Soho Wala is tucked inside the Courthouse Hotel, which was once the magistrate’s court where Mick Jagger and John Lennon defended their names.
Located at the end of Carnaby Street, just across the road from the iconic Liberty building, the area is synonymous with the swinging 60s and the building’s exciting history is made richer by the addition of Soho Wala. Flush were invited along to celebrate the launch.
We were welcomed to the restaurant with a glass of the delicious house red, and miniature poppadoms with parmesan and brightly-coloured phulwadi were brought over. A variety of Soho Wala’s dishes followed, including pani puri wala, served in glasses on a delightful hand-held trolley. We washed the delicate wheat shells down with a refreshing shot of tamarind water.
Similarly, the dahi puri wala came in wheat shells, but were stuffed with a flavoursome mixture of yogurt, mint and tamarind. The delicacies kept arriving, and the bhelpuri had the most interesting taste and texture of all – I will definitely be coming back to try a main course of the puffed rice and pomegranate seed concoction. As a newly-turned vegetarian, I resisted the meat-acular treats that came next, but the gilafi kebab, a lamb mince, coriander and masala mix, as well as the mirchi matchstick chicken were big hits with fellow diners. I had tadka Dal instead, which is a warming mix of yellow lentils, coriander and garlic. The evening of tasters was finished off with a vidhesi chai dessert, which tasted like a tea-based tiramisu, but with ice cream and shortbread, and miniature servings of masala Chai wala, a delicious Chai tea.
Head chef Rajesh Parmar has created a diverse menu of superb meat and vegetable-based dishes. Soho Wala combines all the fun of Indian Street food with the pleasure of a sit-down dining experience. It’s unique, serene and enjoyable all round.
Soho Wala
21 Great Marlborough Street
W1F 7HL
+44 20 7297 5568
www.sohowala.com/