Here are some of our best recommendations from one of the best Indian restaurants Shiva Shakti for what to order at an Indian restaurant. Overall, the goal of trying new foods is to broaden your range of experiences, so don’t be afraid to dive right in.

1. Order dishes you think you”ll like.

Although the numerous herbs and spices used in Indian cuisine can significantly alter the flavor of some vegetables and meats, it’s best to avoid ordering anything you don’t know when you first experience Indian dishes.

Many meals contain mutton because Hindus don’t eat beef. If you don’t typically enjoy mutton or lamb, you should stay away from dishes like rogan josh and mutton kebabs.

The same is true for ingredients like peas, okra, lentils, and chickpeas.

2. Be honest about your spice tolerance.

This one is significant because, for some inexplicable reason, a lot of us have begun to erroneously equate spice tolerance with toughness and manliness. Being truthful about how much spice you genuinely like, rather than how much you can eat without dying, is essential if you want to appreciate Indian food.

It’s a good idea to place your food order one step below from what you would typically eat. For instance, if you often prefer spicy meals, start with medium heat. Start with mild if you typically prefer medium heat. Follow Shiva Shakti’s page, you will get knowledge of the Indian cuisine’s spice levels, which may be rather different from your own.

3. Order side dishes and drinks to help cut the spice and soothe your stomach.

Even if you order bland foods, Indian cuisine contains a lot of warm but not necessarily “hot” spices like cumin, cardamom, cinnamon, and cloves. It’s an excellent idea to order some hydrating side dishes or beverages like raita or lassi because we Westerners aren’t used to all these spices.

With any Indian meal, raita, a delicious side dish made of cool yogurt, salt, and fresh vegetables like cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, and cilantro, is a must-have. After a spicy dinner, raita not only tastes excellent but also soothes the stomach.

If you want a milkshake-like beverage made with yogurt instead of fresh vegetables, try lassi. Fresh fruits can be used to flavor lassi, which is available in sweet or salty varieties.

4. Know that not all Indian food is curry.

It’s a popular misconception that all curries are gravy-based meals in Indian cuisine. Knowing that this isn’t true will help you place a better order. The British accidently created the word “curry” when they anglicized the word “kari,” which refers to a particular South Indian sauce meal.

The word “curry” is only ever used to describe fairly simple foods like chicken curry, mutton curry, fish curry, and egg curry in India. On an Indian menu, the majority of the meals will have their own distinctive names. Butter chicken, palak paneer, dal, and chana masala are a few examples of dishes that still have gravy and could be categorized as “curries.”

Read more: Influence of foreign cultures on Indian food

5. Eat family style.

Indian cuisine is best enjoyed family-style because that is how it is traditionally consumed in India. In India, the majority of families will place a large order for a variety of foods, and each person will take a small portion of each dish and place it on their plate.

Travelers should dine family-style because it is the most authentic way to consume Indian food, it allows them to sample more items, and it ensures that their dinner won’t be ruined if they order anything they don’t like.

6. You can anticipate “veg” and “non-veg” categories on menus.

Considering the influences of the Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain religions, India boasts the greatest population of vegetarians in the entire globe. As a result, nearly all Indian restaurants provide vegetarian alternatives, and many menus are divided into parts for vegetarians and non-vegetarians.

Do not disregard the vegetable segment if you consume meat. The best Indian cuisine includes vegetarian options like dal, aloo gobi, and chana masala. It’s a good idea to order a few vegetarian dishes and a few meat dishes when eating Indian food to get a good variety.

7. Get enough bread and rice.

The majority of Indian dishes, whether they are gravy-based or dry, are consumed with bread or rice. Therefore, make sure you order plenty for your meal. This can be a little challenging because rice and bread portions frequently vary from one restaurant to another. Ask your waiter if there is enough food by ordering a few orders of bread and one of rice.

8. Do not feel compelled to use your hands when eating.

By tearing off pieces of bread and using them to scoop up the food on their plates, many Indians prefer to eat with their hands. Don’t worry if you think this is something that won’t work out for you. It is acceptable to take a piece of bread and spread some gravy on it using the spoon that comes with your meal at every Indian restaurant.

There are no set guidelines for eating Indian food, so follow your own preferences as much as possible.

9. Order the restaurant’s specialty.

The majority of restaurants are well known for a select few dishes. Try to place an order for at least one of the restaurant’s “to guarantee that you receive the greatest food, s specialities.

The majority of North Indian eateries focus on Mughlai cuisine, which was developed by the Mughal Empire and combines Persian ingredients with Indian flavors. Order the naan, kebabs, chicken tikka masala, and cream-based meals like korma and butter chicken if you visit a North Indian restaurant.

North Indian eateries most likely won “Because masala dosas are a specialty of South India, Shiva Shakti makes the best of them.

10. Choose good quality restaurants by researching or asking your guide for advice.

The easiest approach for a newcomer to enjoy excellent Indian food is to select reputable eateries. If you’ve never been to India before and don’t know how to spot good eateries, this can be challenging. Also asking the hotel staff or your tour guide for suggestions is a wonderful approach to acquire some recommendations.

Additionally, a fast Google search can help you locate great restaurants. Make sure to look it up on a food ordering app if you are unsure whether you will enjoy a particular establishment. The app provides a list of nearby eateries, their menus, and images of the cuisine. Hence you can determine whether or not it looks tasty.