Archana is a North Indian restaurant at 53 Dublin Road in Belfast. Established in 1985, it is one of the city's longest running restaurants and has built its identity around attentive service, richly spiced food and a welcoming central dining room.
The kitchen uses local ingredients alongside Indian spices to produce curries, grilled dishes and regional favourites. Different sauces offer a progression from gentle, creamy preparations to deeper tomato, onion and chilli based recipes, supported by rice and freshly baked breads.
Vegetarian cooking is a recognised strength, with vegetables, lentils, chickpeas and paneer providing complete dishes rather than simple side options. Collection and home delivery sit alongside restaurant service for diners who prefer to eat elsewhere.
The evening opening schedule makes Archana suited to dinner, whether guests order individual courses or share across the table. Diners with allergies should speak to staff about the current recipes because dairy, nuts, gluten and other allergens may occur in sauces, breads and shared preparation.
Address: 53 Dublin Road, Belfast BT2 7HE, Northern Ireland
Archana Menu
Starters
Starters ~ Shuba Arambh. (V) – Vegetarian, (VG) – Vegan, (GF) – Gluten Friendly, (D) – Contains Dairy, (N) – Contains Nuts. Heat Scale: aMild aaMedium aaaHot. Please let the manager know of any food allergies or intolerances before you order. A 10% discretionary charge applies to tables of 6 and more.
Mix Platter
GF. Serves one. A selection of crispy pakoras, kebabs & chicken tikkas pieces.
Vegetarian Platter
VG – GF. Serves one. A selection of crispy pakoras, chaat, onion bhaji & samosa.
Vegetable Pakoras
VG – GF. Favourable fritters made using mixed vegetables, spices and gram flour. Deep fried until golden brown and crispy and served with homemade sauces. A hugely popular snack starter in India!
Chicken Pakora
GF. Chicken breast marinated with a blend of Indian spices and fried in gram flour batter until golden brown, garnished with a crunchy side green salad and served with homemade mint sauce.
Fish Pakora
GF. Fillet of fish marinated with a blend of Indian spices and fried in gram flour batter until golden brown, garnished with a crunchy side green salad and served with homemade mint sauce.
Green Chilli Pakora
VG – GF. Spicy fritters made using green spices and gram flour. Deep fried until golden brown and crispy and garnished with a crunchy side green salad and served with homemade mint sauce.
Onion Bhajis
VG GF. Finely sliced onion smothered in a simple, fragrantly spiced batter and fried to crispy perfection. Served with homemade sauces.
Samosa
VG. Golden fried pastry filled with diced & spiced potatoes, onions & peas and served with a delicious homemade chutney.
Lamb Samosa
Golden fried pastry filled with minced lamb & onions & peas and served with a delicious homemade chutney.
Manchurian
VEG / CHICKEN. VG – GF. A delicious Indo-Chinese dish made with wisps of vegetables formed into dumplings and fried until crisp. Then dunked into a soya marinated sauce bursting with hot, sweet, sour flavours.
Aloo Chole Chaat
VG – GF. The ultimate Indian street food snack. Made with chana masala, diced & spiced potatoes, tomatoes, lemon juice and tangy tamarind sauce. Chaat translates to ‘lick’ in Hindi, which means it’s lip smacking delicious.
Chicken Chaat
GF. Enjoy this meatier version with marinated chicken breast, diced & spiced potatoes, tomatoes, lemon juice and tangy tamarind sauce.
Masala Prawns
King prawns marinated in chaat masala and fried in gram flour batter, garnished with lime & coriander for that extra zing.
Seekh Kebab
Minced lamb marinated with a blend of Indian spices and traditionally cooked our tandoor clay oven on skewers until charred and juicy. Enjoy with our homemade mint sauce and crunchy side green salad.
Chicken Tikka
GF. Succulent chicken breast marinated in a blend of Indian spices, yoghurt and lemon juice. Threaded into skewers and traditionally cooked in our tandoor clay oven until tender. The term ‘Tikka’ translates to pieces or chunks. So you will find ‘tikka’ being made with different kinds of foods.
