Enjoy top-notch Indian food without breaking the bank at Curry House

I try to only allow myself one meal out per week, so I like to make sure it’s a good one. This means visiting someplace new can be risky, but that’s the only way to find new favorites. I tried Curry House, East Lansing’s new Indian and Nepali restaurant, and I’m happy to report it was well worth the risk.

My friend and I got takeout on a Saturday night, and the place was hopping. As we waited for our food inside, every table in the clean and inviting dining room was full. We decided we should definitely eat in next time. We chose the chaat samosa ($6.99) as well as the classic chicken tikka masala ($11.99) and the malai kofta ($13.75). Note the reasonable prices! This cheapness was not reflected in the food, however.

The chaat samosa was the only dish we ordered that I hadn’t had before, but I’ll definitely be ordering it again. A popular Indian street food, a samosa is torn apart and covered in a chickpea curry, chutneys, yogurt sauce and sev, or crunchy chickpea-flour noodles. The bits of samosa were still crispy and crunchy by the time we dug in, and the curry was exploding with a medley of flavors: ginger, garlic, turmeric and cumin, to name just a few.

I believe the chutneys were tamarind, which was sweet and sour, and mint, which was fresh and bright. The yogurt sauce provided a balance to the low, lovely heat of the dish, which we ordered at the medium spice level. This could definitely be a meal for one on its own, and at $6.99, it’s an excellent option if you’re craving a variety of Indian flavors but don’t want to spend much.

The other two dishes were similarly delicious. The chicken in the tikka masala curry was marinated and tender, and the creamy tomato sauce was rich but also tasted delightfully and surprisingly fresh. This was also the case with the malai kofta sauce, which was filled with dumplings made from potato and grated paneer, a soft Indian cheese. As with all Indian meals, the experience was made complete by combining a bit of all the dishes on one plate, allowing the different flavors and textures to enhance each other.

Curry House has set itself apart as my new go-to for Indian food, but with that being said, I’m excited to explore the Nepali section of the menu as well.