Sura Indian Bistro

4.5

95 Reviews

$30 and under

Contemporary Indian

Make a booking

2 people

18 Dec 2024

19:00

Booked 13 times today

Experiences are available.

Vegetarian-friendly
Good for special occasions
Good for groups

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
Area
Center City
Parking details
None
Additional
Gluten-free Options, Vegan

Gift card

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Experiences

Date Night Experience
US$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 - 17:00 - 19:00
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)US$8.00
Creamy vegetable and lentil soup blended with freshly ground spices
NATTU KOZHI SOUP (Chicken Soup ) ( Gf)US$10.00
Spiced tomato soup simmered with turmeric marinated chicken.
INDIAN KA CHUMBER SALAD (V, Gf)US$8.00
Freshly chopped cucumber, chickpeas, onions, tomatoes and herbs.
PANEER TIKKA SALAD (Gf)US$12.00
Lettuce, tomato, and cucumber tossed in a tangy vinaigrette.
CHICKEN TIKKA SALAD (Gf)US$15.00
Lettuce, tomato, and cucumber tossed in a tangy vinaigrette.

APPETIZERS

VEGETABLE PAKORA (V, Gf)US$12.00
Crispy vegetable fritters made with seasoned chickpea and rice flour.
VEGETABLE SAMOSA (V)US$8.00
Fried turnover filled with potatoes and green peas served with chutney on the side.
CHICKEN 65 (Gf)US$12.00
Fried, battered chicken thighs seasoned with curry leaves.
TANDOORI CHICKEN WINGS (Gf)US$12.00
Marinated chicken wings that are slow cooked in the tandoor.
FISH PAKORAUS$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 CHAATUS$12.00
Deconstructed samosa topped with chole, onions, tomato, and cilantro. Drizzled with yogurt, mint chutney and tamarind chutney.
SPINACHUS$12.00
Crispy chickpea battered spinach topped with onions, tomato, and cilantro. Drizzled with yogurt, mint chutney, and date chutney.
TIKKI CHAATUS$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 TIKKAUS$16.00
House-made paneer marinated in ginger, garlic, yogurt and freshly ground spice blend.
TANDOORI GOBIUS$14.00
Roasted cauliflower marinated in ginger, garlic, yogurt and freshly ground spice blend. (VEGAN OPTION AVAILABLE)
CHICKEN TIKKAUS$18.00
Smoked chicken breast marinated in ginger, garlic, yogurt and freshly ground spice blend.
TANDOORI CHICKENUS$18.00
Half chicken marinated in ginger, garlic, yogurt and freshly ground spice blend
PAHAADI JHINGAUS$23.00
Grilled tiger prawn marinated in ginger, garlic, yogurt and freshly ground spice blend.
TANDOORI S ALMON US$23.00
Grilled salmon marinated in ginger, garlic, yogurt and freshly ground spice blend.
LAMB CHOPSUS$25.00
Coriander crusted lamb chops marinated in ginger, garlic, yogurt and freshly ground spice blend.
LAMB SHEEKH KEB BSUS$21.00
Minced lamb with herbs rolled and roasted on a skewer
CHARRED OCTOPUSUS$24.00
Grilled octopus smoked with southern spices. Served on top of a chickpea puree.
MIXED PLATTERUS$28.00
Chef’s choice of paneer and meats.

VEGETARIAN CURRY

VEGAN OPTIONS AVAILABLE.

DAAL MAKHNIUS$16.00
Rich lentils slowly cooked with spices and cream.
DAAL TADKAUS$15.00
Smoky lentils tempered in a spicy tomato gravy and topped with traditional tadka. (Spice infused oil)
BINDI MA SALAUS$16.00
Semi-dry dish featuring okra, onion, tomato and fragrant spices.
CHANA MASALAUS$16.00
Chickpeas simmered in an onion and tomato gravy.
VEGETABLE JALFREZIUS$16.00
Indo-Chinese vegetable stir-fry seasoned with freshy ground spices.
BAINGAN BHAR TA (V, Gf)US$16.00
Smoked eggplant and green peas sauteed in an onion and tomato gravy.
ALOO GOBI (V, Gf)US$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 CHICKENUS$22.00
Tandoori chicken simmered in a decadent tomato gravy and cashew cream.
MUTTON SHUKAUS$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 BIRYANIUS$18.00
CHICKEN BIRYANIUS$24.00
GOAT BIRYANIUS$26.00
LAMB BIRYANIUS$26.00

BREAD

NAAN PLAINUS$4.00
NAAN BUTTERUS$6.00
NAAN GARLICUS$6.00
NAAN BULLETUS$7.00
NAAN PESHWARIUS$8.00
KULCHA PANEERUS$8.00
KULCHA ALOOUS$8.00
ROTIUS$4.00
LACCHA PARATHAUS$7.00
MALABAR P ARATHAUS$7.00
ASSORTED BREAD BASKETUS$16.00
An assortment of breads, including plain naan, butter naan, garlic naan, and roti.

DESSERT

KHEERUS$7.00
GULAB JAMUNUS$7.00
RASMALAIUS$8.00
GAJAR HALWAUS$7.00

What 95 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

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

4.5

4.5 based on recent ratings

4.5Food
4.5Service
4.7Ambience
4.4Value

Noise • Moderate

Diners' Choice Awards

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.

