Indian food rocks. Let's hear your favorite places to eat it, in Chicago and elsewhere. I have a few favorites:

On Devon:
Udupi Palace -- great for South Indian dosas. Those things are bigger than my face.

Sher-a-Punjab has a great buffet, at lunch and dinner. Robustly spiced, as is customary at Pakistani restaurants.

Arya Bhavan is a more recent entry into the buffet fray, and they do a mighty good job.

Elsewhere:
Standard India on Belmont is a generally reliable buffet joint. A good lunch bet.

Love the 24 hr Zaiqa on Orleans north of Chicago. Cafeteria atmosphere, lots of cab drivers. Friendly and cheap.

Raj Barbar in Lincoln Park, across from Guitar Center, is outstanding with huge portions.

Yum!

Salt Lake City has a few tasty Indian food options. For the decreasingly good deal (at 8 bucks, still not too bad), hit up Taj India or Star of India for the lunch buffets. I think they run from 11:00 to 3:00, Monday thru Saturday.

I would say the "best Indian dining in Salt Lake City" title belongs to Bombay House. They don't have a lunch buffet. It's very authentic. They give you mild, medium, or hot as your spicing options. I suggest the "hot". If you like beer, get a Taj Mahal with your entre.

An off-the-beaten-path option that I love is a place called The Chaat House. Go before 3:00 PM and you can get a meal that includes a drink for $4.50. It's not the best place for vegetarians, but they do have a couple of options. It's cafe-style dining. There is an awesome Indian market called India Sweetz and Spicez right next door. If you like to cook Indian food, they've got the spices you need at a fraction of the cost you'd be charged at major chain grocery stores (and many things you can't find at big grocery stores at all).

My Kitchen.







Faiz

kerble wrote:My Kitchen.







Faiz

dude. i'm inviting myself to your kitchen.

so am i kerble! i love indian food but sometimes it goes through my body like a scud missile.

waltermalling wrote:sometimes it goes through my body like a scud missile.

... then why on earth would he even allow you in his house to eat it?


Milwaukee:
Bombay Sweets is great for on the cheap. It's *the* most unromantic restaurant in all of the midwest though. Really harsh lighting, lots of mirrors, and the food is served on disposeable plates with plastic forks. A $20 gift certificate I gave a newlywed couple as a gift lasted them almost 3 dinners there.

On the other end of the spectrum is Dancing Ganesha. Pricey, but oh so good. I work with the owners' son and brother. (I don't know how else to say that, it's owned by a mother daughter duo.) The mom also teaches cooking classes in her really incredibly beautiful home on Brewer's Hill. They have this vegetarian sampler plate that I get cravings for quite often. Features 5 or 6 different dishes, which for me and my short attention span is ideal. I wish all meals were 6 courses of very small things.

Lots of people seem to love Maharaja, but I just can't get into it... kind of boring. Food is good though.

Anyone who likes this type of food and is coming anywhere near the northern Virginia area owes it to themselves to visit the Connaught Place in downtown Fairfax. My buddy Vijay says theirs is the best indian food he's had inside the US -- I don't know, but I can at least vouch that it's delicious and the service is excellent.

Or, there's my (other) buddy Vijay's mom's kitchen. For a white woman, she cooks up some great curry! Ha ha.

Second to the Punjab on Devon, but I like the Viceroy down the street a bit more. The Tandoori chicken at that place makes me sweat out of my eyes. There's another place on Clark and Fullerton that's actually really good, but I can't remember the name of it. It's right by the My Pie. Anyone?

ahh.

the taste of bengal in hornchurch.

lovely.

What time will dinner be served, Kerble? I eat mint chutney like it's soup.