Hema's Kitchen   

Among the many Indian-focused restaurants and shops along the Devon Street strip is Hema's Kitchen, a tiny, inexpensive eatery with fewer than 10 tables. You'll feel more like you're eating over a friend's house than a restaurant in this cozy and no-frills atmosphere. It's a small storefront, and on most nights, Hema herself wanders about talking to diners. If you're looking for fancy, try elsewhere. But if good basic food is what you want, then Hema's should hit the spot. This former chef of Klay Oven, another popular Indian spot, Hema is known for her spicy dishes such as small plates of tandoori chicken, Choosa, Tikka Marsala and Samosas. The samosas are served on paper plates, and the entrees are served in tiffins, with Corelle plates for each diner, which is typical for Indian restaurants. Service is slow, but you may not mind the wait after chowing on fresh and authentic Indian fare. A variety of guests come through, but on the weekends the best bet is to do take-out as sometimes that wait can get brutal. -- Audarshia Townsend