Khana Khazana
1/F Dannies House
20 Luard Road
Wan Chai Tel: 2520 5308
Vibe: While not deliberately retro, the dining has old-fashioned charm. Staff are attentive but not pushy. They are happy to explain the menu and offer suggestions. Who to bring: It's a good place for vegans and vegetarians.
What's hot: One great thing about Indian vegetarian cuisine is the wide range of dishes rarely seen in non-veggie Indian restaurants. This opens up a new world of items and flavours.
An idli, for example, is a steamed fluffy rice cake served with coconut chutney and sambar, a tamarind and lentil broth. Wada are spiced, ground lentil fritters which can be served in all manner of ways, for example, in rasam wada. Rasam is a spicy and sour soup flavoured with tamarind and peppers, with two wada. It is quite a heavy starter for one, but all the dishes at Khana Khazana, are perfect for sharing. (Make sure your companions like spicy dishes, as this one packs quite a punch.)
From there you could try some of the chaat, or snacks. These include samosas, pakoras and pav, a Mumbai style of bread served with a curry and vegetable dip.
Big eaters might like to try the tandoor. There are several dishes to choose from, but the best option is the platter which includes spinach kebabs, vegetable kebabs, stuffed potatoes, cauliflower and paneer, a kind of cottage cheese.