Is Indian food like Indian food in America?

TulsaisntFar · Jan 21st, 2006, 11:47

I live in the Bay Area and you can find very authentic Dosa's, puri and what i find to be as much fresher Punjabi cusine compared to mumbai. In fact i found the food here to be spicier than any food i ever had in two months in india. but we have a big indian population and that makes all the difference.

Nick-H · Jan 21st, 2006, 12:50

Clarification understood! It did seam strange!

As for Saravana Bhavan, it is now an international chain and because it gets into all the guide books is the one that the tourists look for.

I had the smallest, meanest, paratha korma I've ever seen from one of their branches (near Gemini Flyover) the other day and the flavour was nothing to be recommended either. Nor was the price. They are also the only place I know that has realised that "no ice" means "more juice" --- so they charge more! (Radakrishnan Salai).

gaya · Jan 21st, 2006, 17:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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.

I would say that Australian Indian food is very similar to Indian, too. I know you are asking about America, but I would be really surprised if you found it too different.

When my husband and I travelled to Mexico a couple of years ago we were really shocked - the food there is nothing, I repeat - nothing like what we get here in Mexican restaurants. The 'Mexican' here, we were told is really 'tex mex', but my experience in Indian travel is that it doesn't work the same way. The food in India is wonderful. Phew!

And I had to comment with regard to the different dairy taste. On the whole I enjoyed dairy (always liked the yogurt), but occasionally the milk would really taste funny for me! It made it hard to accept all those friendly chais while shopping.

To this day whenever I don't like the taste of milk I cry 'buffalo milk!'

ddevadatta · Jan 21st, 2006, 17:53

I love threads about Indian food. Just makes me so dang hungry and it is 4:00 AM.

Let me share my preference. I prefer hole in the wall restaurants versus the five star places. Nothing to do with the price, has everything to do with the taste. Spoken by someone who transports 100 % certified organic vegetables to white table restaurants here in eastern USA.

My favorite restauarnt is Gareeb Nawaz on Devon Avenue in Chicago. Has the best Biryani I have ever tasted in a restaurant here in the US or in India.

I lived in Vacouver, BC and found the restaurants there (Punjabi influences) to be horrible. Finally found a small Sri Lankan place which became a regular there.

smida02 · Jan 21st, 2006, 19:14

Phobal wrote:
"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."

Obviously this guy has never been to Texas!!!

I agree that most US Indian food places are norther Indain run by Gujarat's however here in Austin we have at least two Authentic South Indian places, Sawd & Madras Pavilion. Both veg & both VERY spicy and very authentic.

bijapuri · Jan 21st, 2006, 20:39

things you will find different-
no mexicans doing the gruntwork (yet . . .)

some of the most god-awful unsanitary messhalls outside county jail, and

some of the most outrageously lavish layouts this side of a Royal
Saudi familly private whorehouse

all u can eat for one dollar!

For me it tastes better in Silicon Valley, because it's a treat.
-and yes, home made- especialy breakfast, is the way to go.

GoanCanuck · Jan 22nd, 2006, 01:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by ddevadatta

I lived in Vacouver, BC and found the restaurants there (Punjabi influences) to be horrible. Finally found a small Sri Lankan place which became a regular there.

I don't think Vikram Vij's world famous Vij's and Rangoli had started when you were in BC. These places really rock! World class cuisine at fairly resonable prices although it is impossible to get a table on the weekends. A classmate of mine was visiting from Orlando and I took him there but we were told we would have to wait at least 2-3 hours for a table since there was a long line up. You can't book a table in advance at this place, even famous Hollywood celebrities are made to wait.

http://www.vijs.ca/

Lotus-Flower · Jan 22nd, 2006, 01:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Merchant

Just be glad your chicken is dead. I hate seeing the things scratching around one minute and then dining on them an hour later . . .

I prefer the American processed boneless chicken breast that seems like a variant of tofu.

just be glad that ur chicken is dead?

what is that cruelty??

