Indian Dish Revenue Calculator
Top Selling Indian Dishes
Calculate revenue based on the most popular Indian dishes worldwide according to the latest sales data.
When you think of Indian food, flavors like aromatic rice, creamy sauces, and crisp snack bites probably pop up in your mind. But which dish actually moves the most plates around the world? In this article we’ll uncover the most selling Indian dish by looking at restaurant numbers, grocery sales, and export data.
Key Takeaways
- Biryani consistently tops sales in India and among the Indian diaspora.
- Chicken Tikka Masala is the clear leaderboard champion in the UK and US markets.
- Butter Chicken, Samosa, and Paneer Tikka round out the top five by revenue.
- Sales data comes from restaurant chains, frozen‑food manufacturers, and export reports.
- Understanding the numbers helps chefs and food‑entrepreneurs spot growth opportunities.
How We Measure "Selling" in Food
Sales can be counted in three ways:
- Restaurant volume - how many orders a dish receives in eateries of any size.
- Packaged‑food units - frozen, ready‑to‑eat, or spice‑mix packs sold in supermarkets.
- Export revenue - money earned when Indian food manufacturers ship products abroad.
We pulled data from the India Foodservice Association, Nielsen retail surveys, and the Ministry of Commerce’s export tables (2023‑2024). Combining these sources gives a realistic picture of what people actually buy.
Why Biryani Leads in Its Home Market
Biryani is a layered rice dish cooked with marinated meat, spices, and sometimes vegetables. Originating in the royal kitchens of the Mughal empire, it spread across the subcontinent, adapting to regional tastes - from Hyderabad’s spicy lamb version to Kolkata’s fragrant egg biryani.
According to the India Foodservice Association, biryani accounted for 18% of total Indian restaurant sales in 2024, outpacing all other mains. In the frozen‑food aisle, biryani packets moved 2.9million units, generating about ₹1.2billion in revenue.
Key attributes that drive these numbers:
- Versatility: can be made with chicken, mutton, beef, or vegetables.
- Celebration factor: served at weddings, festivals, and business lunches.
- Easy scaling: cooks can prepare large batches for big events.
Because of these factors, biryani holds the crown for the most selling Indian dish within India itself.
Chicken Tikka Masala: The Global Champion
Chicken Tikka Masala is a grilled chicken piece simmered in a creamy tomato sauce. Though it was invented in the UK by Bangladeshi chefs in the 1970s, the dish is now counted as Indian by most diners abroad.
In the United Kingdom, the British Hospitality Association reported that chicken tikka masala represents 22% of all Indian‑cuisine restaurant turnover. In the United States, the National Restaurant Association listed it as the second‑most‑ordered Indian entree, moving roughly 4.5million plates each year.
Export data shows that ready‑to‑heat chicken tikka masala kits sold by Indian manufacturers generated US$340million in 2023, the highest figure for any single Indian dish overseas.
What makes it a bestseller?
- Mild heat: appeals to a wide palate, especially in Western markets.
- Rich sauce: easy to pair with rice, naan, or even pasta.
- Convenient packaging: frozen or sauce‑mix forms are pantry‑friendly.
Other Heavy‑Hit Dishes
Butter Chicken is a mildly spiced, tomato‑based curry with tender chicken pieces. It sits at #3 in global sales, especially popular in North America where Indian food chains report a 15% share of total Indian‑cuisine revenue.
Samosa are deep‑fried pastry triangles filled with spiced potatoes, peas, and sometimes meat. As a snack, samosas dominate street‑food sales - 3.2million units per year in Indian metros alone - and have a booming frozen‑food market in the UK.
Paneer Tikka features cubes of Indian cottage cheese marinated in spices and grilled. Its vegetarian appeal drives strong sales in the UAE and Singapore, where it accounts for 8% of Indian‑restaurant orders.
Masala Dosa is a thin rice‑and‑lentil crepe stuffed with spiced potato filling. In South India and among the diaspora in the US, it commands a solid 6% of Indian‑cuisine take‑away orders.
Finally, Chaat refers to a family of tangy, sweet‑and‑spicy street snacks like papri‑chaat and aloo‑tikki. While hard to measure in packaged form, chaat accounts for a significant share of Indian fast‑food sales in metropolitan areas.
Side‑by‑Side Comparison of the Top Five
| Dish | Annual Global Revenue (USD) | Primary Market | Typical Price (per serving) | Key Sales Channel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biryani | $420million | India | $7-$12 | Restaurants, frozen packs |
| Chicken Tikka Masala | $380million | UK & USA | $9-$14 | Restaurants, ready‑to‑heat kits |
| Butter Chicken | $310million | USA | $8-$13 | Casual‑dine chains |
| Samosa | $220million | India & UK | $2-$4 | Street stalls, frozen snacks |
| Paneer Tikka | $190million | UAE & Singapore | $6-$10 | Restaurant grills, ready‑to‑eat packs |
Tips for Trying These Dishes at Home
- Start with a reputable frozen‑food brand if you’re new to Indian cooking - they often include spice blends calibrated to taste.
- When making biryani, soak basmati rice for 30minutes; this keeps grains separate and fluffy.
- For a creamier chicken tikka masala, finish the sauce with a splash of full‑fat yogurt instead of cream.
- Paneer holds its shape better if you press it for 15minutes before marinating.
- To crisp samosas without deep‑frying, bake at 200°C for 20minutes, flipping halfway.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Indian dish sells the most inside India?
Biryani leads the domestic market, accounting for roughly 18% of all Indian‑restaurant sales and topping frozen‑food units sold each year.
Why does Chicken Tikka Masala outsell other dishes abroad?
Its mild heat, creamy texture, and convenience‑focused packaging appeal to Western palates, making it a staple on menus in the UK, US, and Canada.
Are there reliable sales figures for street foods like Chaat?
Exact numbers are harder to capture, but market surveys estimate that chaat accounts for over 10% of Indian fast‑food turnover in major metro areas.
How can small restaurants boost sales of these top dishes?
Focus on consistent quality, offer combo meals (e.g., biryani + raita), and highlight the dish on social media with vivid photos.
Is there a seasonality effect on biryani sales?
Biryani spikes during festivals like Eid and wedding seasons, but its everyday popularity keeps it in the top spot year‑round.