Sura Indian Bistro

4.6

101 Reviews

$30 and under

Contemporary Indian

Make a reservation

2 people

Dec 28, 2024

8:00 PM

Booked 22 times today

Experiences are available.

Vegetarian-friendly
Good for special occasions
Charming

At SURA Indian Bistro, discover India's multi-cultural culinary dialogue, centuries in the tasting, nestled in the heart of Philly. Be it the Biryani from the southern part of India or the famous Amritsari Fish from Punjab, each dish tells a story of flavors, meticulously crafted to transport your senses across time and tradition. Our exclusive personalized service will surely bring you back to us again and again! Book your reservation today!

Order delivery or takeout

Private dining

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Additional information

Dining style
Casual Elegant
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
Contemporary Indian, Bar / Lounge / Bottle Service, Indian
Hours of operation
Brunch Sat, Sun 11:30 am–2:30 pm Lunch Mon–Fri 11:30 am–2:30 pm Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 4:30 pm–9:30 pm Fri, Sat 4:30 pm–10:00 pm Happy Hour Mon–Thu 5:00 pm–7:00 pm
Phone number
(215) 478-8777
Website
https://www.surabistro.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Carte Blanche, Diners Club, Discover, JCB, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Business Casual
Private party facilities
Restaurant, event space, wedding venue, and catering. Seated: 150 | Standing: 200 Private dining for 10–150 guests, receptions up to 200. Ideal for weddings, parties, meetings, or corporate events. Offering refined cuisine, buffet services, bar, AV capabilities, and more!
Private party contact
Team Sura: (215) 478-8777

Location
1726 Chestnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19103-5120
Neighborhood
Center City
Parking details
None
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Takeout, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Gift card

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Experiences

Date Night Experience
$350.00 per party
Prepaid
Multiple dates available
Engage in a pleasant evening right with your beloved at the new Romeo and Juliet table at Sura Bistro. Celebrate togetherness with a picturesque view, and enjoy an evening of fine dining, making your date nights special than never before. Five Course Meal Two Cocktails or Two Mocktails per person

Offers

Happy Hour Offered at the First Floor Bar
Multiple dates available
Mon - Thu - 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Treat yourself to an array of freshly crafted selective cocktails infused with the exquisite blend of fruits and herbs at reduced prices. All wines, draught beer on tap are half price and all cocktails are $7. AMRITSARI FISH FRY 7 North Indian-style fish fingers coated with Chickpea Flour & Carom Seeds. LASOONI PALAK PAKODA 5 (V, Gf) Crispy Indian fritters made with Spinach, Chickpea Flour, Garlic, and Cumin Seeds. CHICKEN 65 7 Chicken sautéed in a tangy '65' sauce with cilantro & sesame. VEGETABLE SPRING ROLL 5 Golden, crispy wrappers filled with a fresh, finely chopped vegetable medley.

Popular dishes

MULLIGATAWNY SOUP (V, Gf)$8.00
Creamy vegetable and lentil soup blended with freshly ground spices
NATTU KOZHI SOUP (Chicken Soup ) ( Gf)$10.00
Spiced tomato soup simmered with turmeric marinated chicken.
INDIAN KA CHUMBER SALAD (V, Gf)$8.00
Freshly chopped cucumber, chickpeas, onions, tomatoes and herbs.
PANEER TIKKA SALAD (Gf)$12.00
Lettuce, tomato, and cucumber tossed in a tangy vinaigrette.
CHICKEN TIKKA SALAD (Gf)$15.00
Lettuce, tomato, and cucumber tossed in a tangy vinaigrette.

APPETIZERS

VEGETABLE PAKORA (V, Gf)$12.00
Crispy vegetable fritters made with seasoned chickpea and rice flour.
VEGETABLE SAMOSA (V)$8.00
Fried turnover filled with potatoes and green peas served with chutney on the side.
CHICKEN 65 (Gf)$12.00
Fried, battered chicken thighs seasoned with curry leaves.
TANDOORI CHICKEN WINGS (Gf)$12.00
Marinated chicken wings that are slow cooked in the tandoor.
FISH PAKORA$14.00
Crispy breaded tilapia made with seasoned chickpea and rice flour.

CHAAT

Chaat is a category of Indian street food that is a harmonious combination of sweet, savory, and crunchy. (VEGAN OPTIONS AVAILABLE)

SAMOSA CHAAT$12.00
Deconstructed samosa topped with chole, onions, tomato, and cilantro. Drizzled with yogurt, mint chutney and tamarind chutney.
SPINACH$12.00
Crispy chickpea battered spinach topped with onions, tomato, and cilantro. Drizzled with yogurt, mint chutney, and date chutney.
TIKKI CHAAT$12.00
Smashed potato patty topped with chole, onions, tomato, and cilantro. Drizzled with yogurt, mint chutney and tamarind chutney.

