Flavor of India in Burbank is one of my favorite local places to have dinner. Located downtown underneath a parking garage, it’s unassuming and no hassle to visit. Inside, the décor is tasteful, and the servers are very friendly and accommodating. The owner, Tarsem, often comes over to say hello. While the restaurant itself is not vegetarian, Tarsem is, and he’s always been eager to introduce us to the various vegan items on the menu. They recently added the letter “V” on their updated menus to point out which items are vegan and which are not. I was pleasantly surprised to see how many options there were, including a large variety of appetizers. Flavor of India is a perfect choice before hitting a movie at the nearby AMC theatres.
On a recent evening there, my husband and I ordered the vegetarian samosas. Potatoes and peas are lightly spiced with fresh cilantro, rolled into wrappers, and then fried. One order serves two people, and the samosas come with tamarind chutney. The flavorful chutney blends nicely with the mild flavors of the samosa. (Another appetizer, the vegetarian pakora, is also delicious. Spinach, cauliflower, and slices of potato are breaded and then served with a sweet tomato chutney. )
For dinner we shared Saag Tofu and Aloo Gobi. Saag Tofu literally means spinach tofu. We asked for it medium spicy, and they definitely delivered. Because the spinach is fully blended, every bite offered a lot of heat. The soft tofu melded nicely with the spinach, and we scooped it up with tandoori roti. (The roti usually comes with a layer of ghee spread on top, and so you’ll need to specify that you want no ghee. Our waiter knows us well, and he always says right along with us, “Roti no ghee.”)
Aloo Gobi literally means potatoes cauliflower. Potatoes and cauliflower are seasoned with ginger, green chili, and topped with a smattering of coriander. To round out the meal, we ordered a side of brown rice. (At Flavor of India, I also recommend the chana masala and vegetable sabzi. Those are two of our favorites. Most of their vegan entrees are around $9.)
Flavor of India is located at 161 E. Orange Grove Avenue in Burbank, and there’s also a West Hollywood location at 9045 Santa Monica Boulevard.
