Kati rolls may have originated in Bengal, but they have now become a hit all over the world. The Kati Roll Company attempts to bring a decent facsimile to London, but was it any good? Time to find out...
Ideal for:
Good quality food on a budget
A quick bite for lunch or dinner
Indian street food lovers
The word “kati” means stick or skewer, and the dish is skewer-cooked ingredients fused with delicious and aromatic spices, condiments, stuffed inside a buttery flatbread or paratha. I was really hoping The Kati Roll Company’s freshly made rolls were a great facsimile of the original, so it was time to go to Oxford Circus to find out.
Ambience & Décor
The cosy restaurant may only seat a few, but this is part of its charm, as the décor is trying to replicate a typical, traditional Indian street café. Plenty of work has gone into recreating the tired, faded and dilapidated looking walls with peeling or torn old Indian movie posters from the 1960s, 70s and 80s. As is common with street cafes, shabby fixtures and poor lighting. I loved this quirky look.
Service
The restaurant operate a "fast food" model where you order at the till and the chefs behind churn the food out promptly. The food came quickly so no complaints there.
Food
The Kati Roll Company prides itself on purchasing good quality meats, hand-ground spices and fresh ingredients. This is evident when having the Chicken Tikka Roll. The beautifully marinated chicken was succulent, juicy and perfectly cooked. The sweet fried onions and lettuce adding different textures but tempers the spice. The generous sprinkling of lemon juice added further freshness and a kick. The paratha flatbread encasing the food, was slightly flaky, like the original, but quite oily and buttery. Would prefer it to be less so. So far so authentic.
Shami Kabab Roll was the second kati roll I had. I thought it was a bit bland in comparison to the chicken roll. All the ingredients were there and cooked well, but it did not sing on my palate, which disappointed me.
For £4 per kati roll, it is one of the biggest bargains in London. After having two, I was full. Given the cosy venue, groups of 4 people max. I was hoping The Kati Roll Company could produce a decent facsimile to one of my favourite Indian snack foods, and on the whole it could. Coupled with the authentic décor, it was an easy A rating.
Photos of The Kati Roll Company and more can be found on Instagram here.
Final grade: A
Final comment: Delicious street classic delivered in an authentic manner. Must try!
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