Today we were at Bahubali Biryani House’s second and newest location in Downtown Vancouver. I was originally introduced to them at their first location in Surrey. They stuck with me given how fun their colourful setting was. Whimsical with blue, yellow, and green booths and chairs, and iconic with their pastel pink branded utensil caddy. Therefore I fully walked into this expecting the same, and was abruptly disappointed.
Bahubali Biryani House Downtown has taken over the home of another Indian restaurant. They are located at the base of a high rise that you access through the back. It is tucked in, out of the way, and not visible from the street. You wouldn’t know to go, if you didn’t know they were there.
We were further disappointed to discover that in this hot day there was no air conditioning, or air circulating. There was just a single fan at the front of the restaurant. Each table was pre-set with a bottle of water, so by the time you got to it, it was warm.
During my visit we couldn’t order a cocktail to help cool down with. At first the staff member said the bartender wasn’t in yet. When we said we would wait, she said their menu wasn’t ready yet. In the end we settled for wine and pop, instead of their signature cocktails I was eyeing.
As I mentioned earlier the Bahubali Biryani House Surrey decor and service that created an inviting setting, was not present here. I would later learn that the new restaurant had the same owners as the ones before, and that they kept everything exactly as it was, just under a new name.
What was suppose to be a celebrated launch of something new, felt like the same old. Chipped paint and dingy corners. It felt like they bought the name, and I couldn’t even be sure if the food was the same.
Nonetheless, following is what we had as a group of three, shared family style.
The Pani puri was a great appetizer. These are Indian wafers shaped like balls, hollowed out with an opening so that you can fill it with as much or as little chutney and masala water as you want. The result are tangy, zesty, and fruity bombs that burst in your mouth with liquid and flavour. They made for a great aperitif warming up the appetite with their sweet tingle.
The Paneer Majestic served as a great side, offering breaks in between more flavourfully spiced dishes. Tender fried paneer cubes tossed in spiced yogurt.
Butter Chicken is a staple and must order for all three of us. Butter Chicken Dhaba Style, boneless chicken cooked in rich butter sauce with cashew nuts. We got it medium spicy and it was not as hot as expected. Thick sauce hiding large chunks of white meat. I liked its gravy-like consistency for dipping bread into.
We got an order of garlic naan to do just that. Fresh baked bread with crispy charred edges and fluffy middle bits. This served as a great receptacle for gravies.
We also ordered the Chicken Madras, and couldn’t help but to compare it to the butter chicken above. Boneless chicken cooked in house special Madras spices and coconut milk. Here, the meat was juicer, but the flavour profile muted and flat by comparison.
I did like the Kadai Goat which is bone-in fresh goat meat cooked with bell peppers in a rich onion and tomato gravy. The meat was tender and flavourful the sauce runnier like a stew.
And we had to of course order one of their briyani. The Vijayawada Fry Piece Chicken Biryani came recommend by our server for its crispy fried chicken bits. However the chicken was more roasted that fried, there was no breading or crispiness. At least the rice was prepared perfectly, making it a tasty base for all the sauces above.
In short, the food is good if you can get pass the aged, cramped and stuffy setting. After experiencing the colourful Surrey location with attentive staff and a setting you want to linger in, I cannot help but to compare both and be left longing here. It did not feel like they are sister restaurants. I would love to see them align and become twins in representing their brand.
Bahubali Biryani House Downtown
1130 W Pender St Unit 105, Vancouver, BC V6E 4A4
(604) 569-2122
bahubalibiryanihouse.com
