Kurry King — Restaurant in Langford

Kurry King

Don’t let the name fool you, Kurry King restaurant is much more than curry. It has a diverse menu of south Indian foods as well as Indian-Chinese fusion dishes. Many of these are unlike the foods of northern India and the Punjab that are common in Indian restaurants in Canada. It does however have those favourites as well.

We have enjoyed the dosa, a thin crepe made from lentils rather than wheat. Dosas can be had plain or with various fillings. The plain dosa is, well it is plain. But start adding some fillings and it can get interesting.

Idli is a steamed “dumpling” made from a batter of fermented lentils and rice. Something you are not going to find in restaurants that focus on northern Indian foods.

I suggest that Kurry King would benefit by having more extensive descriptions of its menu items that will be unfamiliar to most Canadians who enjoy northern Indian food.

The two of us have sampled a variety of northern dishes, including chicken vindaloo, chicken in spinach, palak paneer, and chana masala. All have been good enough that it is now a challenge to enjoy when we arrive. Over a series of visits we have convinced the server that when we say we like food “Indian hot”, we really do mean it. Now it is getting spicy enough for us.

Our southern Indian dishes have been equally good. One dish that we have enjoyed has the unappetizing description “Cooked-Half done”. In fact, it is a pleasantly moist omelette. I suggest that “moist omelette” would be a more attractive description.

The physical layout of Kurry King it a tad deceptive. Upon entering is a small area that is mostly taken up by the administrative area. Just to the right is the main dining area with several tables and space for maybe 25 diners. Wall decorations on three sides show scenes from India while the fourth side is windows into the busy Veterans Memorial Parkway. This raises an ambience issue. All of these surfaces are “hard”, meaning that sounds from diners bounce around rather these being muted. Any hard objects (e.g., cutlery, keys, phones, etc.) falling are very audible.

From this lower area is a stairway that I expect is an upper dining area. The stairs would be a challenge for some people going up and might be risky for some people going down.

A television is visible above, which introduces another consideration. It seems that the television is sometimes on, projecting distracting noise down into the dining area. This detracts from the pleasure of a meal. In addition, on some occasions there is one or more child playing games on a device in the entrance area, resulting in more noise in the dining area.

I suggest the dining experience could be enhanced by adding noise softening textures to much of the dining area and removing any television screens. (If people want to watch TV while they eat, let them get take out and do it at home.) It might be that children are not present during evening dining and that lunchtime presence is a summer phenomenon only.

What is already pleasant is the graciousness of the floor staff and of the chef. On one occasion the chef came to our table to explain that they would be unable to make a dish in the usual way and suggested desirable alternatives. And as I have already mentioned, they have been attentive to our wish for enhanced spiciness while being conscious that many Canadians’ idea of “spicy” might be different from that of Indian diners.

In all, we enjoy having the options of southern and northern Indian menu items and are happy to be continuing patrons...

An unexpected little gem in a quiet part of Sooke, BC! My husband and I ( on a short vacation here) ended up at their doors after driving around looking for a dinner option to suit my rather restrictive new diet. Being South Indians ourselves, we were totally surprised to find this unassuming spot that served near home-style authentic dishes from a tiny kitchen at the back of the store. The young couple that run this place were totally welcoming of us and without hesitation offered to custom prepare me a meal that catered to my restrictive diet. My husband had a sumptuous richly flavored Shahi Panner to go with a couple soft and fluffy Dosas while I had a lightly spiced and sautéed prawn dish with a healthy serving of peppers, green beans and peas made exactly the way I had wanted it- very little oil, no onions, no starch and minimal carb. I was very pleased with how the Chef, Ramesh had paid keen attention to how I wanted my food made. Clearly it spoke about their hospitality and sincere customer service. My husband and I had an opportunity to chat with the lovely couple abit. Ramesh and his wife Nandhini and their two little boys are new immigrants, ready to roll up their sleeves to make this home and make an honest living. They have big dreams like every new Canadian and want to offer the best possible service to their customers. I could tell from their friendly demeanor and enthusiasm to serve, that they will do very well in hospitality! The couples' two little sons were a joy as well as they chatted us up while the meal was being prepared!  Clearly these little men are already trained in providing sterling customer service!

Overall, a very pleasant dining experience and would go back for seconds in a heart beat. Kurry King Kudos to...

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Kurry King, an Indian restaurant that left me craving for more. From the moment I stepped inside, I was greeted with warm hospitality and an inviting ambiance that set the stage for a memorable culinary experience.

The highlight of my visit was undoubtedly the dosa, a traditional South Indian delicacy that Kurry King has truly mastered. The dosas were nothing short of perfection - crispy on the outside, yet soft and flavorful on the inside. The menu offered a variety of dosa options, at different spice levels. Each bite was a burst of authentic Indian flavors that transported me to the streets of Chennai.

To complement the exquisite food, the service at Kurry King was exceptional. The staff was attentive, knowledgeable, and eager to ensure that every guest had a delightful dining experience. They were more than happy to provide recommendations and accommodate any dietary preferences or restrictions. This is a great place to go with a large group of people.

We were pleasantly surprised to see a bottle of Sumac Ridge wine for $28 on the menu, which is a great deal.

Overall, my visit to Kurry King was a true gastronomic delight. The dosas were simply outstanding, and the entire dining experience was elevated by the attentive service and pleasant ambiance. If you're in search of an Indian restaurant that serves delicious dosas and authentic flavors, look no further than Kurry King. We can't wait to return and explore more of their...