TANDOOR / GRILL (Gf)

A tandoor is a large clay oven that is traditionally used for baking and cooking. Please allow 15 minutes preparation time.

PANEER TIKKA$16.00
House-made paneer marinated in ginger, garlic, yogurt and freshly ground spice blend.
TANDOORI GOBI$14.00
Roasted cauliflower marinated in ginger, garlic, yogurt and freshly ground spice blend. (VEGAN OPTION AVAILABLE)
CHICKEN TIKKA$18.00
Smoked chicken breast marinated in ginger, garlic, yogurt and freshly ground spice blend.
TANDOORI CHICKEN$18.00
Half chicken marinated in ginger, garlic, yogurt and freshly ground spice blend
PAHAADI JHINGA$23.00
Grilled tiger prawn marinated in ginger, garlic, yogurt and freshly ground spice blend.
TANDOORI S ALMON $23.00
Grilled salmon marinated in ginger, garlic, yogurt and freshly ground spice blend.
LAMB CHOPS$25.00
Coriander crusted lamb chops marinated in ginger, garlic, yogurt and freshly ground spice blend.
LAMB SHEEKH KEB BS$21.00
Minced lamb with herbs rolled and roasted on a skewer
CHARRED OCTOPUS$24.00
Grilled octopus smoked with southern spices. Served on top of a chickpea puree.
MIXED PLATTER$28.00
Chef’s choice of paneer and meats.

VEGETARIAN CURRY

VEGAN OPTIONS AVAILABLE.

DAAL MAKHNI$16.00
Rich lentils slowly cooked with spices and cream.
DAAL TADKA$15.00
Smoky lentils tempered in a spicy tomato gravy and topped with traditional tadka. (Spice infused oil)
BINDI MA SALA$16.00
Semi-dry dish featuring okra, onion, tomato and fragrant spices.
CHANA MASALA$16.00
Chickpeas simmered in an onion and tomato gravy.
VEGETABLE JALFREZI$16.00
Indo-Chinese vegetable stir-fry seasoned with freshy ground spices.
BAINGAN BHAR TA (V, Gf)$16.00
Smoked eggplant and green peas sauteed in an onion and tomato gravy.
ALOO GOBI (V, Gf)$16.00
Potato and cauliflower combined with aromatics.

CURRY

Choose the style of curry and protein. PANEER $20 | CHICKEN $22 GOAT $24 | LAMB $24 | FISH $24 Served with rice.

TIKKA MASALA
Silky combination of tomato, onion, and bell peppers. Protein will be cooked in tandoor.
KORMA
Nutty puree of cashew nuts and fennel seeds.
SAAG
Creamy spinach gravy with ground coriander.
VINDALOO
Spicy vinaigrette with potatoes.
MADRAS
Roasted coconut gravy with smoked garam masala.
MALABAR
Spicy tamarind gravy with coconut milk.
BUTTER CHICKEN$22.00
Tandoori chicken simmered in a decadent tomato gravy and cashew cream.
MUTTON SHUKA$24.00
Semi-dry sauteed goat seasoned with a special spice blend and curry leaves.

BIRYANI

Biryani is a traditional rice dish that is slowly steamed with freshly ground spices and a choice of vegetables and/or protein. (GF AND VEGAN OPTIONS AVAILABLE)

VEGETABLE BIRYANI$18.00
CHICKEN BIRYANI$24.00
GOAT BIRYANI$26.00
LAMB BIRYANI$26.00

BREAD

NAAN PLAIN$4.00
NAAN BUTTER$6.00
NAAN GARLIC$6.00
NAAN BULLET$7.00
NAAN PESHWARI$8.00
KULCHA PANEER$8.00
KULCHA ALOO$8.00
ROTI$4.00
LACCHA PARATHA$7.00
MALABAR P ARATHA$7.00
ASSORTED BREAD BASKET$16.00
An assortment of breads, including plain naan, butter naan, garlic naan, and roti.

DESSERT

KHEER$7.00
GULAB JAMUN$7.00
RASMALAI$8.00
GAJAR HALWA$7.00

What 101 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.6

4.6 based on recent ratings

4.6Food
4.6Service
4.7Ambience
4.5Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

Philadelphia
Healthy
Philadelphia
Most Booked 1000-Point Tables

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Sura Indian Bistro offers a captivating blend of traditional and modern Indian cuisine with "amazing authentic flavors." Guests rave about the "exceptional standards" of food, highlighting dishes like Saag Paneer and Khumb Majestic. The "charming ambiance" and "impeccable service" from a "knowledgeable and attentive" staff create a memorable dining experience.

