Diwana Bhel Poori

Diwana Bhel Poori has been a Drummond Street institution since 1971. Tucked away near Euston railway station, this vegetarian café offers Indian street food in a simple, casual setting. No alcohol is served here, but you can bring your beer or wine without charge. 

We began with bhel poori (£5.95), a cold starter that is a mix of sev (a crisp snack made from chickpea flour and spices), puffed rice, poori (puffed deep fried bread), potatoes, onion, green chilli chutney, garlic relish, and sweet and sour sauces including tamarind. This has always been one of favourites here, and was excellent tonight. The contrast of textures and the balance of sweetness and sour is spot on (14/20). Aloo papri chaat (£5.95) is made from chickpeas and pieces of potato, served on flat pooris along with yoghurt, sev, onions, sweet and sour sauces, garlic and chilli chutney and spices. The yoghurt is a soothing balance to the spices, and the chickpeas were tender, the sweet and sour flavours in nice balance (13/20). A trio of vegetable samosas (£5.95) was accompanied by a side salad and chutneys. Interestingly, the salad was much improved compared to our last visit, this one having shredded white and red cabbage, red peppers and cucumber (13/20). Bhajia mix (£5.95) had mixed vegetables wrapped in gram flour and then deep fried, along with a pair of chutneys. This was a simple but tasty snack (13/20).

Mysore masala dosa (£12.95) was a triangular shaped dosa with a filling of beetroot, carrot and capsicum, which worked nicely together. The dosa had good texture, that particular blend of spongy yet crisp, and was accompanied by chutneys and a good sambal. This was a coconut flavoured curry which contained onions, mustard seeds and ginger, and was also good (13/20). Mattur paneer (£11.95) was a special of the day, the peas and paneer (cottage cheese) brought together by a curry sauce based on onions and tomatoes along with a blend of spices. This came with a very good paratha, which was delicate and supple (13/20). 

Desserts are made here. Shrikand (£4.95) is a Gujarati dessert made from strained yoghurt, cardamoms saffron, sugar and nuts. This had very good flavour, with sweetness balanced by a slight tangy note (13/20). Pistachio kulfi (£5.25) was served a bit too cold and so was quite hard, though obviously it warmed up a little at the table. This had reasonable pistachio flavour and was quite nicely presented (12/20).

Service was basic but friendly enough and the bill came to £29 per person for three courses. This was for a lot of food, and you could easily leave here with a cost per person of maybe £20. This represents excellent value in an era where good-value restaurant food is hard to find in London. Long may Diwana Bhel Poori prosper.

Further reviews: 19th Aug 2024 | 27th Jun 2024 | 11th Nov 2023 | 10th May 2016 | 25th Jul 2013