Tucked away in a shopping center located in the heart of the Gandhi District, Shri Balaji Bhavan is a delight for lovers of Indian vegetarian cuisine. This gem on 5655 Hillcroft had piqued my interest when I saw it on Yelp, and while I had read great reviews for the restaurant online, I had to experience it for myself.

Upon entering Shri Balaji Bhavan, one can immediately smell the spicy fragrances of the Indian dishes being prepared in the kitchen. The restaurant felt simplistic, homey and authentic. After ordering at the counter, we waited in anticipation for our mango lassis, samosas, masala dosa and vegetable biryani.

Our mango lassis promptly arrived, and we had to resist drinking all of it before our food was delivered. Then came the spicy samosas, filled with delicious potatoes and accompanied by two chutneys: one with tamarind and date and the other with mint and coconut. The flavors paired perfectly with the samosas.

Next arrived the vegetable biryani, a rice dish that also came with raita, a yogurt sauce served on the side to cool the palate. Needless to say, the dish was delicious and perfectly seasoned.

Finally came the masala dosa, which was served on top of a giant banana leaf. The dosa was filled with savory potatoes, but had a more onion flavor than those of the samosas. A small side of sambar, a vegetable stew, and chutney came with the dosa. Along with sips of the mango lassi, this dish was a perfect way to end the meal.

All in all, the food I had was fragrant and flavorful, not too spicy, and delicious. The service was quick, the presentation of the dishes was great and the food was priced very reasonably. The total for all of our food was only $25, a good deal as we were able to try many items from the menu. The price for 2 samosas was only $2.49! For me, the icing on the cake was the mango lassi, which offered a yummy and sweet contrast to the food’s spices. This restaurant did not disappoint and I would recommend it to anyone looking to try some delicious Indian food!