KOHINOOR Indian Cuisine — Restaurant in Benicia

Let me start by saying that I hesitate to share of the hidden gem that Kohinoor is, for sake of my own selfishness. It is for the simple fact that they are doing such an incredible job bringing our town something so remarkable, I’m left with no choice. From the moment you walk in, you’ll find a very clean and tidy appearance accompanied by the aroma of fresh, delicious cuisine. My lady and I were greeted with a smile by a lovely woman who sat us promptly at a set table. Then followed a young man who immediately provided us with cool water from a copper pitcher, very classy. Following was another fine gentleman who provided a serving of crisp lentil chips with a trio of delightful sauces. For as busy as the restaurant was, our order was taken in a timely manner and it was not long before our food arrived, however; it was long enough for me to become excited, as I seemed to fall under a spell at the scent of some of the other patrons entrees as they emerged from the kitchen. The first item to arrive was the ‘Samosa Chaat’ and let me say, this was the moment I knew I was about to eat some of the best Indian food I’ve had to date. The best part is that I was right. The layers and depth of flavor in conjunction with the quality and presentation were second to none. Now, in closing, I’ll spare the blather and bore and say simply this: This is what we’ve all been waiting for. This is worth a drive from American Canyon, Antioch, Danville, etc. As a man who’s loved Indian food for my entire adult life, I’ve never eaten food I’ve enjoyed more than what I had merely...

Decided to try this place out with my coworkers on Thursday. To stress test this place, I ordered the methi malai chicken and gobi paratha. These are two items that I noticed many Indian restaurants tend to screw up a lot on (oh, how many red methi malais have I gotten...). I can satisfyingly say that the methi malai was yellow, velvety, and creamy as it was supposed to be and the chicken was moist and had been pre-marinated. The paratha was soft and the gobi not wet. The samosas also had a nice spice level to them and I could eat the mint and mango chutneys for days.

Now, a couple points to bring up. The food is noticeably pricier than its competitors. I would've subtracted a star or two for this if I didn't live up to it, but unfortunately for both my and your wallets, it does.

The service was slow despite our group being one of few in there at the start of service. I would've subtracted a star for this if the restaurant wasn't new, but I will extend forgiveness as it does take time to iron these kinks out and sail into the groove.

The dishes of my compatriots also looked appetizing so I will probably be back shortly thereafter to taste some more of their dishes.

Update: they started doing buffet style...

After seeing some rave reviews on Facebook, I decided to check this place out. I am so glad I did. The fight for parking was totally worth it!

I enjoyed the buffet lunch. The butter chicken was my favorite, the best I’ve had in many, many years. The naan-bread came out fresh. I ordered a lasse (yogurt drink), and it was delicious too!

My biggest concern about coming here, well, I had two of them, the first was about the parking and the second was about the food.

I actually found a few places available to park in. So that was great. Then, entering the clean restaurant and finding a waiting table was wonderful. Currently, the all-you-can-eat buffet isn’t large. But what they offer is delicious and, certainly if you want more, you may order off the menu (and support this small business).

Five stars and huge wishes for their success. This is the best Indian food. I’ve tasted in a really long time. (I’m not saying anything bad about the other restaurant that was in town. I’m saying this is the best Indian food I’ve had in a...