Punjabi Tadka — Restaurant in Msida

Some minor issues up front so hopefully the owner will see, but in general I highly recommend the place, so TLDR - go here for great food. :-)

Prices perfectly OK (menu attached as photo) and the portions are fair for the price. Their service is perhaps a little confused as to whether they are going to take your order at the table or not (either one is fine, but decide and let us know with a sign/notice or something).

Orders come with rice unless you specify plain naan. As it should be, but if you order so much as one garlic naan, the poor server gets very confused and assumes you want NO rice whatsoever and multiplies your order of one garlic naan into however many garlic naans he wants you to have (and they're €3 each vs rice or plain naan which would have been included). I even asked him to repeat the order back to me, which he did correctly, but still somehow ended up getting confused at some point between going to the kitchen with our order and bringing us our food.

If you order masala tea, they will bring it at the very end of the meal. This is very authentically Indian, but maybe keep in mind that outside of India, drinks come first (it is not coincidence that you order drinks as soon as you sit ;-) ). Tiny masala tea for €2.50 with little taste other than condensed milk - and I say that not as a complaint because some people may expect/love that, and that's fine, but now you know before you buy.

Not somewhere you go for the atmosphere but pleasant enough to sit. Only indoor seating but good amount of air movement so it's tolerable in the heat. Very clean toilet but those with large waists would probably struggle to sit (just in case that's going to be an issue for some).

Now for the excellent bits: The best bhaji and pakora I think I've ever had that I didn't make myself. Many restaurants serve you a dough-y mass which is half raw inside. Not this place. €6 gets you a decent amount with plenty of mint sauce.

The second best daal tadka I've ever had. To equal the first, it would need a few wedges of lemon cooked in and some fresh coriander on top.

Butter chicken and Afghan chicken both great too. Dahi Bhalla turned out to be not lentils as advertised but leftover naan pieces soaked in some sort of yogurt stuff. Not bad, and worth getting as you don't see it that often in Indian restaurants - just be aware that that's what it is.

Garlic naan - thinner and crispier than many places, and with significantly more garlic and...

If you're searching for authentic North Indian cuisine that warms your soul and delights your taste buds, look no further than Punjabi Tadka. I’ve eaten here several times now, and every visit has been consistently fantastic—from the flavors to the service.

The dal makhani is truly a standout: slow-cooked, creamy, and deeply flavorful, just the way it’s meant to be. The garlic naan is soft, perfectly blistered in the tandoor, and loaded with fresh garlic—it pairs beautifully with any of the rich curries. And don't skip the mango lassi—smooth, cold, and just sweet enough, it's the perfect drink to balance the spices.

Everything on the menu tastes fresh and thoughtfully prepared. You can tell the chefs here put real love and care into each dish. The service is also top-notch—friendly, attentive, and always happy to accommodate if you have questions or requests.

Now, to address the negative reviews: I genuinely believe they don’t represent what this restaurant is really about. Some people might come in with expectations shaped by Americanized or overly commercial versions of Indian food. But Punjabi Tadka serves the real deal, with bold, traditional flavors that stay true to their roots. If something isn’t to your liking, the staff is always willing to make adjustments or explain the dishes—just ask!

In short, Punjabi Tadka is not just a meal—it’s an experience. It captures the essence of Punjabi hospitality, where food is a celebration, and guests are treated like family. Whether you're a long-time fan of Indian cuisine or trying it for the first time, give this place a visit with an open mind—you’ll leave full, happy, and wanting to come...

Local Indian guy recommended this place when asking for a non-"british"/authentic Indian restaurant that has good vegetarian options. Paneer Pakora was good, with a very nice green, slightly minty sauce and sauce that looks like ketchup but tastes different/more complex.

Had the hariyali "green" chicken, and due to communication problems (clash of dialects), i also seem to have ordered a beef curry. Hariyali does not exist where I am from, and it was amazing, refreshing, herbal.

Beef curry, although surprised because of indian cow status, was also very good the next day, had a very complex flavor, likely featuring some black cardamon, which for me for the first time was not overpowering. Mago lassi was very smooth and balanced spiced. Place seems to be frequented a lot by local Indian workers, who crave some home cooking/not really aiming at tourists. Which is a rare find in Malta. The inside and flair is a bit "meh", but so are a lot of restaurants in Malta that for a central European person always look improvised even if well established. Also, its not in a super...