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Kashmir opened its doors in 1994, beginning a 30-year legacy of being a Louisville staple in Indian cuisine. Tucked away in a tiny, unassuming building off of Bardstown Road, Kashmir offers a delicious array of Indian cuisine served in a homey, comforting way. The business is family-run, offering patrons quality customer service, with the owner consistently checking that you enjoyed your food thoroughly. Their menu offers a large variety of meal options, including Tandoori, Chicken specialties, Lamb specialties, a large vegetarian selection, and a variety of seafood choices.
The first must-try on the menu is their Vegetable Samosas. A flaky, warm pastry filled with a perfectly spiced mixture of potatoes and peas, provides the perfect start to your meal, not too heavy, not too light, and the dish avoids an overwhelming greasiness that can sometimes be seen, highlighting the beautiful simplicity of a samosa. The dish is served with two dips, tamarind sauce and onion chutney, each of which offers a sweet spice that pairs perfectly with the appetizer. If the samosa itself doesn’t appeal to you, I recommend ordering either the vegetable or meat platter, which each provides a quick introduction to some typical Indian dishes, including various pakoras, tikkas, and the aforementioned samosas.
Saag Panner was a spicy spinach sauce cooked with Paneer, a fresh homemade cheese. The paneer was well made, with a lovely soft but firm texture, and the spinach sauce added a rich depth of flavor, with a strong kick of spice that still allowed the natural flavor of the sauce to shine through. The dish is served with a large portion of perfectly cooked basmati rice. I suggest you add an order of butter naan to pair with the dish, as it provides a perfect vessel for the stewed spinach sauce. This is a dish I continually return to every time I visit, and it is one I highly recommend. If you prefer a dish with meat, Chicken Saag is also offered if the idea of this dish calls to you.
Lastly, we must discuss drinks. My personal favorite is a Mango Lassi, a sweet, tangy yogurt drink with a light, refreshing mango flavor. It pairs perfectly with the spice of a meal, providing a cool, refreshing sensation whenever you take a sip. If you are feeling adventurous Kashmir also offers a traditional Lassi where one can choose for it to be flavored either sweet or salty.
A meal here is truly a highlight! You can eat inside where you are embraced by a homey atmosphere or outside under twinkling lights on a patio that feels tucked away from the busyness of Bardstown Road despite your proximity to the street. My experience here was a joyful, comforting meal with friends where laughter rang across the table and smiles were abundant. Kashmir is a place where you can relax and connect over a delicious satisfying meal. Even though it's been around for decades, Kashmir continues to shine and impress. If you haven’t tried it yet, now is the time to go.
Caroline Bergin is a McConnell Scholar in the class of 2028. She is studying political science.