Food
Thali restaurants – What are they all about?
by Emma Franklin
What is Thali?
Thali, in south-west London, specialises in the cuisine of north India, which has plenty of spice. Its speciality is the eponymous thali – a platter of a range of dishes that together make a complete meal, including little nibbles, a selection of curries or tandoor dishes, rice, raita and breads.
![Thaali-00162.jpg](/uploads/media/960x/07/1777-Thaali-00162.jpg?v=1-0)
Plates for one
In a restaurant scene that's increasingly obsessed with tapas, small bites and multi-course tasting menus, the thali's time has definitely come – especially as you can try lots of things without having to share.
![Thali-00422.jpg](/uploads/media/960x/08/1778-Thali-00422.jpg?v=1-0)
The best dishes
Try the prawn balchao – whole tiger prawns in a spicy Goan masala sauce – and the chicken tikka makhani – a dish so rich and creamy it takes two to finish it. It's essentially what chicken tikka masala wants to be, should be, and so very rarely is. The palak chaat, a dish of spinach, sweetened yoghurt, mint and tamarind chutney that sounds so simple it could potentially be dull, is instead fantastically complex and delicious – one to convert any veggie-sceptics. All in all, this is a world away from the dull carpet-walled curry houses of yore.
![Thali-842.jpg](/uploads/media/960x/09/1779-Thali-842.jpg?v=1-0)