The Place
Sweating in the summer heat, with the buzz of drones overhead, you may stumble on this small Huaqiang Bei vegetarian restaurant. With few tables, and trays instead of plates, this is as close to a real Thali experience as Shenzhen gets.
The owner, an Indian electronics trader long desperate for affordable vegetarian food, explains why he took a no-frills approach to the dining experience: to keep prices down and recreate an Indian dining style.
The Food
The menu is limited – so limited, in fact, that you may have only one choice, as was the case when we visited.
‘The Lunch set’ (RMB35) consisted of two curries, a dahl, pickles, rice and chapatti, all freshly made in house. We began with the dahl. Its creamy blend of vegetables gave way to an acidic kick and spicy aftertaste, which naturally led to the cardamom-heavy potato and onion curry. Both dishes were welcome surprises, given that presentation consisted of a neon-orange plastic tray.
The only let-down was the bean and eggplant curry. While the vegetables were fresh, it lacked the full flavor kick the others offered.
The handmade chapatti and pickles were natural sides: freshly made and filling, the pickles feature chunky cuts of veggies with a tongue biting acidity.
The Vibe
Namaste’s clear focus on delivery means there isn’t a huge amount of feeling in the small, supply-filled dining area, though the owner is happy to make conversation. Weekends see the menu expanding to include biriyani, but there needs to be more choices if Namaste is going to recreate a proper Thali experience.
For those who work in the Huaqiang Bei area or its surrounds, Namaste will be a welcome change from the usual greasy takeout container of rice, veggies and meat.
Price: RMB35 lunch, RMB40 dinner
Who's going: vegetarians, Thali lovers
Good for: an almost Indian lunch experience
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