UK equivalent of regular US 'chicken curry'?

I've just wanted dal (any kind would do!) all week!
But my coworker brought us some of his food for lunch and it hit the spot, even though it wasn't dal.  It was nice and spicy though!

I think the ''regular curry'' that the OP is asking about is a basic sauce made with curry powder. It's the sort of ''curry'' that you get from the Chinese takeaway or the curry sauce from the chip shop..

I think the ''regular curry'' that the OP is asking about is a basic sauce made with curry powder. It's the sort of ''curry'' that you get from the Chinese takeaway or the curry sauce from the chip shop..

Yes, i.e. not very authentic but certainly tasty.

mmmmm.... chips and curry sauce from the chippie! 

I think the ''regular curry'' that the OP is asking about is a basic sauce made with curry powder. It's the sort of ''curry'' that you get from the Chinese takeaway or the curry sauce from the chip shop..

Not sure about this... would an Indian restaurant do a Chinese or chippy-style curry?

Not sure about this... would an Indian restaurant do a Chinese or chippy-style curry?

None of the Indian restaurants I've been to would have, but honestly nothing would surprise me!

None of the Indian restaurants I've been to would have, but honestly nothing would surprise me!

true.

None of the Indian restaurants I've been to would have, but honestly nothing would surprise me!

I'm thinking just a generic-ish curry sauce. My MIL would do this - some onion and pepper, some meat, and then curry poweder. In the OP's menu she posted, it says 'choice of spices', that's the odd bit.

In the OP's menu she posted, it says 'choice of spices', that's the odd bit.

I'm pretty sure they mean choice of spiciness.

The Khatmandu takeaway in Easton, Bristol, used to say on their menu that one of the chicken curries was "spicely cooked". Now they are a restaurant at the bottom of Colston Street. Still very very good.

My advice to the OP - start at the mild stuff on the menu and work your way through! 

Seriously though - most Indian restaurant menus include a short description of the dish, strength/ingredients etc, so work from those.

Vindaloo, Vindaloo and we all like vindaloo!!!

Vindaloo, Vindaloo and we all like vindaloo!!!

Eeeeeevil!

My favorite curry place also has plain curry on it. Doesn't taste like chip shop curry either. I know it is entirely different thing, but is it possible that the closest analogue, taste-wise, would be the biryani?

My favorite curry place also has plain curry on it. Doesn't taste like chip shop curry either. I know it is entirely different thing, but is it possible that the closest analogue, taste-wise, would be the biryani?

Biryani is rice-based, though. Curries are saucy  and are served with rice.

Biryani is rice-based, though. Curries are saucy  and are served with rice.

Oh I know. Where I order them though, they come with the sauce on the side and the taste reminds me of some US curries I tried. Although, this is probably too obvious to be said, but in my very humble opinion, Indian food here is head and shoulders above the stuff I got in the US. Even a middling curry place has more delicious stuff than what I had in America.

I like TykeMan's advice on just working your way through the menu and finding the best "fit." Though, unless you remember the chicken curry to be sweetish and very very creamy, and you like that flavor, you can probably skip the Korma.