Is Indian food like Indian food in America?

AmPreneur

I love India food, but only eaten it in the U.S. and wonder if what we get in the U.S. is an "Americanized" version, as is often claimed about Chinese food.

Thus, I wonder if the dishes I love here will be the same if I ask for them in India or clearly different?


Anyone can comment on how close Indian food in the U.S. to what you get in India.

shpatel

It depends on the authenticity of the place here in the US. But I can honestly say that Indian food in India tastes alot more fresher, and flavorful than what you get here. I know you'll love it.

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AmPreneur

That's great to hear. Indian is my favorite and then Lebanese and then Indonesian.

Darmabum

I have had very authentic Indian food in the States. It can be hard to find, and it'll cost a lot more than that thali you had in Varanasi . . . but there's something atmospheric too about just eating it in India . . . to know the spices were ground that morning just around the corner (instead of ground at some indeterminate date at the Schilling Plant in Modesto) . . . to be surrounded by honking horns . . . cows walking past eating a garland of marigolds . . .

john.sw

AmPreneur

Seeing as you live in Delhi, why don't you pop into a restaurant and try Indian food for yourself?

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thirdreel

Kinda. There's some of everything, I guess--it's a big country and all, so you'll find some great food, some mediocre, some terrible.

I may be heretical here, but I wasn't always impressed with Indian food in India. Chinese food in India, however, was pretty universally awesome.

Shannon

I've found that Indian food at a lot of US restaurants is very similar to what you'll find in India. The only differences I can tell are that in India it's spicier, often oilier/greasier, and the vegetables in India taste VERY good. You'll also find some difference in taste in cream- and dairy-based dishes because of the difference in milk between the US and India.

Shannon

thirdreel, I wasn't always impressed with Indian food either - sometimes, both homemade and restaurant food was hopelessly "blah." I hate daals flavored only with mirchi, and I found that a lot, especially in thalis.

crvlvr

Generally indian food in the US restaurant. the UK has much better to offer.

Digital Drifter

That's wierd, the food I had in the UK was universally too oily and masked all the taste. I'm vegetarian and only chennai dosa in East Ham was close to 'home' food.

In the US, it was exactly like the UK ones except that you had a little more spaces in the dining halls.

In fact, when I order food, I usually tell them to make it with less oil and a little spicy. & usually all I get is the same Dal with the oil spooned out and a muffed attempt at mixing in chilli powder; that ends up making you cough.

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Merchant

Mostly, no. Indian food in any ex-pat restaurant is usually the same list of korma, tandoori, channa masala, etc., with perhaps a regional specialty thrown in. But if you eat in an upscale Indian restaurant in the US or elsewhere, you'll be served what is common in five-star hotels in India.

But in India, there is much more variety, which depends heavily on the region. Also, some dishes like vindaloo are entirely ex-pat constructions, and don't exist in India, except as they have been "re-imported" from Britain.

Keep in mind that India has a very weak restaurant culture--"Why pay for that when I can make it at home for free?" The "best" Indian restaurants, those that serve "cuisine," are in the big cities or the best hotels, and they cater to an upscale market. The standard restaurant in India is just a little roadside canteen, serving a handful of items but in great quantity to workers and travelers.

The best Indian food is prepared at home by an aunty.

In the parlour

I guess food taste is in the taste buds of the taster, but I think Indian food in most US restaurants is quite bland compared to the real thing. Every country adapts cuisine to the tastes of the market. Try Chinese food in India and compare it with Chinese food in the US. Quite different!

lotus blossom

last time i was in india the best meal that i had was in the home of a friend. in fact, it was some of the most delectible indian cuisine that i have ever had. it was made by a guy who is sorta "low man on the totempole" (for lack of knowing what his station is called in the Kashmiri world).

a lot of dishes in india are way too oily, sometimes oversalted too. it all depends on where you go; though it does not necessarily have to be an upscale place. some of the best meals i've had cost around 50 rupees.

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GoanCanuck

Yes, the Indian food available in North America is kind of "India-lite" due to the fact that Americans and Canadians have great difficulty in eating spicy food. The Indian food available in North America is fairly bland from an Indian(East Indian) perspective.

There is going to be a noticeable difference. Be prepared for more oil, masala and chillies.

AmPreneur

Oh, sorry. I'm not there yet. I am suppose to move to Delhi by end of February to open and manage a legal outsourcing operation. The office is in the New Friends Colony / Okhla area and I will be looking for an apartment around there.