Indian food is flavourful, spicy and can do a lot to warm up your palettes when the weather gets chilly. Most Indian restaurants in Lucerne are run by Indian immigrants and have Indian cooks so you can experience the authentic taste of the Indian subcontinent. All of these restaurants have staff who speak basic English so communication will not be an issue. Most of these restaurants are vegetarian friendly and have special options for Jain (no onion and garlic vegetarian food) as well as vegans. All of these are affordable places though some more so than others.
Mirch Masala Restaurant (Vegetarian Friendly, Budget)
The Mirch Masala in Lucerne old town has generous portions and affordable pricing. The restaurant is considerate towards vegan and gluten-free diets prepared passionately by Chef Mohamed Yusuf.
Ambience and Seating
The ambience is low-key and informal. The chef is apt to emerge out of the kitchen between cooking sessions and ask diners about their food experiences while using Punjabi-laced Hindi. The artefacts on display inside the restaurant are reminiscent of an Indian Dhaba (roadside eatery) and have a kitschy appeal.
Food
Meat lovers will love the spicy lamb curry that has an extraordinary fenugreek and ginger aroma as well as the Chicken Tikka masala. Extra rice and onions, lemons and pickle are available for free which may give Indians major nostalgia.
Vegetarians will like the Bombay Aloo, Pindi chana, Spicy Okra and the Veg Jhalfrezi. You can bring in your own wine and beer from outside without any surcharge as the place does not serve alcohol. The piping hot samosas and kebab platter will complement your favourite bottle well. If there is a buffet lunch then rice/ flatbread, two curries, salad, lentils and dessert will be available for a very affordable price.
Pricing
Mains cost around CHF 12 per dish and can be shared by two people. They take only cash, which may be problematic. Lunch Buffet is just 15 CHF per person
Timings
Open from 11.30 a.m. to 2.00 p.m. from Monday to Saturday and from 5.30 p.m.to 10.30 p.m. in the evening. Open on Sunday from 4.30 p.m. to 10.30 p.m.
Address
Loewengraben 8, Lucerne 6004
Phone: + +41 (0) 78 925 81 45
Tip: Mirch Masala is just a two-minute walk from the Lake Lucerne
Tandoori Indian Restaurant (Vegetarian Friendly, Mid-Range)
If digging into tasty and freshly prepared Indian food with vegetarian or Jain options is a priority then this restaurant fits the bill.
Ambience and Seating
The interiors are overtly Indian with carved chairs and silver varnishes. It is rather stuffy inside though the staff try their best to make guests feel comfortable. There are a couple of chairs outside and they make for better seats. Takeaway options are great.
Food
A buffet-style lunch option with roti/ rice, two curries, dal and sweets is available and if you are in a rush this may be the best option. Although the item list is limited, everything is freshly prepared and very reasonably priced.
The a la carte menu is good too and some great dishes are the Mutton Hariyali, Butter Paneer, Aloo Gobhi, Tandoori Chicken, and Yellow Dal. Typically, the food is spicy, so if you have a western palette, ask the staff to tone it down a little.
Unlike many other places, Tandoori Rotis are always soft and fluffy. Salads and pickles are available on request. On Buffet days they have BYOB (bring your own bottle) which they happily serve. Otherwise, opt for Kingfisher Cold Beer… it complements the food perfectly.
Pricing
The buffet meal includes a starter, mains and a dessert, costs around 38.50 CHF
Timings
Open from Tuesday to Saturday 11:30am to 2:00pm and 5.30 p.m. to 10.30pm
Address
Luzernerstrasse 6 Ebikon 6030 Lucerne
Phone: +41 41 440 61 51
Tip: Reach the Ebikon train station (outskirts of Lucerne) and take a short 10-minute walk to reach Tandoori Restaurant.
Tandoori (Predominantly Non-Vegetarian, Budget, Take-away style)
Not to be confused with the Tandoori Indian Restaurant (above), this one serves Afghan-Indian food which is filling, not very spicy and reasonably priced. The Tandoori is well known for its super affordable, take away meals though limited seating is also available.
Ambience and Seating
The ambience is nondescript with colourful accents and flowers that somehow lack character. You can tell that the Tandoori was designed as a takeaway place. However, the service is fast and accommodating even if the place seems understaffed. The waiters speak Basic English.
Food
What you get at the Tandoori are large and slightly chewy but tasty flatbreads (Tandoori Roti) that are considerably bigger and more filling than the typical Indian Naan. The curries here are made from sarso (mustard seed) oil and that is healthier than the typical sunflower refined oil used in other places. The Tandoori focuses on value-for-money combo meals that include rice and the Tandoori roti can be ordered separately.
These plate/ Thali meals have yellow/ black dal, two kinds of curries, yoghurt and a sweet. The butter chicken, palak paneer, lamb curry, fish curry, madrasi chicken and generic chicken curry are the main side dishes so there are limited options for vegetarians. The meals are not very spicy and even a child can enjoy the daal-chawal. If you want spicier food… ask for a free homemade pickle that’s actually quite delicious.
