Alibaba Tandoori & Curry Restaurant has served Pattaya since 1984 - making it the longest-running Indian restaurant in the city. Located at 1/13-14 Central Pattaya Road, the kitchen specializes in Mughlai and North Indian cuisine: tandoori platters, marinated kebabs, aromatic biryanis, classical curries, and flavorful naan from the wood-fired tandoor. The menu is large with detailed explanation of regional Indian cooking styles. Halal-certified throughout. Phone: 038-361620. Open daily 11:00-23:00. Starters from 120 THB, kebabs around 355 THB. The reliable Indian benchmark in Pattaya for over four decades.
Our take
Alibaba Tandoori & Curry Restaurant is Pattaya's oldest Indian restaurant - opened in 1984 and operating continuously at 1/13-14 Central Pattaya Road for over 41 years. That kind of longevity in a city with high restaurant turnover is itself a quality signal: the restaurant has survived multiple economic crises, political instabilities, the COVID-19 closure period, and changing tourism patterns by maintaining consistent quality. The cuisine is predominantly Mughlai - the refined imperial cooking that emerged from the Mughal courts of northern India and represents one of the highest-skill traditions of Indian cuisine - alongside broader North Indian classics. The tandoor program is the kitchen's centerpiece. The traditional clay-and-charcoal oven is fired throughout service hours, producing fresh-baked naan (plain, garlic, butter, peshwari with coconut-and-raisin filling), tandoor-cooked meats (chicken tikka, malai chicken, tandoori chicken, seekh kebab, malai kofta, lamb tikka), and tandoor-baked breads. The kebab program is similarly serious - around 355 THB for substantial portions including chicken kebabs, paneer (cheese) kebabs, Murgh Malai (BBQ chicken in cream-and-spice marinade), and shami kebab (lamb-and-lentil patties). The biryanis are prepared in the traditional dum style - the meat and rice sealed in a pot and slow-cooked together, the steam from below cooking everything to layered perfection. Lamb biryani is the signature; chicken biryani is the everyday option; vegetable biryani for non-meat eaters. Curries cover the classical North Indian range: butter chicken, dal makhani (slow-cooked black lentils), paneer makhani (cottage cheese in tomato-cream), karahi gosht (lamb in iron pot), saag (spinach with paneer or chicken), rogan josh (Kashmiri lamb). Starters at 120-350 THB include the standard Indian appetizers: chats (cold spiced snacks), onion bhaji, vegetable samosas, papadom with pickles. Sweets include gulab jamun, rasmalai, kheer, and gajar halwa. Drinks lean Indian: lassi (sweet, salty, mango), masala chai, fresh-pressed juices, plus a small alcohol list. The dining room is unfussy traditional - Indian artwork on walls, Mughlai-influenced decor, comfortable family-restaurant seating. The clientele is the right mix for credibility: substantial Indian and Pakistani residents and visitors, halal-observant tourists from Malaysia and Indonesia, plus a steady Western tourist contingent who've heard about Pattaya's best Indian. Service is multilingual (English, Hindi, Urdu, Thai). The 41-year operation means the kitchen knows what it's doing - this is not an experimental Indian restaurant, it's an institution.
The atmosphere
The dining room reads as traditional Indian-restaurant warmth: deep terracotta and gold walls, framed artwork depicting Mughlai miniature paintings and Rajasthani scenes, hanging brass lamps with cut-out patterns that throw decorative light on tables, dark wood furniture with carved details, ceramic plates and traditional Indian serving pieces displayed on shelves. Lighting is warm and yellow - designed for evening dining without harshness. Background music is mostly traditional Indian classical or Bollywood at moderate volume - present without dominating. The smell when you walk in is the giveaway you're in a serious Indian restaurant: tandoor smoke, garlic, ginger, garam masala, fresh-baked naan, the distinctive cardamom-and-rosewater scent of biryani. Tables are spaced for groups - large round tables for 6-8 are standard, smaller tables for couples on the perimeter. The clientele creates the atmosphere: Indian and Pakistani families dining in groups of 6-12, halal-observant tourists, business travelers from the South Asian subcontinent, Western tourists who appreciate the traditional setting. Conversation is in Hindi, Urdu, English, Thai, and occasionally Tamil. The pace is leisurely - Indian dining traditions favor extended meals - and 90-150 minutes for a full meal is normal. Saturday and Sunday family lunches bring the most energetic atmosphere.
