Fantastic street food in Bites of India, Belfast

Monday, February 3, 2020

If you love Indian food, you really should check out Bites of India on the Ravenhill Road in Belfast. It’s a total gem of a discovery and my new absolute favourite spot.

I first became aware of Bites of India at the Irish Curry Awards 2019, when it won Gold in the Best Street food (Ulster) category. I paid a visit shortly after the awards and was so impressed, I booked to go again.

While it started as a takeaway, it has since expanded to allow sitting in with a small number of tables in an unassuming setting. It’s a BYO setting which always helps keep the cost down so we took a supply of Cobra beers, the perfect accompaniment to any curry!

While the menu offers all the usual favourite dishes, the restaurant has really built a reputation for fantastic street food. I can safely say that the reputation is well deserved!

We opted to let chef, Salim decide our dining options and I totally recommend this approach. The whole meal becomes more of an adventure when you have no idea what is coming next. The dishes we were served were as follows:

Gobi Manchurian- battered cauliflower with sweet & sour sauce. A total stand out dish!
Paani Puri- deep fried potato crispy crepes with filling and a spicy water
Masala Dosa- a paper thin filled rice & lentil pancake, filled with potatoes & onions
Peanut Masala- a spicy, nutty dish
Lamb Lal Mass- a traditional curry cooked with fresh tomatoes and cream
Chicken Biryani- stir fried with rice and curry sauce on the side
Tandoori Chicken- cooked in a clay oven and served with a mild curry sauce
Peshwari Naan- with coconut and almond

I loved the flavour and texture combinations and simply can’t wait until my next visit. I totally recommend that you pay a visit. You wont regret it!