You're in the right part of the world petespot to tap into asian 'secrets' - but if my neighbours (Blackburn born Pakistani) food output tastewise is anything to go by - some of them are not worth knowing - apart from her samosas. A meal with them is a bit like English food that is 'spiced up' - not something you would welcome served up in a restaurant.
I took them to a brilliant Nepalese one night ( Jai Kathmandu, Northenden) [ OK, I know they're Pakistani and Nepalese don't 'get on' - how I hate the tribal politics game]. They weren't exactly enthusiastic - merely saying it was 'certainly different'.