In the entire country of Costa Rica there are only two Indian restaurants. Out of the two my favorite is Taj Mahal restaurant located in Santa Ana. I wouldn’t suggest traveling by taxi to get there, since not many taxis travel in this area which may make it hard to get a taxi back to your hotel. (If you do decide to take a taxi, get their cell number and then just give a call when you are through.)

This restaurant offers many delicious Indian delicacies all made with the freshest ingredients. Their naan bread is made fresh in a special oven when ordered. You can sit outside in their garden and watch as your bread is cooked. I would recommend their garlic naan, I have tried both their regular naan and their garlic. The reason I like the garlic naan the best is when it is done being cooked it is very soft and does not come out too crunchy.

As far as drinks go the Taj Mahal offers several flavorful fruit drinks, but I would stay clear of their chai tea latte which was more latte than chai. I was also sadly disappointed with their appetizers, most of which I found to be lacking any flavor. I have tried their samosa and their appetizer sampler. I would recommend saving your money for your entrees.

Their entrees on the other hand make your dining experience worth it. Their chicken tikka masala was fresh, the chicken was so tender it could almost be cut with a fork. Also their butter chicken was probably one of the best I have had. What I was surprised with most about my entrees is how much food came with them. When they bring you your food it comes in a little bowl and you think this is hardly enough for one person. Before you know it you have your first plate, than your second, than your fourth and there is still food left over. I think that in general one entrée is sufficient for two people. If you have a bigger group you may want to order more.

Also be careful with how spicy you order your food. I would like to think I can handle really spicy food since I like a wide variety of cuisines but Taj Mahal seems to be one of the only restaurants that I can only order the food mild. I tried order it hot when the food arrived it was so hot my eyes were watering and my tongue was on fire, I couldn’t even enjoy my food. My next time visiting the restaurant I decided to order my food with medium spice, this was still so spicy I found myself running looking for a bathroom after I was done eating.

In Costa Rica there are only two Indian restaurants and if you have eaten Indian before you know the two things that are very important when preparing this kind of delicacy. First of all you need fresh ingredients and second of all you need a delicious original recipe. I am happy to say that I feel Taj Mahal has both of these and more.

Visit www.thetajmahalrestaurant.com for more information and to see a complete menu.