King Prawn Puri
Tender king prawns in a delicious tangy masala served on a crisp and lightly deep-fried puri. Never fails to hit the spot! Not a fan of fish? Swap it with Chicken Tikka or Mushroom for a veg option.
Tandoori Monkfish
GF. Monkfish marinated in a delicious blend of Indian spices, yoghurt and lemon juice. Threaded into skewers and cooked until tender.
Tandoori Lamb Chops
GF. Marinated overnight in a melange of Indian spices, the juicy lamb leg is cooked on skewers in our tandoor clay oven until tender. A true North Indian staple.
Archana's Specialities
Originally introduced to Belfast in 1985 by our founder, these dishes have remained on our menu and have not changed. Why fix it if it’s not broken?
Evening Thali For One
‘Thali’ the Hindi word for plate. A traditional and complete meal in North Indian filled with diverse flavours and textures. Our five section thali includes three curry dishes lamb, chicken & a vegetarian option, chosen by our chef, served with pakoras, rice & naan. (Please advise your server on your spice level Mild, Medium or Hot).
Vegetarian Evening Thali
One of our most requested dishes! This five section thali includes a vegetarian feast of three curries chosen by our chef, served with pakoras, rice & naan. Can be made vegan. (Please advise your server on your spice level Mild, Medium or Hot).
Karahi Chicken
GF. ‘Karahi’ is the Hindi word for ‘pot’ in which we slow cook curries. To retain the delicious flavour from the pot, we serve it straight from the stove to the table. Enjoy marinated chicken breast cooked to perfection in a thick masala curry. An authentic Punjabi dish!
Karahi Gosht
GF. ‘Gosht’ translates to tender slow cooked meat, most popularly lamb! Marinated overnight in a melange of Indian spices, the juicy lamb pieces are cooked in a thick masala curry and served sizzling hot.
Achari Monkfish
GF. Pan-fried monkfish cooked in ‘Achari’ spices which are a combination of mint, mango chutney and lime pickle with onions and peppers. A refreshing twist to the classic masala curry spices.
Punjabi Butter Chicken
Succulent chicken breast pieces simmered in a smooth buttery combination of cream, tomatoes and aromatic spices. Known to locals as ‘Murg Makhani’ this famous Punjabi dish is a popular choice for many. Want to make it veggie? Swap the chicken for paneer.
Desi Chilli Chicken TIKKA / PANEER
GF. A classic indo-chinese dish with succulent crispy chicken breast pieces tossed in a super aromatic sweet, spicy and slightly tangy chilli sauce with onions and peppers. Want to make it veggie? Swap the chicken for paneer.
Paneer Butter Masala
Mughali Dish from North India, butter Indian mixed spices, ground almonds & nuts.
Biryani
Special Mix Biryani
Can’t choose, won’t choose. Enjoy a mixture of chicken, chicken tikka, lamb, king prawns & vegetables in one delicious biryani dish. Robust, flavoursome and tender.
Traditional Biryani
Known for its aromatic flavours, Biryani is a typically layered dish using fresh herbs, saffron, basmati rice, succulent chicken pieces and mixed vegetables, cooked on a low flame. A staple in many homes and the epitome of Indian comfort food. Served with a side vegetable curry sauce.
Tandoori Grill
Delicately marinated dishes traditionally cooked exclusively in our ‘Tandoor’ clay oven. Served with pilau rice & delicious tandoori sauce. All tandoori dishes are GF.
Tandoori Chicken
GF – D. Succulent chicken breast marinated in a blend of Indian spices, yoghurt and lemon juice. Threaded into skewers and cooked until tender.
Tandoori King Prawns
GF – D. Juicy king prawns marinated in a blend of Indian spices and yoghurt and cooked until tender.
Paneer Tikka Shaslik
GF – D. Tender chunks of paneer marinated with green herbs and aromatic spices, gently chargrilled with peppers and onions.
