Jasmin Indian restaurant voted best in SA by you

From humble beginnings in 1980 to the top of SA’s food scene – and global fame – this Indian restaurant has again been voted the best in the state.

Every once in a while a restaurant comes along that changes everything.

In Adelaide, that happened in 1980 when world-renowned Indian restaurant Jasmin opened its doors in a Hindmarsh Square basement.

Since then, Adelaide’s best Indian restaurant has seen prime ministers and premiers come and go, stars rise to fame and cricketers carve out careers.

Now it has (again) been voted the best Indian restaurant in SA.

When matriarch Anant Singh-Sandhu opened Jasmin 42-and-a-half-years-ago, she could never have predicted her love of food and cooking would resonate across the state and throughout the world.

Anant Singh with children Amrik and Sheila at Jasmin Indian Restaurant, 31 Hindmarsh Square. Picture: File/Matt Turner

Mrs Singh in 2006. Picture: File/Calum Robertson

Now 91, Mrs Singh plays a “critical” role in the restaurant, assisting chefs calling her for advice.

Her son, Amrik Singh continues to maintain the institution Jasmin has become.

“It’s (Mrs Singh’s) baby she has had it that long,” Mr Singh said.

The restaurant has experienced the Sachin Tendulkar to Virat Kohli changing of the crown within the Indian cricket team, and hosted their touring teams along the way.

Jasmin has been long known for its brushes with fame – from Billy Connolly and Gough Whitlam to Sir Elton John and Marco Pierre White.

White described it as “the best Indian meal in my life”.

Indian cricketers Kapil Dev (left) and Sachin Tendulkar warmed to the taste of home at a special curry dinner at Jasmin restaurant in Adelaide in 1992. Picture: File

The Indian cricket team went to Jasmin in 2015 and gifted the restaurant a signed bat. Picture: File

Mr Singh maintains the restaurant is not one for being “fancy” or having “crazy garnishes”.

He said success was in “consistency”.

“It’s what people eat at home, it’s fresh, it’s done every day,” he said.

“One guy has been in the kitchen there for 35 years, the tandoor chef has been there 12 years, my sister and me have been there since day one.

“Consistency has been our strength.”

Despite more than four decades serving hungry faces, Mr Singh said there were still moments where he reflected on what his role within the business meant.

“People come to a restaurant to celebrate, not like when you’re seeing a lawyer or a doctor or dentist,” he said.

“We get to see the better side of people.

“It’s like theatre and we are the audience — you see the power plays at the table and who’s going to do what.

“There’s kids on their first date and he’ll order the tindaloo, it’s so hot, to show how manly he is and when I ask he says ‘I could’ve had hotter’.

“I’m looking at him and his face is red and he’s sweating and I’m thinking: ‘no you couldn’t have, your night is ruined.’”