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Lal Mirch
Categories: Restaurants Indian Restaurants Pakistani Indian, Pakistani
11138 Ventura BlvdStudio City, CA 91604
(818) 980-2273
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 11:30 am - 2:30 pm
Mon-Thu, Sun 5 pm - 10 pm
Fri-Sat 5 pm - 11 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Romantic, Classy, Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
Lisa L. said: "Top Kid says, "I like Indian food." We're floored. Son-of-the-fiance is 9 years old and is a very picky eater. Only Dad's chicken (no bones), Dad's pasta, fish sticks or In 'n Out double double with meat, bun and that's it will do.…" read more »
174 reviews for Lal Mirch
Review Highlights
"The best indian food I have had in LA hands down."
(in 16 reviews)
"This place has magnificent Mango Lassi."
(in 12 reviews)
"I almost always order the vegetable korma or house curry..."
(in 7 reviews)
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174 reviews in English
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Review from Annie Y.
Los Angeles, CA
12/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
Really blown away by the food here. I came here around 7 pm on a Friday night with a friend and the restaurant was surprisingly empty. We were promptly seated in a booth and given a basket of papadums. Way to butter me up, guys!
My friend and I shared the chicken mango masala and the chicken vindaloo with an order of rice and an order of garlic naan. Both of the entrees were amazing. The masala was fantastic -- sweet, but not overly so. Vindaloo is my favourite curry, and it was near perfect at Lal Mirch. The curry was chunky and flavourful, and they were generous with their portions of chicken and potatoes. The naan was good, and one order of rice was more than enough for the both of us. We both got lassis, too -- I tried their strawberry lassi, which I've never had before. It wasn't bad. Prices were incredibly fair; we ended paying less than $20 each for an insane amount of food.
By far some of the best Indian food I've had in LA. They have a small parking lot in the back, but if they're busy, you don't have a chance of finding a spot. Lots of street parking on Ventura, though. -
Review from Terri W.
Studio City, CA
2/3/2012
First and foremost, I am so sorry it's taken me so long to rate Lal Mirch. I just had one of the worst indian meals EVER so I thought I would give Lal Mirch its due.
The service is good and the food is very flavorful.
We always get the chicken tikki masala and its never disappointing.
Why not five stars? The naan isn't very good and as I mentioned they no longer have the meat simosas so that's a bit sad. -
Review from Joleen Q.
1/8/2012
Beautiful decor and delicious food at a good price! There is a good selection of wine as well!
The fried rice with vegetables was delish. The chicken tikki masala was yum as well as the garlic naan! -
Review from Chatty K.
Los Angeles, CA
12/21/2011
Meh... not sure I'd recommend them. Waited very long to get a to go order. Also, did not get any complimentary naan or those little flatbread thingy's. Lamb vindaloo seemed to be missing the lamb. Not sure is there was any loo in there either... heehee... actually... yeah, not really... I'm not sure if it had loo.
People I ate with were not impressed! We were starving and didn't care if it was not that great but, it was not... that... great... and we were disappointed. Oh well... the quest continues.
Carry on! -
Review from Lola K.
Studio City, CA
2/4/2012
It's been about 6 months or so since our last take out but we were SO disapointed in the last couple of orders of Chicken Makni....It was not the creamy tomato based sauce but something completely different. It had a different flavor that was so un appetizing. I tried to tell them that it was different but alas my concerns were not met with any interest at all. Maybe they have a new chef? Oh well, I will try them again bit I have to say I'm not going to run out any time soon.
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Review from Erica S.
Manhattan, NY
1/16/2012
Super yummy and creamy Sagh Paneer. Great naan. Highly recommended!
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Review from Jonathan V.
Brea, CA
1/10/2012
Been wanting to try Indian curry and my buddy recommended this place. Damn, it was good!!! Aside from the food being so great, the service was outstanding as well. Even got a free soup and the waiter even wiped our plate clean before serving our food!!! Should be clean in the first place but the waiter made sure the plate was clean. Anyway, just wished the garlic naan was free. It's like $3 charge for 4 pieces. At least the rice was free.
