Passage to India is an Indian restaurant at 20 Union Place in central Edinburgh, opposite the Playhouse. Its location near public transport makes it a practical choice before a performance or for an evening meal in the city. The restaurant emphasises welcoming service and a traditional approach rather than a highly experimental format.
Chefs use established methods and ingredients to produce home style Indian cooking. The menu moves across starters, tandoori preparations, curries, rice, breads and accompaniments, allowing diners to build a meal around different sauces and levels of spice. Meat, seafood and vegetable choices provide enough breadth for a mixed table.
Ordering several mains and side dishes to share is a useful way to experience contrasting flavours and textures. Staff can explain the distinctions between current recipes, help with heat preferences and advise on ingredients. Guests with allergies or specific dietary needs should always confirm the latest information before choosing.
Drinks and desserts offer a measured finish after the richer savoury dishes. The room suits both couples and groups, with evening hours aligned to its city centre setting. Passage to India’s appeal is straightforward: traditional Indian food, made with care, served in a convenient part of Edinburgh close to major theatres and transport links.
Address: 20 Union Place, Edinburgh EH1 3NQ, United Kingdom
passage to india New Town Menu
Starters
Vegetable Pakora
Deep fried chopped vegetables, spiced and coated with gram flour.
Onion Bhaji
Freshly cut strings of onion spiced and deep fried.
Vegetable Samosa
Indian pastry stuffed with spiced potato and peas filling, served with tamarind sauce.
Chilli Paneer
Cubes of homemade Indian cheese sautéed with pepper, onion and green chilli.
Paneer Tikka
Indian cheese cubes marinated with Indian spices and grilled in tandoor.
Chicken Pakora
Tender chicken marinated in a blend of fragrant spices, then coated in a chickpea flour-based batter.
Chicken Tikka
Chicken cube marinated with yoghurt spice sauce and grilled in tandoor.
Lamb Chops
Marinated with yoghurt spice sauce and grilled in tandoor, served with mint sauce.
Seekh Kebab
Mince of lamb and chicken mixed with cheese, spices, herbs and grilled in tandoor.
Tandoor Mix Platter
Chicken tikka, monk fish, lamb chops, seekh kebab.
Tandoori King Prawn
King prawn marinated with yoghurt spice sauce and grilled in tandoor.
Fish Tikka
Monkfish fillet marinated with mustard, yoghurt, spice sauce and grilled in tandoor.
Special Starters
Haggis Samosa
Indian pastry filled with Scottish haggis, turnip, Indian spices accompanied by tamarind and chilli sauce.
Himalayan Mo:Mo
Steamed dumplings stuffed with spiced minced chicken, served with special sauce. Note: Minimum 10 to 15 mins to prepare.
Passage to India Specials
Chicken Korma
Chicken malai tikka cooked in cashew nuts, coconut and cream based sauce.
Butter Chicken
Cooked in rich creamy cashew nut, tomato based sauce touch of fenugreek leaf.
Green Herb Chicken
Chicken tikka cooked in fresh herbs paste, green pepper and green chilli.
Chicken Tikka Masala
Chicken tikka infused in a creamy almond fruity sauce.
Chicken Ceylon
Chicken breast cooked with coconut dust, curry leaf, mustard seed.
Lamb Rogan Josh
Lamb cooked in Kashmiri style with Rogan of Kashmiri mirch.
Lamb Saag
Cooked in tomato onion based sauce with spinach and mustard leaf, a touch of cream and butter.
Punjabi Methi Gosht
Lamb cooked with aromatic fenugreek leaves and spices.
Chef's Classical Dishes
Choose from: Chicken £13.50, Lamb £14.50
Balti
Cooked in ginger-based Balti sauce with pepper and onion cubes.
Bhuna
Cooked with thick gravy with dice tomato spring onion.
Karahi
Cooked in karahi sauce along with pepper, onion and a touch of cream.
Jalfrezi
Cooked with onion tomato-based sauce. Stir-fried onion, pepper and red chilli.
North Indian Chilli Garlic
Cooked in hot and spicy homemade chilli garlic sauce.
Madras
Curry that is a spicy, hot and tangy curry that’s believed to be inspired by the Tamil cuisine in southern part of India
Vindaloo
Originally believed to come from Goa and Vasai in India, this is super hot and spicy curry cooked with full flavour of Indian spices.
Passage to India Grill
All grill dishes served with curry sauce and pilau rice. Minimum cooking time: 20 minutes.
Paneer Tikka Shashlik
Indian cheese, marinated yoghurt sauce and grilled in tandoor with peppers, mushroom and onion.
Chicken Tikka
Chicken breast marinated with tandoori yoghurt sauce grilled in tandoor.
Chicken Tikka Shashlik
Boneless chicken marinated along with onion, peppers, mushrooms and tandoori paste.
Tandoori Chicken
Chicken on the bone marinated with tandoor yoghurt sauce and grilled in tandoor.
Lamb Chops
Marinated in yoghurt, herbs, spices based sauce and cooked in Tandoor.
Monk Fish Tikka
Fresh monkfish fillet marinated in mixed herbs and spices, slow cooked in Tandoori Oven.
Passage to India Mix Grill
Tandoori chicken, lamb chops, king prawn, chicken tikka and seekh kebab.
Tandoori King Prawn
Marinated with tandoori sauce and cooked in tandoori oven.
Seafood
Chilli Garlic Tiger Prawn
Cooked in hot and spicy homemade chilli garlic sauce.
Tiger Prawn Madras
Cooked with full flavour of Indian spice and very hot.
Kerala Fish Curry
Tilapia fish cooked with whole red chilli, mustard seed, curry leaf, coconut and gravy.
Hyderabadi Biryani
A celebratory rice dish infused in herbs and spices from India. Served either in layered marinated meat of your choice or for vegetarians with mixed vegetables. This comes with separate curry sauce and raita (a creamy sauce with a yoghurt base, chopped onions, blak salt and other Indian spices). Choose from: Vegetable £14 / Chicken £15 / Lamb £16.50 / King Prawn £16.45
Vegetable Biryani
Chicken Biryani
Lamb Biryani
King Prawn Biryani
Vegetarian
Paneer Butter Masala
Indian cheese cooked in rich creamy, cashew nut, buttery based sauce.
Daal Makhni
Black lentils and kidney beans cooked with spices, butter and cream.
Paneer Karahi
Cooked in karahi sauce along with pepper, onion and a touch of cream.
Daal Tadka
Yellow lentil tempered with ghee, red chilli, onion, garlic and fresh coriander.
Mix Vegetable Bhaji
Seasonal mixed vegetables cooked in chef’s style.
Saag Paneer
Indian cheese cooked with spinach and spices.
Naan
Plain Naan
Butter Naan
Garlic Naan
Peshwari Naan
Cheese and Garlic Naan
Tawa Paratha
Tandoori Roti
Chapati
Rice
Boiled Basmati Rice
Pilau Rice
Jeera Rice
Coconut Rice
Mushroom Rice
Special Rice
Fried rice with peas, egg and spices.
Sides
Daal Tarka
Bombay Aloo
Chana Masala
Chips
Bhindi Bhaji
Salad
Raita
Sundries
Pickle Tray
Mango Chutney / Spiced Onions / Mixed Pickle / Mint Sauce
Dips
Mango Chutney & Spiced Onions