What works
- Pattaya's oldest Indian restaurant - 41 years of continuous operation since 1984
- Halal-certified throughout with documented sourcing
- Tandoor program is serious - fresh-baked naan throughout service
- Lamb biryani prepared in traditional dum style (sealed pot, slow-cooked)
- Mughlai cuisine specialty - the refined imperial Indian tradition
- Multilingual service - Hindi, Urdu, English, Thai
- Strong Indian and Pakistani clientele as a quality signal
- Detailed menu with regional Indian cooking explanations
- Honest mid-tier pricing - kebabs 355 THB, starters 120-350
What to know
- Decor is traditional/dated - charming for some, tired for others
- Spice levels are toned down by default for tourists - say 'Indian spicy' for real heat
- Limited dessert variety compared to dedicated Indian sweet shops
- Wine list is sparse - alcohol is minor part of the operation
- Lamb biryani takes 30-35 minutes - order at start of meal
- Central Pattaya Road location is busy/loud during peak hours
What to expect
Walk in or call ahead for reservations. The host (often Indian or Indian-Thai) seats you and brings menus immediately. Bilingual menu (English-Hindi) with photos and detailed descriptions of regional Indian cooking styles. Order pace: papadom with pickles arrives free as a starter; appetizers within 10-15 minutes; tandoor items within 18-25 minutes (cooked to order); biryanis within 30-35 minutes (sealed dum cooking takes time); curries within 15-20 minutes. Order rice and breads (naan, roti) to share with curries. Most groups order 1 main per person plus 2-3 sharing dishes. Allow 90-150 minutes for a full meal. Bills paid at the table.
Menu highlights
Is it worth the price?
Alibaba is mid-tier value Indian. Starters 120-350 THB. Kebabs around 355. Curries 280-480. Lamb biryani 380. Naans 60-100. Per-person cost: 500-900 THB for a full meal with bread, curry, and a drink. Compared to other Pattaya halal-Indian restaurants (Indian by Nature, Palace Restaurant), Alibaba is similar pricing or slightly cheaper - but with the longevity advantage of 41 years' track record. Compared to Bangkok Indian restaurants, Alibaba is significantly cheaper for similar quality. The halal-certified sourcing justifies the slight premium over non-halal Indian options. Excellent value for the longevity, quality, and halal certification combination.
Insider tips
- Lamb biryani (380 THB) is the calling-card dish - dum-style sealed-pot preparation takes 30-35 minutes; order at start.
- Spice levels are toned down by default - say 'Indian spicy' for real heat.
- Murgh Malai kebab (355 THB) is the under-the-radar standout - delicate cream-cardamom marinade, rare execution.
- Halal certification is documented - ask the manager for the certificate if needed.
- Mixed tandoori platter (580 THB) is the share-with-table starter - sizzling presentation with naan.
- Garlic naan and peshwari naan are both worth ordering - peshwari (sweet) is unusual for Pattaya Indian restaurants.
- Dal makhani is a 24-hour slow-cooked dish - the depth is worth the time.
- Ramadan iftar bookings need 2-3 weeks advance reservation.
- Indian and Pakistani clientele provide a quality benchmark - if the room is full of South Asian families, the food is right.
- 41 years of operation is the strongest quality signal - the restaurant has earned its longevity through consistency.
The story
Alibaba Tandoori & Curry Restaurant opened in 1984 - making it Pattaya's oldest continuously-operating Indian restaurant by a substantial margin. The 1980s Pattaya food scene was overwhelmingly Thai with limited international cuisine; Alibaba was a pioneer of the city's now-substantial Indian dining scene. The restaurant has expanded the dining area twice but remained at the original Central Pattaya Road location. The halal certification has been continuous. Survived the 1997 Asian financial crisis, 2008 global crisis, 2014 political instability, and 2020-2022 COVID-19 with limited but continuous operation throughout.
Getting there
Central Pattaya Road, central Pattaya. Songthaew baht buses run directly along - 10 THB. Walking distance from most central Pattaya hotels. Grab fare from any central hotel under 80 THB.