Anarkali Restaurant Review

April 30, 2017

I’ve been searching for a good Indian restaurant near USC that isn’t as far away as Artesia. Artesia, a neighborhood in LA, is considered “Little India” but it can be a 45 min drive. I finally found one – Anarkali on Melrose in West Hollywood.

You can always judge a good North Indian restaurant by whether or not they provide the traditional complimentary appetizer of papad, a fried, circular food and chutney. It’s the equivalent of chips and salsa in a Mexican restaurant. Anarkali provided this appetizer which the restaurants I’ve been to so far don’t usually do. Unfortunately, their chutne yleft something to be desired as it was watery.

I ordered their vegetarian mushroom entree with garlic and basil naan. The unusual combination of herbs in the naan was suprisingly good and the mushroom entree was in a savory, creamy curry cooked just right. I couldn’t eat it all but packed it home for a delicious leftover! My friend enjoyed her order of the lamb tikka masala and savored her samosas as well.

If you like Coffee Bean or Starbucks’ chai tea latte (the name is a bit redundant), then try the authentic Indian chaiat Anarkali. It tastes great.

Our waiter also surprised us with complimentary Indian “soups” as part of our appetizers that we didn’t ask for. I’m guessing this was part of their old-world hospitality because we were first time customers.

We were too full for dessert but I have no doubt they would be good too.

The ambiance was casual with separate booths that encouraged good conversation. The wooden engraving decorations and the carved front door were a nice touch too. It’s not the best restaurant by any means, but it came the closest to my standard for an Indian restaurant.

Published on April 30th, 2017

Last updated on August 29th, 2017


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