Savor the Spice of Life at These Bend Restaurants

Bend’s Indian eateries will take you on a culinary journey through the subcontinent, from the expansive plains of the North to the sunny tropics of South India. Without leaving Central Oregon, you can try rich curries, hearty flatbreads, fragrant rice dishes and sweet desserts. With a new Indian market in town—the first of its kind in the region—you can even experiment with the rich and varied tastes of India from the comfort of your own kitchen. And contrary to popular belief, Indian food doesn’t have to be spicy. Just ask for the level of heat that suits your palate and dig in.

Anita’s Kitchen

Located in the parking lot of SE 3rd Street’s Cascade Lodge, Anita’s Kitchen is proof that great things can come in small packages. The food truck opened in July 2021 and quickly gained popularity thanks to a solid menu of rich North Indian homestyle dishes, prepared with love by owner Anita Chopra. Chopra hails from the Punjab region of India—an area known for its rich culinary traditions—and has been passionate about cooking since she was 10 years old. This passion, and her love for feeding others, led Chopra to open the food truck. “It’s the easiest way to connect with customers and give them a taste of my culture,” she said.

The menu at Anita’s features rich North Indian favorites, including dal makhani (black lentils cooked with plenty of butter), palak paneer (spinach and cheese curry) and butter chicken (chicken cooked in a buttery gravy). Chopra also offers a special dish that’s hard to come by outside of India: bhalla papdi chaat. This popular roadside treat—chaat refers to street food snacks in India—features a mélange of spongy lentil fritters and crunchy, cumin-infused crisps doused with slightly sweet plain yogurt and topped with a tangy tamarind sauce. The result is a taste-it-to-believe-it mix of textures and flavors that collectively create an adventure in every bite. See anitaskitchenbend.com.

Taj Palace

If you’ve had Indian food in Bend during the past two decades, the chances are high it came from Taj Palace, the longest-running Indian restaurant in town. Originally located downtown, the local favorite beckoned hungry guests with its sumptuous buffet. In 2022, Taj Palace moved into a larger space on South Highway 97, and the food remains as flavorful as ever.

Most Indian restaurants in the United States—including Taj Palace—serve plenty of North Indian classics such as dal (lentils) and chicken curry. However, Taj Palace also offers South Indian dishes, an homage to owners Nagendramm and Pullareddy “Reddy” Lakireddy’s southern home state of Andhra Pradesh. Must-try South Indian dishes include idlis—fluffy, spongy rice-and-lentil cakes—and masala dosas‚ ultrathin crepes made of lightly fermented rice-and-flour dough and stuffed with a warming—but not too spicy—mashup of fragranced potatoes and onions.

Both idlis and masala dosas are traditionally served with coconut chutney and sambar, a light vegetable and lentil soup. If it’s your first time trying South Indian food, order the Taj Combo and get one masala dosa and two idlis. To sample a little bit of everything, make a beeline to the buffet, which features a changing selection of vegetarian and meat-based curries plus pakoras, rice, naan and sweet treats. See tajpalacebend.us.

Real Taste of India

Meet the city’s newest Indian restaurant: Real Taste of India. This gem is tucked into what may seem to be an unlikely location within the Shilo Inn on Bend’s north side. Owners Raja Ram Pundir and Sam Saurabh are cousins from the North Indian state of Haryana who bring years of experience with them, having operated Real Taste of India branches in Roseburg, Medford and Klamath Falls before moving to Bend. Since opening their restaurant in January 2024, they’ve gained a steady customer base, in part because of their massive menu. It features a variety of dishes ranging from shrimp vindaloo to nine types of biriyani, an aromatic rice dish cooked with meat, vegetable or both. However, the hospitality of the owners shines through.

“My father taught us that we’re running this restaurant as a family, so it’s important to treat our customers as family,” said Saurabh.

Real Taste of India isn’t just a restaurant, either. In November 2024, the pair opened Central Oregon’s first Indian market. Although it occupies one corner of the restaurant, the shop stocks a serious collection of Indian goodies, including hard-to-find spice mixes. They have plenty of Indian treats, too, including Parle-G cookies, perfect for dunking in tea, and namkeen, a collective term for savory, crunchy snacks made from dried beans, lentils or peas, and flour. Don’t see what you’re after? There’s plenty more inventory in the back, and Saurabh makes weekly trips to Seattle for stock, so just ask. See realtasteofindiabend.com.

On the Side

Add an extra zing to your meal with these tasty additions

Samosa

A quintessential on-the-go snack, and a popular appetizer at Indian restaurants around the world, samosas are triangular savory pastries that are usually stuffed with a mix of peas and potatoes and then deep fried to crisp-on-the-outside, soft-on-the-inside perfection.

Pakora

If you’re a fan of French fries or onion rings, you’re sure to love pakoras, crisp deep-fried fritters breaded with chickpea flour. Spinach, cauliflower and onion pakoras are all popular options—they’re best enjoyed with a piping-hot cup of milky masala chai.

Lassi

India’s answer to the milkshake, a lassi is a rich, yogurt-based drink that makes a great accompaniment to spicy dishes—the cooling effect of the yogurt balances out fiery flavors. Try a mango lassi, flavored with India’s national fruit.