95 Reviews

J
James
VIP
Philadelphia
7 reviews
5.0
7 reviews
Dined 1 day ago
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.
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N
Nidhi
Philadelphia
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined 2 days ago
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.
Is this helpful?
A
Adam
VIP
Philadelphia
5 reviews
5.0
5 reviews
Dined 5 days ago
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.
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W
Wendy
VIP
Philadelphia
32 reviews
5.0
32 reviews
Dined 6 days ago
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.
Is this helpful?
A
Aleshia
Philadelphia
3 reviews
4.0
3 reviews
Dined 7 days ago
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Good food and excellent drinks... What more could you ask for? Must try!
Is this helpful?
L
Lee
Philadelphia
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on 8 December 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 2
4. Ambience 5
20 minutes after our apps, we asked where our mains were. We were told they’re currently working on them, which was fair as the place was packed. But after 2 tables that were seated after us got their mains, which was 45 minutes after we finished our apps, we asked again. We were told the waitress forgot to place our order for the mains. The food was ordered on the fly and out at our table 10 minutes later. We were there for almost 3 hours. We were kind of hoping for some sort of discount on the check for the inconvenience of about an hour wait for our mains, but we did not. Besides the logistical error, the food was phenomenal and we’ll def be coming back!
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M
Mehul
Philadelphia
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on 30 November 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
The service here was amazing. The food was good too, I would definitely recommend a visit if you are in the Philly area!
Sura Indian BistroResponded on 6 December 2024
Thank you for your wonderful feedback Mehul! We’re so pleased to hear you enjoyed both the food and the service. Your recommendation means a lot to us, and we look forward to welcoming you back soon.
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J
Janki
San Francisco
1 review
1.0
1 review
Dined on 24 November 2024
1. Overall 1
2. Food 3
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 5
The food was overpriced for the quality—it lacked flavor and wasn’t worth the cost. On top of that, the guy at the front was rude, which made the experience even worse. Definitely wouldn’t recommend.
1 person found this helpful
C
Caden
Philadelphia
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on 20 November 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
The service and the food was amazing. I will definitely be going back in the near future!
Sura Indian BistroResponded on 22 November 2024
Thank you so much, Caden! We're thrilled to hear you had an amazing experience with both our food and service. We look forward to having you dine with us again soon!
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R
R
Montana
25 reviews
4.0
25 reviews
Dined on 10 November 2024
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 5
This restaurant provides a great opportunity for something different before a show. The ambience is quiet and subdued. I enjoyed the food although I missed having papadum served. The staff was pleasant.
Sura Indian BistroResponded on 14 November 2024
Hello, thank you for the review! We’re glad you enjoyed the quiet ambiance and unique dining experience at Sura. Looking forward to serving you again!
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FAQs

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

Sura Indian Bistro is rated 4.5 stars by 95 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 booking

2 people

18 Dec 2024

19:00

Booked 13 times today

Experiences are available.

Order delivery or takeout

1726 Chestnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19103-5120

Additional information

Area
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
Gluten-free Options, Vegan

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 booking

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)US$8.00

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

INDIAN KA CHUMBER SALAD (V, Gf)US$8.00

PANEER TIKKA SALAD (Gf)US$12.00

CHICKEN TIKKA SALAD (Gf)US$15.00

APPETIZERS

VEGETABLE PAKORA (V, Gf)US$12.00

VEGETABLE SAMOSA (V)US$8.00

CHICKEN 65 (Gf)US$12.00

TANDOORI CHICKEN WINGS (Gf)US$12.00

FISH PAKORAUS$14.00

CHAAT

SAMOSA CHAATUS$12.00

SPINACHUS$12.00

TIKKI CHAATUS$12.00

TANDOOR / GRILL (Gf)

PANEER TIKKAUS$16.00

TANDOORI GOBIUS$14.00

CHICKEN TIKKAUS$18.00

TANDOORI CHICKENUS$18.00

PAHAADI JHINGAUS$23.00

TANDOORI S ALMON US$23.00

LAMB CHOPSUS$25.00

LAMB SHEEKH KEB BSUS$21.00

CHARRED OCTOPUSUS$24.00

MIXED PLATTERUS$28.00

VEGETARIAN CURRY

DAAL MAKHNIUS$16.00

DAAL TADKAUS$15.00

BINDI MA SALAUS$16.00

CHANA MASALAUS$16.00

VEGETABLE JALFREZIUS$16.00

BAINGAN BHAR TA (V, Gf)US$16.00

ALOO GOBI (V, Gf)US$16.00

CURRY

TIKKA MASALA

KORMA

SAAG

VINDALOO

MADRAS

MALABAR

BUTTER CHICKENUS$22.00

MUTTON SHUKAUS$24.00

BIRYANI

VEGETABLE BIRYANIUS$18.00

CHICKEN BIRYANIUS$24.00

GOAT BIRYANIUS$26.00

LAMB BIRYANIUS$26.00

BREAD

NAAN PLAINUS$4.00

NAAN BUTTERUS$6.00

NAAN GARLICUS$6.00

NAAN BULLETUS$7.00

NAAN PESHWARIUS$8.00

KULCHA PANEERUS$8.00

KULCHA ALOOUS$8.00

ROTIUS$4.00

LACCHA PARATHAUS$7.00

MALABAR P ARATHAUS$7.00

ASSORTED BREAD BASKETUS$16.00

DESSERT

KHEERUS$7.00

GULAB JAMUNUS$7.00

RASMALAIUS$8.00

GAJAR HALWAUS$7.00

Overall ratings and reviews

Diners' Choice Awards

Review summary