How to Order Indian Food

Ready to try some Indian food, but completely confused by the menu? Deciphering and ordering Indian food is a lot easier than you might think. Indian foods are usually named for their cooking process or from where the recipe originated. Be ready to ask a lot of questions and you'll be on your way to Chicken Vindaloo.

Things You'll Need

• Craving for Indian food

Instructions

1. Know your spiciness factor. Before you even look at the menu, decide how spicy you want your food to be: mild, medium, hot, or extra hot. All of the dishes should be made to order to account for what your taste buds can handle.

2. Peruse the menu and start by deciding if you want to eat a certain kind of meat or if you want to go vegetarian. This will help you as you scan for options of what to eat.

3. Order an appetizer sampler if they have one and if you're feeling adventurous. It will give you an idea of what spices you can expect with your meal.

4. Decide if you want your meal to have a creamy sauce, a tomato-based sauce or not much sauce at all. Each recipe can usually be cooked with any variety of meat or vegetables. If you want to try a combination of sauce and meat that isn't on the menu, ask if they will make it special for you.

5. Ask your waiter what ingredients are in the dish and how it is prepared. Also feel free to ask him what he thinks of the dish. Chances are he's tasted most of what's on the menu and has a good idea of what others order as well.

6. Order your main dish along with some bread. Indian flatbreads are a great accompaniment to your dinner. They help tame the spices as you're eating and are usually flavorful.