Craving for Indian food?

When I’ve asked my friends in the Indian community which are the eating establishments serving genuine Indian cuisine and are their favorites, one name that constantly crops up is Mantra Indian Kitchen & Bar. It’s repeated so often that it’s practically a chant, resembling the word’s original meaning; and both my sons and I have adopted the restaurant as our go-to when we have a hankering for Indian food. 

Situated on Bolanos Street, Legaspi Village, we’ve befriended Ranjit Chimni, the owner. And whether for safely dining there, or taking their food home, it’s one of our regulars when deciding what to have for our regular Sunday lunches. It was also good to have Ranjit come up with suggestions on what to order, and create a mix of their new dishes, mixed with our stand-by favorites. 

Among the new dishes now offered at Mantra my boys & I would recommend the Chicken Ghee Roast, and the Kerala Fish Fry (Meen Varathathu). The Chicken Ghee Roast is a Mangalorean recipe (loved how my boys first thought I had said Mandalorian); and has a tangy and spicy flavor with ghee and roasted spices. Unlike the also excellent Chicken Makhani—which is the boneless chicken fillets swimming in cashew nut sauce; the Ghee Roast isn’t as heavy on the sauce. Both chicken dishes are extremely flavorful, so it was nice to know we now had options on fiery chicken dishes.

Spicy and aromatic, the Kerala Fish Fry is a simple, but truly wonderful recipe, that goes well with almost any type of fish. At Mantra, this pan-fried specialty is done with Tanguinge (or Tanigue). The masala has a thick consistency, and coats the fish, until it’s charred and brown. At Mantra, it’s served with garlic cloves and a lemon wedge. I loved how here was another dish that didn’t have to be dunked in curry sauce, yet gave you all the flavors. 

For veggies, we had the excellent Kur Kuri Bhindi, which is spicy and crispy fried okra with gram flour and spices, and the Dhal Tadka—yellow lentils, with herbs & spices, cumin seeds, chili and garlic. And I kid you not, the okra was like skinny fries, but just healthier and given a spicy kick. As for the lentils, it came like a stew that approximates our monggo soup. This is just my personal choice, but I loved pouring the lentil stew on the okra, and biting into them together. 

The Mantra Papadum (thin, crispy and aromatic) is something we can’t go without when getting our Mantra fix—it’s that good. And we had some Naan on the side. Today, it was the Cheese Naan which while delicious—be forewarned that it’s really filling. Regularly, I order the whole wheat Roti, and plunge strips into the sauce of the Chicken Makhani, before popping it into my mouth.

Mantra’s restaurant section is always cozy and inviting, casual and laid back. The Bar section has been renovated, and should once again be a favorite as public confidence in dining out resumes. It’s a great, quiet, private place to have dinner, and could be one of the best kept secrets come Valentine’s Day. 

If you’re still reluctant to head out, check out Mantra’s FB page and mantrabistroph on IG, to bring Mantra into the comfort of your home, or call 09260499357. Mantra isn’t a new player in our dining scene, but more like an old reliable—and it’s always been Ranjit’s very excellent food adventure.