Eating a comprehensive Indian dinner in Hanoi typically costs somewhere between 150,000 and 450,000 VND in 2026. Generally speaking, local cafes are more cost-effective than mid-range dining and hotel restaurants.

Those numbers are just examples to get an idea for your budget, as actual prices will vary depending on the specific establishment and certain dishes.

Key takeaways

• The price range for a visit to a mid-range Indian restaurant for a single traveler amounts to about 250,000 to 450,000 VND.
• The price of vegetarian dishes is generally very competitive and is usually around 20 to 30 percent lower than lamb, prawn, or fish.
• Many curry servings are curated for multiple people. That’s why it’s quite probable that two visitors will need fewer dishes.
• Before comparing restaurant prices, make sure that you’ve found out whether the total price of dishes is calculated together with VAT and service fee or not.

What changes the price of Indian food in Hanoi?

The same dish can cost very different amounts from one restaurant to the next. Location is the main reason. A small eatery in the Old Quarter pays less rent than a restaurant inside a hotel, and the menu shows it.

Ingredients come next. Paneer, lamb and prawns cost more than lentils, potatoes or chickpeas, and imported spices, ghee and basmati push prices up a little further.

Additionally, style matters too. A casual place with plastic stools and a fast kitchen prices differently from a dining room with tablecloths, trained servers and a full bar.

Portion size is easy to miss. Some kitchens serve a small individual bowl, others a big pot meant for two or three people. A 200,000 VND curry that feeds two is better value than a 150,000 VND one that leaves you hungry.

So when you compare the best Indian restaurants in Hanoi, look at portion size and what comes with the dish, not only the number on the menu.

Cost of starters and snacks

Fried snacks keep the bill low. Grilled meat pushes it up fast.

Typical 2026 ranges:

• Samosas or pakoras: 50,000 to 100,000 VND
• Soups such as dal shorba or tomato soup: 60,000 to 120,000 VND
• Paneer tikka or chilli paneer: 120,000 to 220,000 VND
• Chicken tikka or seekh kebab: 150,000 to 280,000 VND
• Mixed tandoori platter: 280,000 to 450,000 VND

The platter is the one people overorder. For two people, a platter and one curry can already be a full dinner.

Vegetarian dishes prices

Vegetarians have an easier time in Hanoi than most expect. Nearly every Indian restaurant here has a long vegetarian section, and paneer and lentil dishes tend to be the best value on the menu.

Expect these ranges:

• Dal tadka or dal makhani: 110,000 to 200,000 VND
• Aloo gobi, mixed vegetable or chana masala: 110,000 to 200,000 VND
• Palak paneer, paneer butter masala or kadai paneer: 150,000 to 260,000 VND
• Malai kofta: 160,000 to 270,000 VND

Therefore, for a group, one dal, one paneer dish, and one vegetable dish, shared with bread and rice, covers most tables. If you avoid onion and garlic or follow a Jain diet, ask before you order. Kitchens differ in how much they can adjust.

Curries price explain

Chicken is the most common protein and sits in the middle of the price range. Lamb and seafood cost more.

• Chicken curries (butter chicken, tikka masala, kadai): 160,000 to 280,000 VND
• Lamb or mutton curries (rogan josh, korma, vindaloo): 220,000 to 380,000 VND
• Fish or prawn curries: 250,000 to 420,000 VND
• Egg curry: 120,000 to 200,000 VND

If you are new to Indian food, butter chicken with garlic naan is the easy first order because it is mild and creamy. Rogan josh and vindaloo suit people who want more heat.

Say how spicy you want it. Some kitchens cook for foreign palates by default, so "medium" or "spicy" needs to be stated clearly.

Check biryani and rice prices

A biryani is often a meal on its own, which makes the price easier to accept.

• Vegetable biryani: 150,000 to 250,000 VND
• Chicken biryani: 180,000 to 300,000 VND
• Lamb biryani: 230,000 to 380,000 VND
• Steamed basmati rice: 50,000 to 90,000 VND
• Jeera or pulao rice: 70,000 to 110,000 VND

Moreover, most biryanis arrive with a small bowl of raita. When they don't, raita costs about 30,000 to 60,000 VND extra. One biryani feeds one hungry person, or two lighter eaters if you add a starter.

