I tried lunch at the tiny Bristol Indian food kiosk in the shadow of Primark

After being sent a TikTok praising Rana’s Dhaba and some of the unusual items sold by this small kiosk in The Haymarket, I was curious to check it out myself.

In India and Pakistan, the ‘dhaba’ is a common sight at roadsides, small restaurants and takeaways serving local cuisine often found next to petrol stations and truck stops. This one is located on the pavement in the shadow of the huge Primark in Broadmead and images of the menu can be found all around the kiosk’s exterior walls.

I decided to order some pani puri after I was intrigued by seeing it on the TikTok video, and I wondered what it was and how it tasted.

I also ordered a veggie samosa, an Indian masala tea, and a naan. After being told by a staff member that the chicken biryani was very spicy, I ordered the milder chicken curry. I was told the order would take about ten minutes and was encouraged to take a seat.

There are lots of tables and chairs outside the kiosk, and being a sunny day, it was also the perfect spot to enjoy my meal. The pani puri was the first dish to be ready. They are bite-sized light batter balls filled with chutney, chickpea, potato and onion.

This was my first time trying the dish, and I was caught off guard by the spicy kick. The pani puri is cold, with a crunchy, thin layer of batter and soft on-point vegetables in the centre. It has a distinct flavour and the spice lingers.

Over some time, the liquid sauce slowly leaks out into the container but did not interfere with the texture of the batter.

Next up, the vegetable samosa. The inside was really soft which contrasted with the lovely crunchy edges, and had more subtle spices which was a good contrast from the pani puri.I decided to have the naan with the curry.

The warm naan was soft and sweet, fluffy and stretchy. It paired well with the mild and slightly sweet curry sauce. The chicken in the curry was tender if slightly chewy. The vegetables in the salad were soft and crunchy, and the rice was soft and fluffy.

I was full by this point, so I had to take most of the curry and naam home as leftovers for dinner.As for the Indian masala tea, it was really warm, milky and had soft, sweet flavours from the spices.

Overall, it was a lovely and filling experience. The staff were friendly and the service was fast, and I ended up spending £17 for the five items. Rana’s Dhaba also had a selection of vegetarian and vegan meal options, as well as takeaway options.

Rana’s Dhaba, Avon House, 1 The Haymarket, Broadmead, Bristol BS1 3LR. Tel: 07854486931.