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Review from Ashley C.
Toluca Lake, Los Angeles, CA
1/14/2012
Can you say YUM?! I have recently gotten into eating Indian food and needed to find a new spot since I recently moved into the area. Went with 1 other, ordered the sampler appetizer, coconut shrimp, rice, garlic naan, a Yeti beer, and a chicken dish (I forgot which and didn't try it!) The only downside to this spot is the a la carte style (rice and naan had to be ordered in addition to entrees). The bill came out to about 45.00. The appetizer was vegetarian and super yummy! The place has been quiet each time I have been in, yet gets a lot of foot traffic for take-out. If you are craving some great Indian food, definitely check this place out!
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Review from Prashanth R.
Irvine, CA
9/29/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place has a great atmosphere to begin with. And the waiters are very knowledgeable. There are nice options for dinner but they make it a lot easier by providing the dinner for two deal. I tried the malai kofta and the channa masala. Both tasted really good. The bread and rice were also delish.
Would definitely go here again if I get a chance. -
Review from Harsha R.
9/14/2011
Famished after spending a day at Universal Studios, we were searching for a place nearby to grab a quick dinner. The options weren't looking all that great at 9:30 pm on a Sunday night. Luckily, we came across this Indian restaurant.
Lal Mirch translates to red chili and they were quite true to their name! We opted for medium spicy but the heat level was definitely more high than medium. Not that was a bad thing but it was more of a surprise.
The appetizer (aloo chop) came after the entree. But it tasted really good and all was forgotten. The egg curry was nice and spicy and the chicken tikka biryani was also very tasty. In particular, the chicken was well cooked.
The service was a bit off, the much needed water refills were hard to come by and it even took a while to clear the check. But the manager (?) was quite friendly and it may just been that we caught them late on a Sunday evening and they were quite busy as well.
I can't say I've had better Indian food in LA. -
Review from Procter F.
Santa Monica, CA
11/25/2011
Pretty decent food with some hits and misses. The chicken tikka was decent although the meat was slightly on the tough side and the naan perhaps a bit dry. The dal tarka was good, although the lamb tikka platter was very bland and dry. With such a lackluster review of the food, the saving grace is the ridiculously affordable pricing. If you are on a budget, looking for Indian food, and more hungry than discerning then Lal Mirch will definitely hit the spot.
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Review from Roshani T.
Los Angeles, CA
10/22/2011
Let me start by saying the place has great ambience. I am indian and I know Indian food and what it should taste like !
The food is this place is ok-ok. We had the chicken bhuna and paneer masala, naan and the sampler platter. The samosa in the sampler platter is a big no no, since it is not authentic samosa at all. It is stuffed with carrots and as an Indian, ive known samosa to have potato, peas but never carrot. The chicken is ok to good, paneer is nice, but the naan fails to impress. Overall ok, I may go back. -
Review from Kasi T.
Burbank, CA
8/31/2011
I'm one of those annoying Americans who claim to love Indian food. When actually, I love chicken tikka masala, without really trying anything else on the menu. Sure, I'll have naan, or once I tried some dal, but really, my quest is for the best creamy tomatoey spicy chicken tikka masala.
So I tried it at Lal Mirch. Oh goodness, it's great here. The spice level is good (I ordered it medium and it was spicy enough to make me order some lassi but not too spicy I had to stop eating, thank god) and the flavors are spot-on. Fantastic, amazing.
My husband opted for the Lal Mirch Lava (their crazy extra super wicked hot curry) with lamb. I had to pull the bowl away from him so he wouldn't hurt himself. It's amazing how much flavor they were able to get into a dish that is that spicy, usually you end up sacrificing flavor a bit but not this place. The server was really smart, he suggested (and comped) some raita to cool down the lava. We weren't keen on the flavor (we never had raita before so we didn't know if it was good or not, it was probably great) but it did its job.
All in all, I'll definitely add this place to my rotation of great chicken tikka masala spots, and my husband will go back to try something a little less explosive next time :P -
Review from Cammie C.
