Punjab Tandoori

I have only been to Punjab Tandoori once. I picked up a curry on the way home from uni once, a Chicken Madras. Although there is nothing outstanding or incriminating from my point of view on the service, when I got my curry home, it was so bland. With practically no spice whatsoever for a Madras, there really was no redeeming factor. I suppose it doesn’t help that I wasn’t drunk, but if the bar is set to please only the drunk for takeaways around here, count me out.

I used to visit Punjab Tandoori when I was in my first year at University stumbling home in desperate need of a blood sugar boost. It was the first take away I passed on my way home from drinking at The Packhorse. The building itself is pretty standard compared to that of most takeaways in Leeds. From the outside quite grubby looking with bars on the windows and a few dodgy looking blokes or drunk students loitering around outside. I used to order a Chicken or Lamb Korma, get home, eat it, and go to bed. With no idea the next day whether it was actually nice or not. The last time I went I wasn’t intoxicated, I bought a lamb korma and ate it like a civilized human being for once. The meat was nice, not fatty or dry and cooked well. The sauce however was bland, sugary and seriously lacked in flavor. I know Korma is a notoriously tame dish in terms of spice, and is meant to be sweet, but this was ridiculous. It resembled a bowl of coconut flavored angel delight. Never again.

This is the premier Indian takeaway on the holy grail of takeaway streets in Leeds (honestly, there’s nothing on this street that isn’t a takeout joint), and it’s fairly good for a quick curry.
As the name suggests, they specialise in Indian food and do a roaring trade from the student and drunkards who frequent this area looking for something quick and easy and, let’s face it, unhealthy.
That’s exactly what you’ll find from Punjab, and while the food’s not mind-​blowingly good, it is pretty tasty, and there are hints that the cooks have a traditional feel for Indian food, something you don’t always get with takeaways.