I shouldn't have worried. I got to India Sweets & Spices around 6:45pm and found parking on the street, there was also a parking lot, but it looked tight and the meters are free after six. There were a lot of people pulling into the parking lot so I was happy to learn I wouldn't be alone. I walked in through the side door right into the restaurant portion of this cafeteria and Indian market. The menu is expansive and daunting for a newcomer. There were two people in front of me so I had a little time to look around and I had also checked out the menu online. I ordered the combination 3. I was excited that all three combinations come with some kind of drink. I think this is smart because when you are in a restaurant that you are not used to it is easy to forget a drink. You order at the counter and pay. Then the cashier gives you a little slip of paper with what you ordered written on it. You take that paper to the pick up window and wait in line until it is your turn.
The people running the restaurant were Indian and it seemed like they might also do the cooking. They were polite but didn't seem overjoyed to be manning the counter. When it was my turn at the pick-up window I handed over my number card. The lady behind the counter assembled a multi-compartmental plate with a large helping of rice (with peas and carrots), yogurt sauce, and the pickled carrots and onions. Then she asked me which two dishes I would like. This place doesn't have any meat and I haven't ever ordered any Indian vegetarian dishes so I was just guessing. I ordered the chickpea dish in sauce and the green curry with cheese. My dinner also came with a vegetable samosa and chapati (whole wheat flatbread) and then some crunchy salty flat cracker. To drink it came with a shake or lassi, I had the mango lassi at their insistence. This whole meal cost me less than $7!
I picked up some napkins and utensils and sat down at a plain table. This cafeteria isn't new by any means. It has painted walls and a large screen tv showing Indian music videos. There is a whole wall of windows to look out onto the busy street. What it lacks in atmosphere, it makes up for in quality of food and flavor. I dug into my food with great anticipation.
The rice was cooked perfectly and had a nice flavor. The chickpea dish that I had was very filling and flavorful and went well with the rice and chapati. The samosa was filled with potatoes and peas and I felt the sauce was a little too acidic for me--but the crust on the outside was delicious and I ate most of it anyway. I didn't feel I needed the yogurt because the other dishes weren't spicy. The green curry and cheese was delicious. The cheese were great chunks that lent a meaty texture to this vegetarian dish. The mango lassi wasn't something I necessarily wanted with dinner because it was so thick and sweet, but it still tasted pretty good. There was plenty of food and, even though I was starving when I arrived, I wasn't able to clean my plate.
After dinner I took a spin through the attached Indian market. The market reminded me of one in Europe where everything was stacked haphazardly on shelves in an order only the store-keeper could understand. They sold everything from spices to Indian snacks to unusual fruits and vegetables to rice to rice cookers and records. The crowd shopping was 100% Indian. I felt more out of place in the store than in the restaurant by far. I didn't buy anything because I was overwhelmed by possibility. However, I know just where to go now if I ever need an chickpea flour or Indian spices.
I loved this restaurant and will certainly go back. I am even considering going back tomorrow to taste again all those wonderful flavors marrying together.
India Sweets & Spices
3126 Los Feliz Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90039
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