We’ve had some of the best Indian food we’ve ever tasted in Abu Dhabi, so we’re beyond excited to see what casual newcomer Kura Kura has to offer.
It’s a small venue, with only about five tables packed into the simple but stylish dining area.
The menu isn’t hugely extensive, but neither did we expect or want it to be. There are traditional Indian breakfasts, salads, biryanis and curries, and we’re more than happy to go with our server’s recommendations and try some of the venues most popular dishes.
We also order an avocado lassi to sip while we wait, and the creamy, slightly sweet, yoghurt drink is utter perfection.
It means we’re already basically in love with the place by the time our starters arrive (what can we say? The millennial trends really are the best).
The aloo tikki are four sizable patties packed with potatoes and loads of peas, and seasoned with green chilies, coriander and cumin. They go wonderfully with the yoghurt and mint dip, zesty chutney and fresh tomato and onion that’s served on the side, and it’s an ideal size for two. Piping hot and full of colour and fresh ingredients, we love it.
The mains arrive before we’ve finished, and we start with the chicken chettinad, which we’ve requested to be cooked with medium spice, after our server warned that it’s done with “Indian levels” of spiciness. But we don’t mind a curry with a kick to it, and the South Indian dish is a sensation. There’s loads of tender chicken and the balance of creamy yoghurt and fiery red chili in the sauce is spot on. It’s a dish that we’ve never tried before, and we’re totally taken with it.
We’ve also got a bowl (almost full to overflowing) of dahl makhani. It’s one of our usual orders wherever we go, and this version is just as good, if not better, than the ones we’ve had more fancy Indian restaurants (and it costs Dhs23, about a third of what we’d expect to pay in a high-end establishment).
The freshly baked butter naan is gone in a flash, and the signature biryani is served with a refreshing citrus sauce and loads of lovely spices and vegetables.
It’s all so brilliant, and we can’t get over how good value it is.
