Ever since I began traveling regularly for work, I’ve learned more about myself at this stage in my life — my wants, my needs, and my quirks — all through the lens of travel. For instance, I now know the perfect airplane bag, I’m extremely particular about my in-flight snacks, and I pretty much wear the exact same clothes on every business trip.
Another ritual I’ve developed is ordering Indian takeout on the last night of each trip. This habit started in Minneapolis, where — tired of cold sandwiches and uninspired pasta salad from the conference buffet — I wandered into the city and stumbled upon the best Indian restaurant of my life. Since then, I’ve eagerly sought out new Indian cuisine in every city I visit.
Part of the reason I indulge in Indian food during work trips is because my partner and daughter don’t like it, so I rarely order it at home when I know they won’t eat it. But since it’s my favorite cuisine, traveling solo gives me the perfect excuse to savor it guilt-free.
I also always order the same dishes: Lamb Biryani, Saag Paneer, Garlic Naan, and Chicken Tikka.
Here’s a running list of the top Indian takeouts I’ve discovered on my work travels.
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Minneapolis, MN: Kadai - The best Indian food ever |
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Washington, DC |
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New York City, NY
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Tulsa, OK |
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Winnipeg, Canada |
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Sacramento, CA |
The absolute worst Indian food I ever had was in Ireland. It was so bad that I threw it out and ordered the same dishes from another restaurant, only to discover the second place was somehow even worse. Both spots were extremely popular and highly rated, but the curries were sickeningly sweet — clearly tailored to Irish tastes. There wasn’t a hint of spice, and the sweetness was so over the top they might as well have served it for dessert. Truly disgusting.
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Belfast, Ireland |