Grace Hiney (center) is joined by Taj Palace owners Sunny Sukhwinder (left) and Navneet Kaur.
TAJ PALACE
15200 Sunset Blvd.
Pacific Palisades
(310) 454-0988
Proprietor Sunny Sukhwinder has created a true Palisades restaurant retreat where diners not only eat in an attractive dining room, but also drop in to pick up their favorite foods to enjoy at home.
When I surveyed the updated menu, I noticed that with just a few exceptions, most of the food is gluten-free, which many diners consider important. That might explain why there are so many take-out orders.
The other evening my friend and I relaxed with a glass of wine while studying the multi-page menu that lists starters or appetizers, soups and salads, and curries (chicken, lamb and seafood) along with vegetarian delights, plus specialties cooked in the Indian clay oven (called the Tandoori), and a variety of rice dishes and Indian breads.
As we still felt not too hungry after the traditional Thanksgiving meal we had enjoyed the day before, Barbara and I decided to share the Chicken Pakora appetizer ($8.95) as a starter. It was a winner: crisp chicken fritters made from juicy white meat chicken accented with a trio of dipping sauces that vary from quite spicy to sweet and succulent.
We then shared the lamb Kashmiri curry ($16.95) composed of pieces of lamb cooked with fresh fruits and Tikka Masala sauce. This aromatic dish accompanied by excellent rice was delicious and was perfect to share.
The lamb Kahmiri curry was excellent.
The enormous variety of foods listed is amazing. There are more than a dozen chicken curries ($14.95 to 16.95), including Chicken Coconut, Mughlai Korma, Chicken Makhani, Chicken Vindaloo and Chicken Korma.
There are 15 different lamb curries ($15.95 to 17.95), such as Lamb Keema Mutter, Lamb Saag, Lamb Jalfrezi and Lamb Hayderabadi.
The 22 seafood curries ($14.95 to $17.95) include Mughlai Shrimp, Shrimp Bhuna, Fish Marsala, Fish Bhuna and Shrimp Chilly Masala.
I have enjoyed some of the other curries several times at previous visits and am always amazed at how temptingly tasty each are.
This might be the perfect place to dine with a vegetarian friend, given the choice of 26 vegetarian delights, such as the Saag Paneer composed of fresh spinach with homemade cheese, nutmeg, ginger and cilantro ($12.95). Most of the entrees range in price from $11.95 to $14.95.
There are several tandoori specialties and don’t forget the soups, salads and naan bread. A friend from India told me that Taj Palace is considered one of the top Indian restaurants in Los Angeles—and it’s in Pacific Palisades.
Dessert selections are on your table, both pictured and priced to tempt you. Our waiter told us his favorite was the mango coconut sorbet. He was right. It was scrumptious, and the desert covered with shredded coconut was the perfect finish.
The Taj Palace is open daily from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dinner is from 5 to 10 p.m. The restaurant is located in the Chase Bank building on the floor above the street. The restaurant serves beer and wine and there is free underground parking. Catering is available. Call (310) 454-0988.