WE'RE CRAVING: INDIAN

BOMBAY INDIAN RESTAURANT

Lovers of Indian cuisine rave about Bombay's Punjabi curries and mixed grill — chicken, lamb and shrimp cooked in a tandoor oven. If you like spicy, though, you gotta request it. And raita, mango chutney and pickle aren't on the menu, but you'll get them if you ask. You can go wild here. Bombay has a full bar. So get comfortable and prepare for a feast.

Bombay Indian Restaurant, Discovery Bay Center, 1778 Ala Moana Blvd., 942-3990

CAFE MAHARANI

Tandoor, tikka masala, vindaloo — it's all here along with delicious naans, plain and filled. The dining room is cozy and usually filled with all types, from hipsters to students to grandparents. Maharani does offer takeout for those who want their curry in a hurry, but why rush when you can dance along to the Bollywood flicks playing on TVs throughout the restaurant?

Cafe Maharani, 2509 King St., 951-7447

INDIA CAFE

India Cafe is the only place on O'ahu to find South Indian dosas — crepes made of fermented, stone-ground rice and lentils. This easygoing cafe does dosas Malaysian-style. Use them to sop up the fiery curries of vegetables, lamb or shrimp. Vegetarians get choices such as spicy eggplant and the no-meat thali plate. You can even get sweet dosas sprinkled with sugar or spread with coconut jam. Wash it all down with "pulled" tea or milk coffee.

India Cafe, Kilohana Square, 1016 Kapahulu Ave., 737-4603

CAFE TAJMAHAL

Here, there's more than enough on the menu to satisfy your coriander-and-cumin cravings if you know what to order. If you like garlic, TajMahal's version of palak paneer (spinach with homemade cheese) is a winner. The lentil pakora (fried fritters) are moist and tasty. And the vegetable samosas are crisp outside, and warm and smooshy inside.

Cafe TajMahal, 3036 Wai'alae Ave., 732-6496

ZAFFRON

If you have a hankering for Indian, but are low on cash, Zaffron is your place. Thanks to its reasonably priced ($9.60) lunch buffet, Zaffron has become a lunch favorite of the daytime Downtown set.

Zaffron, 69 N. King St., 533-6635

PA'INA STYLE

What used to be The Poke Bowl is now Pa'ina Cafe, which combines the original Poke Bowl menu plus a few new menu items, such as grilled sandwiches, fresh salads and plate lunches. The Poke Bowl moved from its spot at the Ward Farmers Market to its new digs at Ward Warehouse, where its signature poke bowl is still the popular dish.
The poke bowl is a build-it-yourself-meal that lets diners pick their rice (white, brown), sauce (hot, mild), and poke (spicy tuna, shoyu 'ahi, hot shoyu 'ahi), then add extra toppings (everything from natto to furikake to pickled onions) for extra flavor. The food is 'ono, fresh and reasonable. What else is there?

Pa'ina Cafe
Ward Warehouse, 1200 Ala Moana Blvd., store No. 24,
356-2829. 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sundays

FOOD NEWS

May is National Burger Month, and Jimmy Buffett's at the Beachcomber (2300 Kalakaua Ave., 791-1200) is celebrating by offering a different specialty burger every week this month, This week's featured item: the fajita burger. The monster sandwich comes with a Cajun twist on a Tex-Mex classic — a blackened patty smothered with sauteed peppers and onions, grated cheese and cilantro sour cream. Visit the restaurant's Web site for a coupon to get the burger of the week and a beer for $10.

Storto's Deli & Sandwich Shoppe celebrates the grand opening of its second location at 3184 Wai'alae Ave. at 6 tonight. The deli, whose flagship eatery is in Hale'iwa, specializes in sandwiches built from fresh local ingredients. Owner Jamie DeMatoff said he plans to open a third O'ahu location by year's end, with four additional locations across the Islands slated for next year.

ZenShu, the restaurant that moved into the old Harpo's Pizza building on Kapahulu Avenue, now offers a natto-centric menu for lovers of the pungent stuff. The menu includes dishes such as natto kimchee, natto spring rolls, maguro natto and a natto shooter.

COUNTRY COOKING

At Sweet Home Waimanalo, a two-week-old takeout joint in — where else? — Waimanalo, the menu focuses on Mainland-style barbecue and smoked meats with an Island flair. Barbecue sauces are infused with tropical fruit. Pulled pork and smoked tri-tip sandwiches are served with bok choy slaw, and potato salad is made with Okinawan sweet potatoes and mango chutney.