New Brisbane

Balti has been on my list to write about for quite a while and now that I’m back writing after a break, it was an obvious choice for one of my first reviews. Originally started by a pleasant English couple, Balti has had good food since the start, but it really took off once it was taken over by the current owners, an amazingly friendly Indian family who seem to be smiling every time I walk past. And with a few Indian restaurants to choose from in the Valley, it’s been at the top of my list for over a year.

Balti Biryani & Coffee
Shop 214, McWhirters Retail Centre,
Fortitude Valley, Qld 4006

T: +617 3122 4332
E: balti@ebalti.com.au
W: www.ebalti.com.au

Monday to Sunday: 10.30am - 6.00pm

Located next to McDonalds in the McWhirters building on Brunswick St, Balti essentially works like your typical Biryani cafe. The food is all cooked fresh in the store, and kept warm in serving trays until you come along to order it. But there’s a number of ways that Balti stands out, and I’m gonna tell you what those are.

The first one you’ll notice is price per serving. The Valley has some amazing food options if you’re into asian cuisine, but there’s not too many of them where you can get a whole meal, including rice, for under $10. And Balti does better than that - their cheapest chicken curry + rice meal starts at $5.90 and even their more expensive Lamb Rogan Josh or Vindaloo + rice meals are only $7.90. My favourite is the butter chicken ($6.90), to which I generally add some pappadums (3 for $1).

And not only do you get a really large serving for that price (you can almost get two meals out of it, or one if you want to stuff yourself!), but it’s probably one of the best Indian take-away meals I’ve had in Brisbane - easily replacing Miss India, which was my previous favourite. And for those from the sub-continent, Balti’s goat curry is apparently also worth a trip - I have a friend who drives up from the Gold Coast just so he can get his goat on (He says it’s to visit me, but I know better!). Even the rice at Balti stands out, lightly spiced with saffron and turmeric to add that extra special touch.

My only real complaint with Balti is that they shut at 6pm, as there’s been probably half a dozen times in the last year where I’ve come home from work late, craving a curry, only to find them shut. For some reason I can never remember that they close early!

While there are definitely some good options for Indian food in Fortitude Valley (Sitar in New Farm, for example, is a great sit-down restaurant only a few blocks away), but 9 times out of 10 I’m going to get my curry fix at Balti. Good food, good price and great service.

- Ross