Shalimar Grocery & Cafe

Have you ever been really hungry and needing groceries at the same time? You know how that turns out, you go to the store for 5 things, and your appetite convinces you to come out with $100 more stuff than you intended to buy?

So the best place to go to satisfy your appetite and finish your shopping is this great place down in Redmond called Shalimar Grocery and Cafe. Theres a wide variety of desi fare to shop for - groceries, personal care items, seasonal and festival items. I strongly recommend the phulka there in the clear package, they really are delicious and super fun to cook!

 If your hunger can't wait until you get your items home and into the kitchen stop by the cafe. The biryani is great and the chicken tikka masala even better. The chef who is there now is experienced as he previously worked at Kebab Palace for 8 years.

 If you're a non desi, it can be a little intimidating walking into a store and not recognizing things you typically aren't exposed to in your every day kitchen. Learning the differences between rice grains and lentils can seem daunting but I find that just asking friends or even the folks shopping can really open up new avenues of cooking and even inspire new friendships.

 If you're not ready to jump into learning how to make a Dum Biryani or complicated gravy style dish, then I recommend starting with some snacks. If you aren't afraid of having bad breath, Masala Peas are delicious, low calorie, and delightfully tasty as well as crunchy. I don't mind the punjabi mixes of dried nuts and ground chickpea based snacks nor the southern style Sev. If you're looking for sweet and savory, though, have some jalebi, gulab jamon, or even laddoo. Jalebi will be orange and look like a pile of red vines wound in a circle. Gulab Jamon are, in the words of an old coworker, "syrup-y donut holes," and laddoo are traditionally had to celebrate weddings but are also donut hole shaped. I like them the most and suspect because of that they are the highest in calories!

 Believe it or not, local DJ RDX is the owner over there and he's really pleasant to deal with. He will help you find what you need if you're a seasoned veteran of indian cooking, and if you're new to it like me he can give you some hints and tips. If all else fails, you can always pick up some Maggi noodle but I think he'll be able to help you find everything you're looking for!

 The only downside for me personally is making the trip over to Redmond from downtown Bellevue but sometimes its good to get out and get some fresh air. I'm also a fan of Inchin's Bamboo Garden nearby, but that is another post for another time!