If you follow me on twitter you have probably gathered how much I love Indian & Pakistani cuisine just by my Foursquare check-ins. I will stop at nothing to find the best spots in this city and by that, I mean all of Los Angeles! Enter Al-Watan Halal, Hawthorne, where the service is delivered with a smile and the food is bursting with the best of Southeast Asian flavors. Curry, cumin, tumeric, cardamom – these are the vibrant ingredients that awaken my senses and set off fireworks in my mouth. If you were to ask me what I’d want my last meal to be, it would most definitely be a fragrant dish from this part of the world.

On this lunch adventure in the South Bay, my friend and I ordered up a bowl of Chicken Tikka Masala, Aloo Palak (Potatoes and Spinach), Garlic Naan and a Mango Lassi to share. Our server who quickly became our new friend, didn’t think we wanted our chicken tikka masala “extra spicy” when I ordered it, was shocked when we took him up on the offer to increase the heat. The flavor was smooth, creamy and bright; I savored every single ounce of that bowl. The aloo palak, though maybe not the most appealing in photos, was everything I wanted in a creamy spinach dish. All paired with a pile of piping hot garlic naan made for the perfect afternoon meal, even better was our bill rounding out to $20. The only thing that could top that you ask? Our server Ikram brought us two complimentary desserts which literally made us cheer! I do love me some Kheer and Gulab Jamun.

By now I am sure you have realized that delicious & authentic food is one of my life’s major priorities. Hawthorne has definitely become a culinary destination for me in terms of Halal restaurants and I look forward to exploring it further. If don’t know where Hawthorne is and you live in L.A., it is time you pull out a map and get on your way!

! ! !  T H E  C O L O R S  ! ! !

Al-Watan Halal
13619 Inglewood Ave
Hawthorne, CA 90250
(310) 644-6395