San Diego, CA
9/24/2011
Very friendly staff and amazing food. Try the mixed tandoori or the chicken curry.
This restaurant is very homey and quiet. It is a great place to hold a lunch or dinner meeting. The staff will let you conduct your business, with few interruptions if you let them know ahead of time. The booths are fairly secluded, which provide a little bit of privacy so other customers are not disturbed.
They have a very small parking lot, but street parking is readily available.
The price is great. Usually, my entire bill w/ tip ( for two people) is around $35
My favorite spot for a quiet dinner with friends :) -
Review from Adam D.
CA
9/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
I can't help but feel that a microwave was the key factor in making our meal. The samosa's were definitely re-heated in the nuker, having a rubbery/bendy, not flaky, shell. Nothing really special about the flavors, which were not all bad, just far from great. Day old, or leftovers comes to mind when describing this meal. Bollywood Cafe, which is just down the way, is a better bet.
Breakdown of what we ate:
Meat Samosa's :: rubbery outside. mediocre at best. microwaved. Fail.
Sagh Paneer :: This was the best of the mains. Worth getting.
Dal Tarka :: Flavor was ok. Too watery. Had funky film leftover on top. 1/2 Fail.
Chicken Tikka Masala :: If you can't make this right, you shouldn't be in business. Flavor was what you'd expect at pretty much any average Indian restaurant that has a lunch buffet. Fail.
Garlic Naan :: Re-heated in the microwave. Fail.
Keywords to recap the meal:
Frozen
Microwaved
Leftovers
Re-heated
Not fresh
Indian restaurants I would recommend in the valley:
Bollywood Cafe (studio city)
Anarbagh (encino) -
Review from holly c.
Studio City, CA
8/1/2011
When I lived in Berkeley I was surrounded by dozens of indian/pakistani/south indian restaurants--many of which were outstanding.
However down in LA, it's been a hard won trek to find Lal Mirch and I missed it for a good 3 years --just never noticing it across from Bollywood.
But let me tell you, aside from the place itself (small parking, dark small restaurant area) this is the best indian I've found in LA, hands down.
Their staples are great:
Chicken Tandori
Chicken Tikka
Chicken Tikka Masala
Sagh Paneer
Dal Tarka
Chana Masala
Malai Kafta
Chicken Jalfrezi
Naan
Garlic Naan
Peshwari Naan
Mango Lassi
--
You can spice things accordingly, I usually go for "medium" which is just enough to get the sinuses going but not enough to make me cry.
I've never been to their lunch buffet--so can't really comment on that.
But their service has always been good and the restaurant clean.
I come here often--and the food is consistently good everytime.
Not to mention I've seen quite a few celebs in this place, so word is out apparently. -
Review from Sarah H.
Los Angeles, CA
8/3/2011
I've been struggling to find a really nice Indian restaurant for awhile. My old favorite shut down one of their stores and kinda went down hill. I was pleased to finally find this place. I'm just SO sad that they don't deliver.
The restaurant is nicely designed and they have parking behind the building. The employees are really nice. I've never seen the place with more than a few people dining at a time, so it's pretty quiet.
I am a huge fan of their Mango Chicken Masala as well as their Strawberry Lassi, but their other dishes are also really yummy.
The price is not bad for the portion size and I look forward to the next time I dine there. -
Review from Sunil R.
8/16/2011
This was disappointing. PIcked up some take out from here and the food was below par. IMHO, Agra in Tarzana is the best Indian food I have had in the LA area.
Also the food is around 25% too pricey based on the quality. I have not problem paying top $$ for really good food but $11 for a veggie entree here seems like too much. Also not a big fan of the dark gloomy ambience.
The folks who work here seem like really nice people but sorry the food did not cut it for me. -
Review from PennDesi I.
Sunnyvale, CA
12/1/2011
The restaurant looked promising from the outlook and a buzzing crowd but the food was a disappointment. Daal tarka and rice were ok but paneer masala was just few paneer chunks in red watery gravy. Chiken tikka tasted ok but were dry.