102 Reviews

A
Allison
Philadelphia
28 reviews
5.0
28 reviews
Dined 1 day ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Amazing Indian food. The service was great. I will definitely be back!
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J
Jacqueline
Philadelphia
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined 2 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
My husband and I enjoyed our meal. It was nice and cozy with a great ambiance.
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j
jill
VIP
Philadelphia
21 reviews
5.0
21 reviews
Dined 4 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Great service and attentive. Everything we had was delicious. Even bright out something I asked about but wasn’t on the menu. Nice sized portions as well.
Sura Indian BistroResponded 3 days ago
Thank you Jill, for your wonderful review! We’re so glad you appreciated the attentive service and delicious food. It’s always our pleasure to go the extra mile for our guests. We hope to welcome you back for more delightful experiences!
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D
Denise
Philadelphia
13 reviews
5.0
13 reviews
Dined 7 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Celebrated a birthday with family. Both the food and service were great.
Sura Indian BistroResponded 3 days ago
Thank you for celebrating a special occasion with us Denise! We’re thrilled you and your family enjoyed the food and service. We look forward to hosting you again for more celebrations!
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R
Robert
San Francisco
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on December 20, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
The owner was lovely the food was incredible and they were super supportive and helping us make decisions around food
Sura Indian BistroResponded 3 days ago
Thank you Robert for your kind review! It’s wonderful to hear that you enjoyed the food and found our team supportive and helpful. We hope to welcome you back soon for another memorable dining experience!
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S
Susan
Greater Boston
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on December 19, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Sura Indian Bistro is fabulous. The decor is stylish and modern. The waitress was attentive and service was timely. The food was excellent, especially the lamb vindaloo. I like how they rated the spice level from 1-5, with medium (3) level working well for me. We had lemon ginger mocktails which were excellent. Next visit, I will try a cocktail. For the high quality of the food, service, and atmosphere, the prices were reasonable. There is an upstairs area which would be nice for a party. I am already looking forward to a return visit.
Sura Indian BistroResponded 3 days ago
Thank you for your fantastic review Susan! We’re delighted to hear that you loved the décor, attentive service, and flavorful dishes, especially the lamb vindaloo. Your thoughtful feedback on the spice levels and mocktails is greatly appreciated. We look forward to hosting you again—perhaps for a cocktail next time!
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J
James
VIP
Philadelphia
7 reviews
5.0
7 reviews
Dined on December 17, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We loved everything—from the flavorful appetizers (Chicken 65 and Tikki Chaat) to the Butter Chicken, Lamb Biryani, and the incredible Naan and Roti. Mani, one of the new owners at SURA, and his team provided fast, attentive service, making our experience memorable.
Sura Indian BistroResponded on December 19, 2024
Thank you James, for your glowing review! We’re delighted you enjoyed everything from the appetizers to the main courses. Your kind words about the team mean a lot to us. We look forward to hosting you again for another memorable experience!
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N
Nidhi
Philadelphia
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on December 16, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
The ambinece & vibe of the restaurant is great! the food was outstanding, we had a variety to choose from. However the vegetable curry options can do better. Also some better lighting will help. It was a bit difficult to read the menu card with the current lighting. But overall taste, quality, and service was excellent.
Sura Indian BistroResponded on December 19, 2024
Thank you Nidhi, for your lovely review and valuable feedback! We’re so happy you enjoyed the ambiance, food, and service. We’ll definitely consider your suggestions for improved vegetable curry options and lighting. Can’t wait to serve you again soon!
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A
Adam
VIP
Philadelphia
5 reviews
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on December 13, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Excellent Indian dinner. First timers and we were not disappointed. Fairly new place, but it was excellent service, ambience, and especially the food. Vindaloo was great and a nice spice at 4/5. My wife enjoyed her lamb saag. Will definitely return.
Sura Indian BistroResponded on December 19, 2024
Thank you Adam, for such a wonderful review! We’re thrilled you and your wife had a great first experience at Sura and enjoyed the Vindaloo and Lamb Saag. We can’t wait to welcome you back soon!
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W
Wendy
VIP
Philadelphia
32 reviews
5.0
32 reviews
Dined on December 12, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 5
We two shared three dishes, for a small plates light lunch: vegetable pakora, the chicken 65 appetizer, and eggplant (baingan bharta). Each dish was very tasty, offering a slightly different take on similar dishes we've tried in other establishments. The eggplant was particularly memorable. The restaurant is really lovely inside (though today, a cold day, we did get a bit of draft each time the front door opened). Background music was lovely. Service was very competent, but a bit slow, the only downside to a lovely meal.
Sura Indian BistroResponded on December 19, 2024
Thank you Wendy, for your detailed and thoughtful review! We’re so glad you enjoyed the variety of dishes and found the eggplant memorable. We appreciate your feedback about the service speed and draft and will work on improving. Looking forward to hosting you again!
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FAQs

Sura Indian Bistro offers delivery in partnership with Uber Eats. Sura Indian Bistro also offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (215) 478-8777.

