I have this thing for Indian food. Having traveled around the markets of New Delhi and nearby cities, my love affair with the complex spices and flavors continues to grow. Badmaash brings some of those beloved street classics to the heart of downtown L.A. Think casual Indian gastropub. A hipstered out Gandhi lines the walls. The menu includes Chili cheese garlic naan. Chicken tikka poutine. Just like its name, Badmaash is a bit rebellious. Brothers Arjun and Nakul Mahendro run the joint, alongside their father, Chef Pawan Mahendro. Favorites included curried mussels, prepared Madras style with coconut milk-- and a smoky chicken tikka masala. There is also a savory list of condiments to accompany each dish—masala onion and chiles, whipped cucumber yogurt raita, and five pepper hot sauce. To finish the meal, warm chai tea is a welcomed cool off after the complex spices that only Indian cuisine can pull off so well.
Just as eclectic as the food is Badmaash's vibe. Tupac and old Kanye joints blare from the sound system. Just about every demographic noshes on naan. It's hip without being too over the top, with food and music that will equally cause patrons to bob their heads.