Little India

Have you ever heard about momos? Momos are a south Asian dumpling, comparable to Japanese gyoza but heavily influenced by Indian flavours and spices. One of our Nepalese friends once told us, that momos are the Nepalese counterpart to pizza because they are so popular and a quick, yet delicious meal.

Let me assure you, they are indeed as satisfying and tasty as pizza! If you have never had momos before, beware, these little dough balls can be highly addictive and the best momos here is Luxembourg are made by a small Indian restaurant, fittingly called Little India.

This restaurant, located in a side street of the main road in Bettembourg in southern Luxembourg, is a hidden gem for Indian and Nepalease food and besides Pokhara in Rodange, this is one of our favorite places.

Rumour has it, that even Nepalease staff from other Indian restaurants in Luxembourg come to Little India after their shift to get their momo fix. Once you have tasted them, you'll understand why, because at Little India, momos are always made fresh in house and with lots of care!

The restaurant is run by a husband and wife team, which are some of the sweetest people you'll ever meet. The owner is such a positive person with a great attitude and he always got a big smile on his face.

This restaurant has been running for a couple of years now and the cooks here have always been outstanding but recently Little India got a new chef who has been cooking some amazing food. In Luxembourg, Indian restaurants are often heavily influenced by Nepalease cuisine. At Little India, the new cook actually worked in India and therefore has a lot of experience with local Indian cuisine, so he has been able to put his own little spin on some of the dishes on the menu.

The restaurant itself is quite small and there are about 20 tables to eat in. It is not the most modern nor the most elegant restaurant but the owners have tried their best to make the space as nice as possible and even though it is not fancy, it is a very welcoming place. It is also great for groups, check out their Facebook page to see pictures of some of the get-togethers. At Lunch time, they offer a great buffet for under 11 Euros, which is a steal! There is also a terrace in the back where you can sit and enjoy a cold beer in the summer. Parking can be a bit tricky but you can usually find a spot in one of the side streets or on Route d'Esch and there is a parking within walking distance here and here.

Something that has become quite apparent to us is that many people who go and eat at Little India are loyal customers and the owners great each one of them personally and with a smile on their faces. Though people love to come to the restaurant, Little India also does an incredible amount of deliveries each day (except for Monday when they are closed). So, if you are too lazy to get out of bed, just give them a call or check out their website, where you can do your order straight from your computer. For payment options, you can choose between cash or card. There is even a Little India App, available on Google Play and the Apple App store, so you can even order from your phone.

Of course, you can also get your classic Indian dishes at Little India, such as chicken tikka masala, chickpea curry (chana aloo) as well as chicken korma; and they are all delicious but this time around we wanna highlight some of the dishes that make Little India truly unique.

I don't think that I would be wrong if I said that momos are probably the most popular food in Nepal, and they have been gaining popularity all over the world. The filling of the dumplings can vary but most traditionally they are done with ground meat, such as chicken or lamb, mixed with onions, garlic, ginger and cilantro. There are also veggie versions with vegetables such as carrot, cabbage and potatoes.

The simple dough, made from flour and water, is rolled out into small circles before adding the filling. The dumplings are then formed by hand into a crescent shape and steamed. They are usually served with a dipping sauce on the side, but they can also be pan or deep-fried. My favorite version is actually having them pan fried and mixed with a sweet and spicy chili sauce, a special sauce only available at Little India, as you will see just below.

The chili sauce recipe which is being served in most Indian restaurants in Luxembourg usually differs slightly but the base is the same, a spicy, dark, flavourful gravy is served with paneer or meat, onions and capsicums. At Little India, the cook has tweaked the dish and the outcome is my personal favorite version. You can get yours with meat, fish or seafood but I prefer mine with paneer of course.

The paneer is breaded and fried so it becomes nice and crispy, afterwards it is mixed with a sweet yet spicy chili sauce, more similar to the sweet chili sauces you know from your local Thai restaurant. This addition makes the chili paneer really sticky, however, the dish is still saucy enough to dip your naan bread in. Add some onions and capsicums to the mix and you have a perfect dish, taste and texture wise: crispy, sticky, soft, sweet, spicy, mild plus fresh vegetables, this is one of my favorite comfort foods.

The cook can of course adapt the spiciness level, so do not be afraid to ask for more or less spice and if you know how to handle your heat, at Little India they can prepare you one of their homemade spicy dipping sauces, which is intense in flavour and incredibly spicy, so proceed with care, but I love to add a spoon or two to my dish when I feel like it.

Another element which makes Little India unique is that they have two special dishes on the menu: a whole Tandoori chicken as well as whole Tandoori golden pomfret, a white fish. Both are marinated in a tandoori masala and yogurt and flavoured with fresh ginger and garlic and grilled whole in the tandoori clay oven. Please note that as these are grilled whole, they need a longer time to cook, so if you order them, please make sure to bring enough time. The chicken takes about 45 minutes. I would recommend you order a starter beforehand, such as the mushroom duplex, to pass the time.

(The mushroom duplex is a secret item, it cannot be found on the menu and is a specialty of the chef. Mushrooms are stuffed with cheese, breaded and double fried and served mixed with a flavourful gravy. It is definitely not the most appealing dish to look at but it tastes amazing; and that is coming from someone who does not eat mushrooms in any shape or form. There is just something about the crust and the gravy that makes this utterly delicious, so this should definitely be on your to-eat list at Little India.)

But back to our whole chicken and golden pomfret. As they are grilled whole, the meat comes out juicy and tender and is served alongside a curry sauce and rice. Portion wise this is enough for two people to share the dish, though I would recommend a starter or dessert if you are two big eaters. Considering the price for the dishes, it is an absolute steal and it for sure is special to get them served whole!

I always get naan bread with my Indian food, I like plain the most but I enjoy them all. At Little India the naan as a bit denser and chewier compared to other places such as Pokhara. I personally prefer my naan lighter and crispier but it is a must for me with any saucy Indian dish. For those of you who like creamy, saucy curries, I can really recommend the Makhani dish, available with meat or paneer; this smooth, yet flavorful sauce is a dream to dip your naan bread in or drizzle over your saffron rice.

There is nothing better on a cold, rainy day, than to grab some hot food at Little India. Go for the momos and if you like it spicy, definitely try the chili momos or chili paneer. If you are a chicken lover you might wanna check out the whole chicken and for those who like it a bit more mellow and sweet, try the Makhani. As you can see there is something for everyone, for meat lovers, veggies and vegans and at Little India the owners will always welcome you with a smile. So, if you are looking for good, simple food, Little India should be on your to-try list!

After our review of this amazing Indian restaurant in Bettembourg, we got great feedback from the owner, who was really grateful for our honest opinion. Following our feedback, the restaurant improved their naan recipe and now the bread is substantially better than it was before. It's thinner, airier and crispier and no longer as dense as it was, which is a big improvement in my book, as you get a better contrast in texture with the crispy naan and the creamy curries. During our last visit the whole family enjoyed a variety of different naan (plain, chili and garlic) very much! If you like Indian food or wanna explore this diverse cuisine, we can only recommend you visit Little India!