ON A COLD October weekend, there is nothing better than tucking into a nice curry.

You are instantly transported to warmer climate through your taste buds trough spices like garam masala, turmeric and chilli powder.

There are huge amount of options when it comes to curry in Gwent, whether you like a mild and creamy curry or enough spice to blow your head off, there’s a curry house in the region that will cater to your tastes.

According to research carried out by Just Eat, the most popular curry in the UK is the korma, followed by a tikka masala and a rogan josh.

Nazul Ahmed, from Vanilla Spice, in Newport, says the key to a good curry is: “A good chef who is creative and has a passion for cooking. It’s important that they love what they do, you get out what you put in.”

He thinks the popularity of curry is down to the variety that’s available and the range of flavours and spices.

He added: “Our most popular is the shashlik kari dish. The chef cooks the onions, peppers and tomatoes with the chicken on a skewer in a tandoori and the sauce is a tomato based dish. I don’t see many people leave anything when they order it.”

I went to try some of their curry, to see if it lived up to the hype, and tried a tandoori chicken mojadar, the chicken shashlik kari and a lamb biryani.

The curries were flavoursome and definitely moreish, but the biryani was top of my list, with tender pieces of lamb and delicious flavoured rice that was tasty to the last bite.

Here are 10 of the best curry houses in Gwent, as voted by you.

NEWPORT

Curry on the Curve, Clarence Place

A popular choice among our readers, the restaurant pride themselves on serving healthy food using ingredients sourced from local suppliers and all cooked in-house with home-ground spices. One reader said “They make authentic curries cooked to a healthier recipe. The onion bhajis are amazing.”

Visit curryonthecurve.co.uk or call 01633 547474.

The New Lahore, Lower Dock Street

This award-winning restaurant has previously named as best curry house in Wales by the Sunday Telegraph. This restaurant is one of the most popular and was described by one reader as “the oldest and best Indian restaurant in Newport”.

Visit newlahore-newport.co.uk or call 01633 265665.

Shoboraj, Malpas Road

Serving Bangladeshi and Indian cuisine, the Shoboraj was chosen by many readers as their favourite. The family run business pride themselves on their exclusive recipes which regulars love. One reader said: “It is the best. They have wonderful service and a friendly atmosphere. The staff are amazing.”

Visit shoboraj.com or call 01633 822822.

Vanilla Spice, Lyne Road

People from across Gwent nominated this restaurant as their favourite. The owners pride themselves on the quality of their food and the surroundings. One reader said: “Vanilla spice is gorgeous and a lovely friendly restaurant.”

Visit vanillaspice-newport.co.uk or call 01633 255446.

Jewel Balti, Chepstow Road

This popular restaurant has been serving delicious food since 1996. They now have a restaurant in Monmouth which also has a big fan base. One reader said they have: “Awesome food and awesome staff.”

Visit jewelbalti.com or call 01633 272707.

MONMOUTHSHIRE

The Misbah Tandoori, Priory Street, Monmouth

This family run restaurant offers authentic Bangladeshi cuisine in the heart of Monmouth. One reader said: “It is the most welcoming place and has delicious food. I can’t find another Indian that matches the standard and quality.”

Visit themisbah.com or call 01600 714940.

The Indian Empire, Parkwall Roundabout, Caldicot

Another popular choice with people from across the region, this restaurant is also loved by a few famous faces including members of Status Quo. A reader said: “The variety of dishes is wonderful and they cater to vegetarians and vegans. Their aubergine bhaji is the best I have ever tasted.”

Visit indianempirerestaurant.co.uk or call 01291 431144.

Mango House, The Square, Magor

The restaurant, which also has locations in Cardiff and Cefn Coed, is a popular restaurant among curry lovers. One reader explained: “They do a tamarind dip that I have not tasted before. We travel from Newport just for a takeaway. The staff are lovely too.”

Visit mangohouse.co.uk or call 01633 882655.

TORFAEN

Tamarind, The Marlborough, Blenheim Road

One of the most popular restaurants and takeaways in Torfaen, the Tamarind, have a range of delicious special biryani dishes. They were nominated for their friendly welcome and “Delicious curries that never disappoint”.

Visit tamarindcwmbran.com or call 0333 370 9000.

BLAENAU GWENT

Cinnamon Garden, Beaufort Rise, Beaufort

This restaurant has a number of fans, especially for their Balti dishes. Staff are friendly and are always on hand to recommend dishes. One reader said: “This curry is the best I’ve eaten.”

Visit cinnamongarden.co.uk or call 01495 301010.