Curries, biryanis, dosas and tandoori across Deer Park, St Albans and western Melbourne
Deer Park has become one of the go-to suburbs for Indian food in Melbourne's west. The Indian community in the area has grown significantly over the past decade, and the restaurants have followed. From South Indian dosa specialists to North Indian tandoori houses, the options stretch along Ballarat Road and into the surrounding suburbs.
Aangan is the anchor. With over 4,000 Google reviews, it is the most reviewed Indian restaurant in the entire City of Brimbank. But there are strong alternatives across Deer Park, St Albans, Sunshine, and Braybrook. Here are nine Indian restaurants worth knowing about.
Address: 6/7/85 Mt Derrimut Rd, Deer Park
Price: $16-$28
Google: 4.0 stars (4,146 reviews)
Aangan is the Indian restaurant that put Deer Park on the food map. Over 4,100 Google reviews. TripAdvisor reviewers have called it "the best Indian restaurant in Melbourne." That is a big claim, but the numbers back up the popularity.
The menu is enormous. Butter chicken, lamb rogan josh, goat curry, biryanis, tandoori platters, and a full vegetarian section. The naan bread comes fresh from the tandoor oven. Portions are generous. A table for four can eat well for under $80.
It is on Mt Derrimut Road, slightly off the main Ballarat Road strip. The restaurant fills up on Friday and Saturday nights, so book ahead or arrive early.
Address: 177A Main Rd W, St Albans
Price: $14-$25
Google: 4.2 stars (673 reviews)
Laajwab means "matchless" in Urdu, and the restaurant takes that name seriously. 673 Google reviews at 4.2 stars. Located on Main Road West in St Albans, it serves the St Albans and Kings Park area.
The food is North Indian with some Pakistani dishes. Generous portions and consistent quality across the menu. They do a strong delivery trade through Uber Eats and their own website, but dining in is the better experience. The garlic naan and butter chicken are the safe picks. The goat karahi is the adventurous one.
Address: 308 Ballarat Rd, Braybrook
Price: $16-$30
Google: 4.8 stars (300 reviews)
Angithi has the highest rating of any Indian restaurant on this list. 4.8 stars across 300 reviews. Located in Braybrook on Ballarat Road, it is a 10-minute drive from Deer Park centre.
"Angithi" refers to a traditional Indian clay stove, and the cooking reflects that heritage. North Indian flavours, properly spiced, with a focus on tandoori dishes. The restaurant has a more polished fit-out than most suburban Indian places. Good for a date night or a family celebration without the city drive.
Address: 20 City Pl, Sunshine
Price: $16-$26
Google: 4.0 stars (510 reviews)
Dum Matka specialises in dum cooking, where dishes are slow-cooked in sealed clay pots to trap the steam and concentrate the flavours. The biryani is the signature dish. Layered rice and meat, sealed and baked, then cracked open at the table.
Located on City Place in Sunshine's town centre, it is easy to reach by train or car. 510 reviews at 4.0 stars. The dum cooking method sets it apart from standard Indian restaurants. If you have eaten biryani before but never had it cooked in a sealed pot, this is worth trying.
Address: 3/900 Old Calder Hwy, Keilor East
Price: $16-$28
Google: 4.0 stars (483 reviews)
The Aangan in Keilor East is the sister restaurant to the Deer Park original. Same menu, same ownership, same quality. 483 reviews at 4.0 stars. It covers the northern side of Brimbank, including Keilor, Keilor Downs, and Taylors Lakes.
If you live north of the Western Ring Road, Aangan Keilor saves you the drive to Deer Park. The lamb biryani, chicken tikka masala, and seekh kebabs are all on the menu. Opening a second location tells you the first one is doing well.
Address: Shop 13/833B Ballarat Rd, Deer Park
Price: $12-$20
Sri Dwaraka is a South Indian vegetarian restaurant on Ballarat Road in Deer Park. If you want dosas, idlis, uttapam, or a full South Indian thali, this is one of the few dedicated options in the western suburbs.
South Indian vegetarian food is a distinct cuisine from the North Indian curries and tandoori that dominate most suburban Indian restaurants. The dosas are large, crispy, and filled with spiced potato. The sambar (lentil soup) and coconut chutney come on the side. Affordable and authentic.
Address: Ballarat Rd, Deer Park
Price: $10-$18
Dosa Hut is a chain with multiple Melbourne locations, but the Deer Park branch serves the local Indian community well. As the name suggests, dosas are the speciality. Crispy rice and lentil crepes filled with potato masala, cheese, paneer, or plain.