Lotus-Flower · Jan 22nd, 2006, 01:32

If u want to try an authentic indian food elsewhere outside of India go to Hare Krishna Temple!
Its the best

Karma free!!

Auntyji · Jan 22nd, 2006, 09:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by ddevadatta

I lived in Vacouver, BC and found the restaurants there (Punjabi influences) to be horrible. Finally found a small Sri Lankan place which became a regular there.

Was it Nooru Mahal? I was in Vancouver last weekend and went to this restaurant. The worst vegetable kurma I have ever had- imagine finding tons of corn in your kurma.

gaya · Jan 22nd, 2006, 17:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeakXV

back at home you really don't have to be wondering - "When did they actually kill that chicken?

I avoid meat while there. I am not strictly vegetarian, but I eat mainly vegetarian. I wonder about hygeine...so it's just one of those things that I feel may help in staying well.

Sama · Jan 22nd, 2006, 18:25

There are many Indians where I live in the Chicago area, so anytime I want good, authentic Indian food I go to the Indian neighborhood in Chicago where restaurants are family run. There are a few restaurants that are strictly South Indian veg food. Most restaurants I have experience with call themselves "North Indian" restaurants.

I have found a new restaurant close to my house that has both north and south, altho one of the owners is from Bangalore and when I told him I was in Chennai, he tells the cook to make special south food for me. He says, "just like my mother makes!" He also treats me as I was treated in my fave restaurant in Chennai (which was not Saravana Bhavan!) -- that is, when I tell him "no no no" (to food), he thinks it means "more more more"!

This place must be authentic because anytime I go, my husband and I or my friends and I are usually the only westerners in the place!

che castro · Jan 22nd, 2006, 18:50

I have found the Indian food back home is generally a big mix of more northern styles and it is generally not common to find southern stuff like Dosa, Idli Vada, Thali etc. I think the biggest difference is that since there is not exactly a shortage of labour in India, everything is made on the spot. And the street food is something you cant get back home

About the Chinese food, I have never ever heard of "Paneer 65" "Veg Manchurian" "Gobi Manchurian" outside of India. It seems pretty bastardised to me! Have not seen one place that has something like Wonton, Yum Cha, or even BBQ duck - the really common Cantonese stuff you generally find all over the world.

wonderwomanusa · Jan 23rd, 2006, 01:29

> Have not seen one place that has something like Wonton, Yum Cha, or even BBQ duck - the really common Cantonese stuff you generally find all over the world.<

Well, to begin with, you have to find Chinese restaurants that are owned by Chinese people. I've had wonton dishes in Calcutta, and believe I know where to get Dim Sum on my next visit.

GoanCanuck · Jan 23rd, 2006, 09:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by che castro

About the Chinese food, I have never ever heard of "Paneer 65" "Veg Manchurian" "Gobi Manchurian" outside of India.

Many restaurants in India are very innovative in inventing Indianised Chinese dishes.

Had a good laugh at a restaurant in Colva which was serving Japanese fried rice.

Jan 21st, 2006, 12:50	#32
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 25,881	Clarification understood! It did seam strange! As for Saravana Bhavan, it is now an international chain and because it gets into all the guide books is the one that the tourists look for. I had the smallest, meanest, paratha korma I've ever seen from one of their branches (near Gemini Flyover) the other day and the flavour was nothing to be recommended either. Nor was the price. They are also the only place I know that has realised that "no ice" means "more juice" --- so they charge more! (Radakrishnan Salai). __________________ . Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

Jan 21st, 2006, 17:53	#34
ddevadatta Finger Licking Good Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 907	Yummy I love threads about Indian food. Just makes me so dang hungry and it is 4:00 AM. Let me share my preference. I prefer hole in the wall restaurants versus the five star places. Nothing to do with the price, has everything to do with the taste. Spoken by someone who transports 100 % certified organic vegetables to white table restaurants here in eastern USA. My favorite restauarnt is Gareeb Nawaz on Devon Avenue in Chicago. Has the best Biryani I have ever tasted in a restaurant here in the US or in India. I lived in Vacouver, BC and found the restaurants there (Punjabi influences) to be horrible. Finally found a small Sri Lankan place which became a regular there. __________________ Ayurvedic cure for an Indian headache

