640887 Thu Jul 30 23:31:33 -0700 2009 6 2 Los Angeles Area 0 4905538 Having moved from my beloved SGV-close home, I am trying to make it up to myself by seeking out the Indian food in Hawthorne. In the last two days, I have hit both Al Watan and Al Noor. I have to say that while Al Watan was good, I liked Al Noor much better. The Chicken Tikka Masala at both places were good, but Al Noor's was superb. It was a creamier dish at Noor, while the Masala at Watan seemed a little more peasanty. Watan's masala also had at least a half inch of oil on the bottom. But the lamb korma at Watan was pretty bad -- seemed that the sauce was 50% thick lamb fat, i found it inedible. Thought the naan was better at watan as well. Any thoughts? Thu Jul 30 23:31:33 -0700 2009 17898 echoparkdirt 1 4905574 In my experience, Al Noor does better curries and sauces while Watan is superior when it comes to their tandoori items. Fri Jul 31 01:07:09 -0700 2009 4905538 110491 odub 1 4906133 Overall, I've enjoyed Watan more than Noor. But it's slightly dish-preference based. I liked the nihari, the salt lassi and the paratha, for example, better at Watan. Fri Jul 31 08:09:09 -0700 2009 4905538 212178 noahbites 1 4906733 I love Al Noor and have been to Al Watan once. Although I enjoyed Al Watan (I remember really liking their Saag), I didn't think it was as good as Al Noor overall. For starters, Al Watan doesn't have paneer!!! They do however do a good job with the tandori dishes. As much as a I love Al Noor, it can at times be inconsistent. Overall, however, I would say that it's excellent, especially considering the prices. Next time you go try some of the paneer dishes and the chicken tala gosht. Speaking of Lawndale Indian restaurants, there's also Anapurra gardens on Hawthorne by Saigon market. I haven't been there... yet. Fri Jul 31 11:00:31 -0700 2009 4905538 15783 young_chower 1 4908082 There is just a vibe about Al Watan that brings me back and back again. I did not like the small empty room of Al Noor. Seem to me that Al Watan does a much brisker business and for me that leads to quality.. Flavors and spices at Al Watan are favored by my tastebuds as well.. Fri Jul 31 20:05:03 -0700 2009 4905538 97161 Foodandwine 1 4909086 I've been to al noor a billion times, al watan once. There's a reason for that. AN's tikka massala panner OUTSTANDING, but the palak panner is probbaly the best thing on the menu. I also like the chicken tala gohst. As mentioned previously, Al Noor is very inconsistent. It is always at least a 7/10, usually an 8.5 or 9 out of ten, and once every 10 or 12 trips, it's mindblwoingly-transcendental good. So, it's somewhat annoying when you have a hankering for Pakistani and you go there and just have a "good" meal vs an excellent meal. The random 15/10 meals make up for it though :) ALSO, Al noor is right across from In n Out, which leads to the greatest food mashup in LA, the tikka massala double double: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/628782 Sat Aug 01 12:11:54 -0700 2009 4905538 19396 upstarter 1 4909463 I prefer Al Noor, but Al Watan has some good dishes, and generally the dishes at these two restaurants taste sufficiently different that I wouldn't say one is necessarily "better" than the other. Sat Aug 01 15:40:44 -0700 2009 4905538 105839 aventinus