Tumbi

Another restaurant recognized on the Michelin roster, Tumbi Craft Indian Kitchen is only open for dinner, but starts the evening early at 4 pm, making it a great choice for both delicious drinks and a soulfully prepared dinner. The Keema Pav is reminiscent of a spicy sloppy Joe with minced lamb leg over gun-powder-seared pav bread and the Dal Bukhara is fragrant and hearty. Diners will find familiar Indian dishes like Butter Chicken and Channa Bhatura, or veer towards something out of the box like the Fungi Mushroom Dosa. Pair it with the mostly California-sourced wine or beer list—the latter has a couple popular Indian brews. Wrap up your meal with a Nutella Dosa, or a reimagined Carrot Halwa with granola crumbles and vanilla ice cream.
How to book: Walk-ins only.

In a sea of Italian and Mediterranean-influenced restaurants, Tumbi stands out in Santa Monica. Owner RJ Singh and executive chef Ram Krishna Naidu serve up a deliciously modern take on Indian fare, exploring street food from different regions of India through the lens of haute cuisine. The country’s robust flavors are on full display here—whether you’re munching on avocado bhel puri with mint-tamarind-chili sauce (based on a tangy savory snack made with puffed rice) or clay-oven-fired chicken tikka bursting with spices like star anise, fennel, and garlic. A curated list of wines and draft beers are available too, but we suggest going for the $21 bottomless mango, orange, or lychee mimosas.
How to book: Walk-ins only.