CURRY LEAF NEPALI & INDIAN CUISINE — Restaurant in Philadelphia

While in Philly, we didn’t have much time to drive around looking for a cozy restaurant, so we chose Curry Leaf Nepali and Indian Cuisine, located right in downtown.

It’s a small, family-owned restaurant with just four tables and three high chairs on the side. The place was packed, and we had to sit on the high stools for a while before getting a table. There was only one waiter handling all the tables and bill payments, which was quite impressive given how busy it was.

We ordered Mix Vegetable Curry, Malai Kofta, Butter Naan, and Garlic Naan. The Mix Vegetable Curry had a colorful combination of carrots, peas, bell peppers, green beans, zucchini, and paneer, all cooked to perfection in a rich, mildly spiced gravy. It had a home-style flavor, with each vegetable retaining its texture and taste. The Malai Kofta was creamy, rich, and packed with flavors, with soft, well-seasoned dumplings that had a hint of nuts, possibly cashews or almonds. The gravy was buttery and mildly spiced, making it perfect to scoop up with naan.

The naan was incredibly fresh—fluffy, crisp on the outside, and soft inside. The garlic naan had a delicious aroma, with just the right amount of garlic and herbs, while the butter naan was soft and indulgent, melting in the mouth with each bite.

The food was fantastic, and we absolutely loved it. One thing to note—the tip percentage (15% or 20%) is calculated on the total bill, including tax, so you end up tipping on the tax amount as well, which felt a bit odd.

If you're looking for authentic, homemade-style Indian/Nepalese food in Philly, Curry Leaf Nepali and Indian Cuisine is a hidden gem....

Not sure about the positive reviews about this place but I actively try new Indian restaurants when I can. The lamb korma is possibly the worst I've eaten in a long time. The lamb was pretty tender (and why this is not a 1 star rating) but was overshadowed by the lack of flavor and heat. The butter chicken, like the korma, was overly sweet and had a consistency that was too thin. The saag paneer needed more spices. In addition, ordering spicy is moreso mild for this place.

Overall, every dish I ordered was too sweet, not spicy, and bland. Luckily, I have spices at home to redo the flavor and kick up...

This restaurant has incredible Nepali and Indian food - I don't know how it hasn't become super popular yet (I almost want to gatekeep it for myself, but I won't)! The food is just as good as--honestly, if not better--than popular Indian restaurants I've had in NYC. I love the fish pakora and bhindi masala (made with okra) so much and can tell that every dish is made with care. They have tons of variety with lots of delicious options for vegetarians too. As a plus, the waiter in the front of house is always extremely friendly and welcoming. I'm making it my personal quest to try every item on...