Yummy India Restaurant Larnaca

Yummy India Restaurant is on Zenonos Kiteos Street in central Larnaca, a short walk from the Finikoudes seafront. The menu covers creamy curries, tandoori starters, basmati rice dishes and Indian breads, with separate sections for lentils, vegetables, paneer and vegan chick’n. It’s an easy stop after a walk along the promenade, and the range of dishes works well for a table where one person wants a mild korma, and another is ready for a vindaloo.

Start with vegetable samosas and tamarind chutney if you want something crisp with a tangy dip. Samosa chaat takes the same pastry in a different direction. The samosas are broken up and topped with onion, chutneys, raita and coriander, so you get several flavors and textures in each forkful. Onion bhajis and vegetable pakodas are other choices to put in the middle of the table. For a seafood starter, prawn puri pairs king prawns cooked in garlic butter with puri bread.

Butter chicken masala is a natural starting point if you like a creamy curry. The dish pairs grilled boneless chicken with a buttery sauce finished with cream. Chicken korma is another mild choice, with cinnamon and cardamom lending fragrance to a sauce made with nuts and cream. Chicken tikka masala takes the meal in a spicier direction with grilled chicken in a red gravy, while the chicken curry has an onion and tomato base with chopped coriander. If you came for the heat, look for chicken Madras or vindaloo, which the menu marks as very spicy.

There’s a similar choice of styles across the lamb and prawn dishes. Lamb saagwala pairs lamb pieces with spinach and spices, while lamb korma comes with cream and cashews. The prawn section runs from garlic prawns to jalfrezi, korma and vindaloo. If two people are sharing, a mild curry and a hotter one let you try different sauces with the same sides. Steamed basmati keeps the focus on the curries, while cumin pulao adds another layer of flavor.

Vegetarian diners have plenty of mains to build a meal around. Palak paneer brings together spinach and Indian cottage cheese, while paneer mutter combines the cheese with green peas and spices. Dal makhani, made with black lentils, butter, and tomato, pairs well with a vegetable curry or a bowl of rice. For something hotter, the vegetable vindaloo offers a sharper, spicier contrast to the rich dal. Add naan and a starter, and there’s enough variety to put together a vegetarian spread for the table.

The menu also has a dedicated vegan chick’n section, with versions prepared in styles such as masala, jalfrezi, Madras and vindaloo. That gives plant-based diners a choice of curry styles and heat levels. A group can order a vegan jalfrezi alongside a milder paneer dish or a chicken curry, with rice to share. If you’re ordering vegan, ask which breads and accompaniments are prepared without dairy, as some dishes on the wider menu contain butter, cream or yogurt.

Chicken biryani is a good option if you’d rather center your meal on a seasoned rice dish. Add raita for a cool, yogurt-based accompaniment, or order a starter to share first. If you’re choosing bread to go with a curry, cheese naan is one option. Keema naan is stuffed with lamb and can add something different to a table that already has rice and a couple of curries. For a lighter combination, a starter and one main with either rice or bread make a straightforward order.

You can also find dishes such as chole bhatura, which serves spiced chickpeas with fried bread, and aloo paratha, a potato-filled flatbread served with pickles and yogurt. Either makes a change from the familiar curry-and-rice combination. Mango lassi is a sweet, cooling drink to have alongside a spicy main. For dessert, look for gulab jamun, fried dumplings soaked in syrup, or try rasmalai. A mixed Indian sweets platter lets you sample several sweets at once.

If it’s your first visit, start with vegetable samosas or onion bhajis, then pick a curry that suits your heat preference and add rice or naan. For a meal with friends, try a paneer dish, a dal and one of the hotter curries so there’s something different in each bowl. If you’ve already found a favorite curry, the menu has enough variety to change the rest of the meal on your next visit. Swap the starter for samosa chaat, order a different bread, or finish with an Indian sweet before heading back towards the waterfront.