The Tandoori does not sever alcohol or masala chai and only offers lassi and soft drinks.
Tip: Reach early if you want to grab a seat. This place is very close to the shopping streets of Old Lucerne town so you can use this as a quick lunch break or a takeaway dinner option.
Pricing
A Thali comes for CHF 10 and can satisfy hearty appetites. You can’t beat this price in Switzerland.
Timings
Open from 11.30 a.m. To 9.30 p.m. the whole week except Sundays
Address
Loewengraben 4, Lucerne 6004
Phone: +41 41 410 63 03
Dosa House (Vegetarian friendly, Budget)
An offshoot of the Kanchi Restaurant and easily the most popular South Indian eatery in Lucerne, the Dosa House attracts a lot of locals too. Chef Thomas has earned a loyal fan following for himself!!
Ambience and Seating
The ambience is mostly kept simple with few artefacts from the Southern realms of India. There is plenty of space so even with a regular flow of customers, it’s hardly crowded. There is parking in front of the restaurant and the toilets are well maintained with a regular hot water supply. The staffs are uniformly welcoming and friendly and special mention must be made of Jaykant.
Food
The food is predominantly vegetarian (South Indian Tamil style) though there are some non-vegetarian options like Puri with Chicken Curry etc. The South Indian Thali with its 8 variants of sambhars, lentil preparation, spiced curds and chutneys is extremely popular and delicious. The chilly cheese dosa should not be missed. The ghee dosa is another delicious creation and the staffs always give customers extra sambhar/ rasam on request.
The Idlis are always fluffy, vadas are crispy and the dosas perfectly textured… testifying to the high quality, correctly fermented batter used by the Chef and his team. This probably is the only place in Lucerne where you can get South Indian style Parotta (a flaky crisp Indian flatbread).
Do not forget to finish the meal with a glass of Madras Kaapi (strong South Indian filter coffee) or masala tea. If you are craving for dessert then some hot gulab jamun or pineapple Kesari should do the trick.
Tip: the menu is very child-friendly, you can easily ask for idlis, vadas and puri sabzi for your kids as these are relatively spice free and healthy.
Pricing
18 CHF for a main, 5 CHF for a glass of wine
Timings
Open from 11.00 a.m. to 2.00 p.m. and 5.00 p.m. to 11.00 p.m. from Tuesday to Sunday. Closed on Monday.
Address
Viktoria, Maihofstrasse 42, 6004 Luzern
Phone: +41 41 420 50 66
Kanchi Indian Restaurant (Vegetarian and Jain Friendly, Mid-Range)
One of the diverse Indian restaurants in Lucerne, Kanchi serves Mughlai, as well as North Indian food. Kanchi is a fancier eatery than the Dosa House but they are owned by the same person.
Ambience and Seating
With typical Indian décor, plenty of space and an overall quiet atmosphere, the Kanchi can be relaxing. The staffs are attentive and will ask you for your spice tolerance level and diet preferences beforehand. There are washrooms with hot water.
Food
Tandoori chicken is most recommended and it comes with complimentary naan. The mutton kebab, chicken starters come with complimentary salad and dips. Sometimes they use frozen meat and that is a disappointment. There are vegetarian and non-vegetarian thalis that come with rice, naan, three side curries, raita and dal.
The staffs are quick to adapt to requests like Jain food and vegan food… in fact they have short and separate Jain menu. Indian staples like samosas, fried fritters (pakoras), bhel-puri are also available.
However, portions are smaller in comparison to the price charged.
Pricing
A two-course Meal for two with wine will cost around CHF 37. There is a buffet four-course lunches with a fixed menu that is for 20 CHF per person.
Timings
Open from 11.00 a.m. to 2.00 p.m. and 5.00 p.m. to 11.0 p.m. from Monday to Sunday
Address
Zürichstrasse 4 (Löwenplatz), CH-6004 Luzern
Phone: +41 41 410 67 08
Tip: There is a zebra crossing and a bus stop right in front of it. The restaurant is right next to the Lion monument and about 300 meters from the Lake. After a meal, you can shop at the Migros, Denner and Coop which is right opposite the Kanchi.
Nour Indian Restaurant and Shop (Predominantly Non-Vegetarian, Mid-Range)
It serves good quality North Indian food, snacks at a reasonable price. It also has a store from where you can pick up Indian spices and other Indian packed food products including frozen snacks. The owner is from Bangladesh with good customer service skills.
Ambience and Seating
Muhammad Akhlaq (the owner) is well known in the locality for his hospitable behaviour. The staffs always go the extra mile to ensure that customers are well taken care of. Sometimes they are unprepared for orders but their hospitality makes up somewhat for it. The cutlery they use is nice and the plates are usually warmed.