What is the cost of naan and other breads?

Each piece is cheap, but the total climbs when everyone orders their own.

• Roti or tandoori roti: 25,000 to 45,000 VND
• Plain naan: 30,000 to 55,000 VND
• Butter or garlic naan: 40,000 to 70,000 VND
• Cheese naan or stuffed kulcha: 60,000 to 100,000 VND
• Paratha: 50,000 to 90,000 VND

Therefore, bread from a real tandoor usually tastes better than bread cooked on a flat pan, and you can ask which one the kitchen uses. Plan on one or two pieces per person.

How much do you have to pay for desserts and drinks?

Indian desserts are rich and very sweet, so most tables share.

• Gulab jamun: 60,000 to 110,000 VND
• Kheer or rice pudding: 60,000 to 110,000 VND
• Kulfi or ice cream: 70,000 to 120,000 VND
• Gajar halwa (seasonal): 80,000 to 130,000 VND

Drinks move the final total more than people expect:

• Masala chai: 40,000 to 80,000 VND
• Sweet or salted lassi: 60,000 to 110,000 VND
• Mango lassi: 70,000 to 120,000 VND
• Soft drinks and bottled water: 30,000 to 60,000 VND
• Local beer: 40,000 to 80,000 VND at casual places, 70,000 to 130,000 VND at hotel restaurants
• Cocktails: 150,000 to 250,000 VND

What does a complete meal cost?

For one person having a main dish, bread or rice, and one drink, a dinner usually falls in these bands:

A couple who orders one starter, two mains, bread, rice, two drinks, and a dessert will usually spend 500,000 to 900,000 VND at a mid-range place. Alcohol or seafood pushes that higher.

Moreover, if you want an Indian dinner restaurant Hanoi travelers can count on for a proper sit-down evening, expect to land in the middle or upper band. Lunch tends to be cheaper because many places run set menus or thalis at lower prices.

Where does Royal Rasoi fit in?

Royal Rasoi is a North Indian restaurant on the 3rd floor of Grand Plaza Hanoi, 117 Tran Duy Hung, Cau Giay. It opens daily from 10:30 am to 10:30 pm, so lunch, late dinners, and group bookings all fit.

The menu includes Dal Dhaniya Shorba, Chilli Paneer, Paneer Butter Masala and Gulab Jamun, with vegetarian options across the list. The restaurant also takes reservations for private dining and events. With those late hours, it works as an Indian dinner restaurant Hanoi visitors can book for a group or a celebration.

Since it sits inside a hotel, plan for the mid-range to upper mid-range bands above. Current food and drinks menus are on the restaurant's website. Check them before you go instead of trusting any blog estimate, this one included.

Furthermore, if you are staying in Cau Giay or nearby, it is a convenient place to try for the best Indian food in Cau Giay. People comparing the best Indian restaurants in Hanoi may also like that it is away from the Old Quarter crowds and easy to reach by taxi or ride-hailing app. Just give the driver the address: Grand Plaza Hanoi, 117 Tran Duy Hung.

Practical tips for your bill

A few habits keep the total under control:

• Share dishes - Two mains and one starter often feed three people.
• Ask about portion size - One question saves you from ordering too much.
• Check tax and service charge - Some menus show final prices, and others add VAT or a service fee at the end.
• Try lunch - Set meals and lunch specials are often cheaper than dinner.
• Carry some cash - Bigger restaurants take cards, but small places may want VND.
• Watch the drinks - Cocktails, imported beer, and bottled juices can cost more than an extra curry.

Final word

Indian food in Hanoi is easy on the wallet once you know what to expect. A good meal usually costs 250,000 to 450,000 VND per person, and shared dishes or a lunch deal bring that down. Location, ingredients, and portion size all move the price, so a quick look at the menu before you sit down pays off.

If Cau Giay is your side of town and you are hunting for the best Indian food in Cau Giay, Royal Rasoi is worth a look. It is an Indian restaurant Tran Duy Hung that guests can find on the 3rd floor of Grand Plaza Hanoi, open every day until 10:30 pm. Check the menu on the website, then book a table.

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