We asked the waiter if they serve any chutney with tikka and he plainly said "NO". That was pretty rude!! -
Review from Jowel G.
7/31/2011
Came out with a couple of my coworkers during lunch. We try to keep it to an hour and this place was a great choice. The buffet is usually quick and we were right. Everything was hot and tasty from the rice to the chicken masala which is my favorite. I'm glad that the condiments of mango chutney and yogurt were out for you to have as little or as much that you'd want with your meal.
The restaurant is clean and service was good. I don't think I walked out smelling like food, so that's a big plus for me. Definitely coming back here again.
And we made it out of there in less than an hour. -
Review from Fou Frou F.
Studio City, CA
9/6/2011
Oh my,
I don't only love Indian music and movies or the culture....its wonders.....I discovered that the restaurant next door Lal Mirch whom I am neighbors with....have the most delicious Indian food! I am addicted to their food, like my family craves their food. I stay long hours in my flower shoppe when working on events and projects and when I am hungry there is no other food I will crave but the Naan brad and rice and chicken curry with spicy vegetables. The waiters are soo nice and the food is amazing, stroll in to see what great food they have, and you can also take a peak at what we are up to next door!
Thank you all at Lal Mirch for taking care of me and my guests when we are hungry, its like home made heaveny food taken to the next level, from service to the quality of your food. You are amazing!!! Nell from Fairy Fou Frou Flower Shoppe =) -
Review from Stephen D.
Atascadero, CA
11/15/2011 1 Check-in Here
Simply amazing! Went for lunch on Saturday, not too crowded and waiter made an excellent suggestion from the menu! Delicious and good portion size! Highly recommend!
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Review from Julie C.
VALLEY VILLAGE, CA
8/1/2011
I am not an expert on India food, but I loved Lal Mirch. Their service was friendly and prompt and the ambiance was pleasant. We had the Beef Sagh which was okay but the Chicken Mango Masala was divine! The dish was slightly sweet and pairs perfectly with basmati rice.
I would definitely come here again! -
Review from Grace C.
Studio City, CA
5/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
Really impressed by the customer service at Lal Mirch. My first visit here, and I placed a to go order for the chicken lava special, mango lassi, and that-oh-so wonderful basmati rice. On my way out, curious to see if the mango lassi order made it, opened the paper bag and dropped the whole effing order! I walked back covered in mango lassi. Lal Mirch totally took care of everything though clearly I had made an idiotic mistake.
Happy to say that the food was excellent and that Lal Mirch will be on my list of regulars. Cute restaurant, awesome service, and good hours!
Bottom line: Indian valley gem. -
Review from Etch A.
North Hollywood, CA
11/14/2011
For what I was expecting, they knocked it out of the park. I went there last friday night with my wife (who is indian and is very picky about indian food).
We both really liked this place. I had the Chicken Korma (which had coconut milk in it and was very buttery tasting, yum!), my wife the Chicken Tikka, which was good as well. Their Mango AND STRAWBERRY (never seen that before) lassi were both excellent! They also serve mango juice, which is rare.
Everything was really good and we'll definitely be going back. Its a nice change of pace from Salomi, which is our other favorite Indian restaurant in the valley. And as a side note, the meat is halal. :-) -
Review from Jeannie Y.
Glendale, CA
Updated - 10/25/2011
it makes me sad to have to remove a star from this place i once loved but i have to keep it real w/ my yelpers.
i still have love for the place, same great atmosphere. same great staff. but unfortunately, the food hasnt been as consistent :(
doesnt always hit the spot and sometimes a bit disappointing as if they just gave me buffet leftovers :(1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/21/2010
A fav place that my coworkers and I enjoy, been coming here for a couple years now. Nice ambiance… Read more »
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Review from Scott D.
North Hollywood, CA
Updated - 10/13/2011
Good food. I wonder if they've changed hands or what, because they don't deliver anymore.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/17/2008
This is the best Indian food I've found in the Valley... in all of LA now that I think about it.… Read more »
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Review from Lis P.
