Indian Kitchen in Long Island City

Indian Comfort Food RAJ'S
by Eso Romero

Tucked away near the N/Q trains on Queens Plaza is Raj's Indian Kitchen. It is a small 4-table establishment with a connecting doorway to Gotham Fresh Foods and Subway, an unlikely partnership. I came at its peak lunchtime hours; a steady stream of diverse clientele eagerly waited in line to choose their ready-made entrees in a buffet line behind glass, served by employees. Customers ranged from corporate employees in suits to orange-vested construction workers to everyone in between.

The incredibly reasonable prices of the the Combo Lunch Specials were the main attraction, ranging from $5.99 for two mains, rice and naan to $8.99 for 3 mains, rice and naan. The buffet appeals to both the herbivores and the omnivores, offering chicken, goat or fish entrees as well as saag paneer, lentils and vegetables-only selections. They also offer a choice between basmati and brown rice.

My lunch companion and I each opted for Combo 2: Two Veg, Rice and Naan. I chose the Chana Masala (garbanzo bean) and Makhani Dal (black lentil), basmati rice and a chai tea. For the two of us, everything cost under $20. Quite a deal for the amount of food! I appreciated the simplicity of the meal in its bento box-like presentation, though I would have much preferred plates. But Raj’s is not that kind of place - no frills, straightforward and inexpensive.

My favorite was the Chana Masala. The flavor profile was complex with layers of savory spice, tomato overtones and perfectly cooked garbanzo beans. While the Dal wasn’t bad, it just didn’t have the same depth as the Masala. That said, my plate was still scraped clean by the end of the meal. The naan was the least impressive part of the meal as it is not made to order and sits inside a foil wrap. No crisp with this naan; quite the opposite, as the heat within the wrapper made every bite soggy. Was I still able to sop up the naan with delicious flavors of the Masala and Dal? Yes. The chai was a satisfying accompaniment to the meal, rounding it out with a subtly sweet and cardamom palate cleanser between bites.

While lunch was enjoyable, I hope to return at dinner time and order from their larger a la carte menu and explore items beyond the limited selection at the buffet counter. There are only a few Indian restaurants in LIC: Raj’s Kitchen, Aanchal and 5 Star Diner. Of the three, Raj’s is the most affordable and accessible. They offer free delivery and ordering online via Grub Hub, Seamless and delivery.com. When you’re in a hurry or strapped for cash, you’ll get more than your money’s worth for flavorful and authentic Indian food at Raj’s Indian Kitchen.