A friend just returned from visiting her family in India and recounted the glory of Indian street food, especially in Delhi and Mumbai. After doing some research, I’ve landed on Cafe 23 and Bollywood Zaika. The dish I’m most after is Vada Pav. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance!
Surati Farsan Mart in Artesia
Bhanu in Rosemead
whatever you do, don’t go to india sweets and spices.
6 Likes
Long Beach on 4th street by Rosa Park and Bargain Liquor is a street stand. Can’t remember what they sell
https://www.yelp.com/biz/punjabi-kitchen-long-beach
Punjabi Kitchen
2 Likes
Thank you.
Have you tried it?
On Pioneer in Artesia you could literally do a Vada Pav crawl. Surati Farsan Mart, Jay Bharat, Rasraj, Bhookhe, New Flavors Of India, Honest Restaurant, Saffron Spot… there are probably more, that’s just off the top of my head.
7 Likes
not yet, but it’s on the list. i’m usually in LB doing family stuff, so it’s hard to squeeze in an extra meal. (i’m not superhuman/bovine like some other folks on the board)
1 Like
Found their insta https://www.instagram.com/punjabikitchen3036/.
Sat/Sun 12 PM - 9 PM
1 Like
Don’t get vada pav at a north indian place (you want somewhere featuring Mumbai style food or Gujarati food).
Surati is a good bet, but ask for the chutneys on the side (sweet / tamarind chutney does not go on vada pav, ask for garlic chutney if they have it).
They also have just batata vada, which is the potato ball that is the vada in vada pav (pav being the bun) – I’d go for that over the pav vada.
Ragda pattice and pav bhaji are also worth a try. (Not street food, but khandvi is unusual and not found in many places.)
7 Likes
I too would vote for Surati Farsan Mart. Truthfully, though, I find Little India disappointing, and I don’t like Surati as much as say Vik’s Chaat House in Berkeley.
I would say my favorite thing at Surati is the khandvi.
3 Likes
Curry Up Now is a mini chain, with one in Irvine and many in the SF Bay Area - I haven’t gotten their vada pav but other chaat items I’ve tried are good. The Irvine one closed but there’s one in La Jolla. I tried Surati twice about 5-7 years ago and didn’t find it impressive. In LA currently my favorite is Annapurna on Venice blvd, although don’t go here expecting Bay Area quality.
3 Likes
Gonna send some young scouts to the La Jolla location – thanks for the tip!
(it’s north Indian, but the vada looks like it would be decent. The bhel – well, as a Bombay chaat eater and maker, I would avoid it like the plague, because cucumbers and tomatoes do not belong in bhel!!! I’m telling my nephews to get a butter chicken burrito for science.)
5 Likes
Was eating at Taverna in Mar Vista today, and there was a VERY small truck w/ dosas and curry at the parking lot at the corner of Grandview and Venice. Has anyone tried it?
1 Like
I have not, but they used to be inside the Mar Vista farmer’s market.
1 Like
UPDATE: I got exactly what I was dreaming of. Cafe 23 is incredible. My friend said the dishes were pretty much just like the street food she was eating in Mumbai. Incredible!! Google Maps
8 Likes
Absolutely! Surati Farsan Mart is the best option there.
A good point!
My top 3 for vada pav at this moment:
[3] Surati Farsan Mart - they have a great selection of Gujarati street food
[2] Bollywood Zaika - a small neighborhood restaurant with a little bit of everything, and very tasty
[1] Almost Famous Indian - an exceptional restaurant with a carefully thought out menu that includes a very satisfying vada pav for breakfast / lunch
4 Likes