The Kashmir Restaurant — Restaurant in Bradford

Two visits to the Kashmir Restaurant during the week. One on Monday with a couple of friends, celebrating a birthday, and the second on Wednesday with a different friend.

Not sure what is going on with the 'Kash'; think it probably has new management these days. Very quiet with only a pair of other couples present. Menus and poppadoms brought speedily, as always and orders quickly taken. We were always keen on Onion Bhajis so ordered some and some Vegetable Pakoras. Three very generous helpings were brought and eaten but , given that we were to eat main courses, there was too much food and the Bhajis were overcooked. The raita that we had tasted quite spicy compared to previous visits. On to the main courses, two Keema and a Vegetable curries were ordered and my companions did not like their curries and could not finish their meals. My vegetable curry was different in that I was able to eat most but the portions were certainly larger than normal. Maybe a result of having so few customers. We were disappointed as we used the Kashmir regularly in the past and always call in with friends whenever we are in Bradford.

Onto the second visit. There were just two of us on this occasion and we were the only customers until a group of four people came as we were nearly ready to go. Again, menus were quickly brought and orders taken but no poppadoms were brought, though the raita had been It was even spicier than on the Monday visit.

We stuck to Vegetable curries and they were an improvement on Monday's meal. We ordered Pilau rice and chapattis but the rice was not the usual Pilau and, again, there was an overgenerous number of chapattis which did not all get eaten.

There was disappointment on both visits but we shall return at some point in the future to see if it was 'teething problems ' with a new team settling in. Hopefully, there will be a difference when...

I used to go regularly to the Kashmir, probably about 10-15 year ago. Tried it again last night and it was a different experience to what I remember.

Going there again I was pleased to see that it had a 5* food standards rating which is important to a lot of people.

Upon entering we were quickly greeted and it's still clearly a family run business with younger members bringing out popodoms, salad, water etc. The elder members bringing out menus and taking your orders etc. The senior members behind the counter taking payment (more on this...).

Compared to last time I went.... The decor hasn't changed one iota. It's exactly as I remember it. What had changed was the number of customers. It was completely dead. For a Friday night at 8pm this was somewhat worrying for me initially. I needn't have worried.....

We ordered a couple of starters, onion bhajis and fish pakoras, both were absolutely gorgeous and the portions were enormous. So much so we should have held back and taken some home.

Mains were chicken with spinach and chicken Karahi (curry). Again the food was absolutely spectacular, tonnes of chicken, just the right amount of ghee, not swimming but not dry and the flavour was perfect. We couldn't eat all our mains but they were happy to box them up for us to take.

A little disappointed when I went to pay (don't expect table service for the bill). Despite seeing online that they take card payment, they were initially wanting me to pay cash. They eventually relented and brought out the card machine and I paid contactless. I'd probably suggest taking cash if you can to avoid any fuss, but they do have the facility still.

Overall it was a good experience, the food absolutely stunning and delicious, but there are more opportunities to make it more up to date.

Now... Onto my...

EDIT 2025 - Returned here on the weekend for the first time in 6 years. Agree with the reviews that even after a refurb, the place looks tired and dated. Cleanliness can improve - there were a few flies buzzing around ! Thankfully there's no stairs into a basement setting anymore with seating now on the first floor. We were served quickly, and received the usual complimentary salad, chutney and water.

Food-wise, it wasn't bad but quality was lacking compared to previous visit. Ordered a mix of starters along with chicken and meat masalas. The seekh kebabs seemed reheated in a microwave. We left a couple as they were hard and chewy. The chapli kebabs were fine along with the fish pakoras. The curries were good but the rotis were very thin and small.

It's sad to write as The Kashmir is Bradford heritage and will always retain its nostalgia value, but you'd rather spend an extra few quid and go to The International opposite just for the bigger portions and more hygienic environment. This was reflected by how quiet for a Sat lunchtime with only one other table occupied - in contrast to 2019 when it was much busier.

2019 review - Ate here at one of Bradford's oldest curry houses with the family for the first time. You may be initially struck by the dated decor and lack of frills - but don't let that put you off.

The curries here will not have your eyes and nose streaming (unless you wish) so easy on the senses, and the stomach.

Ordered the chicken masala and meat dopiaza with naan, and the portion sizes were generous and at a...