That Indian place in the photo has a banner that says "Chaat Tuesday $3.00."
As someone who could barely stand to pass a chaat place the whole time I was in India, and currently pays out the nose for fancied-up chaat at fancy Indian restaurants, to that I say, bring it on.
No reason to fret over dumbing down or inauthenticity when there are a zillion places like this already in India.
DC has something like this - although it's just a single location so far http://merzi.com/ It seems like something that could be fairly easily franchise-able.
If chaat were as ubiquitous as Starbucks that would be okay with me. If the rest of the country isn't ready now it would be shortly after its first visit.
I have GOT to go to Merzi for lunch. Sounds delicious! And they serious have "tandisserie" chicken, though that's probably not what I'll get. Anything you'd recommend?
Sauca in Arlington, with food trucks in DC, is another one along these lines. Not just Indian, but the Indian is great. We've loved everything we've had there. http://www.eatsauca.com/
I've had the regular chicken and the lamb in both a salad and a rice bowl and tried all three sauces (but prefer the hot, which does not wimp on the heat). While I've definitely had better Indian food (Delhi Club in Clarendon is probably my favorite beside Rasika, which isn't an every day kind of restaurant), I preferred this to Chipotle or Roti, the mediteranean fast casual that seems to be popping up all over the DC area.
I have mixed feelings on this all the while knowing that if the food actually tastes good, we will go for it, authenticity be damned.
Also, I agree on all counts about the fact that fast food IndoPak already exists in their home bases. No reason why we can't get it here. $3 chaat? I know my Indian husband wouldn't say no to that!
I eat Trader Joe's garlic naan more than I eat any other form of bread, so hell yes, I'd eat Indian fast food. Also, if it's not already on their menu, a to go packet of samosas seems awesome. WANT.
I like Masala Wok too (and I'm in that parking lot ALL the time, Lisa). And I had a lovely day over the summer when I wandered the Portrait Gallery, saw a play at Wooly Mammoth, and had dinner at Scherzi. It was terrific!
Yes. Might I suggest Canton, MI to them? MAJOR community of South Asian physicians and Ford engineers.
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The title of this post might be my favorite thing ever.
ReplyDeleteThat Indian place in the photo has a banner that says "Chaat Tuesday $3.00."
ReplyDeleteAs someone who could barely stand to pass a chaat place the whole time I was in India, and currently pays out the nose for fancied-up chaat at fancy Indian restaurants, to that I say, bring it on.
No reason to fret over dumbing down or inauthenticity when there are a zillion places like this already in India.
Hell, yes. Just hire everyone at Devon & Western here in Chicago, a mecca of Indian food that i miss.
ReplyDeleteDC has something like this - although it's just a single location so far http://merzi.com/ It seems like something that could be fairly easily franchise-able.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to see more Indian fast casual.
Please and thank you.
ReplyDeleteIf chaat were as ubiquitous as Starbucks that would be okay with me. If the rest of the country isn't ready now it would be shortly after its first visit.
ReplyDeleteI have GOT to go to Merzi for lunch. Sounds delicious! And they serious have "tandisserie" chicken, though that's probably not what I'll get. Anything you'd recommend?
ReplyDeleteSauca in Arlington, with food trucks in DC, is another one along these lines. Not just Indian, but the Indian is great. We've loved everything we've had there.
http://www.eatsauca.com/
If that's the place that's right by DOJ, it's both good (for fast food) and cheap.
ReplyDeleteI've had the regular chicken and the lamb in both a salad and a rice bowl and tried all three sauces (but prefer the hot, which does not wimp on the heat). While I've definitely had better Indian food (Delhi Club in Clarendon is probably my favorite beside Rasika, which isn't an every day kind of restaurant), I preferred this to Chipotle or Roti, the mediteranean fast casual that seems to be popping up all over the DC area.
ReplyDeleteArlington also has Dheli Dhaba. There used to be a few locations.
ReplyDeleteI have mixed feelings on this all the while knowing that if the food actually tastes good, we will go for it, authenticity be damned.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I agree on all counts about the fact that fast food IndoPak already exists in their home bases. No reason why we can't get it here. $3 chaat? I know my Indian husband wouldn't say no to that!
Out in Fairfax, we have Masala Wok, a hybrid of Asian and Indian. which does decent business. I like their samosas and their chicken tikka masala.
ReplyDeleteFuck. I can resist carbs in many forms. But not naan. If I lived in India, I would shortly outmass the universe.
ReplyDeleteI am distinctly not a fan of Delhi Dhaba.
ReplyDeleteI eat Trader Joe's garlic naan more than I eat any other form of bread, so hell yes, I'd eat Indian fast food. Also, if it's not already on their menu, a to go packet of samosas seems awesome. WANT.
ReplyDeleteIf we can handle Indian buffets, I think we're ready for fast food.
ReplyDeleteI like Masala Wok too (and I'm in that parking lot ALL the time, Lisa). And I had a lovely day over the summer when I wandered the Portrait Gallery, saw a play at Wooly Mammoth, and had dinner at Scherzi. It was terrific!
ReplyDelete