Born from a passion for authentic Indian cuisine, Mint Leaf Indian Bistro is the culmination of Chef Jodhvir Singh's 17-year culinary journey.
Starting his career at Tantra, a prestigious upscale restaurant in Los Angeles, Chef Jodhvir eventually relocated to Portland, where he opened two successful restaurants Urban Masala - Hillsboro, Oregon and CHAAYA - Beaverton, Oregon. Now, he brings his 17 years of culinary passion to Salem, Oregon.
From the smoky tandoors of Punjab to the coconut kissed shores of Kerala, every dish on our menu carries the weight of tradition and the spark of innovation. We meticulously source our spices and ingredients to ensure an authentic, world class dining experience.
Signature Collection
Crafted to Perfection
★ Featured
VGF
$14.5
Daal Makhani
Black lentils, tomato, ginger, garlic, fenugreek dust
Take our interactive quiz to uncover your unique culinary personality. We'll recommend the perfect dishes tailored to your spice tolerance, texture preferences, and mood.
"I am the Head Chef at Mint Leaf Bistro in Salem, Oregon. I hold a Culinary Diploma from India and began my professional culinary career at Tantra, a prestigious upscale restaurant in Los Angeles. Over the years, I have developed my skills and passion for creating flavorful and refined dishes. As the head chef, I lead the kitchen team and oversee the menu, making sure every dish served reflects quality, creativity, and an exceptional dining experience for our guests."
"Eventually I relocated to Portland, where I opened two successful restaurants — Urban Masala and Chaaya. Now I have brought my passion to Salem with Mint Leaf Bistro. Over 17 years in the culinary industry, I have created many of my own signature Indian dishes and desserts, and I continue to innovate and add to our menu."
"Every dish I create carries the soul of India and the love of my journey."
Culinary Geography
A Journey Through India
Explore the diverse culinary landscapes of the subcontinent, where every region offers a unique tapestry of flavors, techniques, and traditions.
Punjab
The breadbasket of India. Known for its rich, buttery gravies and extensive use of the tandoor oven. The food here is hearty, robust, and celebratory.
A royal city where South Indian spices meet Mughal cooking techniques. The cuisine is characterized by its careful slow-cooking and complex spice blends.
"Best Indian food I've ever had. Everything was fresh and hot and had great flavor. Portions were large and price was great. 100% recommend!"
Lia Zambrano
Google Review•2 months ago
Lunch
"This is the defacto Indian restaurant in the Salem area. If you like Indian and haven't gone here? Go here. And get the lunch special."
Will Nixon
Google Review•2 years ago
Lunch
"The best Indian food I have had on the west coast. What a find! The food was so well cooked and delicious. We ordered gobi manchurian, Shahi paneer and the daal, all tasted heavenly."
Dhananjay Gupta
Google Review•7 months ago
Lunch
"This place is phenomenal! The food is so very tasty! Lamb biryani and garlic naan never disappoint. Customer service goes above and beyond!"
Amanda Carter
Google Review•3 months ago
Lunch
"If you love Indian food this place is for you. The portions are a real good size, the meat is tender and seasoned really well."
Daniel Phillips
Google Review•2 months ago
Dinner
"Absolutely exquisite! I ordered the shrimp biryani and was amazed. This is the best Indian food in Salem! Each bite was like a festival in my mouth."
Rafael Garcia
Google Review•1 year ago
Dinner
"This was the best Indian food I have ever had! Everything was fantastic, inexpensive, and served in large portions. The naan was incredible."
Tamara Lile
Google Review•3 months ago
Dine in
"I took my daughter here after her graduation ceremony and it was such a great little place. The food was great and really good size portions."
Joanna Anguiano
Google Review•2 months ago
Dine in
"My wife and I had the lamb biryani and chicken curry. It was all delicious! Huge chunks of fall-apart chicken and delicious lamb. Mango lassi was outstanding too."
J Webster
Google Review•8 months ago
Dinner
"The food was spectacular! Especially the butter chicken and manchego chili naan. And the service was even better! Harsh was funny, super helpful and friendly."
