Spice Waala in Seattle

Indian street food is a burst of flavors that take you on a tantalizing culinary journey. From the famous pani puri to the mouthwatering samosa chaat, the streets of India are a haven for food enthusiasts. The vibrant stalls are filled with a myriad of options, each more tempting than the last. The aroma of sizzling spices fill the air and beckon you to indulge in delicacies like pav bhaji, vada pav, kathi rolls and aloo tikki chaat. The combination of aromatic masalas, tangy chutneys, and crispy textures create a symphony of taste that is truly unforgettable. Whether you're a vegetarian or a meat lover, Indian street food has something for everyone, promising an explosion of flavors that will tantalize your taste buds and leave you craving for—at least that is what the internet says. Since I haven’t been to India yet (it is on the list, heatwave be damned!) I have to eat vicariously through iterations available to me locally.

SF had a couple spots that I really like would recommend to folks like Kasa Inidan Eatery and Curry Up Now—which was more of a mash-up, but still had the flavors. Here in Seattle my closest brush has been another hybrid, Bombay Burger, which I know is a stretch, but still another spot I kind of enjoyed. My continual eating though the this city did eventually bring me to Spice Waala. Or I should say, a rainy day brought me. I was feeling the hunger and outside was rather rainy and I didn’t exactly want to venture out so I pulled up one of those delivery options and after scrolling through the offerings, Spice Waala popped up. After a look at their menu I was intrigued and luckily, they were only an eight minute walk from my abode. The cheap in me won out to save on fees and tips and I ordered up a few things for pick up in twenty minutes.

**A Paneer and a Chicken Tikka Kathi Roll $7.50 each**

Kathi rolls, a popular street food originating from Kolkata, India, are savory delights consisting of a thin, flaky paratha flatbread, wrapped around a flavorsome filling of marinated and grilled chicken or lamb, or paneer (a type of Indian cheese I am a big fan of). They are often complemented by crisp vegetables and a tantalizing array of spices. Sounds tasty right? It is why I had to try one paneer and one chicken.

The wrap is somewhere between a crepe and a burrito wrap. Thin, but not so much it will fall apart. It works as a good vehicle to hold the filling. The only vegetable these come with is chopped purple onion which gives them a sweet bite and contrast to the green chutney which is very coriander forward, a flavor I am on board with. The chicken is seasoned with a variety of Indian spices like cumin, cloves and what not. It all seems to work really well together. The paneer was served as more of ground up crumble, which, okay, different, and seemed to be mixed with a bit of curry to give it some yellow color. Definitely a unique texture but I still kind of liked the flavors in this one too. Overall, I enjoyed the combination of textures and flavors and you do get quite a bit of filling in each which makes them a hearty snack. I know some online folks say these things are small but they are about average for a kathi roll. You have to remember, this ain’t a burrito and I think the price works for what you get.

How could I pass up a golden, crispy, deep fried potato patty? (obviously rhetorical) Also known as an aloo tikki chaat, this comes covered in with sweet yogurt, tamarind cilantro chutney, and garnished with cilantro, raw onions, pomegranate seeds and fried chickpea batter. Unless you get it to go then it comes in pieces to assemble yourself. As you can see in the pics, the patty is a mix of mashed and chunk potato with a lovely crispy outer shell. The seeds and chickpea give some notes of crunch, though could have used more to punch up the texture a bit. Still, I am a big fan of tamarind and the sweet heat gives it a great kick. Price point seems a little high for the size of it all, but if you share you could still probably get a good couple bites each as a compliment to one of the rolls.

**Masala Aloo Fries and Green Chutney $3.50**

You can’t offer up quick eats food without some variation of fries as an add on. These crispy potatoes are generously coated in a fiery mixture of red chili powder, turmeric, cumin, and other Indian spices and served with a side of their green chutney. More of a mash-up than an actual Indian street food as it were but more deep fried potatoes is never too much! Bombay Burger also had masala fries but theirs were more of a lightly coated version. Spice Waala went all in and each fry gives you your moneys worth of spice as well as a generous helping of fries for the price. Not sure about the green chutney with them, might have preferred the sweet of the tamarind instead to contrast the salt. Without it, they were pretty good with some ketchup. While you do get a lot of fries, I will say, toward the bottom, there were a few too many bits and pieces of fries. Still, I’m all about masala fries with everything!

I liked Spice Waala. Are they like the Indian street food you get in India? Don’t (yet) and don’t care. Tasty is tasty and I will definitely be back. Plus, it seems easier to make the eight minute walk to them instead of traveling all the way around the world for it. One day, but not today. Though, if you wanna get the feel of it, I guess you could wait until there is a super hot day in Seattle (there will be some), order some take out, then sit on the curb of the busiest street in town with all the cars whizzing by and just pretend. It will save you time and money as for about $11, if you get a roll and some fries, you will get a hearty meal and snack without the jet lag.