Kathiyawadi Express is the latest addition to Dubai’s already excellent Gujarati/Rajasthani thali brigade. Located in the Mabrooka Building on 6A (food) Street near the Sheikh Hamdan Colony in Karama it rubs shoulders with street food specialists Chat Bazaar on the one side and Urban Tadka on the other, with Kolkata’s soon to open Arsalan dead opposite. The restaurant is smaller than I expected but it’s handsomely appointed, clean and cool.
Unlike Kathiawar which opened last year, Kathiyawadi Express is not aiming at the bottom end of the market. Instead, these new kids on the block have big boys, Maharaja Bhog, Rajdhani, and even the mighty Rasoi Ghar in their sights. And with good purpose, their food is nothing less than amazing.
I don’t claim to be a Gujarati food expert; I can’t tell one Dhokla from another. I eat what is served to me and either love it or don’t. I felt Kathiyawadi’s thali offered a similar variety to say, Rajdhani’s, with the same level of ingredient quality and yum factor.
Beyond the taste, however, to me, the true authenticity of a Gujarati thali lies in the way it is served. And in this respect, Kathiyawadi Express is right up there with the best of them; the management and staff of this little restaurant welcome and pamper you with such genuine hospitality you can’t help but feel anything but special. So, ambience good, food very good, service great…all for AED33 a pop – what more do you want? Kathiyawadi Express – well worth a visit.
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Xerxes physically visits each and every venue he reviews and pays full price for whatever he eats and drinks. Xerxes accepts no money, gifts or free meals in return for reviews. What you have read was not influenced in any way by the venue.
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