Brittany Lucas
Google Review•11 months ago
Dinner
"Run don't walk to this amazing spot if you want to experience Zen. Great friendly service and delicious food. An explosion of carefully layered spices in delicious sauces."
Aoife Mac Mahon
Google Review•2 years ago
Take out
"The owner came out to help me figure out what he could make for me. He wound up making a lamb curry that was perfectly spiced and a very generous portion."
Hailey Oppelt
Google Review•4 months ago
Dine in
"Best Indian food I've ever had. Everything was fresh and hot and had great flavor. Portions were large and price was great. 100% recommend!"
Lia Zambrano
Google Review•2 months ago
Lunch
"This is the defacto Indian restaurant in the Salem area. If you like Indian and haven't gone here? Go here. And get the lunch special."
Will Nixon
Google Review•2 years ago
Lunch
"The best Indian food I have had on the west coast. What a find! The food was so well cooked and delicious. We ordered gobi manchurian, Shahi paneer and the daal, all tasted heavenly."
Dhananjay Gupta
Google Review•7 months ago
Lunch
"This place is phenomenal! The food is so very tasty! Lamb biryani and garlic naan never disappoint. Customer service goes above and beyond!"
Amanda Carter
Google Review•3 months ago
Lunch
"If you love Indian food this place is for you. The portions are a real good size, the meat is tender and seasoned really well."
Daniel Phillips
Google Review•2 months ago
Dinner
"Absolutely exquisite! I ordered the shrimp biryani and was amazed. This is the best Indian food in Salem! Each bite was like a festival in my mouth."
Rafael Garcia
Google Review•1 year ago
Dinner
"This was the best Indian food I have ever had! Everything was fantastic, inexpensive, and served in large portions. The naan was incredible."
Tamara Lile
Google Review•3 months ago
Dine in
"I took my daughter here after her graduation ceremony and it was such a great little place. The food was great and really good size portions."
Joanna Anguiano
Google Review•2 months ago
Dine in
"My wife and I had the lamb biryani and chicken curry. It was all delicious! Huge chunks of fall-apart chicken and delicious lamb. Mango lassi was outstanding too."
J Webster
Google Review•8 months ago
Dinner
"The food was spectacular! Especially the butter chicken and manchego chili naan. And the service was even better! Harsh was funny, super helpful and friendly."
Brittany Lucas
Google Review•11 months ago
Dinner
"Run don't walk to this amazing spot if you want to experience Zen. Great friendly service and delicious food. An explosion of carefully layered spices in delicious sauces."
Aoife Mac Mahon
Google Review•2 years ago
Take out
"The owner came out to help me figure out what he could make for me. He wound up making a lamb curry that was perfectly spiced and a very generous portion."
Hailey Oppelt
Google Review•4 months ago
Dine in
"Beautiful food that hit the spot! Very reasonable prices. The Apricot Lamb and Vegetarian Biryani were delicious! The best mango lassi I've ever had."
Jennifer Neazor
Google Review•2 years ago
Dinner
"Brought my grandparents here for their first Indian experience and they were very impressed. Food was amazing, service outstanding. Be back soon!"
Coby DiBartolo
Google Review•3 months ago
Dine in
"Especially the Goat Biryani/Curry is delicious and all other items are good too. Food and Hospitality is awesome here. Harsh receives every customer very well."
Srinivas Reddy
Google Review•9 months ago
Dinner
"This is our new favorite restaurant, it never disappoints! The food is always fresh and delicious, with portions that leave us satisfied every time."
taylor maxfield
Google Review•1 year ago
Dinner
"I have been to pretty much every Indian food spot local to Salem. Let me tell you if you like Indian food this is the spot. Do yourself a favor."
Nathaniel Sample
Google Review•3 months ago
Dine in
"Our friends told us to try this place, so glad we did! It was so delicious! The food was so full of flavor! Naan bread and Indian tea were also just perfect!"
Yelena I
Google Review•1 month ago
Lunch
"The goat curry and the eggplant curry were extremely delicious, very flavorful and fresh. The goat meat was very tender. The portions were huge."
