नमक कम है

Use it as a complete sentence. You taste the lentils and realize they are flat. You look at your host or waiter. You say Namak kam hai. You can add a polite thoda (a little) at the start. Thoda namak kam hai sounds softer. It makes the critique feel more like a helpful hint.

You will use this at dinner tables across India. Use it at a restaurant when the chef was too cautious. Use it at home when your mom asks how the food is. It is perfect for casual settings with friends. Even in semi-formal lunch meetings, it is acceptable. Just ensure your tone is observational, not angry.

Do not use this if you are a guest at a very formal wedding. In those cases, just eat the food quietly. Avoid saying it loudly in a crowded, high-end restaurant. It might embarrass the staff. Never use it if the food is actually spicy but not salty. Salt and spice are different categories in Indian cooking. If the food is terrible overall, this phrase is too specific.

In India, salt is a symbol of loyalty and honesty. There is a famous saying, Maine aapka namak khaya hai. It means "I have eaten your salt," implying lifelong debt. Because salt is so symbolic, commenting on it is common. Indian food relies on a perfect balance of spices. Salt is the key that unlocks all those complex flavors. Without enough salt, even the most expensive saffron tastes like nothing.

You might hear Namak feeka hai. This means the food tastes "faint" or "pale" due to lack of salt. Some people say Namak aur chahiye. This translates to "Need more salt." If you want to be very polite, say Namak thoda kam lag raha hai. This means "The salt is feeling a little less," which sounds less like a fact and more like your personal opinion.