Tamil Teru Edinburgh Review - Best Indian Restaurant in Edinburgh
Tucked away on Rose Street in the heart of Edinburgh lies a true hidden gem, Tamil Teru, a vibrant South Indian restopub. They promise bold coastal flavours fused with comforting street eats, and deliver with flair. They are magicians of spice and taste, serving up what is, without question, some of the most authentic Indian food you’ll find in the city.
I’ll even go so far as to say Tamil Teru is possibly the best Indian restaurant in Edinburgh. Bold claim? Absolutely. But here’s why I stand by it. From the moment you step inside, the energy is inviting — a restopub that feels both modern and rooted in tradition. The menu is a masterclass in South Indian flavour, balancing fiery spice with street food, and every dish feels crafted with care.
South Indian cuisine is distinct from other Indian food because it’s rice‑based, lighter, tangier, coconut‑rich, and spicier, while North Indian and other regional cuisines lean more on wheat breads, dairy, and creamier gravies ie dosa vs naan, tamarind vs garam masala.
Let’s take a dive into what makes Tamil Teru such a standout…
Atmosphere & Cultural Fusion
Tamil Teru might very well be located on Rose Street but it translates directly as Tamil Street. Tamil refers to one of the world’s oldest living languages and the people of Tamil Nadu, famed for their rich food culture. Teru means ‘street’ in Tamil, so together, Tamil Teru translates to ‘Tamil Street.’ On the expansive wall at the rear of the restaurant, guiding you towards the upstairs seating and private dining room, stretches a vibrant mural that beautifully fuses Edinburgh and Tamil heritage. Local icons like the Greyfriars Bobby statue and Tunnock’s Tea Cakes sit playfully alongside the intricate silhouette of the Meenakshi Amman Temple in Madurai, one of Tamil Nadu’s most celebrated landmarks. The artwork is bright, bold, and symbolic, weaving together two worlds in a way that feels both joyful and seamless.
The vibe here is playful, friendly, and welcoming, much like Tamil culture itself. In Tamil Nadu, hospitality is woven into everyday life: meals are shared generously, laughter flows easily, and the street food scene is all about joy, colour, and community. Tamil Teru channels that same spirit, inviting you to relax, connect, and savour food that feels both celebratory and comforting.
Food & Drink Highlights
First off, Chutneys and Poppadoms £3.95 arrive at the table, but these aren’t your ordinary accompaniments. Instead of the usual mango chutney or cooling raita, you’re treated to three wee pots, each layering spice, heat, savoury depth, and a touch of sweetness. It’s a bold opening act, setting the tone for the feast to follow.
The menu isn’t extensive and you quickly realise that’s intentional. Every dish tastes like it’s been made from scratch, with care and precision. While we browsed, cocktails were the first order of business: a Saffron Old Fashioned £11.00, where saffron syrup replaced the real deal (a touch watered down in flavour), and a Malabar Colada £10.50 that landed like a boozy coconut dessert in a glass. To keep things classic, we added a pint of Kingfisher lager and a Bombay Bicycle Pale Ale £6.50 each, because honestly, what’s Indian food without a cold beer to hand?
Sharing is at the heart of Tamil Teru’s menu. They suggest three short eats, two karis (curries), and a couple of sides as the perfect spread for two and it’s a formula that works. Short eats range from Onion Bhajis £5.95 (vegan and gluten free) to Mutton Rolls £7.95, and Dahi Vadai £5.95 lentil fritters in creamy yoghurt, also vegan and gluten free. We opted for the Chicken Lollipop £6.75 — crispy fried wings tossed in a tangy chilli garlic sauce and the Prawn Pepper Fry £9.00, (gluten free), three butterflied king prawns sautéed in their house black pepper sauce. The chicken lollipops weren’t the traditional drumsticks with exposed bone, but generous wings smothered in hot sauce, succulent and layered with spice that built from mellow warmth to a cheeky wee kick at the end. The prawns, juicy and tender, arrived with pandan leaves and carried the same depth of flavour, each bite unfolding in layers.
