Tandoori Hut Newtown — Restaurant in Sydney

Stepping into this lively restaurant on the iconic Enmore Road, one could sense that this would be a worthy venue for a visit from the OCC. Tandoori Hut certainly does not fall into the category of sleepy suburban curry house with lounges, landscape photography, dark tones and cultural motifs on the walls. Instead, the air hums with the scent of the tandoor, permeated by the scent of garlic and charcoal, while the chatter of the patrons (some of the Inner West's finest specimens) indicates that this is at a bare minimum the sort of establishment that holds its own in a competitive market.

Upon being seated, our eyes were quickly drawn to the unique touches in the dining area. The Broncos v Raiders plays on a flickering TV in the corner — while framed Pakistani cricket jerseys and a cricket bat signed by the one and only Brett Lee catch the eye. Kevin Spacey would love this place, if only for that last detail.

The manager impressed with his friendly demeanour and comprehensive knowledge of B-grade domestic Pakistani and Australian cricketers from the 90s. Ask about Ijaz Ahmed or Salim Malik and you're in for a treat on par with the food. It’s this blend of culinary devotion and sporting nostalgia that gives Tandoori Hut its soul. All in all, though not a warm atmosphere, there was a distinctly Australian-Pakistani iconography that made this place feel welcoming and special.

Navigating the facilities is something of a side quest. The journey to the toilets leads you through a fairly grotty hallway, dimly lit and atmospherically questionable, where a handful of half-cut onions sit abandoned on a bare fridge like a tail ender facing Shoaib Aktar. As for the bathroom itself — certainly not meeting the Changi Airport standard that other Sydney curry houses have met. Still, some consolation is found in a curious and oddly touching detail: a framed photo of Inzamam-ul-Haq solemnly overlooking the toilet, like a silent patron saint of bathroom breaks and batting collapses.

Despite what could be considered a lack of effort towards general maintenance and hygiene, one could sense that the owners are aware that customers are there for the food and not for a yoga retreat; the food lands with serious intent and delivers both deep satisfaction and shockingly good value for money — a rare feat in these inflationary times.

The butter chicken is a standout — rich, velvety, and unashamedly decadent, with a tomato-butter base so good it should come with a warning. The goat feet curry is a revelation — spicy and earthy — a dish that requires total trust in your host and rewards it generously. Lamb chops, beautifully charred with that deep tandoori tang, and the palak paneer, smooth and soothing, earn honourable mentions. The shish kebabs, too, are spicy, juicy, and gone before you know it.

This is not cuisine that aims for restraint. It is gloriously flavour-forward, with a kind of joyful maximalism that says: if one spice is good, seven are better. And yet, there’s finesse in the chaos. Every dish feels lovingly constructed, fiercely authentic, and deeply rooted in home-style Pakistani cooking.

What truly sets Tandoori Hut apart, beyond the cricketing memorabilia and culinary bravado, is the exceptional value. It’s the kind of joint where you can feed eight OCC members generously for under $410 and still have leftovers; an inflation-fighting tonic if there ever was one.

The shortfalls of Tandoori Hut are more than made up for by its unapologetic approach to its food. Come for the butter chicken, stay for the goat feet, and take comfort knowing Inzamam is watching over you — from the wall above the loo.

Full scores as follows: Service = 8.06 Customer Care = 8.25 Quality = 8.19 Value = 9.2 Atmosphere = 6.3

Total Score = 8.00 - OCC Approved!

The Oakham Curry Club (OCC) is one of the worlds most respected reviewers of Indian cuisine. With multiple international franchises, we relentlessly scour the globe in pursuit of the crispiest poppadoms, the tastiest sauces and...

Having heard a lot of (mostly good) things about the restaurant from friends, we finally went for dinner there, and it suffices to say that we were far from happy. Ordered the tandoori chicken for entree, which while tasted okay, was fairly dry, and not juicy and succulent. Me and my wife both like typical spicy (read hot) curries, and so for mains we ordered the Madras Chicken (to share), which was the only item in chicken mains marked as 'hot'. We even confirmed with the waitress that this was indeed going to be hot, and she assured us that it would be. To go with the curry, was a tandoori roti and a 'Lajwab Parantha' (which is a stuffed tandoori parantha with chicken). To our dismay, the curry was nowhere near what Madras Chicken should be, didn't even have curry leaves/mustard seeds in the gravy that gives Madras Chicken its distinctive flavour. It was a bland. home-made. chicken. curry. We had to ask for salt to add to the curry. The roti was standard, but the Lajwab Parantha was pretty bland too - you could taste the chicken, but that was about it - no real flavour to it. We also ordered a salted lassi, which while was quite watery, was passable. The overall service (of staff) was pretty indifferent, so didn't really add to the dining experience. I would have expected a restaurant in a location like Newtown/Enmore to offer something more - if not in the decor (nothing against minimalist eateries) - but it must definitely be special in the food they cook. In my personal view, I wouldn't...

My friends and I frequent Tandoori Hut for our post dance class feeds just across the road. It's the most affordable meal you'll have that slaps every single friggin time if you're looking for an authentic, hearty and made-from-love type indian/Pakistani meal. I found out today the chef is a loving Mother who has been the head chef for 30 years now (with her very proud Son running front of house, and brother a fellow cook), so you know you're getting a meal dripping with culture, tradition and family, cooked by Auntie herself. This is a family business that deserves all the praise. Tandoori hut is a must try that you will not regret, and you will find yourself coming back to time and time again because there is simply no other restaurant that compares and it feels like you're just having another weekly dinner at your best...