If you walk along Kinkerstraat, it's easy to miss this little jewel of a restaurant. There's nothing on the outside to mark it as a restaurant at all, and it's wedged between two other restaurants.
I expect that most of their business comes from takeout or delivery, as they had the bags lined up and several delivery people came by while I was there. However, there are a few tables and chairs inside if you'd like to eat there. It is not an elegant place, but cozy enough, and the staff are delightful people.
You can order from a menu, but the standard fare is all displayed behind a glass counter, buffet-style, so that you can pick and choose what you want.
The man who served me was very pleasant, all smiles, and more than happy to explain what each dish was, and offer suggestions. They are evidently take pride in the food they serve, and it is a well-placed pride: the food is really, really good!
There is a variety of Surinamese, Indian, and Pakistani dishes, and unfortunately I am not well-versed enough to be able to list here what I ate, but it was all good!
Home-style, fresh a d wholesome food, all of it. I had a spicy chicken curry, which wa s pleasantly hot, but not excessively so. A rice dish like a pilaf of sorts, with chicken bits, a vegetarian stew with tofu, a spicy tempeh dish, and a couple of servings of mixed vegetables.
With my order I got a large paratha bread, and some fiery hot yellow sauce in little plastic bags, which is just what you need if you like your food really hot (I do).
In the end, I walked out with two bags with three plastic containers beautifully and carefully packed nearly to bursting, plus the bread. Four people could easily eat their fill from what I got ("Two meals", according to the man at the counter), and there could be leftovers.
And the best part, the whole order cost less than a single dish from a nearby Indian restaurant, whose food was no better than this.
I am a thoroughly happy and satisfied customer, and I will definitely be coming back!
If you're looking for good, fresh, tasty food at budget price, don't give Tandoori Express a miss!! read more