Royal India - San Diego

**What makes this different:** While most Gaslamp dining leans hard into tacos, craft cocktails, and late-night fuel for the club crowd, Royal India operates on a completely different rhythm. This is the neighborhood's go-to when you want actual sit-down Indian food—proper paneer tikka masala, garlic naan pulled fresh from the tandoor, and spice levels calibrated to your actual tolerance, not some dumbed-down tourist version. It's not trying to out-party the rest of the district; it's offering an alternative to it.

The space runs elegant without being precious—tablecloths, attentive service, room to breathe even when downtown gets packed. Locals use it for business lunches where you can actually hear each other talk, or family dinners where kids are welcome and nobody's rushing you out for the next seating. The buffet pulls a steady weekday crowd, but the kitchen clearly cares more about the made-to-order menu—reviewers keep circling back to the chicken chilli ginger and how the garlic naan comes out actually garlicky, not just brushed with herb-scented oil.

Parking is standard Gaslamp nightmare, but the location makes it walkable from most downtown hotels. Reservations matter on weekends when convention crowds discover it. The chai tea shows up in enough reviews to suggest they're doing something right beyond the obvious curry options. Outdoor seating exists, though Market Street isn't exactly a serene backdrop.

This is the spot you remember exists when the fourteenth brewpub starts feeling interchangeable—a neighborhood anchor that serves a completely different need than everything else within three blocks.