Curry & Kabob in Baltimore: North Indian Meat and Bread Focus
Curry & Kabob is a counter-service North Indian restaurant in Canton that specializes in tandoori meat, flatbread, and rice bowls at prices that make it one of the more affordable options for substantial Indian meals in the city. The ordering model is fast-casual: you select proteins, sides, and bread at the counter, then eat in the small dining room or take out.
What Curry & Kabob Actually Is
The restaurant occupies a narrow storefront on O'Donnell Street and operates as a no-frills establishment without table service or reservations. The kitchen focuses on grilled tandoori preparations, curries built around chicken, lamb, and paneer, and fresh-baked naan and roti. Seating is limited to roughly eight tables, and the space fills quickly during lunch and dinner hours. This is a destination for speed and value rather than ambiance or experimentation.
Menu and Pricing
Most entrees fall in the $10 to $15 range. A chicken tandoori platter with rice and naan costs around $12; lamb kebab plates run $14 to $16. Vegetarian options include paneer tikka masala and chana masala, both priced at $10 to $11. Breads are charged separately: naan, roti, and paratha each cost $2 to $3. Add-on rice (basmati or fried) is $3. Lunch specials occasionally appear, and prices should be confirmed directly as commodity costs affect meat pricing.
The spice levels are adjustable; request mild to extra spicy when ordering. Vegetable-forward sides like sauteed spinach and dal are available and cost $3 to $4. Unlike sit-down Indian restaurants downtown, there are no appetizer sampler platters or bread baskets built into pricing.
How Curry & Kabob Compares to Other Baltimore Indian Options
Charm City Indian, also in Canton, offers a broader menu that includes seafood curries and dumpukht biryani, with entrees in the $13 to $17 range and full table service. Choose Charm City if you want to linger over multiple courses and appetizers; choose Curry & Kabob if you want a fast lunch with grilled meat as the centerpiece.
Akbar, in Fells Point, focuses on fine-dining presentation with regional Indian dishes from the subcontinent's coasts and hills. Entrees there run $18 to $24. It serves a different purpose entirely.
Curry & Kabob's actual peer is Himalayan Restaurant on Joppa Road, a similar counter-service spot that emphasizes Nepalese-influenced curries and momos. Both are weeknight dinner options for people on a budget; Curry & Kabob wins if you want charred tandoori chicken or lamb specifically.
Who Suits and Who Does Not
The restaurant works best for office workers seeking a quick lunch, families wanting affordable dinner, and people who prioritize protein and carbs over sauce complexity. It is least suited to diners seeking an evening experience, those with preference for fish-based curries, or anyone wanting to order family-style across multiple small plates. Dine-in crowds tend to be brief; it is not a lounge space.
What the First Visit Involves
Walk to the counter and review the menu board. Choose a protein (chicken, lamb, paneer, or vegetarian), then specify rice or naan accompaniment. A staff member will grill your protein to order (this takes 8 to 12 minutes during peak hours) and plate it with rice or bread and a side vegetable. Collect your order and find a table if eating in. Payment is at the counter before eating; the restaurant does not accept reservations.
Hours and Logistics
Curry & Kabob typically operates lunch through early evening, though hours should be confirmed by phone or website, as they have shifted seasonally. Street parking on O'Donnell Street is available but contested during dinner hours; a public lot two blocks south offers reliable alternatives. The restaurant is walkable from Canton metro stops and from the residential blocks immediately surrounding it.
Curry & Kabob fills a specific niche in Baltimore's Indian food landscape: it delivers tandoori meat and bread without pretense or markup, making it essential for weeknight eating and lunch runs in Canton.