Burbank, CA
7/19/2011
Lal Mirch is the first Indian restaurant I've been in that's made me feel like I was eating Mexican. Dark walls, vinyl booths, red tablecloths.... I half expected to be served a Margarita with my garlic nan.
The lamb tikka masala was outstanding - creamy, just the right amount of spicy and full of tender, not-fatty meat. Lachlan's chicken curry, on the other hand, was terrifically bland and disappointing. We both agreed that if we go again, we'll order everything in tikka masala sauce.
Service was prompt and friendly, and the prices are supremely reasonable. -
Review from Weixin D.
North Hollywood, Los Angeles, CA
6/11/2011
Dined in for dinner with my boyfriend and enjoyed the Chicken Tikka Masala, the Lamb Madras, Palau Rice, and Garlic Naan. The chicken is very good, very well made--tender and juicy--; the lamb is delicious; the rice is very aromatic; and the naan came out fresh and warm, one of the best I've ever had.
The waiting staff was very attentive and nice; the indoors comfortable. I'd come back again and would recommend others to try this place out. Definitely have the Chicken Tikka Masala; it doesn't disappoint. -
Review from L v.
Los Angeles, CA
4/4/2011
I love Indian food and have eaten it all over the world. I thought the food at Lal Mirch was good, above average even, but certainly not great. I'm surprised to read about how spicy other peoples' dishes were because ours were bland, bland, bland!
I like the fact that the food was light and fresh (nothing's worse than greasy, heavy Indian food!) But my main reason for giving it 3 stars - other than the food - was the surly waiter we had. Actually, we had three waiters... which can be a problem because your order gets passed around one too many times and you end up with the wrong thing.
The two tall waiters were very nice! But there's one short guy who looks kind of like an Indian Joe Pesci and he's really rude! He acted like it was a favor to serve us and when he brought us the wrong drink, he treated us like it was our fault. Whenever he brought something to our table, he tossed it onto the table, not even looking in our direction, and walked off. RUDE! He shouldn't be working with humans.
In fact, I'm struggling to give this place 3 stars... they really deserve 2. -
Review from Aileen C.
1/26/2011 2 Check-ins Here
It's hard to find decent Indian food around these parts. Maybe there are better establishments, so if you know any around Studio City send them my way!
I have never sat down to eat at Lal Mirch - I've always ordered take out. What I love about this place is that they don't skimp on the dishes - dishes with meat are plentiful. By the time I get home with my take out and open up the Tiki Masala goodness it's still piping hot, which is a plus because there's nothing gross than cold Indian food that you have to reheat.
Service is great. Every time I walk in I'm greeted warmly and my food is always ready on time. -
Review from Lupe G.
Toluca Lake, CA
5/15/2011
I normally get Indian take-out from Gangadin on Ventura, but I wanted to try something new. When I first started going to Gangadin about 3 years ago, their portions were more generous and the prices were more reasonable. Some time in the last couple of years, they decided to give you smaller portions and raise the prices.
Anyway, so I decided on Lal Mirch and I was pleasantly surprised. I ordered their Chicken Tikka Masala, "meduim" spicy. It was definitely spicy, but in good way! The portions were what they should be and they were very generous with the sauce. I also ordered their Vegetable Samosas which were completely stuffed with vegetables, not just potatoes. They were delicious! Their naan is also soft and tasty.
There are two minor cons - depending on how you like your Indian food. If you like dark chicken meat in your dishes, you may have to ask for it because the dish was all white meat. Personally, I like white meat, but some of my friends prefer dark meat, so that was their only complaint. Also, I've eaten Chicken Tikka Masala at practically every single restaurant I've ever been to and theirs had a heavier tomato base than others. If you like that, this place is perfect.
Overall, I definitely recommend this place and will be returning! -
Review from mo h.
Hollywood, CA
9/24/2011
Best Indian Restaurant in Los Angeles hands down.
We tried Chicken Tk Masala with Garlic Naan, very rich and delicious sauce.
My friend ordered Chicken Karai, not so creamy but full of flavor.
Mango Lassi, Sweet yogurt drink with mango is the best I ever had.