Tandoori Monkfish Shaslik
GF – D. Monkfish marinated with diced onions & peppers in a blend of Indian spices, yoghurt and threaded into skewers and cooked until tender.
Tandoori Lamb Chop
GF – D. Marinated overnight in a melange of Indian spices, the juicy lamb chop is cooked on skewers until tender. A true North Indian staple.
Tandoori Mix Shaslik
GF – D. Can’t choose which one of the above to have? Enjoy a delicious assortment of juicy chicken, king prawn, monkfish and lamb in this mixed grill version.
Boti Kebab
GF – D. Whole leg of lamb marinated in a blend of Indian spices and yoghurt and cooked until juicy and tender.
Lamb Seekh Kebab
Traditionally cooked with minced lamb, it’s marinated overnight with Indian spices and yoghurt then threaded into skewers with onions and peppers and cooked until tender.
Archana Classic Balti Dishes
Balti cuisine was proudly introduced to Ireland by ‘Archana’ in 1993, and is known for its unique preparation and presentation. Cooked and served in individual baltis (cast iron wok) thus giving each dish its own unique flavour. Prices vary by choice: Vegetarian 15.50, Chicken 16.50, Chicken Tikka 17.50, Lamb 18.50, King Prawn 21.50, Paneer 16.50, Monkfish 23.50.
Jalfrezi
Known for its bold flavours, seasoned with Indian spices and sauteed with onions, peppers and tomatoes in a silky masala sauce, topped with fresh coriander.
Bahar Korma
Can’t handle the heat? Our Bahar Korma is cooked with fresh cream, ground almonds & cashews in an aromatic and fragrant mild curry sauce.
Tikka Masala
Arguably the most famous curry, the rich creamy sauce with a slight sweetness to it but still boasts a mild heat. A staple western Indian cuisine.
Punjabi Masala
The taste of Punjab is captured using the unique flavours of robust spices from cumin, coriander, ginger and garlic. Sauteed with onions and peppers and a few chillies, giving it a medium heat.
Chilli Masala
The heat level is in the title – hot! Loaded with chillies, tomatoes and Indian spices. It’s a little bit sweet and tangy but a whole lot spicy.
Chilli & Garlic Masala
The perfect blend of green chilies, tomatoes, Indian spices with a punch of garlic.
Garam Masala
Garam means “hot” but it’s not necessarily uber spicy — it refers to the warm earthy spices such as cardamom and cumin. Packed with flavour using a blend of fresh garlic, ginger and yogurt.
Achari
Achar means ‘pickle.’ Using a flavourful combination of spices such as lime pickles, mint and mango chutney for that hot and tangy kick.
Chettinad
This South Indian style curry uses the exquisite spices by blending curry leaves, mustard seeds. coconut milk. The star spice of Chettinad cuisine is the fiery red chilli, which adds a bold kick to the dishes.
Dhansak
This popular Bombay style curry cooks the creaminess of lentils together with the tang of tamarind sauce, which gives it a rich and aromatic flavour. Popular with lamb or chicken.
Rogan Josh
Originated from Kasmiri, “Rogan” means butter or oil and “Josh” translates to fiery, so this dish is all about cooking in a buttery sauce with high heat. Combining peppers, tomatoes and aromatic spices. Fragrantly spiced and packs a punch. A popular choice with lamb.
Vindaloo
This hot, fiery and tangy dish originates from Goa with Portugues influence. For those who can handle the heat.
Madras
Typically known for its South Indian heritage boasting aromatic spices with a touch of citrus and herbs.
The Usual
Gordons Special Chicken Tikka Chilli Masala
Like our regular Chilli Masala, but with a little more Umph!
Turlough’s Secret Karahi Gosht
This dish has been kept on our menu at Turloughs insistence. Diced Leg of Lamb, slow cooked in a thick medium sauce, with fresh onions, tomatoes & peppers.
Rober Dober Lamb Achari
Only cooked by a special few, using diced leg of lamb & our home made Achari Sauce – however at Roberts request we have added a bit of Chilli to empower and enhance this Already delicious dish.
