12 Chutneys

12 Chutneys is an Indian restaurant in the SoMu area beside Souq Al-Mubarakiya, in the Qibla district of Kuwait City, Kuwait. SoMu is the modern dining and lifestyle quarter built next to the old souq, and the restaurant serves the large South Asian community and the wider public with North Indian cooking at moderate prices of about KWD 5-10 per person. No chef lineage or awards are documented, so the appeal is dependable curries and tandoor dishes.

The signature dishes are chicken tikka masala, dal makhani and garlic naan. Chicken tikka masala pairs tandoor-cooked chicken with a creamy tomato sauce, dal makhani is the slow-simmered black lentil dish enriched with butter and cream, and garlic naan is baked fresh in the tandoor. The specialty is North Indian curries and tandoor cooking, and the format suits sharing, with several curries ordered for the table alongside bread and rice. Vegetarian dishes are a natural part of the repertoire, which makes the restaurant useful for mixed groups.

The dining room is casual and comfortable, busiest in the evenings and at weekends. Noise levels are moderate, and dress is relaxed. No alcohol is served in Kuwait, so diners typically choose lassi, juices, soft drinks or tea.

Reservations are recommended on Thursday and Friday, which are the busiest evenings of the Kuwaiti weekend. On weekdays walk-in service is usually possible. The location makes the restaurant a convenient stop before or after exploring the souq, the Heritage Souq and the waterfront, and the surrounding SoMu area offers further cafes and dessert stops.