Gurkha Corner
This piece on Gurkha Corner certainly will not promise to uncover a hidden wonder in Abergavenny, having already been a feature in the town for several years, and with the vast majority of the towns residents aware of their presence.
On Sunday evening, I was hungry and in the mood to dine out. I was, however, scant of options in the town centre. Thankfully Gurkha Corner is open on a Sunday evening, a rarity for restaurants in this small town. I have never eaten here and saw this as a perfect opportunity to take a look.
As my dining companion, Rhys, parks his van up in the shadows of the overlooking Abergavenny market, it dawns on us that the lighter, mood-lifting evenings have arrived.
Gurkha Corner is only a couple of hundred metres away from here, on Nevill Street, which is a few doors down from the excellent Madame Fromage.
I’m not aware of many (if any) restaurants in South Wales that can claim to provide Nepalese cuisine.
Although, I’m not the biggest fan of the tacky take away discount sign that’s draped across the windows.
The decor is everything you might expect; carpets, a large bar, random assortments of picture frames and ornaments adorning the venue, and pleasant staff who welcome and seat us.
Their menu is extensive, and takes a while to dissect. There are vegetarian options aplenty, classic ‘British’ Indian dishes such as korma, tikka masala, and jalfrezi, then some more traditional Nepalese offerings including momos (steamed dumplings), choila (grilled meat) and a sizzling Gurkhali platter.
We skip starters and go straight for some mains & sides.
I choose the Sizzling Gurkhali Chicken (£11.50) which has been marinated overnight in green chilli (attributing to the green colour), ginger, garlic, and Nepalese herbs.
The chicken is tender & moist, with an ever so slight kick of heat. I hoped it would be spicier. The sizzling cast iron dish is accompanied by a bowl of sweet & creamy sauce with an orange complexion which can be spooned over the chicken, and ensures the dishes on our table pop with colour. These components together were delicious.
Rhys has the Butter Chicken (£9.50) in a rich tomato sauce.
Our sides dishes include:
Jeera Aloo (£5.50) - diced potatoes tossed in turmeric & cumin seeds.
Pilau Rice (£3.60).
Peshwari Naan (£3.60).
Garlic Naan (£3.50).
The Peshwari Naan are well constructed and stuffed with almonds, coconut cream & mango pulp. A sweet, crumbly, flaky delight to mop up the excess sauce on my plate.
The Jeera Aloo deserve a mention too, soft potatoes lightly dressed in a spicy sauce.
Our bill totals at an extremely reasonable £42.20, without service charge.
I may be late to the party due to the fact I haven’t lived in Abergavenny for several years, but I enjoyed my first visit to Gurkha Corner. I would love to return soon to order some of the more traditional Nepalese dishes, including the momos & choila.
They’re open Tuesday-Sunday for both dine-in and take aways, and in a town where competition for curry is rife, they’ve been a welcome addition throughout their residency.