Indian food help!

Jephy_R

When I was in India I must admit that I had trouble with the food. I was in the country for nearly 3 months and only really found food I enjoyed about 2.5months into the trip.

I think the problem was that I had no idea what things on the menu actually were and so nearly always ordered without a clue of what I was getting.

I was hoping someone could describe some of the various foods found in India so next time I go (I'm leaving on 12th Feb) I'll have a better understanding of what I'm getting.

Thanks in advance

machadinha

Hm. I suppose there are dozens of threads on it, so search around some. Try this one (it's just an old one that I happen to have contributed to, half of my observations may be crap): food vocabulary

I recognize the problem btw, I've traveled with people like that. When they finally discovered Indian cuisine proper this seemed to greatly enhance their overall experience. I'd say what's nice about Indian food is in most places it will be very easy to get acquainted with some of the basics in restaurants at home, and this will greatly add to your trip as such. Esp. if like me a decent meal tends to make your day.

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SteamBuff

Err ... Why don't you ask what things are?

Dave

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crvlvr

Jephy, If you are an Indian food novice, try spending some time in London's numerous restaurants finding out hat you like and ordering the same dishes in India.

Here is link that gives you a general over view http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_cuisine

If you are a picky eater, as the waiter to list out the ingredients in the dish and rule them out if they contain something you don't like.

While the above strategy will not guarantee success, it may reduce the risk.

Jephy_R

I did in lots of places but not all Indians can speak english in a way that's particularly useful as far as food is concerned. Often the best I could get out of someone was "spicy vegetables". Other times I was given something totally different to what had been described.

As machadinha said - my enjoyment of the trip was greatly increased once I found a few things that I really enjoyed and for me, dinner is a big part of my day. The variety and sheer numbers of flavours and foods in India is like nothing I'd experienced before and guesswork simply isn't a good way to decide whats for din dins.

machadinha - thanks for that food vocabulary, that's exactly the sort of think I was looking for, maybe it should be a sticky thread?

I'm a MASSIVE fan of Indian food back here in the UK but the restaurants are often not true to the names of the food in India. In my experience the flavour you get over here is much different to that in India - Same thing happened when I had chinese food in China.

machadinha

Y'r welcome. And it already is

Seriously and again, I do really suggest hitting some Indian eateries at home if you can before leaving and learning some of the basics. The staff will normally be delighted at your efforts and to help you out.

(Note and thinking some more: It is possible in Britain this has been too thoroughly localized. I'm sure they'd help you out with the real names though. What you might run into then is the local Punjabi Pakistani etc. names may not get you very far anywhere else.)

karuna

There are (at least in my city) relatively few "real" Indian restaurants, by which I mean a) run by Indians (rather than Pakistanis or Bangladeshis, though what difference that might make I don't know) and b) serving food that you would recognise as Indian food as served in India. And in London you also want to make sure it's not going to break the bank.

There are a number of inexpensive South Indian restaurants in the back streets behind Oxford Street and Tottenham Court Road that tasted pretty authentic (err...well, they tasted similar to the dosas we had in north India! ). Sagar, on Percy Street, is one- only south Indian chefs there. There's another called Kerala near there too.

If you get off the tube at Euston Square and head round the back there, you'll find Drummond street, a small street packed with Indian goodness. There are 3 or 4 Indian restaurants- one is called Chutneys, it has a window full of accolades. Deewana is the one I've been to down there and it's pretty authentic. Also down there is a branch of Ambala sweet shop and also Gupta Sweets, as well as a tardis-like spice shop which smells wonderful and has shelves of pani puris and all sorts of wonderful stuff.

I discovered all this because it's about 2 streets up from the London office of my employer!

Jephy_R

Once again, thanks for the help and advice! My local Indian restaurants menus seem to lack any of the language I saw on menus in India. I'm heading down to London next week to do some bits and bobs so I'll pay one of those restaurants a visit

Nick-H

For best and cheapest South Indian food, go to East Ham and try places like Chennai Dosa or one of the many Sri-Lankan-run restaurants there.

You can also find such places in areas like Ealing, Wembley etc. etc.

Areas like Green Street (just next-door to East Ham) and Southall have a much more Northern offerring.

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NeeliAankhen

There's a Lonely Planet India food book - worth buying or borrowing - I got it used online but you probably don't have time. But it's just what you want.

Meanwhile - I would bet money you'd like butter chicken. I think makan-butter, makhni is "buttery" probably - anyhow it's a no-hot-spices dish that's nice for people newer to Indian food.

capt_mahajan

If you tell us what parts of India you are visiting, what kind of Indian food you like(d), and your tolerance level for spicy or 'hot' food, I am sure many here would have suggestions.

The_Londoner

If you are heading down to London, don't go to main restaurants. I am of an Indian origin and I have to say, Indian restaurant food is nothing like what you will find in India.

I would recommend places like Sakoni's on Ealing road. It's a must. Many many dishes here you will find on Menu in India. You can also finish with Pan. There is also a Dosa place there, the name of restaurant I can not remember. Spend an afternoon browsing Ealing Road in Wembley.

Nick-H

I think Chennai Dosa is there now (started in E. Ham). You will find this kind of food, and it will be authentic, where-ever there is a large Tamil community. The two in London that I am familiar with are Wembley (Wembley Central and Ealing Road) and East Ham. You will also find temples which, at least on the inside, are South Indian style. The new Murugan temple in East Ham is Tamil-style on the outside too! Worth taking a look.

Jephy_R

I'm starting off my trip in Delhi and ending in Goa. I honestly have no idea where I'm going yet - I prefer to get off a plane and do everything on gut instinct rather than plan things too much. I would like to make it up to the Himalayas again, get out to Amritsar and hopefully Varanasi. In Goa I pretty well stick to the Goan fish curry and traditional breakfasts.

I love spice and every now and then like a dish that makes tears stream down my face. Any suggestions?

capt_mahajan

Most of the food everywhere you are going except Goa will be similar.

I would go to a decent resteraunt in Delhi frequented by Delhi-ites (sure people can suggest that), order either a North Indian thali

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thali

which gives you a cross section of what kind of food is usually eaten there,

OR

order a la carte after taking a walk around and seeing what other people are eating and which looks interesting.

You could try good dal, roti, paneer (cottage cheese) gravy, kebabs.. the list is endless.

Same in Goa, very good seafood there if you like it.

Maybe this will help, too, a little bit

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Indian_dishes


When travelling and in doubt, I go to crowded places and sample what the locals are eating, then order. I have even gone inside kitchens in China to sample. Nobody minds. The crazy foreigner syndrome sees you through


Uttarankhand, try the aloo parathas, easily available everywhere. And samosas