Review #1: Moti Mahal

Moti Mahal has been my favorite restaurant for, well, as long as I care to remember. Before I start with the review, I think you should know a little about Moti Mahal. I categorize Moti Mahal’s into four categories: Moti Mahal Darya Ganj, Moti Mahal G.K., Moti Mahal Tandoori Trail and the ‘other’ Moti Mahals. The ‘other’ Moti Mahal’s are absolute CRAP. Trust me on this one. Moti Mahal Darya Ganj was the first one. These guys ‘invented’ the Butter Chicken. And this is fact! The Butter Chicken at Moti Mahal Darya Ganj is awesome. The Moti Mahal at G.K. is my favorite, and I’ll get to it after this. The Moti Mahal Tandoori Trail variety is dicey. I have tasted the one in Greater Noida and it is fantastic. Not like the original ones, but they are pretty damn good. The Butter Chicken, again, is the one to hunt for.

Down to Moti Mahal G.K. then. Located in M-Block Market in Greater Kailash – 1, New Delhi, Moti Mahal is the typical unassuming, simple family restaurant. You go there to eat, not to spend time or ‘chill’. This restaurant has been there for ages, and I really hope it stays there, just the way it is, for the years to come.

The starters then. The Tandoori Chicken at Moti Mahal is slightly above average. You may find it a tad dry. The Chicken Tikka, on the other hand, is fantastic. It’s spicy, soft and as close to perfect as you can imagine. They serve the Chicken Tikka on a sizzler plate, which simply adds to the taste and the aura of the entire thing. The Paneer Tikka is also quite nice.

The main course is my favorite part for obvious reasons! The Butter Chicken is a must have when at Moti Mahal. It is out of this world! Unlike what a few idiots might say, the butter chicken at Moti Mahal is, by no means, sweet. The gravy is thick and has a very nice blended flavour of Tomatoes, Butter and Cream. The Chicken is soft, juicy and quite close to perfect for the gravy. The Keema-Egg is also quite nice. It is spicy with oodles of flavor from multiple Indian spices. The Dal Makhani is really thick and has a peculiar taste. The Biryani is also really nice and spicy. The Chicken Biryani is what I like to have there. On the Bread front, the Naans are HUGE. Most people won’t be able to eat more than one if you order starters as well. The Paranthas are soft in the middle and crispy on the corners and complement the Butter Chicken perfectly.

The only dessert I have had at Moti Mahal is the Faluda Kulfi, which is nice but nowhere close to the standards set by the main course. This is not by choice, but because I am too full to eat anything else after the main course. 🙂

You could also end your meal with a pan from Prince Pan bang opposite Moti Mahal. They have a really good Chocolate Pan which is essentially Meetha (Sweet) Pan with a tad bit of Liquid Chocolate in it. Yum!

So what are you waiting for? Go, get to that Butter Chicken!