How to Tell Indian Restaurants Apart

Across the country and around the world, many people are hooked on the spicy and savory taste of Indian food. This has resulted in a dramatic increase in restaurants of varying quality and service. There are a few things you should keep in mind when visiting your local Indian food joint. These tips can help you determine where to eat and where to go back to eat. 

You get what you pay for: Indian food is not fast food. Most of the exotic dishes take quite a long time to make and may spend hours simmering on the stove before they are ready. Add to that the fact that using fresh ingredients requires a lot of preparation time, and you have true labor in the kitchen. This type of work does not come for free and the dish you are enjoying may have taken a few people a few hours to prepare. Keep this in mind when comparing prices and don’t automatically rule out higher priced restaurants. They may be more expensive, but you often get what you pay for. 

Spicy spices: Indian food is all about the exotic blend of spices that make the flavors explode on your palate. However, more spice is not always better and too many spices can make the dish taste confusing. Subtle spices are often the best sign in good restaurants and foods that pick up the flavor are memorable and favorite dishes. 

Not everything is cooked with curry: Similar to the spicy spices, curry is a staple of Indian food but does not have a place in every dish on the menu. Curry is often used sparingly in many Indian restaurants and other ingredients take its place. Chilies, pepper, tamarind, coconut, cottage cheese, ghee, and yogurt are common alternatives to curry flavor. 

Get a guide: If you are truly new to Indian food, it may be helpful to tour a restaurant or three with a guide. Find a friend or family member that can help you navigate the many choices available and help you discover what you like. Along the way, you will also discover what you don’t like and be better able to discern flavors, menu selection, and prices as you go.

In the end, comparing many different Indian restaurants is all about experience. So head out into your community and try a few different locations. It may be helpful to keep a small notebook with comments about each visit and take care to remember what you did and did not like.