I can’t think of an international cuisine I nudge people to explore more than Indian and South Asian food. I don’t blame the masses, or Midwesterners, for sticking with the familiar. You really can’t go wrong with tikka masala or butter chicken, the tried and true picks that most are familiar with. Plenty of metro restaurants have made these familiar dishes signature menu items, such as the Pakistani Sohaila’s Kitchen in the Lenexa Public Market. Sohaila’s butter chicken is so creamy, it’s just delightful. But Indian and South Asian cuisine offers so much more than these more familiar picks.
From excellent paneer to cheesy dosas, and even a few cross-cultural twists, I’ve collected a handful of favorite desi dishes around town. I recently got to share them on the latest episode of KCUR’s Up To Date.
I joined Sonia Khosla, contributor to KCUR’s Adventure! newsletter, and Visit Kansas City Kansas senior manager Ritz Dasgupta to talk through some of the city’s best Indian and South Asian spots.
Listen to the podcast episode here or read my recommendations below.
Tikka House (411 Main St., KCMO, thecitymarketkc.org)
Tikka House is a longstanding family-owned spot in the City Market. The Alhabashi family is from Jordan, but their menu is full of samosas and tikka masala, food similar to what Manal, the matriarch, grew up with. You can also browse the thousands of buckets of spices available for purchase there.
Jyoti Mukharji’s Indian Cooking Classes
Jyoti’s cooking classes take place in her Prairie Village home, and are wildly popular. She teaches groups how to cook restaurant staples, regional favorites and Mukharji originals. If you prefer to teach yourself her methods, they’re now available in her new cookbook, “Heartland Masala,” which is co-written with her son.
Read more about what it’s like to take one of her cooking classes here.
Of Course Kitchen & Company (7753 W. 159th St., Overland Park, KS, ofcoursekc.com)
Of Course, a modern, upscale South Asian restaurant, is a gem in the metro. Chef Swetha Newcomb’s parents are from India, but she was raised in Kansas City and brings a Midwestern flair to her menu. The egg toast curry is one of my staples, but I’d trust anything she cooks up. Be ready to try something new, but, I suppose, if you want to play it safe, the smash burger is excellent.
Rajmahal (5621 W 135th St., Ste 2610 Overland Park, KS, rajindiankc.com)
Rajmahal’s tandoori chicken is perfectly charred and some of the best I’ve ever had. The drink menu was developed with the help of Westport Cafe’s expert team, and is just as amazing as the food. Darjeeling-infused Scotch and Indian spice-infused gin are just a few ingredients in the cocktails.
Amruta’s Vilas on Wheels (16610 W 135th St, Olathe, KS, amrutavilaskc.com)
Amruta’s Vilas is posted up at the Flash Petro gas station in Olathe and serves Indo-Chinese cuisine. This means you can snag pani puri, chicken fried rice, green chili-stuffed mirchi and more until midnight every day of the week. I recommend the cheesy dosa. It’s like an Indian crepe, and is so comforting and delicious, you won’t be able to stop eating it.
Harp Barbecue (12094 W. 135th St., Overland Park, KS, harpbarbecue.com)
Pitmaster Tyler Harp has been experimenting with offerings that fuse barbecue with Indian cuisine at his new-ish Overland Park restaurant. Take, for instance, an andouille sausage with tandoor flavor and turmeric. It’s a must try.
Seva Cuisine of India (8674 NE Flintlock Rd., KCMO, sevaciusineofindia.com)
Seva is one of my personal favorite spots for traditional Indian cuisine. Owner Gurdev Singh, keeps things fresh, ingredient-wise and trend-wise (he’s very proud to say he uses no dyes in his tandoori chicken, which is distinctly bright red). Seva has a substantial vegan and vegetarian menu, but earlier this year, I was able to see the naan-making process in the giant, blazing tandoor clay oven.
Shagan’s (multiple locations, shaganskcmo.com)
I love getting a platter at Shagan’s. Sure, you can hit the drive-thru, but the silver plates that hold curries, zeera rice and naan so perfectly are the reason why you should dine-in. Plus, the family-owned spot is known for its great has great customer service.
