Fiery Noodles and Chaat At Gokul Sweets Take Me Back to India | Eater Atlanta

"A no-frills, counter-service vegetarian Indian street food staple in Decatur, this spot brings back vivid memories of standing at a pani puri cart in New Delhi, with crisp puffed shells packed with spiced potatoes, chutneys, and tamarind water. North Indian treats abound here, but the massive South Indian dosa is the envy of the canteen, a crispy folded crepe served with lentil stew and coconut chutney. Gobi manchurian, a fiery Indo-Chinese classic of fried cauliflower tossed in soy, garlic, and ginger, pairs especially well with a cold Limca, the lemon and lime-flavored soda. The bhaturas, ballooned, fried, tangy bread, are bigger than your head and come with chole, or chickpea curry, a classic northern Indian combo. Ordering liberally from the chaat section is encouraged, especially dahi puri with crispy wafers and chutney-doused yogurt, hakka noodles, and pani puri. The visit should end with a build-your-own box of sweets from the bakery counter lined with mithai, including motichoor ladoo, sweet balls made with tiny fried flour pearls soaked in sugar syrup, and silver-leafed kaju katli, a diamond-shaped cashew paste confection. Cozy booths fill the space, a bakery section lines the wall, and ordering happens at the counter beneath a massive photo-filled menu board, with most items under $10 making it ideal for groups to sample widely without overthinking. Before leaving, stopping by the paan booth near the door for stuffed betel leaf filled with rose jam, fennel seeds, cardamom, and sweeteners offers a digestif, and there is also a second Gokul Sweets location in Duluth." - Henna Bakshi