Savouring the subcontinent

Whether you’re completely new to Indian cooking or a devotee of its curries and breads, you’ll eat like a maharaja at Saras, a food court-style restaurant that serves some of the best value dishes in town.

Open for three years, Saras is now a favourite haunt of those wanting vegetarian Indian comfort food in an easy setting. Staffed by Indian chefs from every part of the country, the kitchen promises an array of mouth-watering savouries and sweets for breakfast, lunch and dinner and all hours in between.

Just like in a food court, diners are presented with a top-up card on arrival, which they use to order from the menu. As the food is served, its cost is deducted from the card and any credit can be used towards the next visit or cashed in at the end.

The menu is very extensive, with different dishes from all over India neatly categorised by region. While there are no photographs to help you choose, the friendly staff, who are fluent in Hindi, Thai and English, are happy to explain and recommend food. Saras also offers a range of set menus that allows diners to sample several dishes. Everything served is vegetarian and a Jain option is also available on request. 

We started with a plate of poodi dosa (Bt125), lightly spiced, crispy crepes served with tomato and coconut chutney and a savoury lentil curry. The portion is generous but the poodi dosa are light and very addictive. We also sampled the sweet, sour and savoury pani puri (Bt85), hollow, crispy fried buns begging to be stuffed. You simply make a hole in the middle, load the bun with potato and chickpeas, and pour in some tamarind paste and minty water, then pop it in your mouth.

The strange yet tantalising corn kernel (Bt140) is also a must-try. This Indian-Chinese hybrid offers fried corn mixed with Indian spices and tossed with stir-fried bean sprouts, shallots and spring onions. 

If you want to keep the meal lean and light, opt for a chola batura (Bt140). This is a popular Punjabi recipe of fermented deep fried bread (batura) spiced up with chickpea curry. This dish can also be enjoyed as a snack, though it is slightly heavy. 

Saras ups the protein levels with its tantalising plate of mixed grilled paneer (Bt350). The homemade cheese is cut into sizeable chunks, rubbed with spices and grilled till charred on the outside while staying soft inside. They’re served with spiced spinach kebabs, which are both flavourful and fulfilling. Another best-seller is the North Indian thali (Bt280). The set comprises four curries of the day, a sweet, yoghurt, rice and naan. 

Saras has probably the biggest selection of traditional Indian sweets in town and diners should at least sample the jalebi (deep fried wheat flour dipped in sugar syrup), chocolate barfi (cardamom cake with chocolate), dodha (pistachio and almond cake) and the varieties of kaju made with cashew nuts. The pastry chef here only uses premium mamra almonds imported from India to ensure the most authentic tastes. 

The sweets are priced at Bt15 a piece. They’re best enjoyed with a cup of masala tea for Bt35.

 

 

CURRY IN A HURRY

>> Saras is located in Sukhumvit Soi 20, close to Phrom Phong BTS. It is open daily from 8.30am till 11.30pm.

>> Call (02) 4018484; www.Saras.co.th