango chutney and South Indian dosas, or try one of the convenient “dinner for two” combos if you don’t want to make any decisions.

This West Roxbury restaurant specializes in a mix of Nepali and Indian cuisine, and you should order a little bit of both. The meat and veggie momos are top-notch, as is the saffron lamb curry.

Located on the Southern Artery and adjacent to Town River Bay, this Indian restaurant has been feeding the people of Quincy and the greater South Shore since the beginning of the millennium. The goat rogan josh is the order here.