27 Dec Bombay Cafe – 25 Years and Counting

With so many new restaurants opening up in Los Angeles at record speed, it’s hard to keep up. While the list of new restaurants to try gets longer and longer, it’s also good to remember restaurants that have stood the test of time and have been open for more than 3, 4 or 5 years. One of these restaurants is Bombay Cafe in West Los Angeles which is celebrating it’s 25th anniversary. Bombay Cafe, owned by Kamal Git Singh, has been serving traditional Indian cuisine for more than two decades. Perhaps it is because Indian food is very natural, using spices like cumin, coriander, cardamom, tumeric and saffron to add color and flavor to the food.  And, with most food cooked in the tandoor oven where fats cook off naturally, the meats are lean and healthy. Some highlights on the menu are: Aloo-Ki-Tikki – Indian potato pancakes, topped with chopped onions and tamarind chutney. Haldi Jhinga – crisp marinated shrimp Shrimp Uttapam – A semolina griddle cake topped with shrimp, mushrooms, onion, green chili and cilantro and served with coconut chutney Chicken Frankie – Indian “street food” from Bombay’s Breach Candy Beach looks more like a burito. The Frankie is a handmade egg-washed tortilla filled with chicken (or lamb) with masala sauce, two chutneys and onions. There are many of the classic Indian dishes we are all familiar with, such as Pajak Paneer [Cubes of housemade paneer (Indian “farmer” cheese) in a sauce of pureed spinach leaves cooked with cumin, ginger and garlic] and Eggplant Bharta [A puree of tandoor-charred eggplant with ginger, onion, green chili and tomatoes].   From the Tandoor oven, there is Lamb Masala [Lamb slowly cooked in tradition North Indian spices (masala)] and Makhni Tikka [Also known as chicken tikka masala, it’s boneless chicken in a rich tomato sauce].     And of course don’t miss the Naan. From classic to garlic or onion, the naan is freshly baked in the tandoor oven. The wine list is oddly interesting, featuring predominantly Italian wines. However, given the spicy nature of some dishes, I was surprised that there weren’t any German Rieslings or other off-dry wines on the list. There is also a cocktail list but not what I would suggest with Indian food. The decor is simple but the food is flavorful. If you are looking for comfort food, Bombay Cafe is the place. I have a feeling I will be ordering food-to-go from here! Bombay Café 12021 West Pico Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90064