Kuku’s Take Out & Delivery
24 Burnside Rd. West
Saanich, BC
(778) 430-5858

J: Ed and I found ourselves in the Harriet/Burnside area which is where my old stomping grounds were. I fondly remember local streets like Cloverdale before they were industrialized.

As a child I walked along the train tracks that once existed half way down Cloverdale’s hill (now the Galloping Goose trail) which ran next to a creek that would freeze over for the winter. I remember the friends I made and the games we used to play. 1977 to 79 were some very good years for one to be a Canadian kid.

But this time I was back for culinary reasons. Ed and I were tempted to try the new Boleskine Bistro. The bistro used to be a corner store and was located only a few doors down from my house. But instead we went for the taste of Indian take-out. Kuku’s Take Out & Delivery has received some rather good PR via CHEK News a couple of years ago. It was in part with Gordie Dodd of Dodd’s Furniture and Mattress that Kuku’s helped cater meals to the less fortunate.


E: And that was around Christmas-time, where the two operations went for the atypical meals. I can’t see a meal that’s lathered with spices and tons of kick. It’d certainly help warm anyone up during the cold season, but had this been at another time, well … Victoria weather can be tricky since it’s typically wet for a good part of the year than cold.

But for people willing to brave a taste of tradition, the meals served here are pre-made and kept in a buffet style heater. You order your selection of meats or veggies, and that’s your dish all ready to go. I think this diner can comfortably sit maybe five people at most, and on a hot day, the spices will not be the only thing keeping people warm here. I was nearly steaming because of the intensity of what I ate. I could suck the goat meat off the bone and savour its meatier texture. The lentils that I had over my rice was quite decent, but it didn’t help disguise the fact that the starch was quite mushy.


J: My lamb curry was cooked meat, fat and bone all in one pot. I could see that the meat was cleaved haphazardly. I found more than my fair share of bone shards. They were so tiny and I didn’t know I had it in my mouth until my teeth came down on it. Ouch! I found eating the lamb was more work than pleasure. The lamb I could taste was shadowed by an overzealous use of spices.



E: Fortunately the lassi helped tame my tastebuds so I could feel my tongue and know what I was eating. While feasting on my cacophony of heat mixtures, I couldn’t help but be amused at the family antics going on. While the “mother of the house” was friendly and accommodating, the male unit was bouncing between work and the TV set.

J: Yes, the father was glued to the NHL Hockey game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the New York Islanders. Honestly, he’s the first person I’ve met in a long time who likes Pittsburgh. But to get back on topic, I concur with Ed’s many opinions about the food; with most of the product kept buffet style, most of what I ate was too mushy when chewed. The Mixed Vegetables Korma was the best thing on the dish but that is saying a lot. The potatoes made it more filling.

E: When I compared my empty dish to James’, he left more food on his plate which had to be thrown out!

J: I shocked myself, I hadn’t touched anything. Maybe I’m losing weight and the title of this blog will have to be changed to James and the Fatman. I wouldn’t go to Kuku’s during a hot summer’s day, but I can see myself returning for a meal on a cool evening. One does tend to return for the service even when the food is average and Kuku’s is not lacking in service.

E: The family friendly atmosphere is certainly one reason for me to come back. I could zip here before visiting friends who live only a few blocks away. I could easily bring a couple of samosas or pakoras with me to share, and when they are sold by the pound, I’m sure all of us would wolf it down in an instant. The variety offered here is great. In their take-out menu, they list vegetable, cauliflower, chickpea curry, chicken, fish and prawns. Now that’s a list! But if those appetizers are not enough, I’m intrigued by the type of Tandoori breads offered. They have all three types–the root, naan and paratha–that can no doubt be stuffed with anything I would want. Now if I can only safely order a meat side-dish without the bones, then I’ve found a meal to savour!

3 Blokes out of 5