Sura Indian Bistro is rated 4.6 stars by 101 OpenTable diners.

Sura Indian Bistro does offer gift cards which you can purchase here.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people

Dec 28, 2024

8:00 PM

Booked 22 times today

Experiences are available.

Order delivery or takeout

1726 Chestnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19103-5120

Additional information

Neighborhood
Center City
Hours of operation
Brunch Sat, Sun 11:30 am–2:30 pm Lunch Mon–Fri 11:30 am–2:30 pm Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 4:30 pm–9:30 pm Fri, Sat 4:30 pm–10:00 pm Happy Hour Mon–Thu 5:00 pm–7:00 pm
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
Contemporary Indian, Bar / Lounge / Bottle Service, Indian
Dining style
Casual Elegant
Dress code
Business Casual
Parking details
None
Payment options
AMEX, Carte Blanche, Diners Club, Discover, JCB, Mastercard, Visa
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Takeout, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
https://www.surabistro.com/
Phone number
(215) 478-8777
Private party facilities
Restaurant, event space, wedding venue, and catering. Seated: 150 | Standing: 200 Private dining for 10–150 guests, receptions up to 200. Ideal for weddings, parties, meetings, or corporate events. Offering refined cuisine, buffet services, bar, AV capabilities, and more!
Private party contact
Team Sura: (215) 478-8777

Gift card

Send gift cards instantly by email or print to present in person.

Send a gift card

Sura Indian Bistro

Make a reservation

Order delivery or takeout

Private dining

Additional information

Gift card

Date Night Experience

Happy Hour Offered at the First Floor Bar

CHICKEN

CHICKEN MAKHANI

CHARRED OCTOPUS

SOUP & SALAD

MULLIGATAWNY SOUP (V, Gf)$8.00

NATTU KOZHI SOUP (Chicken Soup ) ( Gf)$10.00

INDIAN KA CHUMBER SALAD (V, Gf)$8.00

PANEER TIKKA SALAD (Gf)$12.00

CHICKEN TIKKA SALAD (Gf)$15.00

APPETIZERS

VEGETABLE PAKORA (V, Gf)$12.00

VEGETABLE SAMOSA (V)$8.00

CHICKEN 65 (Gf)$12.00

TANDOORI CHICKEN WINGS (Gf)$12.00

FISH PAKORA$14.00

CHAAT

SAMOSA CHAAT$12.00

SPINACH$12.00

TIKKI CHAAT$12.00

TANDOOR / GRILL (Gf)

PANEER TIKKA$16.00

TANDOORI GOBI$14.00

CHICKEN TIKKA$18.00

TANDOORI CHICKEN$18.00

PAHAADI JHINGA$23.00

TANDOORI S ALMON $23.00

LAMB CHOPS$25.00

LAMB SHEEKH KEB BS$21.00

CHARRED OCTOPUS$24.00

MIXED PLATTER$28.00

VEGETARIAN CURRY

DAAL MAKHNI$16.00

DAAL TADKA$15.00

BINDI MA SALA$16.00

CHANA MASALA$16.00

VEGETABLE JALFREZI$16.00

BAINGAN BHAR TA (V, Gf)$16.00

ALOO GOBI (V, Gf)$16.00

CURRY

TIKKA MASALA

KORMA

SAAG

VINDALOO

MADRAS

MALABAR

BUTTER CHICKEN$22.00

MUTTON SHUKA$24.00

BIRYANI

VEGETABLE BIRYANI$18.00

CHICKEN BIRYANI$24.00

GOAT BIRYANI$26.00

LAMB BIRYANI$26.00

BREAD

NAAN PLAIN$4.00

NAAN BUTTER$6.00

NAAN GARLIC$6.00

NAAN BULLET$7.00

NAAN PESHWARI$8.00

KULCHA PANEER$8.00

KULCHA ALOO$8.00

ROTI$4.00

LACCHA PARATHA$7.00

MALABAR P ARATHA$7.00

ASSORTED BREAD BASKET$16.00

DESSERT

KHEER$7.00

GULAB JAMUN$7.00

RASMALAI$8.00

GAJAR HALWA$7.00

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

Review summary