The popular Minar Palace (1605 Sansom St., 215-564-9443) looks like the cafeteria of a Punjabi primary school, but its Center City fans couldn't care less. It's dark, the seats are close together and an industrial metal serving line greets you as you order. Thankfully, the cheap, delicious food makes up for lost ambience points. Rumor has it that they'll be moving to a new location soon after their lease expires this summer.

At nearly 1.3 million square miles, India is a country of many regions, making it difficult to nail down defining culinary characteristics. Still, there are a few blanket truisms that can be applied to Punjabi cuisine, the most common form of Indian food. Number one: It's spicy. Vindaloos and curry dishes abound on Minar's menu, so prepare to take the heat. Number two: They're mad about veggies. Chickpeas, green peas, tomatoes, spinach and peppers are extremely common. Finally, number three: It's going to look mushed together. Minar customarily serves entrees with a mountain of rice and various side-veggies in heavy red sauce. It might seem like the items are too amalgamated to enjoy singularly, but each flavor is unique enough to stand on its own.

Step one foot into an Indian restaurant, and you're immediately struck with a swift olfactory uppercut—it's the curry, bitches. The seriously pungent spice is ubiquitous in Indian cooking, and nowhere is this more apparent than in chicken curry, a true national staple. Minar's version features chicken leg pieces doused in signature liquid heat. Don't be ashamed if you have to brace for impact.

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: Goats have a reputation for chomping down absolutely anything, so some might be turned off by the fact that Minar has seven goat dishes on the menu. I see it as a challenge—if I can eat an animal that eats road signs, then I'm inducting myself into the Brahmin caste, no questions asked.

Indians speak roughly 20 major languages, but Hindi is the most common. Dhanyavad (pronounced just how it looks), or "thank you," is probably your best bet here.

There's an entire carb-tastic world outside Amoroso's, guys. Many types of Indian food are accompanied by breads, some of which are stuffed with vegetables, spices and meats.

Feet are considered the most unclean part of the body in India, so don't go putting your dogs up on a table or pointing at stuff with your toes. Yes, Nightcrawler, this applies to you, too.

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