Spice up your life
A round-up of the best dishes to keep you warm as the nights draw in
CURRY is definitely king in Cardiff and there are so many places that serve brilliant meals. We’ve put together 20 Indian, Bangladeshi, Thai, Japanese and even Jamaican dishes that you simply can’t miss.
1. Lamb shank from Mowgli’s
Wow, don’t have any lunch before eating this.
This baby is marinated overnight with fresh spices and slow cooked. It’s also covered with minced lamb and baby potatoes.
Where: 151 Crwys Road, CF24 4NH and 13 Penlline Road, Whitchurch, CF14 2AA.
Visit: mowglis.co.uk
2. Duchess of Delhi’s chicken tikka masala
The Cardiff Bay restaurant was in the final three for Welsh Indian Restaurant of the Year at the Asian Restaurant and Takeaway Awards, which are voted for by the public, and serves up South Asian specialties alongside Indian classics like their tikka masala, which, no one can deny, is a great curry when done right.
Where: 6 Bute Crescent, Cardiff Bay, CF10 5AN
Visit: duchessofdelhi.com
3. A curry bowl from Keralan
Karavan
A massive riot of colour thanks to the wonderful poppadoms, this Keralan deliciousness can be found across the pop-up scene in the capital and beyond. Click on the link below to find out where they will be next.
Visit: www.facebook.com/keralankaravan
4. Chutney Roti’s Indian classics
When it comes to the classics, there’s nothing Chutney Roti can’t do - and they do it well, too.
We love their chicken pasanda and dopiaza, pictured above. If you’re looking for a dependable, quality curry house, pop along here. Their desserts are awesome, too.
Where: 90-92 Whitchurch Road,
CF14 3LY
Visit: www.chutneyroti-cardiff. co.uk
5. Paneer bhurji from Bwyta Bwyd Bombai
If a heavy curry isn’t what you’re after during lunch hour, perhaps one of 3Bs’ filling snacks will do the trick.
Try a juicy paneer flavoured with tamarind, mango and mint and served with a lush bread roll from around the corner in Cardiff Market to soak up the extra flavour.
Where: 16 High Street Arcade, CF10 1BB
Visit: www.3bscafe.com
6. Bangkok Cafe’s Lamb Massaman
Spicy, loads of curry sauce and basically one of the most delicious dishes ever. Fact.
Where : 207 Cowbridge Road East, CF11 9AJ
Visit : www.bangkokcafe.co.uk
7. Chai Street’s Chef ’s Special Thali
Why just have one type of curry when you can have three? Lamb, chicken, veggie and starter and naan all on one plate.
Where: 153 Cowbridge Road East, CF11 9AH
Visit : www.chaistreet.com
8. Empire’s Chicken Jalfrezi
We love this one as it’s easy to make at home, but also great as part of a big curry night out at Roath’s legendary Indian restaurant.
Chunky veg and chicken in a spicy sauce, it almost sounds healthy!
Where : 157-159 Albany Road, CF24 3NT
Visit: www.empirerestaurant.co.uk
9. Ichiban’s Ebi Katsu Curry
You can by katsu curry pasties in Gregg’s now, apparently, but forget that and try this beautiful prawn dish with sticky rice and a spicy curry that’s a Japanese classic.
Where: 201 Cowbridge Road East, CF11 9AJ
Visit : www.ichibancardiff.co.uk
10. Cinnamon Tree’s Tandoori king prawn saag
Juicy king prawns grilled in the Tandoori oven and served on a bed of the Cinammon Tree’s delicious saag. A real tasty treat.
Where: 173 Kings Road, CF11 9DE Visit: www.thecinnamontree.co.uk
11. The Gujarati Thali at Vegetarian Food Studio
What an awesome deal this is. You get a bit of everything to ensure the full VFS experience. It includes the curry of the day, two starters, basmati rice, daal, bread, a sweet and a poppadum.
Where: 115-117 Penarth Road, CF11 6JU
Visit : www.vegetarianfoodstudio. co.uk
12. Nadan Chicken Curry at Salkaara
This is one of the newest curry houses in Cardiff and we are already in love with this dish. Priced at £10.50, it contains coconut milk, tomatoes and Kerala-style spices. Simple but delicious.
Where: Salkaara, 125 Station Road, Llandaff North, CF14 2FE
Visit: www.facebook.com/salkaara/
13. Daal at Clancy’s in Cardiff Market
Serving delicious daal from a stall at Cardiff Market, Clancy’s is a vegetarian delight.
Where: Stalls 167 and 170, Cardiff Market
Visit facebook.com/Clancys
14. Dhaba murgh at Purple
Poppadom
Chicken thigh simmered in onion and tomatoes, finished with mace and black cardamom - it’s lush and has loads of sauce covering the succulent chicken. Order the thoran (bottom left), we insist, it’s a traditional Kerala dish of vegetables tempered with mustard and fresh coconut. Stunning.
Where: 185a Cowbridge Road East, Canton, Cardiff, CF11 9AJ
Visit : purplepoppadom.com
15. Punjabi butter chicken from The Spice Quarter
Chicken tikka simmered in smooth tomato gravy, flavored with kastoori method. A creamy dream.
Where: Unit 8b, 1st Floor, Brewery Quarter, Cardiff, CF10 1FG
Visit: spicequarter.co.uk
16. Trinidadian Chicken Curry at Turtle Bay
A taste of the Caribbean in Cardiff couldn’t be more delicious with this fruity spiced curry dish. Lovely.
Where: 114-116 St Mary St, CF10 1DY
Visit : www.turtlebay.co.uk
17. Thali from Madhav’s
A real bargain and an oh-so-tasty, freshly made veggie thali for less than a tenner. If you’re still hungry tuck into their potato bombs and lentil balls to. Oh yeh, and their samosas. In fact, pretty much everything is lush.
Where : 59 Lower Cathedral Road, CF11 6LW
18. The Gujurati Mixed Veg Saak at Mangla’s Spice of Life
Relatively new to the Cardiff curry scene, Mangla’s opened after owner, became famous in Canton for selling her delicious veggie treats at her corner shop.
Now as well as the wonderful snacks you can snaffle her veggie curries too which will definitely cover your 5-aday!
Where : 587 Cowbridge Road East, CF5 1BE
Visit : Mangla’s Facebook page
19. Moksh’s Welsh Malai Kofta
It may have a new location – just across the road – a vegetarian dream of a curry, potato and paneer balls
Where: Bute Crescent, Cardiff Bay, CF10 5AN
Visit: www.moksh.co.uk
20. Mint & Mustard’s Sea Bass
The restaurant’s signature dish with fresh, pan-seared sea bass served on a bed of curry leaf infused mash and a ginger and coconut sauce.
Where: 134 Whitchurch Road, CF14 3LZ
Visit : www.mintandmustard.com