How do you know when you really like something?

Take dating for example. Maybe you know you really like that person when you return their phone call in a decent amount of time.

And then there’s your job. You probably like it when you show up for it day after day and sometimes early. Well, that one has a little wiggle room to it of course. But if repetition is an indicator showing the love we have for a majority of things in our lives, then the same should be true when it comes to eating at restaurants. Since starting Follow My Gut, I’ve found many restaurants I like, but only those which I continue to visit fall in the category of those that I really like and love. Mint Leaf in Pasadena is one of those restaurants.

I’ve been to Mint Leaf a few times mainly because they have delicious food and they’re located fairly close to my house. After reviewing them just over a year ago, I thought it would be good to return and review them again. To be honest, I just needed a reason to give my mom as to why I was going back. She thinks I have a problem, and she’s right. On this visit, I tried my best to get a few things I hadn’t tried before but quickly caught myself falling into old yet tasty habits.

What dinner at an Indian restaurant can be started without naan? If you know a restaurant that doesn’t encourage naan, then I don’t want to eat there. At Mint Leaf, seeing the Basil and Mozzarella Cheese Naan ($5) on the menu is a must! The flour bread is light, covered with the perfect amount of gooey mozzarella cheese and sprinkled with basil leaves. Each bite isn’t made to scream with flavor, instead, the soft bread is a perfect companion to any dish.

Just as perfect as the naan was, so was the Vegetable Biryani ($14.50). A bowl of basmati rice flavored with saffron was slow cooked alongside vegetables and served as a friendly side dish. Even though I feel like every dish should include some form of meat, I loved how even this one didn’t have meet it still felt full of healthy vegetables.

After both the sides arrived, the first appetizer to the table was the Potato Walnut Tikkis ($7.50). Three cakes made of potato dough sat on a white plate and were seasoned with Indian spices, sprinkled with walnuts throughout and served with a tamarind and mint chutneys. The set of cakes were savory and the walnuts inside of the tikkis added a welcome subtle crunch throughout the dish.

For the entrees, I ordered the Goan Salmon Curry ($18.50). As the first main, this plate set a precedence. A nice serving of a boneless filet of salmon sat in a golden colored Goan curry sauce. The salmon was slowly simmered, while the sauce was made of a coconut milk base seasoned with tomatoes and curry leaves. The dish was incredibly flavorful and tasted unique. I loved the take on salmon because it gave what could have been a simple fish a major kick in flavor!

After the salmon, there was the Rajasthani Laal Maas ($17). Depending on how you can handle spice, this may be pretty calm to you. If you’re a whimp like me, then this will be spicy! Not too spicy that you can finish it, but spicy enough that you should have ice water nearby. The dish comes with goat on the bone, ginger, onions and a red chili paste. While I could do without the bone, there is a good amount of goat to devour. Plus the onions, ginger, and chili paste make a good peppering which makes it completely worthwhile regardless of how spicy it may be.

The last plate to end the night was dessert. I ordered the Halwa and Kulfi Plate ($9). The dessert at Mint Leaf is so delicious and stunning in its appearance and equally in its taste. This dessert took fig and almond kulfi (traditional Indian ice cream), and paired it with a carrot halwa.  The kulfi was sweet and mixing it on a spoon with the richness of the halwa was a perfect combination!

This dinner at Mint Leaf was just as good as all the other meals I’ve had at the restaurant before. Each time I walk inside, I fall in love with the décor. Every time I look over the menu I become enticed with the options. And each forkful of food reminds me why I continue to come back. It’s because of that Mint Leaf is a restaurant that I thoroughly enjoy to the point that I love it.

Follow Them.
Address: 2535 E Washington Blvd, Altadena, CA 91107
Phone: (626) 460-8776
Hours: Daily 11:00am to 2:00pm and 5:00pm to 10:00pm
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