Indian fast food has gained popularity across the United States, offering a delicious and diverse array of flavors that appeal to a wide range of palates. From savory snacks to flavorful street food and quick bites, here are some famous Indian fast food dishes and where to find them in the USA:
1. Samosas
Samosas are a classic Indian snack consisting of crispy pastry filled with spiced potatoes, peas, and sometimes meat or lentils. They are often served with chutneys for dipping.
Where to Find Them:
Tiffin Indian Kitchen (Philadelphia, PA): Known for their flavorful samosas and other Indian street food items.
Vik’s Chaat (Berkeley, CA): Offers delicious vegetarian samosas as part of their extensive chaat menu.
2. Chaat
Chaat refers to a category of savory Indian snacks typically served at street stalls. They are known for their bold flavors, tangy chutneys, and crunchy textures.
Where to Find Them:
Dosa Factory (Boston, MA): Offers a variety of chaat dishes like bhel puri, pani puri, and sev puri.
Chaat and Chai (Portland, OR): Specializes in chaat items like aloo tikki chaat and dahi puri.
3. Pani Puri/Golgappa
Pani puri (also known as golgappa or phuchka) consists of hollow puri filled with spicy, tangy flavored water (pani), mashed potatoes, chickpeas, and tamarind chutney.
Where to Find Them:
Bikaner Sweets & Snacks (Chicago, IL): Offers authentic pani puri and other Indian street food specialties.
Desi Galli (New York, NY): Known for their customizable chaat options, including pani puri.
4. Vada Pav
Vada pav is a popular street food from Mumbai, consisting of a spiced potato fritter (vada) sandwiched in a pav (soft bread roll) along with chutneys.
Where to Find Them:
Curry Up Now (multiple locations in CA and NJ): Offers a fusion version of vada pav alongside other Indian street food favorites.
Bombay Sandwich Co. (New York, NY): Serves a delicious vada pav with homemade chutneys.
5. Dosa
Dosa is a thin, crispy crepe made from fermented rice and lentil batter. It can be filled with various fillings or served plain with chutneys and sambar (lentil soup).
Where to Find Them:
Dosa by Dosa (San Francisco, CA): Specializes in dosas with a modern twist, featuring unique fillings and accompaniments.
Anjappar Chettinad (multiple locations in TX and GA): Offers a wide variety of dosa options, from classic masala dosa to cheese dosa.
6. Biryani
Biryani is a flavorful rice dish cooked with spices, meat (usually chicken or lamb), and sometimes vegetables. It’s often served with raita (yogurt sauce) or salan (spicy gravy).
Where to Find Them:
Paradise Biryani Pointe (multiple locations across the USA): Known for their authentic Hyderabadi biryani and other South Indian dishes.
Biryani Pot (multiple locations in TX, CA, and other states): Offers a variety of biryani options with customizable spice levels.
7. Kathi Rolls
Kathi rolls are Indian street food wraps filled with marinated meats, paneer (Indian cheese), or vegetables, wrapped in paratha (Indian flatbread).
Where to Find Them:
Kati Roll Company (New York, NY): Specializes in kathi rolls with a variety of fillings and flavors.
Ritu Indian Soul Food (Washington, D.C.): Offers delicious kathi rolls alongside other Indian street food specialties.
8. Chole Bhature
Chole bhature is a North Indian dish consisting of spicy chickpea curry (chole) served with deep-fried bread (bhature).
Where to Find Them:
Choolah Indian BBQ (multiple locations in OH): Known for their flavorful chole bhature and other Indian comfort foods.
Spice 6 Modern Indian (Washington, D.C.): Offers chole bhature as part of their diverse menu of Indian dishes.
9. Paneer Tikka
Paneer tikka is a popular vegetarian dish featuring marinated and grilled paneer (Indian cottage cheese) served with onions and bell peppers.
Where to Find Them:
Masala Kitchen (Philadelphia, PA): Offers delicious paneer tikka alongside other Indian street food favorites.
Spice End (Portland, OR): Known for their flavorful paneer tikka wraps and bowls.
10. Indian Street Food Trucks
Many cities across the USA have Indian food trucks that serve a variety of Indian street food items, offering convenient and delicious options on the go.
Where to Find Them:
Kasa Indian Eatery (San Francisco, CA): Offers a rotating menu of Indian street food dishes from their food truck.
Desi Food Truck (New York, NY): Serves a variety of Indian fast food items, including samosas, kathi rolls, and more.
Conclusion
Whether you’re craving crispy samosas, tangy chaat, flavorful dosas, or aromatic biryani, there are plenty of options to explore when it comes to Indian fast food in the USA. From casual eateries to food trucks and established restaurants, these culinary destinations offer a taste of India’s rich and diverse street food culture. Enjoy these delicious dishes and discover new favorites as you embark on your culinary journey through the vibrant world of Indian fast food.