Indian Food in the SFV?

[compucook]

I like Shalimar up by Woodlake, but it's far for friends who live near Beverly Glen. I know about the Clay Pit but don't care for it. They want to eat at India's Tandori which is so mediocre. I know there's also a place near Hazeltine, but our last time there it had fallen off.
Is there any good Indian between Studio City and Tarzana?

[dripp08]

LalMirch is one of the best Indian restaurants I've ever been to. I like The Great India Cafe as well - both are very authentic!
Clay oven on ventura sucks big time. It's highly westernized Indian and not authentic at all. If you don't like spicy and don't care for real Indian food, by all means it's the best!

[Diana]

Clay Oven is much better than Clay Pit. I second Gangadin, very good. If you can bear the haul out to Chatsworth, Woodlands is some of the best ever. Vegetarian, yes, but super flavorful and amazing!

[sel]

Woodlands is the best vegetarian Indian cuisine in the SFV. For 'fill your belly cheap' veg there is also India Sweets and Spices, their best SFV location is on Sherman Way just W of Topanga Cyn. Bl. The best meat and veg Pakistani in terms of food is Tawakal Tandori - Halal Restaurant, but it is a plain ultra casual place, third world ambiance, I'm trying to be kind because I love their food, best Pakistani S of San Francisco's Tandoorloin, no love for it on ChowHound despite the excellent chow, and the owner is a good guy!
But none of these places are within the geographic limits requested by the OP, they all would make for longer trip.

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India Sweets & Spices
22011 Sherman Way, Canoga Park, CA 91304

Woodlands
9840 Topanga Canyon Blvd, Chatsworth, CA 91311

Tawakal Tandori - Halal Restaurant
21617 Devonshire St, Chatsworth, CA 91311

[Diana]

sel, I haven't been to Woodlands in a bit. Did they drop the Friday Buffet and Dosa feed?

[sel]

As far as I know they still have it twice a week, but it has been about four or five months since my last 'Dosa Night' at Woodlands. The project that I was working on that was very close to them is on a long term hold, they were my favorite work lunch and I miss the work and especially slipping away for a spicy/tasty veg lunch there!
I just called them to ask about the 'Dosa Nights' but got a recording that did not give that info.

[Jack Flash]

Gangadin, in Studio City. Our favorite in the area for over 20 years.

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Gangadin Restaurant
12067 Ventura Pl, Studio City, CA 91604

[Akitist]

We've eaten at Salomi in NoHo, on Lankershim just north of Magnolia, and enjoyed the food. Haven't been recently, though, and some reviews indicate the service is hit-or-miss.

[Jwsel]

The two Indian restaurants I like are Lal Mirch in Studio City and Taj Mahal in Encino. I've tried the place near Hazeltine and Clay Pit, but don't like them at all. Lal Mirch is, imo, the best Indian in the east (and central) Valley. The chicken tikka masala is phenomenal, and they have the best onion bhajis I've found in Los Angeles.

[liu]

Jwsel -- I've read many of your posts and agree with you almost all the time!
So, once again I agree: Lal Mirch is really delicious! It is not fast food and the service is a little (I'm being kind!) inattentive, but the food is superb.

Lal Mirch
11138 Ventura Boulevard
Studio City
[phone]
http://www.lmdining.com/hours.htm

[Outerspace]

We second (or is it third) the thumbs up on Lal Mirch.

[ldodb]

My vote is for Lal Mirch as well.
I love the chicken tikka masala, I can't get enough.