At this stage of lockdown, takeaways are basically the highlight of my life. Sad but true. Any meal I don’t have to cook feels like a miraculous treat. Apparently we got our summer back in April, because it’s turned a bit grey and miserable: I had a long week, and our dinner from Street Food DelHi was a bright spot. A comforting hug. A promise of better things to come.

I have to say, we did get off to a bit of a shaky start with Street Food DelHi, struggling with the logistics of the delivery. But even I, an obsessively organised uber-punctual crazy person, am prepared for forgive lateness for food this tasty.

The chicken karahi was beautifully tender, full of warm spice and powerful flavour without being overwhelming. Daal is one of my favourite comfort foods and a dish I often treat as a litmus test for a curry takeaway. This was an excellent example. It was well-balanced and addictive: I could have eaten tubs and tubs of it. And possibly will, next time I order.

Proper attention was paid to the side dishes too.

The rice, scented and spiked with cumin, was delicate and perfectly cooked. The naan was thinner and softer than most of the thick, oval breads I’ve had with curries in the past, but particularly delicious. The lentil pakora were light, crisp, and moreish enough to have us fighting over the last one.

And, joy, desserts!

You don’t always see desserts on an Indian takeaway menu. I am very much (very very much) a dessert person so I was delighted to see some intriguing options here. The russ malai (sometimes called rasmalai) is described as ‘A rich clotted doughnut in a cinnamon creamy sauce.’ I actually think ‘doughnut’ is a bit of a misnomer here, and that you might be disappointed if you go in expecting one: this is delicious, but it’s not a doughnut. It’s more like a sweet dumpling, and it’s totally satisfying sitting in its custard-like sauce. The delhi kheer is rice pudding flavoured with lime zest, toasted almonds and rose. I really love rice pudding anyway (can you tell I am all about the comfort food), and this was a lovely twist on the dish.

Overall, this was the best Indian takeaway I’ve had in ages. Everything felt a bit elevated in quality from the standard dishes I’m used to. The menu is a great mix of standard favourites and more unusual dishes. I also really appreciate how clearly they’ve marked dishes vegetarian, vegan, or gluten free. I’m definitely going to order from Street Food DelHi again. How much time should you reasonably let elapse between takeaway orders, do you think…?

Street Food DelHi
Unit 19, Chiltern Business Centre
Garsington Road
Oxford OX4 6NG
01865 604900

thekitchen@streetfooddelhi.com

We were gifted a meal from Street Food DelHi; all views remain our own.