TBH I think Bradford's reputation is maybe undeserved as the curry capital. Don't get me wrong, there is plenty of quality (especially compared to the likes of Leeds) but there's a lot of crap as well. I don't have much experience of the midlands curry houses but those I know say they are as good if not better.

Exactly.

Nor do your posts engender a desire to find out.

But there are hundreds of curry places in and around Bradford, and if you [ireally[/i started a mission to visit them all, with a view to finding the good, better and best, your tour wouldn't have lasted very long, would it, if they were all Shi[size=9=white.[/sizet?

I mean, WHY would you go on, and on, and on, eating crap curry after crap curry, day on day, night after night? Is there something wrong with you?



Quite apart from the fact that if anyone who told me they'd been to all these places, and they were none of them worth eating in, I'd mark them down as an imbecile, even if you did pay a visit once, surely a one-off visit isn't enough - in the typical case - anywhere near enough to form a view forever? What if it was a bad day, or the chef was ill?

And what if the one dish you tried wasn't their best, but they happened to do loads of good ones, some great ones? You'd never know.

And yes, I have eaten in all these, some of them many times, and yes they can all serve very good, often outstandingly good, curries.

Fool? If the cap fits, son . . .

I have a friend at uni who is from birmingham who tells me they are really good, however she rates one of the curry houses up here whereas i think the curry is ok.. but its more spice rather than flavour... so think i will wait and try it myself when i get chance to visit her.
I think if you know where to go in Bradford it is a very good place to get curry.. but you have to becareful because is it so known the temptation for people to set up businesses will be high meaning you will get some poor ones.
One problem (maybe its a benefit) whenever we go somewhere and they realise we are students they are keen to ask us where we are from and my answer always raises an eyebrow! The new one in stockton is The taste of india.. and we got fantastic service and an excellent amount of starters (and food in general compared to what people with us had, had before) the curry though wasn't quite up to scratch yet.
Must say my mum makes a good curry, her friend at work taught her and its great sends me up a sauce to freeze and a spice mix to add once the meat is cooked its great!

There are great curry houses in Bradford but, as you say, you need to know where to go as they are spread all over the district. Places like Manchester & Birmingham have the curry mile, I can't think of anywhere in Bradford where there is a concentration of quality places. I don't get to Lumb Lane much these days (

) but the Sultan, Sweet Centre & K2 were consistently good, but that's only 3.

From my experiences the quality on the "curry mile" in Manchester is ropey to say the least, I soon stopped going down there when I was living in that neck of the woods.

I've had some good curries in Birmingham, but nothing amazingly superior to what I can get round here.

I'd say the best concentration is around the Westend - Alhambra way. Up that way you have Kashmir, International, Omar Khans, Karachi, Omars.

Shipley is noted for it's curry places - Aagrah, Shimla Spice, Rajpoot, Sharma.

I'm so glad you said that about Manchester, my brother in law is from there and constantly tells me Bradford has nothing to compare. It's got to the point where I never suggest getting a curry when he's here as I know it's only going to start a 'My Dad's bigger than your Dad' competition. I'm sure there are some good ones but Bradford will match them I'm certain

Kashmir is dreadful now, International varies too much, I like karachi though since I had my first real Bradford curry in there before I moved here. Les than a quid with chapatis back then.

Had lunch in Karachi today and they've bumped the prices somewhat. The Chicken/Meat Spinach (or Rick Stein as it is known) has gone up 70p!!!! Still very nice though.

I watched the Rick Stein programme again last week. It's strange as it's the only curry dish I can ever remember, either in a book or on tele, where the spices aren't fried but put in to the liquid. Same with the green chillies which he liquidises up.

I had the Rick Stein special when I was last out in Bradford - unbelieveably good!

If you want to try and cook the Rick Stein curry at home the recipe is here


[urlhttp://www.arax15.dsl.pipex.com/[/url

I find the first bit with the fried onions, ginger, garlic and tomatoes all whisked up to be an excellent base for most curries

Last few times I have been to Kashmir it has been good - and that was on a Friday lunchtime. International depends on wherger Salty Chef is working or not.

Only been to Karachi once, few weeks back. Went on a Friday lunch, took 2 hours in total to be served and have the meal...and they weren't busy. Couple of mates got the vindaloo, and had to drain the ghee to find any food. However, will try it again, as it may have been an off day

I went to the Bharat at the weekend which was very nice. Also went to Kiplings at Apperley Bridge a couple of weeks ago. Has to be the most ‘whitey’ curry house I’ve ever been in but the food was amazing, great choice on the menu and really nice staff too.

Is that the one on Great Horton Rd next to petrol station? If so up road from me (edit - my parents i should say. I've got my own house & Mortgage now

) and it does actually do decent food.

Raj Bari in Yarm?

You'd never have thought so with that restaurant name.

Really? The whole point is that the oil is permeated with the spices, repels the watery liquids and the spices can work their way undiluted into the thing being cooked. He's making a soup with lumps in.

Exactly. Being veggie I've never tried it at the Karachi & wonder how many people say it's great because Rick Stein put his name to it. Having said that people have rated the place for decades before he went. I keep meaning to try the recipe substituting the meat for something else but can never bring myself to do it. I went ot see curry club man Pat Chapman & his wife cooking at Waterstones a few years back, they were insistent you had to fry the spices to give the food & fuller, rounded flavour. I reckon Chapman would knack Stein in a scrap.

I never see the Taj Mahal mentioned, it was by the university (Gt. Horton Rd ?) and was by far Bradfords best curry in the early 70's. Is it still there? The nearest pub to it was the Manville Arms.

Keep meaning to go there. I hear nothing but good things about it and I've walked past every day for about ten years, but I still haven't been in.

It was adjoining the Kashmir & the 2 became homogenised into one larger, & poorer, Kashmir. Probably about 13 years ago. I preferred the Taj I must say.

ATM Zouks is our personal fave, a good selection of starters I'd recommend the lamb chops, delish. They also do a pretty good chicken handi. Plus they also serve Black Sheep by the bottle (hope that's not too whitey)

I had it the other week. I'm not going back. I'm not going back because the guy who took my money off me came chasing down the street after us to tell us I hadn't paid. We went back in, went through what we had with the waiter, who had seen us pay and had a clearer memory of it than the guy who took the money, and it turned out I'd paid more money for the next table's food than I should have paid for ours. Their starters are cr@p too. Worst pakora batter in Bradford.

The chicken and spinach affair wasn't shocking though. More chicken and spinach in a mildly spiced broth than a chicken and spinach curry, but not as bad as I've had elsewhere.