Food
The restaurant serves Mughlai-inspired Indian food and has a good variety for both non-vegetarians and vegetarians. Chicken Tikka Masala, Veg Navratan Korma (which contains nine different veggies) and Mango chutney are especially recommended.
Biryani may seem a little bland to the Indian taste buds but will work nicely on the Western palette. Chicken shahi korma and the Kebab platters are also good. The snacks here are incredibly nice- samosa chaat, pani puri and pakodas. Try some delicious Indian desserts like Kheer or Jalebi before you leave.
If you like a specific dish, the owner can tell you which spices to buy for preparing it. All Asian/ Indian/ Pakistani and Thai spices are available at his store.
Pricing
A Meal for two with dessert will cost around CHF 50. The Maharaja Thali is priced at 60 CHF. The chutneys are 3.00 CHF each (a downside) and the usual Indian extras like yoghurt and salad are also chargeable.
Tip: Parking is always an issue as the Nour is right by the busy main road. You need to park your vehicle in a designated free parking spot.
Timings
Open from 11.00 a.m. to 10.00 p.m. from Monday to Saturday and on Sunday from 5.30 p.m. to 10.00 P.M.
Address
Baselstrasse 95, CH-6003 Luzern
Phone: + 41 41 266 04 68
Neville’s Fine Indian Dining (Vegetarian Friendly, Mid-Range)
Managed by Chef Neville, this restaurant is spacious and welcoming with both indoor and outdoor seating. The food is Kerala style which is a deviation from the North Indian restaurants operating here.
Ambience and Seating
This is a small place but beautifully maintained and decked with Asian artefacts. There is indoor (about 30 seats) as well as limited outdoor seating. The outdoor area is pretty with cheerful candy-coloured tablecloths and comfy chairs… its proximity to the Bahnof train station makes it a good place to people watch. Service is a little slow but the owner (also the manager) is warm and hospitable. The kitchen is visible from the seating area and is kept very clean.
Food
Unlike other Indian restaurants in Europe, this one doesn’t tone down its spicy South Indian style flavours. You can try the Avial, Parippu Vade, Parfaitt, Bhaaji, Prawn Curry, Parfait, and Frische Mango. Try the Kerala-style noodles made with rice and cooked with shrimp or the Kerala-style Istu. The chicken curry is great and so is the Chicken Chettinad… a fiery South Indian concoction. The hummus as well as the sambusej and the chicken samosa and momos make for good appetizers. They have a separate vegetarian menu too.
You will find copious use of fiery red chillies and curry leaves in most dishes… a refreshing change from the typical North Indian style of Indian food. Orange slices placed over homemade mint ice cream afterwards as dessert may help cool your palette. There is a wide range of Indian Gins and Whiskey brands.
They serve “carafe water” that is basically tap water and yet bill it CHF 1.25 for a pitcher… which might be a disappointment.
Pricing
About 40 CHF for a meal for a three-course meal for a single person.
Timings
Open from 6.00 p.m. to 10.00 p.m. from Tuesday to Saturday Closed on Monday and Sunday
Address
Kaufmannweg 20, 6003 Lucerne
Phone: 041 210 30 60
Indian Restaurant (Predominantly Non-vegetarian, Budget)
This place has a Punjabi owner and has only been open since 2019. Like its name, the menu is self-explanatory and the focus is on true blue Indian food minus frills.
Ambience and Seating
The interiors look nice and inviting with a special focus on blooms and green plants. There are washrooms with warm water but the maintenance could have been improved. Sometimes sauces are served in plastic disposable containers that can disappoint many. However, the owners; Lakhwinder, Sukhvinder and Dharmendra are very chatty and will make up for any lack of finesse with their warm and welcoming behaviour. Customer centricity and friendliness are what sets this restaurant apart.
Food
The staff will categorically ask you if the food should be “Indian spicy” as the typical cosmopolitan taste buds may find that too hot to handle. The food is as authentically North Indian as found in the heartlands of the Indian subcontinent and most Indians visiting the place may feel major waves of nostalgia. The garlic naan and chicken tikka combination are very popular here and so is the dal tadka. Meal combos come with salad, pickle and papadam (sometimes sweet chutney is also included).
Rice comes free with vegetarian and non-vegetarian mains. Sometimes, they offer complimentary desserts like gulab jamun and ice cream or some fried Indian fritters (pakoras). The masala adrak/ ginger chai (an Indian staple) will definitely cure you if you have caught the chills.
Pricing
A two-course Meal for two with wine will cost around CHF 37.00
Timings
Open every day from 10.30 a.m. to 11.00 p.m.
Address
Obergrundstrasse 73, Lucerne 6003
Tip: There is a bus stop right in front of the restaurant… the place is un-missable
A travel addict. Still celebrating the day when he quit his high-profile corporate job to pursue his passion for travel writing.