Courtney L.
Yelp
Despite the fact that this vivacious truck serves Pakistani street food, Seattle Met named Lari Adda one of the best Indian restaurants within the Seattle area, so I've had it high on my list of places to try. (Oftentimes, publishers loop Indian and Pakistani cuisine into the same category.) Before we get into the food, I must praise their fully covered seating area that houses five tables. Even in the rain and wind, you can enjoy your meal in a completely sheltered space! Any Washingtonian knows how important this is, especially during the wet months.
Three of us arrived for lunch around noon and it was surprisingly quiet. No one else was by the truck nor at the neighboring Tikka Masala restaurant. One employee manned the truck, graciously welcomed us and we chatted with him briefly about the menu. He informed us of the most popular items and mentioned his favorite, "The Boti To My Roti" (chicken wrap). I was so close to ordering the "A Bihari Affair" (beef wrap), but when he said that was too spicy for him, that told me all I needed to hear. I wasn't going to take any chances, haha.
Our order took about 20 minutes to prepare, which is pretty long considering we were the only customers. However, I had read about the wait times in other reviews and the one guy was cooking everything by himself, so I didn't mind hanging out for a bit.
+ BOTI TO MY ROTI ($12.95): Pieces of marinated chicken and slices of pickled onion rolled up in a roti flatbread. The chicken was lean and super tender, with a slight smoky flavor, and covered in what seemed to be a garlicky yogurt sauce with Indian spices. It had a mild spice and I liked the slight tartness from the onion. The roti was light and was a great vessel for the saucy filling.
+ CHIPAS ($5.95): This side of fries was deliciously seasoned and drizzled in a garlic mayo. They were hot and crispy on the outside and soft and fluffy inside.
+ EK DUM KARAK ($3.85): A piping hot cup of chai tea served with a biscuit. This was such a comforting drink on a cold day. The menu stated it's extra strong, which I didn't quite notice while drinking, but I did feel a little jittery later in the day. The biscuit was like a lighter and crispier version of a biscotti and nice to dip in the chai.
Their menu also features various types of burgers and I hear they also serve a weekend brunch.
My main qualm is just that the pricing is on the steeper side for their burgers and wraps, which are at least $12.95 each. All together, three of us got two rotis, one burger, one side of fries and two chai teas, totaling $53! My roti wrap was enough for me, but I think the average person would still be hungry after eating only that. Pakistani eateries are not abundant at all on the Eastside, so I'd still recommend giving Lari Adda a try if you're looking for something new and unique.