Ruchi, San Francisco

The menu at Ruchi's is large enough to encompass all the usual dishes familiar to U.S. fans of Indian food—chicken tikka masala, tandoori prawns, sag paneer. But adventurous diners will find it's also filled with less-expected corners. The menu has a South Indian slant, which means that the sweetness of coconut provides frequent contrast to complex—and sometimes fiery—spice blends. Curries are inspired by India's Chettiar community, historically made up of traders who had access to an exceptional variety of spices and used them to create intensely spicy, aromatic dishes. Another staple: frequent and interesting use of rice and lentils, which are blended to form crepe-like dosas and the savory pancakes known as uttapam.