Linh Vu
Google Review•9 months ago
Dinner
"Mouth watering experience, and can't wait to bring my family here and tell all of my friends. The aroma of spice, ambience and flavor is unmatched."
Nest Egg Auctions
Google Review•1 year ago
Lunch
"The food here is fantastic. And the service is beyond fantastic. They gave us free dessert because we mentioned we felt mild was more like medium. Amazing!"
Jim Wilson
Google Review•1 year ago
Dinner
"WE ATE THERE LAST NIGHT, THE NIGHT BEFORE, Skipped Tuesday, Ate there Monday, AND Sunday, AND YES — Ate at Mint Leaf last Saturday night too."
Caregiver Rick Griffith
Google Review•10 months ago
Take out
"If you live in Salem, and you've never eaten here, do yourself a favor and fix that pronto. Affordable and delicious in a clean comfy place."
Lydia R. Parsley
Google Review•9 months ago
Dinner
"The spot. Honestly can say the best spot in Salem! Great food. Great service. Too bad they keep me coming back — I'm going broke!"
Ryan
Google Review•5 months ago
Lunch
"Beautiful food that hit the spot! Very reasonable prices. The Apricot Lamb and Vegetarian Biryani were delicious! The best mango lassi I've ever had."
Jennifer Neazor
Google Review•2 years ago
Dinner
"Brought my grandparents here for their first Indian experience and they were very impressed. Food was amazing, service outstanding. Be back soon!"
Coby DiBartolo
Google Review•3 months ago
Dine in
"Especially the Goat Biryani/Curry is delicious and all other items are good too. Food and Hospitality is awesome here. Harsh receives every customer very well."
Srinivas Reddy
Google Review•9 months ago
Dinner
"This is our new favorite restaurant, it never disappoints! The food is always fresh and delicious, with portions that leave us satisfied every time."
taylor maxfield
Google Review•1 year ago
Dinner
"I have been to pretty much every Indian food spot local to Salem. Let me tell you if you like Indian food this is the spot. Do yourself a favor."
Nathaniel Sample
Google Review•3 months ago
Dine in
"Our friends told us to try this place, so glad we did! It was so delicious! The food was so full of flavor! Naan bread and Indian tea were also just perfect!"
Yelena I
Google Review•1 month ago
Lunch
"The goat curry and the eggplant curry were extremely delicious, very flavorful and fresh. The goat meat was very tender. The portions were huge."
Linh Vu
Google Review•9 months ago
Dinner
"Mouth watering experience, and can't wait to bring my family here and tell all of my friends. The aroma of spice, ambience and flavor is unmatched."
Nest Egg Auctions
Google Review•1 year ago
Lunch
"The food here is fantastic. And the service is beyond fantastic. They gave us free dessert because we mentioned we felt mild was more like medium. Amazing!"
Jim Wilson
Google Review•1 year ago
Dinner
"WE ATE THERE LAST NIGHT, THE NIGHT BEFORE, Skipped Tuesday, Ate there Monday, AND Sunday, AND YES — Ate at Mint Leaf last Saturday night too."
Caregiver Rick Griffith
Google Review•10 months ago
Take out
"If you live in Salem, and you've never eaten here, do yourself a favor and fix that pronto. Affordable and delicious in a clean comfy place."
Lydia R. Parsley
Google Review•9 months ago
Dinner
"The spot. Honestly can say the best spot in Salem! Great food. Great service. Too bad they keep me coming back — I'm going broke!"
Archaeological evidence shows the earliest use of spices like turmeric, cardamom, black pepper, and mustard seeds. The foundation of Indian flavor profiles is established.
Indus Valley Civilization
1500 BCE
Ayurvedic Alchemy
Food becomes medicine. The concept of balancing the six tastes (sweet, sour, salty, bitter, pungent, astringent) is codified in Ayurvedic texts, shaping how meals are constructed.
Vedic Era
1200 CE
The Royal Kitchens
Central Asian influences merge with Indian spices. The introduction of rich gravies, nuts, dried fruits, and the iconic tandoor oven revolutionizes Northern Indian cuisine.