They also have all you can eat buffet lunch for $9.95 which is next on my list, will keep you posted.
The parking is small but there's is plenty of metered parking on the street. -
Review from Katie h.
Sherman Oaks, CA
4/11/2011
I was at Lal Mirch for dinner Saturday night with brother, sister and nephew. The wait staff was WONDERFUL and SO FRIENDLY!!!!
The food, as usual was super yummy. I have experienced a lot of Indian Food and this place is by far my favorite.
Great for a date and kid friendly too!! -
Review from Deep M.
Sherman Oaks, CA
2/6/2011
Indian food is definitely my Favorite. I love spices and this place gives me what I'm looking for. This is authentic!
Everything that you get here will be very good and most of all they are really well seasoned, shimmered for hours and it has a nice thick creamy consistency which makes it very hearty to eat.
Get a naan bread or my favorite parata bread and dip it in those beautiful and nicely caramelized sauce then eat it......hmm it's Heaven!
The place has a great Indian ambiance, nice music and good service and parking is not horrible.....don't be so spoiled it's LA!
Tips:
When going to ethnic food, see if there is any "locals" and this place has it so it's 100% real. -
Review from randy m.
Studio City, CA
9/13/2011
Best Indian Food hands down! 5 stars!
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Review from Kevin L.
7/21/2010
My first couple of visits to Lal Mirch were amazing. I had never been to an Indian restaurant that knew how to use its spices until Lal Mirch, where a "medium" packs decent heat and "medium plus" can teeter you between joy and discomfort. Besides the tasty food, the quality and ambiance of the place was a solid 4 stars.
Then the restaurant went quickly downhill for me, here's why:
1. Chicken Lava. A dish that had been enjoyed by some on prior visits. The waiter said "We're trying a new kind of Indian chili for the Lava". It turns out that the "new" spice had the unmistakable flavor and saltiness of sriracha sauce. Yes, I know my Vietnamese "Rooster" sauce very well. You didn't just lie to me and call it Indian?
2. Lunch Buffet. Really below average, if not poor. The cheaper cost here translates to a much worse quality meal than ordering a la carte. Every item on the buffet is mediocre. If you want an Indian buffet, you're better off driving west to Clay Oven on Ventura, near Van Nuys blvd.
3. Raita. The delicious and usefully cooling yogurt sauce is sweetened here (as it is at Bollywood). Yuck. I love my raita to be of the variety that doesn't taste like yoplait.
Order a la carte and the difference is huge. Their best dishes are as follows:
Vegetable Samosas
Garlic and Peshwari Naan (Parmesan Naan is just okay).
Saag Paneer
Malai Kufta (My favorite dish here)
Aloo Ghobi
Chicken Korma
Mahi Mahi Tikka Masala
Chicken or Lamb Tikka and Tikka Masala
Mixed Tandoori
Vegetable Biryani
Mango or Strawberry Lassi
I haven't been back since the waiter try to pull the fast one on me with the sriracha "lava", but after reviewing what is good, I just may drop by again. -
Review from joan h.
11/10/2010
$9.95 for buffet lunch is a steal, as an a la carte dish will run you $9-11 anyway.
Buffet includes rice, chicken tikka, several vegetarian dishes, mango chutney, and rice pudding. They bring a plate of plain naan to your table as well.
A lassi (strawberry or mango) is only $3.
Quality of the food is better than Bollywood #2, IMHO. -
Review from Prasanna B.
Novato, CA
More than the food, I was happy with the hospitality and ambiance.
We went at 8.45pm a group of 17 people and this place closes at 9. So the cook along with his family waited for us then prepared all the food. Let me repeat, All the food for 17 people and also called his son to help him with the serving. We were all touched by this generosity. We all felt at home :)
Food was good either. -
Review from Jason S.
Los Angeles, CA
1/4/2011
This was my first place I had Indian food. It's left a lasting memory on me. When ever I have other places all I can think of having is lal mirch.
When going I recommend being open to anything. Best way to go.
Also, a great place for vegetarians.
