Bhindis

It would be quite embarrassing to admit how many times I have ordered from Bhindi’s — suffice to say it’s more then is probably good for me.
Situated on the Lewes Road, Bhindi’s is reliably great, with a wide range of curry options that goes way beyond the obligatory korma and vindaloo.
A good option for those on a budget, each curry comes complete with pilau rice, poppadoms and onion salad included in the price, meaning you can take full advantage of the tasty sides on offer.
My favourites? The fruity Malayan curry, bhindi bhaji and prawn puri.

Lived a few blocks away from Bhindi’s for a wonderful year, I ate here at least twice a week. Be warned, if you relocate to a distant shore, as I have, the cravings for Bhindi’s chicken tikka jalfrezzi will never abate. Like some phantom stalking your dreams, the aromas of the open kitchen will wander through your olfactories and you will be brought back to that magical place. I tried many curry houses in the South of England, from Northwest and East London to Hove, but Bhindi’s is simply miles ahead. Beautiful people, exquisite food, fair price, an unfortunate and unquenchable addiction, worth every note!

Living in New York affords me the opportunity to have a wide array of Indian takeaways to choose from. However, nothing I’ve encountered here could even begin to compare to the magic of Bhindis. I will visit Brighton again soon, and Bhindis will my first choice to eat at while in town. I miss you, Bhindis!

Another open kitchen on Lewes Road, this takeaway house does things with a little more refinement than most. This can include a nod too far to the sweeter palettes (their yoghurt dip is like sugary, red coleslaw) but overall their popularity is justified. Sauces are smooth and velvety, with a more delicate approach to spicing, far-​removed from the chilli overkill of some. Friendly and professional, waiting times can be longer during bustling weekend trade, but delivery is available. Otherwise, sit and wait as the hustling line of cooks work away and let the aromas waft your way. The extra bit of quality on show here comes at a higher price bit is surely worth it.

If I had to pick a favourite Indian takeaway in Brighton, it would be a difficult toss-​up between Bhindis and the Agra Tandoori. Bhindis, I must say, has the edge most winter nights as they’ll deliver.
When this place opened a few years ago, it went by the name ‘Balti Towers’ and quickly changed it… infringement of copyright? I have no idea. I though it was a great pun but I guess they wanted to be taken more seriously. Bhindis are very proud of the fact that they have an entirely open kitchen, so you can watch the chefs at work while you wait for your curry and it’s plain to see that this place is both hygienic and efficient. The front-​of-​house service is great too.
The food here is absolutely delicious, not greasy and super tasty. They use fresh herbs in all their dishes and you can taste the freshness of the meat and veg too. As much as I love the Agra I think Bhindis may have the edge with it’s pricing too. Most dishes have rice included and you can choose between a large and small portion of your main meal, with quite a noticeable price difference. They also have this gorgeous bright orange coleslaw-​type stuff (sounds weird but trust me, it’s lush) which I dip my poppadums and bhajis into with immense joy. If you love a great curry, then Bhindis is a must.

Formally Balti Towers, Bhindis seem to really put some extra love and attention into their food. They have an open kitchen on premises and the preparation and delivery of their dishes is quite unique, I especially love the mixed tikka starter, which is lamb and chicken, and is only £2.95. They have some many good dishes but I always seem to use that as a solid cornerstone to my order. Being so close myself and friends have given Bhindis quite a bit of business and delivery orders have always arrived promptly and the delicious food hasn’t disappointed as of yet.

I’m not a fan of spicy food in general, and usually prefer more European cuisine, like Italian or French. That said, I’ve ordered food from Bhindis a couple of times as my flatmate is a big fan of Indian cuisine, and the service has always been good, the food has arrived relatively promptly, and it has all tasted ok. The menu is very extensive, and quite helpful, giving guidelines for ignorant people like me, regards what some of the items actually are, and how spicy they’re going to be. Definitely a good place to order from if you’re a fan of Indian food.