Punjabi Rasoi Indian Cuisine — Restaurant in Norfolk

I wish there were 10 stars on here. This place may be new, but its flavors taste authentically traditional. Many of the dishes they serve are difficult to execute. Food of this caliber has been rare for me to find, so I have savored every single bite of the dishes I've had. I literally felt like I was being hugged by the person who prepared it. I've never took so long between bites in my life! :-)

For starters, the mulligatwany soup was intimidating to order, but that first sip hugged me and transported me to the Punjabi region of India. I paused for a solid minute with my eyes closed in pure bliss. A familiar flavor to a southerner, as the complexities of the yellow curry-based soup and its many, many ingredients was reminiscent of the best butter beans mom made. Again, if you are in need of a hug, order this soup. It was so good I didn't want to finish it. I made 3 meals out of it (over rice!). I hope I never lose my soup privileges here! #SeinfeldReference

The Mango Lassi gave me chills. Not only was it delicious and flavorful, it was thick like a lassi should be. The last 5 or so I ordered from other establishments lacked flavor and complexity. Not here! I felt like I was eating a mango with every sip. That first taste made me sit back and savor every drop. I enjoyed the medium serving over 4 meals. Make sure you keep stirring it :)

Let's talk about the chicken tikka masala. This is always my litmus test for authenticity at northern Indian restaurants. Upon first glance, it was thick, complex, and included the freshest cilantro/parsley(?) on top that added an incredible herbal note to the tomato and cream-based dish. I ordered it Hot (vs Indian Hot) and the spice level did not disappoint. Tingles of joy filled my mouth after every delectable bite. The chicken itself was a reddish-orange tinge after being grilled to perfection and marinating in that amazing sauce. I could taste the "from-scratch", the love and the effort from the kitchen. By far, the best version of this dish I've had. Coupled with a side of chat papadi, the combo of the rice, masala and chat papadi in one bite made me stand up and dance. Seriously good eats. Enjoyed every bite over 3 meals (including breakfast!).

Finally, who knew Josh Rogin was named after an Indian curry? The Lamb Roganjosh was one of the most complex dishes I have ever enjoyed. It is the dish I didn't know I needed in my life. Instantly top 25 best ever. The lamb was cooked so perfectly you could tell it was red meat and also cooked on the bone. Tender is not even the word! The star of the flavor profile is the lingering taste of nutmeg-clove-garlic-onion. This dish tastes like it has 20-30 ingredients and warmed my spirit and soul. I could taste it on my tongue an hour after eating it and was delighted. Now THIS is a RECIPE! I just finished the last of it. I ate it over 2+ meals. This is the one you'll come back to the fridge for a spoonful and walk away. I ordered it Hot - next time I will try it Indian Hot.

Now, the prices may make you want to order something cheaper, but here you are absolutely getting your money's worth. Look at how many meals I got out of the ~40 bucks I spent.

I ordered from there two days in a row. To the owners - please restrain from changing your magical recipes. Don't sacrifice quality. Consider taking samples around campus, as many are not familiar with the flavor, dishes or food this authentic. I spent two hours on this review for a reason - you all DESERVE to be patronized. Thank you for sharing these amazing recipes with the Hampton...

This dinner was incredible! My fiance and I had just got into town and we were hungry for some Tika Masala, and we heard this place was the best in the Norfolk area- we were not disappointed! DRINKS: Mango Mule: was perfectly sweet and you could tell the mango addition was fresh puree. The combination with fresh cucumber was delicious. Lemongrass Jazmine Iced Tea: this was the perfect balance of tart and sweet with a subtle floral flavor from the Jazmine. Oddly enough, it almost reminded me of a tamarindo FOOD: My fiance and I shared the Lamb Tikka Masala and Butter Chicken. Both were given the medium hot spice level which was perfect for us as it got the nose running slightly, but didn't ruin it by being too spicy. Both dishes were served piping hot and were seasoned beautifully. The lamb was very tender with hardly any gristle. You DEFINITELY need to order the bread basket with your meal as it comes with a variety of naan my favorite was the garlic butter naan which made my eyes roll every bite. SERVICE: The service here is great! When we were eating my fiance and I noted it felt as if we were being served at a friend's house by their grandmother. Our waitress was a sweet old Indian woman who was all smiles and had a great attitude. Since it was our first time she even treated us with rice pudding, on the house! And let me tell you, I've never gotten excited about rice pudding but this stuff...

We forgot to take pics because we were practically drooling seeing the food come out, but we also almost licked our dessert plates clean!! Mixed Biryani was my dish and it was cooked PERFECTLY! Salmon and shrimp weren’t overcooked at all, and the other meats were SO tender!! In-laws had the butter chicken and the Shahi Karachi Kadhai on lvl 3 spice, while my partner had the chicken vindaloo on lvl 3 spice, and everyone was happy with what they got!

PLEASE ask for the ice cream WITH the Gulab Jamun, it’s a $2 up-charge but worth every penny, and they were kind enough to give us an extra piece of the Gulab Jamun because we were a party of 4 🥺❤️ (And get the Gajar Halwa too, it’s soooo worth it!!)

The lovely woman running the show was extremely attentive, and even though there was a language barrier she worked hard to showcase her husbands incredible cooking, as well as the familial nature of their culture. She even gave us some free rice pudding since we were first-timers and we’d never tried Indian food before 😭❤️

Harry was an excellent server and a total sweetheart also!! I hope he found the extra tip I’d left on the front desk but I was trying to be sneaky! 😂

We WILL be returning for sure, and telling all our friends...