Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Outing: A Taste of India in Orlando

Central Florida has certainly been recognized for its diversity: Little Vietnam and Orlando's southeast Asian community in Mills50 have been mentioned by the New York Times article 36 Hours in Orlando.  Eatonville is the oldest incorporated African American settlement in the United States and known for its yearly Zora! Festival.  Latin American culture, especially of Puerto Rican heritage, comes alive in Kissimmee.  But there's one group that's present in Orlando but usually missing from these lists ~ Indian Americans.

Florida is the 6th most popular state among Asian Indians and Orlando has the 16th largest Indian community of any city in the US.  It should come to no surprise then, that with a little searching you can find a lot businesses catering to Indian needs -- from restaurants and grocery stores to clothing shops and dance lessons.  Orlando also celebrates yearly Indian festivals, including Holi (Festival of Colors) in the Spring and Diwali (Festival of Lights) in the Fall.

Food  Even if you've been to Indian restaurants before, something you may not have tried is chaat.  Sold on city streets in India, chaats are varied snack-sized finger foods.  Stop by Bombay CafĂ©, located in the Laxmi Plaza (1137 Doss Ave), and try some sev puri chaat ($3.95) or the  batata wada chaat ($3.95).



Other popular Orlando hotspots for Indian food include:



Dessert  For dessert, my favorite is the mango lassi ($2.50), a flavored yogurt drink.  Otherwise, when you leave Bombay Cafe, take a minute to check out some stores in the little mall.  For example, stop by House of Spices where you just might find a delicious Indian dessert.

Fun  Because of the large Indian community in south Orlando, the local Touchstar Cinemas (12441 S Orange Blossom Tr) shows current Bollywood movies for around $5.  Visit the theater's website to see what's playing now or go to Eknazar to see previews for upcoming movies.

Not to be missed is the Enzian Theater's annual South Asian Film Festival, which showcases Indian and Pakistani movies, held every October.


Total Price for a some authentic chaat, a dessert, and a movie: $12.00 per person.



4 comments:

  1. i have been twice to Orlando but never know about those Indian restaurants i love Indian food and in my next trip i defiantly gonna try them all.

    ReplyDelete
  2. This article is one of the most interesting and informative content I have come across. Thank you for the information. I will be waiting for more updates from you.
    Best Indian Restaurant in Orlando

    ReplyDelete
  3. Great Article. I visited Rasa with family for dinner & its really amazing place to hangout with friends & family. I must say they have maintained the original taste of Indian cuisine with the modern way of cooking. Must visit Indian Restaurant in Orlando. Just a suggestion, book your table in advance :) http://www.eatatrasa.com/reservation/

    ReplyDelete
  4. When it comes to Indian Cuisine, Tamarind Indian Cuisine is the only place. It is the best Indian Restaurant in Orlando, Florida offering some delicious and tasty Indian Food with its original taste and flavour. When in Florida, one must try this decent place for lunch of dinner.
    Thank You.

    ReplyDelete