Solti - the holy grail of Chilli Garlic Chicken found in Edinburgh!

Nepalese Restaurant in Drummond Street

Whenever I venture into a curry restaurant, my go-to dish is Chilli Garlic Chicken. I have had some delightful ones over the years, and some that left a lot to be desired. But, having found the holy grail of the perfect Chilli Garlic Chicken, I feel moved to share my experience.

In the past I’ve been served up scraggy bits of poultry that were clearly not cooked in the sauce; thin, flavourless gravies and substandard meat, but, when my friends and I recently visited Solti we were treated to an unparalleled delight.

One friend, who is not fond of spice, orders the Butter Chicken, whilst the other opts for the Fish Curry. We all start with Vegetable Pakoras which are light, moist and fluffy – superb with the dipping sauce that accompanies them. Ms Butter Chicken, who has a small appetite, shares some of the Truffle Naan and Mushroom Pilau Rice that the other two of us order. The naan is interesting, though not to my taste, however, Ms Fish Curry seems to enjoy it.

There is only one cardamom pod in the rice which is easy to spot and pick out before its perfumy flavour spoils what is an otherwise delicious meal. The rice is flavoursome and packed with pieces of mushroom. Admittedly, it is a feat only achieved by the most woeful of establishments to get rice wrong, but this dish is perfect. It also complements my main dish, the Chilli Garlic Chicken I have been so looking forward to.

Chilli Garlic Chicken with Mushroom Pilau

When the dish arrives in its little copper pot the aroma is heady, only heightening my sense of anticipation. Spooning it onto my plate, I am keenly aware that I am about to taste something special, as is proved with the first mouthful. The smooth, succulent sauce is redolent with the aromas of garlic and spices, and chock-full of tender chunks of perfectly marinated chicken breast. It is a joy for the nose and the tongue. So what if I’d be garlicky for the next three days – it would be worth it for the existential elation of finally finding the perfect Chilli Garlic Chicken!

There are whole chillies in the sauce – easy to pick out for a milder strength of dish. Arguably, they are unnecessary, as the flavour of the sauce without them is exquisite. It is delicate yet full of exotic charm and I leave not a drop.

I have previously tried other Nepalese restaurants locally, but none can be compared to the marvellous experience of Solti. Since the initial visit with my friends, I have returned every couple of months, enjoying the same meal each time. It has not once dipped in quality and I intend to go again tomorrow evening with a friend visiting from London. Hopefully he will be equally impressed. 

Solti - 10 Drummond Street, Edinburgh, Scotland, EH8 9TU - +44 131 374 2515

Opening hours: Monday-Thursday noon - 10.30pm, Friday - Sunday noon - 11pm

Taken from Instagram Soltiedinburgh