Toms Veggie Feast
A classic North Indian Dish: Punjabi Rajma Masala – Kidney Beans cooked in a tomato sauce with spices served with boiled rice. We recommend a Alu Gobi side dish to enhance your traditional feast.
Ingrams King Prawn Punjabi
Recommended with King Prawn or Chicken tikka, this dish has Tarka Dal added to it. To finish off in true Peter Style we suggest 2 shots of Sambuca! (optional).
David’s Super Balti Feast
With a Chicken Tikka & Seekh Kebab Starter followed by a Super Balti.
Little India Vegetarian Cuisine
Many moons ago, we used to have our dedicated vegetarian restaurant ‘Little India’ celebrating our love for vegetarian cuisine. As requested by our regulars, we have continued our dedication to that menu for everyone to reminisce and enjoy.
Bombay Aloo
VG. Popular as a side or main dish, diced potatoes tossed with tomatoes and a fusion of spices.
Saag Aloo
VG. A great way to get your greens in, Saag is a combination of leafy greens most popularly Spinach.
Chana Aloo
VG. ‘Chana’ means chickpeas. A delicious and delicately spiced dish of chickpeas and potatoes tossed in tomatoes. A popular side dish.
Aloo Gobi
VG. One of the first dishes you’re taught to cook at home. The humble aloo gobi. ‘Gobi’ means cauliflower in Hindi. A delicious main or side dish.
Bhindi Masala
VG. A dry, stir-fry style dish that highlights the natural flavours of the okra while infusing it with a rich, spiced masala. A popular dish due its simplicity and versatility.
Sarson Ka Saag
VG. A proper taste of Punjab with this version of saag cooked to perfection with mustard greens making it the ideal hearty dish.
Bhurta
VG. Smashed aubergine cooked in a rich, smoky flavour and smooth texture, perfect to mop up with a roti.
Matar Paneer
Classic homestyle dish with paneer and peas, cooked in a rich tomato based gravy with aromatic spices.
Saag Paneer
This wholesome dish combines the creaminess of the spinach and mustard greens from the saag and richness of the paneer making it the ideal sharing dish.
Chana Paneer
This protein packed dish combines chana (chickpeas) with paneer, cooked in a rich tomato based gravy with aromatic spices.
Daal Tarka
VG. A staple in many Indian households, this dish is cooked with yellow lentils with a depth of spices topped with shallow fried onions.
Daal Chilli
VG. Fancy a bit more heat? This version is cooked with some extra chillies for that extra kick.
Daal Saag
VG. Topped with spinach, this version is the perfect way to get some additional greens.
Daal Makani
Rich, creamy and deeply flavoured dish with black lentils. A popular dish in Archana.
Rajma
VG. A family favourite at Archana’s house, boasting hearty flavours of red kidney beans cooked in a deep tomato based gravy.
Classic Chana
Using only Kalbi (white) chana, this classic chickpea is a firm favourite at Archana.
Punjabi Chana
VG. Chickpeas cooked in a rich and spicy tomato based gravy with aromatic spices, boasting a deep flavour.
Chilli Chana
VG. A spicier version of the punjabi chana, cooked with a resh green chillies for that extra oomph.
Achari Chana
VG. With punchy bold tastes, this style of chickpea curry is cooked with tangy mango chutney, lime pickle & spices.
Accompaniments
All nans are made by hand and baked to order freshly in our tandoor.
Pilau Rice / Boiled Rice
Steamed to aromatic perfection. Want plain rice instead? Just ask us.
Mushroom Pilau Rice
Cooked with indian spices, added with mushroom and fried onions.
Archana House Rice
A firm favourite, cooked with cumin, onions and coriander.
Keema Pilau Rice
Combined with fragrant spices and minced meat to create a hearty side dish.
Jeera Pilau Rice
Combined with cumin & fried in ghee.
Naan
Baked fresh in our tandoor.
Butter Naan
Brushed with Butter.
