Brunch: July 2008 Archives

Aashiana Hala Tandoori Restaurant

 

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!