I love Los Angeles. It is one of those places where different cultures and ethnicities melt together and produce what we know and love. In one area, you can find some of the best Chinese food around; take a five to ten minute drive, and you will find great sushi. Drive a little further and there is K-town, Little Ethiopia, and a world where French meets American cuisine. Some of these places have been around for ages while others are new, sprouting up all over LA because good food is a growing phenomenon. Luckily, we do not always have to travel too far to experience something new and this past weekend we finally were able to try Radhika.
Radhika was originally located on Shoppers Lane next to Green Street. I always saw it when I ate at Green Street, but never ventured to it. However, one day Taro and I decided to go try it, but we were surprised that it was replaced by The Counter. Radhika was there for quite a long time and we were thoroughly disappointed that we could not have some Indian cuisine, but willingingly settled for a burger instead (which was delicious). A few weeks ago, while driving back from Trader Joe’s, I pointed out that a new restaurant finally opened in South Pasadena where 750ml used to be and was pleasantly surprised that it was not an American restaurant. We couldn’t figure out what exactly they served, but there were tons of people waiting and the restaurant itself was packed. So on Saturday, after the Silverlake Jubilee, we decided to try this new South Pasadena restaurant and discovered that it was Radhika, the same restaurant from Pasadena with the same owner. We were ecstatic and looked forward to some potentially mouthwatering food!
I have really learned to love Indian food and the spices that are present in all the dishes. Sometimes it can be a bit too spicy, but I enjoy sloshing a piece of naan into curry and picking up pieces of chicken and lamb with rice with my fingers. Looking back, I cannot believe that I didn’t like Indian food coming out of high school; I now realize that my palate has opened up and that I am so much more open to all types of food. The foodie and adventurer in me is out and I love it.
At Radhika, we ordered Chana Samosa – crispy turnover stuffed with seasoned potatoes, peas, cilantro, and red onions, Chicken Tikka Masala – marinated boneless chicken breast cooked in a clay oven simmered in tomato yogurt sauce – which is one of Taro’s favorite Indian dishes, and Lamb Shank Kashmiri – spiced with asofoetida, cinnamon, fennel, and dry ginger served with parsley naan. I am a huge fan of lamb – the “gamey” taste does not even affect me – and am so glad that Taro now appreciates the flavor of lamb – to the point where we almost always get it when it is offered! Overall, the food was pretty good at Radhika. The samosa was hearty and the cilantro sauce and other sauce on the plate, which was a bit sweeter, had a lot of flavor. I thought the lamb was far better than the chicken tikka masala, which was a bit more on the dry side despite the curry having a lot of spice and flavor to it. The food was good, but it definitely does not compare to the Indian restaurant close to Taro’s work.
For a restaurant that is nearby and local, we definitely would go again. The prices are a bit higher than most Indian restaurants, but that is what you get when you are eating in South Pasadena, especially since there is no other Indian place close-by (unless you go to Old Town). I would definitely go back to try the Tandoori Chicken and if anybody is free, I would also definitely go take advantage of the lunch special at Radhika. With a mango lassi, which was very good here, you will definitely have something to cool the spice and fire in your mouth after dining here.
I saw these flowers as we were walking to Radhika and had to snap a photo of them. Taro also took the camera from me and caught me smiling and laughing before dinner – well before I was completely stuffed.
