India House Restaurant

India House is a long-standing pure-vegetarian Indian restaurant in Al Nakheel, a few steps from Choithrams and a short drive from the corniche. The dining room is small and functional - canteen-style decor, a family section, no particular flourishes - and the crowd is largely Indian regulars, which is the first and best sign of what the kitchen does well. The menu sweeps through South and North Indian staples, with a strong dosa lineup, thalis, idli and vada with sambar, biryanis, paneer and roti dishes, Mangalorean weekend breakfasts like buns and golibaje, and a chaat corner in the evenings. The consistent reasons to come are the thalis, the dosas, the biryani and the lentil dishes, all served quickly and in generous portions. Prices sit firmly at the budget end, which is a core part of the appeal, and service is attentive and warm in the typical case, with staff often bringing candy for children at the end of the meal. Takeaway and delivery are handled well, and a full menu is available after 7pm when the kitchen opens up completely. Two caveats worth noting. The dining room is cramped and unremarkable, so this is a meal-first rather than occasion-first venue. And there are scattered reports of upselling of off-menu specials to first-time visitors, so ordering straight from the printed menu - particularly the thalis and dosas - is the simplest path to the best value.