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Bites Nearby: Akbar Cuisine of India

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Overview: If it weren’t for the delicious aroma of Indian spices that seems to hover over the corner of Fair Oaks and Union, one might easily miss yet another Old Town treasure. With four locations all around Los Angeles, one being in South Pasadena’s “backyard,” Akbar Cuisine of India is a tiny, but welcome alternative to all the joints that specialize in “California Cuisine” or a similarly tiresome food genre.  

With mostly traditional dishes and a few modern-day twists on classic Indian flavors sprinkled throughout, Akbar’s menu comes equipped with a “Chili Meter” so guests can order according to what their taste buds can handle.

Décor: It’s unclear as to whether it’s the creaky front door, the small kitchen, or the quaint, dimly-lit dining area that lend this place its home-like feel. Whichever comforting characteristic it is, stepping into Akbar is like stepping into the home of an Indian grandmother—or at least that's what I would imagine. With walls painted in deep cranberry and rich mustard hues, the inside of Akbar is warm and inviting, and the smells induce a ravenous hunger inside anyone who enters.

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Appetizers: With classic options like Samosas (crisp flour patties stuffed with spices potatoes and peas - $5.50) and Shrimp Pakora (shrimp fritters coated in coconut - $6.95), it’s hard not to salivate before entrees even arrive. If you’d really rather be eating California Cuisine, opt for the Mini Crab Cakes; blue crab claw meat cakes served with a mango chutney ($10.95).

Accompaniments: Before your dinner arrives, the chef suggests a few different side orders to help curb the "spice factor" of most dishes. Order a Mango Lassi ($3.95), which is a traditional Indian drink made with mango yogurt to refresh your taste buds and lend a bit of sweetness to your meal. Or keep some Raita ($3.50) close by; this includes diced cucumber, tomato and potato in a mildly spiced yogurt.

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Entrées: Akbar boasts quite an extensive menu, so it’s best to order “family style” to sample more than one dish. Order from the “Tandoori Grill,” and get the Indian favorite—boneless chicken marinated in delicious spices also known as Chicken Tikka ($13.50) . For something a bit richer, try the Seekh Kebab ($14.95). It's a minced lamb prepared with fresh mint, red onions, garlic and ginger in tandoor. If you can’t decide on just one type of meat, go for the Akbari Biryani ($12.95), which is curried lamb, chicken and shrimp cooked with basmati rice in a creamy, Moghul sauce.

Akbar also boasts some delicious vegetarian options. Go for my personal favorite, which is Channa Masala ($9.95), garbanzo beans marinated in an onion and tomato “bhuna.” Bhuna is a sauce made by gently frying spices in plenty of oil to bring forth their flavor. Devour atop some aromatic saffron-infused basmati rice ($2.50/side or $4.00/entrée) or sop up the delicious sauce with some naan bread ($2.95) baked fresh to order. The Gobi Aloo ($9.95) is just as good as it is fun to say, with cauliflower and potatoes sautéed in fresh garlic and ginger steamed in exotic sauce.

Dessert: As is always the case, no meal is quite complete without dessert. Try out the Indian version of doughnuts, Gulab Jamun ($6.00); deep fried balls of dough made with flour and milk curds and steeped in a honey syrup. The Kesari Kheer ($6.00), a rice pudding infused with saffron, nuts and raisins is another treat that’s sure to extinguish that fire on your tongue.

Service: Reservations are encouraged as Akbar gets extremely busy most nights of the week. Also, bear in mind that everything is cooked to order, so you must have patience as you sit back with a nice glass of wine and await your dinner. Akbar is also open for lunch.

Akbar Cuisine of India

Address: 44 N. Fair Oaks Ave., Pasadena 91103
Phone Number: (626) 577-9916
Owner/Chef: Avinash Kapoor
Cost: $$ (lunch menu is a bit less pricey)

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