Prices are low. You can eat a full meal for under $15. The quality is consistent across locations. It is a good option if you want quick, affordable South Indian food without a long wait.
Address: Deer Park
Price: $14-$24
Tandoori Treats focuses on tandoori cooking. Chicken tikka, seekh kebabs, and tandoori platters are the core of the menu. Listed on Yelp among the recommended Indian restaurants near Deer Park.
The tandoor oven gives meat a distinctive charred, smoky flavour that you cannot replicate in a regular kitchen. If you prefer your Indian food grilled rather than in a curry sauce, Tandoori Treats is worth a visit.
Address: 2 Garden Dr, Tullamarine
Price: $12-$22
Google: 4.2 stars (144 reviews)
Bombay Cafe is in Tullamarine, north of the airport, which puts it on the edge of Brimbank. 144 reviews at 4.2 stars. It is a cafe-style Indian takeaway with a compact menu of curries, rice dishes, and snacks.
For residents in Keilor, Keilor North, and Tullamarine, it is the closest Indian option. The format is more casual than a sit-down restaurant. Good for a quick lunch or a takeaway dinner.
| Rank | Name | Location | Google Rating | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aangan Deer Park | Mt Derrimut Rd, Deer Park | 4.0 (4,146) | All-rounder, huge menu |
| 2 | Laajwab | Main Rd W, St Albans | 4.2 (673) | North Indian, generous portions |
| 3 | Angithi | Ballarat Rd, Braybrook | 4.8 (300) | Highest rated, date night |
| 4 | Dum Matka | City Pl, Sunshine | 4.0 (510) | Dum-cooked biryani |
| 5 | Aangan Keilor | Old Calder Hwy, Keilor East | 4.0 (483) | Northern Brimbank coverage |
| 6 | Sri Dwaraka | Ballarat Rd, Deer Park | N/A | South Indian vegetarian |
| 7 | Dosa Hut | Deer Park | N/A | Affordable dosas |
| 8 | Tandoori Treats | Deer Park | N/A | Tandoori and grilled meats |
| 9 | Bombay Cafe | Garden Dr, Tullamarine | 4.2 (144) | Quick takeaway, north side |
Local tip: Deer Park's Indian food scene has grown rapidly because the Indian community in the area has grown. The 2021 Census showed Indian ancestry is one of the fastest-growing demographics in Brimbank, particularly in Deer Park, Cairnlea, and Derrimut. The restaurants reflect this. They cook for an audience that knows what authentic Indian food tastes like.
Indian food in Melbourne's west does not get the recognition it deserves. These nine restaurants are proof that you do not need to drive to the city for a proper curry. Browse all cafes and restaurants or explore businesses in Deer Park.
The most reviewed Indian restaurant in all of Brimbank with over 4,100 Google reviews. Curries, biryanis, tandoori, and a huge menu. A Deer Park institution.
6/7/85 Mt Derrimut Rd, Deer Park VIC 3023
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St Albans Indian restaurant with 673 Google reviews at 4.2 stars. Delivery and dine-in. Known for generous portions and consistent quality.
177A Main Rd W, St Albans VIC 3021
Open in Google MapsHighest-rated Indian restaurant near Deer Park at 4.8 stars across 300 reviews. In Braybrook on Ballarat Road. Authentic North Indian cooking.
308 Ballarat Rd, Braybrook VIC 3019
Open in Google MapsIndian restaurant specialising in dum cooking (slow-cooked sealed clay pot dishes). 510 reviews at 4.0 stars. In Sunshine town centre.
20 City Pl, Sunshine VIC 3020
Open in Google MapsSister restaurant to the Deer Park original. 483 reviews at 4.0 stars. Covers the Keilor, Keilor East, and Keilor Downs area.
3/900 Old Calder Hwy, Keilor East VIC 3036
Open in Google MapsSouth Indian vegetarian restaurant in Deer Park. Dosas, idlis, uttapam, and thalis. A good option for vegetarians looking for authentic South Indian food.
Shop 13/833B Ballarat Rd, Deer Park VIC 3023
Open in Google MapsSouth Indian chain known for crispy dosas filled with potato masala. Affordable and consistent. Multiple locations across Melbourne.
Deer Park
Open in Google MapsLocal Indian takeaway and dine-in option in Deer Park. Listed on Yelp among the top Indian options near Deer Park.
Deer Park
Open in Google MapsIndian cafe and takeaway in Tullamarine with 144 reviews at 4.2 stars. Worth the drive for northern Brimbank residents near the airport.
2 Garden Dr, Tullamarine VIC 3043
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