Dabbawalas are bicycle riding delivery menu that transport freshly made, home cooked food through the street of Mumbai during lunchtime, with precious cargo of tiffin boxes full of authentic, family dishes. If you dine at Dabbawal in Jesmond, you won't be met with pretension, rather tha restaurant is quite relaxed, and very welcoming. Your street food will arrive as it's cooked, and you'll feel as though you're at home.
The menu has lots of small plates, which are recommended to be enjoyed as sharing plates with the rest of the table, or a few per person. The mango bhel puri is made with puffed rice and potato sev tossed in onion and pomegranate, whilst the vegetable samosa chaat is a fusion of spicy chickpeas, Punjabi samosas and topped with chopped onions and homemade chutneys. Classic dishes include the kurkuri lentil okra fried that are made with deep fried crispy okra tossed in aromatic spiced, and shredded chicken tossed with julienned peppers, onions and a hint of black pepper. From the tandoor you can order the Punjabi chicken tikka big eat, a seekh kebab kybria, or the smoked broccoli that is marinated with spices and cream cheese, sprinkled with chilli flakes and micro greens.
Big eats are curries at Dabbawal, with favourites like the punchy lamb Rogan Josh, madras chicken curry and vegetable jalfrezi, along with some more unique dishes. The railway lamb curry is rooted in the Anglo-Indian era and made with diced lamb, baby potatoes and a sauce made with curry leaf, coconut and mustard seed sauce, and the king prawn and spinach seafood curry with cumin and garlic confit is a hit for those who enjoy an indulgent dish.