Garlic Naan
Brushed with a garlic and herb infused oil.
Chilli & Coriander Naan
Brushed with a chilli and coriander infused oil.
Cheese Naan
Oozing with stuffed cheesy goodness.
Cheese & Garlic Naan
Oozing with stuffed cheese & garlic.
Peshwari Naan
Stuffed with sugar and spices and everything nice.
Keema Naan
Filled with spiced minced meat.
Tandoori Roti
Cooked fresh in our tandoor with whole wheat flour ‘Atta’.
Paratha
Flaky layered flatbread made with Atta.
Aloo Paratha
The punjabi equivalent of an Irish potato bread, but larger, rounded and spicer.
Raita
Creamy yoghurt topped with masala spices, giving it a nice kick.
Poppadoms
Thin crispy snacks paired perfectly with chutneys.
Selection Tray
Enjoy a selection of the chutneys – mango, mint, onion, chilli.
Chips
Masala Chips
Tossed in a blend of spices, giving them a flavorful and zesty taste.
Side Dishes
Smaller portions straight from the main menu.
Dal Tarka
VG. A staple in many Indian households, this dish is cooked with yellow lentils with a depth of spices topped with shallow fried onions.
Bombay Aloo
VG. Diced potatoes tossed with fusion of spices, tomatoes and curry leaves.
Saag Aloo
VG. Saag is a combination of leafy greens most popularly Spinach. Also known as ‘Palak Aloo’.
Aloo Gobi
VG. The humble aloo gobi. ‘Gobi’ means cauliflower in Hindi.
Bhindi
VG. Diced okra while infused with a rich, spiced masala. A popular dish due its simplicity and versatility.
Mushroom Bhaji
VG. A dry, stir-fry style dish with mushrooms sauteed with spices, tomatoes and finely sliced onions.
Archana's Kids Menu
Enjoy a kids meal with the choice of a fruit juice and dessert for £10.
Chicken Nuggets
Crispy chicken nuggets served with a portion of chips.
Chicken Pakora
Chicken breast marinated with a blend of Indian spices and fried in gram flour batter until golden brown. Served with a portion of chips.
Chicken Curry
Tomato based curry sauce with mild spices, perfect for the little ones taste buds. Served with a portion of chips or plain rice. Can be made vegan.
Vegetable Curry
Tomato based curry sauce with mild spices, perfect for the little ones taste buds. Served with a portion of chips or plain rice. Can be made vegan.
Chicken Korma
Creamy curry sauce with mild spices, perfect for the little ones’ taste buds. Served with a portion of chips or plain rice.
Banquet Menu
Minimum 6 people to order. Choose 3 Main Course Dishes £27.50, Choose 4 Main Course Dishes £32.95. A discretionary 10% service charge will be added to parties of 6 or more. Some of our dishes contain nuts & dairy products. Please ask your server if you have any allergy food issues.
Popadoms, Mint Chutney, Spiced Onions, Coriander Chutney
To Begin.
Mix Platter For 1
Mixture of: Pakoras, Onion Bhaji, Seekh Kebab, Chicken Tikka.
Vegetarian Platter For 1
V. GF. Mixture of: Pakoras, Chat, Onion Bhaji, Samosa.
Archana Classic Balti Dishes
Choose any dishes from this section.
The Usual
Choose any dishes from this section. Excludes David’s Super Balti Feast.
Archana Specialities
Choose any dishes from this section. Excludes Thali option.
Little India Vegetarian Cuisine
Choose any dishes from this section.
Tandoori Grill
Choose any dishes from this section. £5 Supplement.
Monkfish & King Prawn
Choose any dishes from this section. £4 Supplement.
Pilau Rice
Please choose 1 per person from below.
Boiled Rice
Please choose 1 per person from below.
Plain Nan
Please choose 1 per person from below.
Garlic Nan
Please choose 1 per person from below.
Peshwari Nan
Please choose 1 per person from below.
Chilli & Coriander Nan
Please choose 1 per person from below.