Indian Fine Dining Restaurants Aim for Awards in the Southwest | Eater

"Wedged in a Hawaiian Gardens strip‑mall slot next to a Bank of America ATM that’s almost too close to the front doors, this place surprises once you step inside: an energetic room awash in blood‑orange and teal walls, frosted windows that feel like golden hour in Lahore, and black‑and‑white photos of Pakistani and Indian street‑food scenes. Founder‑chef Imran “Ali” Mookhi — also behind the Michelin‑recognized Khan Saab Desi Craft Kitchen — might not have the same décor budget as Indibar or Tamba, but the space feels sumptuous and the halal menu refuses to pull punches. I dig into a shatteringly crisp dosa perfumed with ghee and stuffed with masala potato and beef keema; delicate Afghan mantu served on an elevated, cloud‑like plate (just five to an order, but delectable and precise); and tandoor‑grilled beef sirloin that arrives with a puff of smoke released from a glass enclosure tableside. Peshawari‑style chicken karahi comes loaded with enough spices, garlic, ginger, and minced chiles to make me forget about butter chicken, and dessert — airy‑foam daulat ki chaat with dried rose, crumbled pistachio, edible gold, and a printed rice cracker in the form of a $100 bill — gleefully leans into ostentation. The menu stays short and simple, intentionally incorporating flavors from Pakistan, India, and Afghanistan to offer something completely different for the area." - Matthew Kang