Under Karis, we ordered the Butter Chicken £10.25 (gluten free), their signature dish. Tender chicken arrives bathed in a creamy tomato gravy layered with house spices - superb, and a definite nod to Scotland’s culinary claim to fame. Back in the early 1970s, Ali Ahmed Aslam of the Shish Mahal restaurant in Glasgow invented chicken tikka masala when a customer asked for sauce with their dry chicken tikka. His quick fix? A tin of condensed tomato soup, blended with cream and spices, which gave birth to Britain’s favourite curry. Tamil Teru’s butter chicken feels like a respectful echo of that moment; rich, comforting, and deeply satisfying, but elevated with balance and finesse.
The Lamb Chops £11.95 (gluten free) arrive grilled with house spices and laid across a bed of spiced, smoked aubergine. The chops themselves are tender, juicy, and generously coated in layers of flavour; each bite a burst of aromatic spice. The aubergine underneath is silky and smoky, a perfect contrast that soaks up the juices and spice from the lamb. Together, it’s a dish that balances fire and earth, richness and subtlety, and one that lingers long after the plate is cleared.
Our last main was something entirely new to me, the Lamb Kothu £9.50 from the kothus and biryanis menu. This dish takes shredded parotta, that flaky, layered South Indian flatbread, and tosses it together with tender lamb and house spices. The flavours were bold yet balanced: smoky from the griddle, spiced with warmth rather than fire, and punctuated by bursts of savoury lamb richness. Each mouthful carried a satisfying chew from the parotta, soaking up the spice mix like a sponge. Visually, it was a feast in itself, a tumble of flatbread ribbons, flecked with herbs and spice, dotted with juicy lamb pieces. It looked rustic, hearty, and inviting, the kind of dish that makes you want to dive straight in.
We chose a Ghee Rice £3.95 to enjoy with these three dishes, but it really was not needed!
Sweet Endings & Service
Lastly, we couldn’t resist the Gulab Jamun with ice cream £4.95. Syrupy, warm, and indulgent, it was the perfect sweet note to close the meal.
The staff here deserve a mention too, they’re warm, inviting, and genuinely friendly, they make the whole experience feel effortless. Prices are fair, with a meal and drinks coming in anywhere between £25–£50 per person depending on appetite. What stands out most is the authenticity: dishes taste as though they’ve been cooked to order, with real attention to ingredients. Pandan and curry leaves appear throughout, adding layers of aroma and spice that go far beyond simple heat. Tamil Teru is a place where flavour, culture, and hospitality intertwine and it’s hard not to leave with a smile.
Tamil Teru 100% deserves a TartanSpoon 10/10 from me. It’s a restopub that delivers superb Indian cuisine with authenticity, warmth, and flair. I genuinely hope everyone rushes to book a table, because this is one of those rare places where the food is fabulous!
THINGS TO NOTE ABOUT TAMIL TERU
They serve vegan, vegetarian and gluten free dishes
They are dog friendly
They are disabled accessible with street level access for disabled or wheelchair users
Open from 12pm-1030pm, 7 days a week
They have outdoor seating
They have private dining
Tamil Teru, 1580162 Rose Street, Edinburgh, EH2 3JD www.tamilteru.com
My Spoon Award : Tartan Spoon 10/10
I was invited by Tamil Teru to review their menu. Food and drink were complimentary but the views are very much my own.
TartanSpoon is an Award-winning blog that brings you reviews and recommendations on the very best places to eat, drink and stay in Edinburgh, Scotland and beyond.
Adele is a writer, reviewer and judge living in Edinburgh. She sits on the Committee for the Guild of Food Writers (Scottish Events), is a Great Taste Judge for the Guild of Fine Food, Scottish Bakers, Scotland Food & Drink Excellence Awards and a Judge for the Gin Co-operative awards. Should you wish to work with, invite or collaborate with TartanSpoon, please email tartanspoon@yahoo.co.uk
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