Authentic and diverse Indian Food in New York City is rarer to find than you would expect. With so many contenders, it’s hard to find true gems but I believe Bombay Chowk is one of them.
There are and will be many restaurants that aim to make your dining experience more akin to a familial memory and less like a transactional experience. However, few come truly close to accomplishing that. Bombay Chowk, on the other hand, feels less like walking into a restaurant and more like being invited into the home of a wealthy aunt who insists you eat more before you leave. From the moment you walk in and are greeted by old wooden chairs, heavy couches, and décor all sourced directly from India, you know you aren’t entering your run-of-the-mill shop. Nothing about it feels sterile or overly polished. On the contrary, it carries the kind of charm that immediately lowers your guard and makes you want to settle in for the evening.
The evening began with an off-menu serving of Samosa Chaat, one of the night’s most memorable dishes. It was creamy, smooth, and comforting, being less reminiscent of typical restaurant food and more like something carefully prepared in a family kitchen. There was an undeniable nostalgia to it, even for someone without a direct cultural connection to the dish.
Photo by the Knockturnal
The Shrimp Balchao followed and delivered a sharp contrast of flavors. The shrimp itself was cooked perfectly, avoiding the pitfalls of being a rubbery overcooked texture that too often plagues seafood dishes, while the sauce balanced sweetness and spice with precision. Each bite was perfectly portioned and gave me all the indication I needed to know the folks in the kitchen knew how to cook.
Photo by the Knockturnal
One of the evening’s highlights was the Mango Chicken, a newer specialty and easily one of the better curries I have had in New York City in recent memory. It was rich without becoming heavy. The mango brought a subtle sweetness that rounded out the spice rather than fighting against it. I was lucky to try it as it’s only been on the menu for about a week, as of the time of writing.
The Chicken Masala served as a more traditional counterpart and delivered exactly what it needed to: a deeply satisfying, dependable curry with strong spice development and tender meat throughout. Alongside it, the Masala Rice I paired with it had absolutely no business being as flavorful as it was for what is technically just a side dish. Rice sides are typically bland bases for sopping up curries, but this was also a tasty complement that further elevated the curries. It’s the little details like getting your rice perfectly right that highlight the quality of Bombay Chowk. Of course, no proper Indian meal feels complete without a Paratha or Garlic Naan, and we settled for both and, to no surprise at all, both were superb.
Photo by the Knockturnal
Now, there’s more to Bombay Chowk than the food. The waitress graciously spent time discussing and sharing her opinions of the menu periodically, as well as offer small talk to add a personal touch. She even noted that if any dish wasn’t to my liking, they’d happily substitute it, no questions asked. That wasn’t a nicety or polite gesture for the sake of it; it was them following a mantra of actions speaking louder than words. During the time I spent at the restaurant, I noticed other waitstaff talking to other patrons on a first-name basis, people of all different walks of life and backgrounds. There was clearly a shared history there and that little personal touch, on top of the great food, is what kept those regulars coming.
When I say the place has a very family-like vibe, I really do mean it. If you’re looking for amazing Indian food, Bombay Chowk is worth the trek to the Upper East Side.