Jan 21st, 2006, 20:39	#36
bijapuri laid traps for troubadours Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Priustan Posts: 2,601	things you will find different- no mexicans doing the gruntwork (yet . . .) some of the most god-awful unsanitary messhalls outside county jail, and some of the most outrageously lavish layouts this side of a Royal Saudi familly private whorehouse all u can eat for one dollar! For me it tastes better in Silicon Valley, because it's a treat. -and yes, home made- especialy breakfast, is the way to go. __________________ Focusing your life solely on making a buck shows a certain poverty of ambition. It asks too little of yourself. Because it's only when you hitch your wagon to something larger than yourself that you realize your true potential. Barack Obama lookit me!!!: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bijapuri/ Utube fuzzy logic: http://youtube.com/profile_videos?user=bijapuri&p =r

Jan 22nd, 2006, 18:25	#42
Sama a pain in the asana Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: the India inside my heart Posts: 5,204	There are many Indians where I live in the Chicago area, so anytime I want good, authentic Indian food I go to the Indian neighborhood in Chicago where restaurants are family run. There are a few restaurants that are strictly South Indian veg food. Most restaurants I have experience with call themselves "North Indian" restaurants. I have found a new restaurant close to my house that has both north and south, altho one of the owners is from Bangalore and when I told him I was in Chennai, he tells the cook to make special south food for me. He says, "just like my mother makes!" He also treats me as I was treated in my fave restaurant in Chennai (which was not Saravana Bhavan!) -- that is, when I tell him "no no no" (to food), he thinks it means "more more more"! This place must be authentic because anytime I go, my husband and I or my friends and I are usually the only westerners in the place! __________________ *My India, 2005-2008*

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Jan 21st, 2006, 11:47	#31
TulsaisntFar Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: San Francisco Posts: 163	I live in the Bay Area and you can find very authentic Dosa's, puri and what i find to be as much fresher Punjabi cusine compared to mumbai. In fact i found the food here to be spicier than any food i ever had in two months in india. but we have a big indian population and that makes all the difference.

Jan 21st, 2006, 19:14	#35
smida02 Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Austin Texas Posts: 78	Phobal wrote: "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." Obviously this guy has never been to Texas!!! I agree that most US Indian food places are norther Indain run by Gujarat's however here in Austin we have at least two Authentic South Indian places, Sawd & Madras Pavilion. Both veg & both VERY spicy and very authentic.

Jan 22nd, 2006, 01:32	#39
Lotus-Flower Account Closed Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: germany/yugoslavia Posts: 215	If u want to try an authentic indian food elsewhere outside of India go to Hare Krishna Temple! Its the best Karma free!!

Jan 22nd, 2006, 18:50	#43
che castro Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 19	I have found the Indian food back home is generally a big mix of more northern styles and it is generally not common to find southern stuff like Dosa, Idli Vada, Thali etc. I think the biggest difference is that since there is not exactly a shortage of labour in India, everything is made on the spot. And the street food is something you cant get back home About the Chinese food, I have never ever heard of "Paneer 65" "Veg Manchurian" "Gobi Manchurian" outside of India. It seems pretty bastardised to me! Have not seen one place that has something like Wonton, Yum Cha, or even BBQ duck - the really common Cantonese stuff you generally find all over the world.

Jan 23rd, 2006, 01:29	#44
wonderwomanusa Maha Guru Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Northern California Posts: 3,259	> Have not seen one place that has something like Wonton, Yum Cha, or even BBQ duck - the really common Cantonese stuff you generally find all over the world.< Well, to begin with, you have to find Chinese restaurants that are owned by Chinese people. I've had wonton dishes in Calcutta, and believe I know where to get Dim Sum on my next visit.

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