Only one Manchester restaurant made the UK’s top 50 Asian eateries – so we headed to Rajdoot to discover whether its old-school charm and Himalayan dishes truly earn the hype.
I went to Rajdoot in Manchester, the only venue in the city mentioned in this year’s UK’s top 50 Asian restaurants list
It might be wishful thinking of me at this point but when a list of the best places for food in the country is unveiled, there are usually a fair few restaurants, cafes and other venues in Manchester that get mentioned. Not to blow our own trumpet, but we do have some pretty incredible food spots – ranging from takeaways and street food haunts, to Michelin starred spots and fine dining restaurants.
But when Samara Events unveiled their list of the UK’s top 50 Asian restaurants as part of the Asian Food & Restaurant Awards (AFRA) earlier this year, there was surprisingly only one Manchester venue included: Rajdoot.
Hailed as one of the oldest Asian restaurants in the city, the Albert Square restaurant has been proudly serving authentic North Indian and Nepalese dishes ever since it first opened its doors in 1966.
Ashamedly, in the 36 years where our timelines have both collided, I’ve never been so I felt that now was the right time to change all of that.
Heading to the restaurant on a wet and cold lunchtime, the lure of a curry was enough to thaw out the frozen feeling as I made my way down the basement steps into the venue. Here, there are three groups of people already seated at the entrance, with menus in tow, as if they’re all at an airport terminal where their destination is curry. I get ushered to my own sofa and join them in waiting – with us, one by one, eventually being taken to our tables for the potential trip of our lifetimes.
Rajdoot is hailed as one of the oldest Asian restaurants in the city, having first opened its doors in 1966
My visit comes in the middle of the week, at about 2pm, so presumably, the main lunch rush has just quietened down. Our recently-sat tables of four are the only people in, and it’s a little on the quiet side. I’m almost scared to unzip my coat in case it echoes and makes too much noise. But the server seems to clock on to this atmosphere, and the volume of the music system gets notched up a little bit higher.
On the menu, I’m greeted with a whole arrangement of dishes – many I have never heard of before. There’s a section of dishes highlighted under ‘what Rajdoot is known for’, and that’s where I focus my attention as surely, I have to try the best of the best. Having skipped out the ones with multiple chillies next to their name, I hover over the Chicken Jhol. It’s described as a Nepalese speciality and a ‘totally authentic Himalayan dish’.
The chicken jhol consists of marinated chicken cooked in a spicy sauce of tomatoes, ginger, garlic, fresh coriander and fenugreek
On the menu, the Jhol consists of marinated chicken cooked in a spicy sauce of tomatoes, ginger, garlic, fresh coriander and fenugreek – which Google reliably tells me could be a plant with a taste that helps shift things from from bitter to sweet. It’s priced at £15.95 and sounds good to me.
Then, as I’m deciding whether I want it with rice or naan bread, my attentive server turns up to take my order. In a flurry, I opt for both pilau rice and a Peshwari naan and immediately think I’ve overloaded on things – but she doesn’t seem to mind at all. There’s worse things in the world, right? As I wait for my food to arrive, a sharing platter arrives at the table next to me – packed full of amazing smells and great looking food like kebabs, samosas, and lamb chops.
The Chicken Jhol was described as a Nepalese speciality and a ‘totally authentic Himalayan dish’
After not long at all, it’s my turn as a server wheels out a big trolley with my curry and sides on it. It’s quite the extravagant arrival, as he lights the traditional warmer on the table in front of me. Then, the curry takes centre-place – and it looks and smells incredible. Already detecting notes of spice, I wonder if it might be too much heat for me, but it’s too late to go back now.
But, it’s the naan bread which really catches me by surprise. Loaded with ground almond and coconut, and dripping in honey – to the point where tearing it apart is not really an option due to messiness. It smells divine and looks luxurious. The rice is also tasty, not stodgy.
The Peshwari Naan (£5.50) was a sweet delight, with almonds, coconut and honey
There’s certainly a mild spiciness to the Chicken Jhol, that can’t be denied, but it’s tasty, it’s flavoursome. The meat is tender, with each chunk easily falling apart, and it tastes fresh. I’m not even going to mess about, the naan bread was the best naan I’ve ever had. Freshly made, warm, sweet, flavoursome, rich, it’s a delight. Obviously, it’s not to everyone’s tastes and might not work with every dish but it works here, and for me.
Lapping my meal up, I wonder if Rajdoot can be defined as a hidden gem largely because, well, it’s not even hidden. It’s so easily on display, and so many people walk past it day by day, but I wonder how many of those have actually visited it before? Because, until now, I was one of those who hadn’t.
Rajdoot was mentioned in this year’s UK’s top 50 Asian restaurants list
The attentive service I received, from staff who felt like they genuinely did want to care and look after their customers, was also duly noted. I heard one customer ask the staff if their brother had been in recently, for them to reply that he comes in every week for a regular curry. The fact that they knew that, and they have regulars like that, is certainly a testament to the place.
I’ll be back again, for sure, and if you’ve never been to Rajdoot yet either, I would certainly recommend it. Even just for that Peshwari naan alone.
Rajdoot is on Carlton House, Albert Square, Manchester, M2 5PE.