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Aashiana Hala Tandoori Restaurant
2020 S. Brea Canyon Road
Diamond Bar, CA
(909) 396-0176
You can call my culinary approach adventurous. If I've never had it, I'll try it. Often times, I'm pleasantly surprised at what foods I've actually enjoyed. But, yes, there are times that within of few hours of consumption, I'm heading to the nearest bathroom!
This time my culinary curiosity took me to Aashiana Halal Tandoori Restaurant in Diamond Bar. Drive into a compact business complex on Brea Canyon Road and you'll see a small restaurant bearing the word Aashiana above its doorway. The sight alone doesn't reveal much of what to expect inside, but if you're in the mood for something different a stop at Aashiana might just be the place. The interior looks like any other small, sit-down restaurant with a few decorative pieces that give hints of what ethnic cuisine to expect. If those don't give it away, then the large plasma TV playing Pakistani soap operas should.
If you're familiar with the curries, masalas and tandoori cuisine of India, then the food of Pakistan might not be such a stretch. Known for its aromatic spices and rich flavor, Pakistani dishes are heavily influenced by South Asian, Central Asian and Middle Eastern cuisines. Yet, unlike most Indian dishes, meat plays a more dominant role in Pakistani cuisine. The owners of Aashiana are muslim and their food is takes on the no-pork criteria of muslim food.I tried the all-you-can-eat lunch buffet, served every weekday from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. For $7.50 you get a very filling meal of your choice of almost every kind of beef, lamb, chicken and vegetable curry. Rich in heavy sauces, the entres are best eaten with flat, fluffy naan or basmati rise (or both)! You can also choose between plain or garlic naan.
The food overall was tasty and the buffet offered a good selection. However, Aashiana's purchasing requirements seemed a bit peculiar. Be sure to bring a good amount of cash as there is a $20 minimum for credit cards! Also, one entree per customer must be ordered otherwise they'll charge you an extra $7!
Weekend Brunch: Does any other meal generate as much anticipation and satisfaction?
Brunch can be a simple affair -- an omelet with fresh vegetables, toast and coffee. Or, it can be an elaborate buffet of carved meats, sushi and sashimi, fresh fruits and smoked salmon.
Last weekend, I searched the Internet to find a good Sunday brunch restaurant, and one place stood out. For $62 a person, you can have an extravagant champagne Sunday brunch at the Gardens Restaurant in the Four Seasons. I found other restaurants in the LA-area that quoted $36 or $24 price tags for their buffets.
Instead, I opted for something more affordable, but no less satisfying.
A few steps from Pasadena City Hall, it's easy to miss Marston's Restaurant, which looks like a small house. If you get there early (before 11 a.m.), you probably don't have to wait too long for a table.
Inside, the restaurant feels like a friend's crowded living room. It's close quarters but not uncomfortable. The servers are very friendly and attentive in pouring coffee refills.
The breakfast menu is fairly simple: a variety of egg dishes, pancakes, omelets and a few sides.
My friend ordered the French toast rolled in corn flakes. Crunchy on the outside and soft in the middle, the French toast was fantastic.
I ordered the Californian omelet, which includes chicken cilantro sausage, spinach, cheese, avocado and sour cream. The eggs were light and fluffy, and the toppings were generously portioned. I didn't taste cilantro in the sausage and thought the sour cream was unnecessary, but it didn't ruin the dish.
My only complaint is of the poor air ventilation. After we left, I could smell the food and aroma of brunch in my clothes and hair. Still, Marston's is definitely worth a visit.
Marston's Restaurant
151 East Walnut St.
Pasadena, CA 91103
(626) 796-2459.
Brunch can be a simple affair -- an omelet with fresh vegetables, toast and coffee. Or, it can be an elaborate buffet of carved meats, sushi and sashimi, fresh fruits and smoked salmon.
Last weekend, I searched the Internet to find a good Sunday brunch restaurant, and one place stood out. For $62 a person, you can have an extravagant champagne Sunday brunch at the Gardens Restaurant in the Four Seasons. I found other restaurants in the LA-area that quoted $36 or $24 price tags for their buffets.
Instead, I opted for something more affordable, but no less satisfying.
A few steps from Pasadena City Hall, it's easy to miss Marston's Restaurant, which looks like a small house. If you get there early (before 11 a.m.), you probably don't have to wait too long for a table.Inside, the restaurant feels like a friend's crowded living room. It's close quarters but not uncomfortable. The servers are very friendly and attentive in pouring coffee refills.
The breakfast menu is fairly simple: a variety of egg dishes, pancakes, omelets and a few sides.
My friend ordered the French toast rolled in corn flakes. Crunchy on the outside and soft in the middle, the French toast was fantastic.
I ordered the Californian omelet, which includes chicken cilantro sausage, spinach, cheese, avocado and sour cream. The eggs were light and fluffy, and the toppings were generously portioned. I didn't taste cilantro in the sausage and thought the sour cream was unnecessary, but it didn't ruin the dish.
My only complaint is of the poor air ventilation. After we left, I could smell the food and aroma of brunch in my clothes and hair. Still, Marston's is definitely worth a visit.
Marston's Restaurant
151 East Walnut St.
Pasadena, CA 91103
(626) 796-2459.
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