Midtown Lunch

Thanks to Lunch’er “Adam” for tipping us off to the new Friday Kati Roll special at Indus Express (on 48th btw. 5+6th). The guy behind the counter said you can get any Kati Roll for $5 (normally they’re $5.95 to $7.95 depending on the filling) and though I didn’t see it listed on the menu, he also confirmed that the special also comes with the usual small salad and fries (like the one Zach initially tried). Not bad for $5. My experiences at Indus Express have always been a hit or miss. They have a solid chaat bar, but their steam table curries are pretty lacking and the nearby Minar schools them in Tikka Masala. That said, we’re always willing to give a good lunch special a try. I think I know what I’m having for lunch today…

Related:
Indus Express is Like an Indian Version of a Midtown Deli

8 cent Pop Burgers are fine, but this is kind of more exciting if you ask us!  A week from today 8 Coupons will be having another one of their Ocho Loco events, and the participating restaurant is Indus Express (on 48th btw. 5+6th).  On April 28th, from 2-6pm you can get a plate of their formidable chaat for just 8 cents.  If you’ve never had chaat before, it’s Indian street food made from some kind of fried item (samosas, cracker looking things, and/or rice crispy looking things) tossed with onions, tomatoes sometimes potatoes, yogurt, and chutney.  It’s the perfect summertime snack/lunch and all you have to do to score it for 8 cents is text yourself the coupon from the 8coupons site. Freeloaders engage.  (Because, quite frankly at 8 cents it might as well be free, right?)

Related:
Midtown is the Chaat Corridor of New York City
Snapshots: For Those About to Chaat…

The “For Rent” sign in the window of Indus Express has been taken down… so I’m guessing they worked things out with their landlord.  That’s good news.

Related:
Indus Express Might Be On the Move

Rockluncher pointed it out in the forums yesterday, and it’s confirmed by this photo… everybody’s favorite generic Midtown deli turned Indian take out joint Indus Express (on 48th btw. 5+6th) has a for rent sign in their window.  They’re still open for now, but Lunch’er “dmax” posted this info (which I confirmed with somebody over at Indus): “They told me it was an issue with high rent and they may or may not be moving to a different location nearby within the next couple of weeks.”  There is still a chance they might work something out with the landlord, but they said they won’t know until Tuesday or Wednesday of next week at the earliest.  In the meantime, if you’re as much of a fan of their bhel puri as Fork in the Road you might want to hit the place up soon, just in case they close or move somewhere farther away.

Related:
Indus Express is Like an Indian Version of a Midtown Deli

For the second time in three weeks Time Out New York’s “Officially Obsessed” column has been dedicated to pretty well known Midtown Lunch’ing spots. Two weeks ago it the braised crispy tofu with chili and sliced pork from the new Szechuan Gourmet (on 56th btw. B’way+8th), and this week it’s the papri chaat from Indus Express.  (This actually marks the second time TONY has called out the latter… it was named one of the Top 100 Bites of 2008.)

Can’t argue with either recommendation (although if push comes to shove I’m still sticking with the twice cooked pork belly with chili and leeks.)

Related:
Snapshots: For Those About to Chaat…
Pork Belly w/ Chili Leeks Still Good at the New Szechuan Gourmet

A few weeks ago it was the former newsstand on 6th Ave., and now (according to a post in the forums by Lunch’er “copyboy”)  Indus Express is the latest Indian joint to be closed by the Department of Health (on 48th btw. 5+6th). If you want to find them on the DOH website, they’re still listed as City Market Cafe, and to me their violations don’t really look too serious.  (No rats.  No roaches. Who cares about lightbulbs?)

Always Hungry has a write up on Tabla’s Indian street food “cart”, which is set up in front of the restaurant located next to Madison Square Park. It’s a little pricey, and way out of the Midtown Lunch boundaries- but the piece distinguishes between the kati roll (which we all know very well) and the “Frankie”, a term you are seeing more and more in NYC.

A Frankie is an Indian wrap best described as a Mumbai burrito. The construction of a frankie sounds very similar to a Kati (Roti) roll, but among the Indian community they could not be more different.

Read more »

Rupa’s Special bhelpuri from Taj Delhi Chat

Today’s Village Voice features a piece on where to find the best chaat in New York, and three of the four choices are Midtown Lunch mainstays: Indus Express (on 48th btw. 5+6th), Sukhadia’s Gokul (on 45th btw. 5+6th), and of course, Khodiar Express (aka Taj Delhi Chat), the Indian food in the former newsstand on 6th Ave. btw. 37+38th.  I knew it was only a matter of time before that last one got discovered by the “real” NYC food media… if you haven’t been, you really need to hit it up.

Related
A Guide to the Best Indian Street Food in Midtown: Translating the Menu at Taj Delhi Chat
Snapshots: For Those About to Chaat…

In the comments today about Indus Express, the fairly new Indian “Deli” on 48th btw. 5+6th:

Zach – you missed the really ass-kicking deal at Indus Express. At the front of their store they have a sign for “All you can eat buffet.” Last night my friend and I inquired, and to our great joy, the buffet consists of ALL of their meat and veggie curries, PLUS naan, for $8.99 (it’s not a self serve buffet, but who freaking cares). The guy who seemed to run the place said that deal was available anytime, any day. Service was great, food was excellent, and the price really is phenomenal for what you’re getting. And I didn’t even make it to the chaat or the naan-rolls yet…

I managed to contain my excitement enough to call up Indus Express and confirm that they do have an $8.99 buffet special, but it is only M-F after 4pm, and all day on the weekends.  Eat in only (obviously) and you’re allowed to take as much as you want from the steam table (including pakoras and samosas).  I’m bummed that it’s not for lunch, but still a great deal if you need a big (but cheap) dinner after work, or you’re stuck in the office on the weekends.

Indus Express, 48 W. 48th St. (btw. 5+6th), 212-221-7952

Related Posts:

• Snapshots: For those about to chaat…
• First Look: City Market Cafe Becomes Indus Express Serves Giant Kati Rolls

For people who are used to chicken tikka masala, biriyani and tandoori, ordering “chaat” (the word used to describe small plates of snacks) can be a little more confusing.  To make ordering it a little less intimidating, check out these photos The Flooz (who blogs about Astoria on Joey in Astoria) posted to the Midtown Lunch Flickr Pool, from Indus Express, the fairly new Indian steam table/kati roll place on 48th btw. 5+6th.

The “Somosa” (sic) Chaat – Crisp turnovers, tangy chick peas, yogurt & mint chutney.  $4.95

Papri Chaat – Homemade chips, lentil dumplings, garbanzo beans, potatoes, yogurt, chutneys & spices.  $4.95

A close-up of the Papri Chaat, after the jump… Read more »