In the Spring, Thali Express, an inexpensive Indian restaurant opened in Herndon. A thali reminds me of childhood cafeterias trays and bento boxes due to the separated areas in which you serve different items. You choose three of the rotating steam table items for your thali, which also includes rice, salad, and a choice of 3 different nans (nan, whole wheat nan, or garlic nan). Thali Express serves a good amount of food; many people go home with leftovers. A vegetarian thali costs $9.95 for dinner, while a chicken thali (one with at least one chicken item) costs $1 more. Lunch thalis are priced at $6.95 Monday-Friday between 11:30am-2:30pm.

The butter chicken and chilli chicken are two of our favorites here, but Thali Express also has some good vegetable dishes. The one time I ordered the goat, it was flavorful but tough. Binni (the woman who runs Thali Express) makes some wonderful chaats (savory Indian snacks), with our favorite being the Aloo Tikki Chaat, in which the toppings (chickpeas, onions, tamarind sauce, yogurt sauce, etc.) are served on sauteed potato patties. The spinach pakodas (which I have always seen called spinach pakoras) are tasty and have a great fried texture, but I will admit to a weakness for spinach fritters. Fried vegetables are intrinsically healthy, right? 😉 They also serve mango lassis. Thali Express’ menu is viewable here.

Wikipedia, on thalis: “Thali is an Indian and Nepalese meal made up of a selection of various dishes. Thali dishes vary from region to region in South Asia and are usually served in small bowls, called katori, which are placed on a round tray, the actual thali; often a steel tray made with multiple compartments is used. Typical dishes include rice, dal, vegetables, roti, papad, curd (yoghurt), small amounts of chutney or pickle, and a sweet dish to top it off. Restaurants typically offer a choice of vegetarian or meat-based thalis.”

Recommendation: It would be nice if there were little signs on the different items, so that diners do not have to ask about each dish.

Thali Express is a great value, and serves tasty food. That said, although they are open until 10pm on weekdays (and later on weekends), you are better off eating here earlier in the evening because after 8pm, we have found a variety of quarter filled overheated steam table trays. We usually make a point of arriving by 6 or 7 pm.

-JAY