Raj Mahal’s Indian street food spices up Kaiserslautern’s pedestrian zone

Pakoras and palak paneer at Raj Mahal in Kaiserslautern, Germany. (Heather Benit/Stars and Stripes)

The smell of Indian spices catches my attention every time I walk by Raj Mahal restaurant on the main drag of Kaiserslautern’s pedestrian zone.

On several occasions, the aroma has enticed me to order takeout from the family-run eatery, which opened in 2020 across from Union Theater as many other restaurants were shutting down because of the pandemic.

Since then, Afghan and Thai food have joined Raj Mahal and the lonely Chinese imbiss, but the Indian cuisine is still my go-to. The food at Raj Mahal is cooked freshly and the atmosphere is reliably homey.

The dishes are served food truck-style and prepared by Indian cooks. Naan, samosas and other sides are heated up at the time of the order. Spice levels can be adjusted according to personal preference.

The vegetable korma is a top dish at Raj Mahal in Kaiserslautern, Germany. The restaurant has outdoor seating along the pedestrian zone. (Heather Benit/Stars and Stripes)

My favorite menu items are the vegetable korma and samosas. The korma sauce is a mild curry that is creamy, almost gravy-like, and rich with flavor from coriander, coconut milk and almonds.

The curry is combined with fresh vegetables like zucchini, potatoes, carrots and broccoli and served with biryani rice. There also is an option to get korma with lamb.

Samosas and garlic naan from Raj Mahal Indian restaurant in Kaiserslautern, Germany. This is the takeout version. (Heather Benit/Stars and Stripes)

An order of samosas includes two crispy pastries filled with spicy potatoes and herbs. The samosa filling is a proper medium-level Indian spicy, not German spicy.

In the early days after Raj Mahal opened, the samosas were garnished with a small lettuce-and-cucumber salad, but unfortunately, that extra was cut.

Other specialties on the small menu include chicken curries, traditional tandoori dishes, beef and lamb curries, and a few traditional vegetarian and vegan options like palak paneer and tarka daal with lentils.

The palak paneer at Raj Mahal in Kaiserslautern, Germany, could use more cheese. It is served with rice for 10.50 euros. (Heather Benit/Stars and Stripes)

Palak paneer is pureed spinach with chunks of Indian-style cottage cheese. A recent serving could have used more cheese and resembled a simple bowl of spinach with rice. The tarka daal is like a healthy lentil soup, delicious with garlic naan.

Soft drinks, tea and mango lassi are sold, but the beverage menu is alcohol-free.

The outdoor seating is located on a busy corner, and it’s tempting to linger and people-watch along the lively pedestrian zone. Children often play outside or work on homework at one of the tables in the small inside dining area.

Raj Mahal’s street food-style dining experience is different from local Indian food competitors like Curry House, which has a broader menu and a slower dine-in culture. But the smiling servers and spicy smell at Raj Mahal keep luring me back.

benit.heather@stripes.com