What’s on offer?
During the month of Ramadan, it was takeaway only at Al Khair, so I ordered by phone for pick-up. Delivery has resumed. I had no idea that Al Khair was in the grounds of the mosque on South Circular Road in Dublin, so it was quite special to see families celebrating Iftar (the breaking of the fast), and going into the mosque for evening prayer.
The unit was established in 1985 as a local canteen/restaurant, and is leased by the Islamic Foundation of Ireland, and was set up by Mohammed Yousuf, Junaid Yousuf’s late father. Junaid has sole responsibility for running the business. He describes the food as Indian cuisine with a gentle Pakistani influence.
The menu includes a good range of starters, chef’s specials and chicken, lamb, vegetarian and vegan dishes. You can order your dishes with a mild, medium or spicy range of heat. Junaid warned me that the spicy dishes were quite hot. I took his advice and ordered just one that way.
What did we order?
Vegetable samosa, lamb Nihari, daal tarka, baigan kabharta (aubergines, ordered spicy), saag paneer and pilau rice.
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How was the service?
Absolutely lovely. I chatted to Junaid on the phone and my order was ready when I arrived for pick-up.
Was the food nice?
Delicious. The vegetable samosas were really large and crispy with a nice touch of spice. The lamb is cooked slowly so that it is really tender, in a gravy made with Nihari spices and minced garlic. The daal tarka, which has three types of lentils – red, moong and channa – is robust with a nice kick of heat. The aubergine is cooked to a creamy consistency in a tomato base and, as it is the spicy option, we can really feel the heat in it. The saag paneer and pilau rice are also very good.
What about the packaging?
The order is packed in a paper bag, the samosas are in cardboard boxes, and everything else is in reusable plastic containers.
What did it cost?
It cost €55 for dinner for four people: vegetable samosa (€4); lamb Nihari (€14); daal tarka (€10); baigan kabharta (€11); saag paneer (€12) and pilau rice (€4).
Where does it deliver?
Open daily, 11am-8pm. Delivery within 5km radius on Deliveroo and Uber Eats. There is a slight variance in price.
Would I order it again?
Most definitely. I love Al Khair. All of the dishes were delicious and the samosas were a standout. The prices are reasonable and there are plenty of vegetarian options, which can be adapted for vegans.
