Top 22 South Asian Appetizer Ideas for Restaurants: Indian, Pakistani & Bangladeshi Starters Guide

This starter menu guide is designed to help chefs, restaurant owners, and F&B managers develop a professional, South Asian–inspired appetizer section for their casual-fine or family dining restaurant. The curated list includes 22 carefully selected vegetarian, seafood, chicken, and red-meat starters from Indian, Pakistani, and Bangladeshi cuisines—complete with portion suggestions and hotel-standard descriptions to support menu planning, costing, and kitchen operations.

🌿 VEGETARIAN APPETIZERS

1. Paneer Tikka Skewers

Char-grilled cottage cheese cubes marinated in yogurt & spices.
Portion: 6 cubes

2. Vegetable Pakora Basket

Assorted seasonal vegetables dipped in chickpea batter & fried crisp.
Portion: 8 pieces

3. Aloo Tikki Chaat

Shallow-fried potato patties served with chutneys & masala yogurt.
Portion: 3 patties

4. Hara Bhara Kebab

Spinach, potato & green pea patties with mild spices.
Portion: 4 kebabs

5. Crispy Corn Pepper Fry

Golden fried corn kernels tossed with ginger, garlic & crushed pepper.
Portion: 150g bowl

6. Chili Paneer (Dry)

Indo-Chinese style paneer tossed with capsicum, onion & chili sauce.
Portion: 10–12 pieces

7. Dahi Puri Shots

Crispy puris filled with yogurt, chutneys & spice mix.
Portion: 6 puris

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🐟🍗 FISH & CHICKEN APPETIZERS

8. Chicken Malai Tikka

Creamy, mildly spiced chicken cubes grilled to perfection.
Portion: 6 pieces

9. Chicken Reshmi Kebabs

Soft, juicy chicken kebabs with smooth cashew-yogurt marinade.
Portion: 4 kebabs

10. Chicken 65 (South Indian Style)

Crispy deep-fried chicken bites tossed in chili & curry leaf tempering.
Portion: 12–14 pieces

11. Tandoori Chicken Wings

Smoky tandoori-marinated wings with charred edges.
Portion: 6 wings

12. Fish Amritsari Fry

Crisp batter-fried fish seasoned with carom seed & Punjabi masala.
Portion: 6 pieces

13. Fish Tikka (Bengali/Mughlai Fusion)

Boneless fish cubes marinated in mustard, yogurt & warm spices.
Portion: 6 cubes

14. Prawn Chili Garlic (Dry)

Stir-fried prawns with chili flakes, garlic & spring onions.
Portion: 8–10 prawns

15. Chicken Seekh Kebab

Minced chicken with herbs & spices roasted on skewers.
Portion: 4 kebabs

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🐐🐄 RED MEAT APPETIZERS (Mutton/Beef)

16. Mutton Seekh Kebab

Charcoal-smoked minced mutton skewers with garam masala & herbs.
Portion: 4 kebabs

17. Beef Boti Kebab

Tender beef cubes marinated overnight & grilled for smoky flavor.
Portion: 6 cubes

18. Mutton Chaap (Kolkata Style)

Slow-cooked mutton ribs coated with aromatic Mughlai spices.
Portion: 2–3 ribs

19. Beef Shami Kebab

Lentil & mince patties pan-seared until golden.
Portion: 4 patties

20. Mutton Bhuna Fry Bites

Spicy dry-fried mutton pieces with onions & green chilies.
Portion: 150g bowl

21. Beef Kala Bhuna Croquettes

Inspired by Chittagong “Kala Bhuna”; shredded beef in crispy croquettes.
Portion: 4 croquettes

22. Mutton Tawa Tikka

Boneless pieces tossed on a sizzling tawa with butter & masala.
Portion: 6 pieces

See southasian Main course Idea here