Spice N Curry

Amazing place to eat and very cheap for lunch. Try their samosa. They were so delicious.

This food was so good I forgot to picture it and if you know me you would know that is unheard of. I will update this next time and show you some photos though they won’t do the flavor justice.
We basically got the vegetarian curry & an Indian desert called Gulab Jamum. Both delicious! Next time I have to try their samosas.
The whole staff here is wonderful. The owner (I think), he checked me out for my purchase is a peach. Professionally speaking though, he really does do a wonderful job. The place is filled with good energy.
***anything under $ 10.00 must be cash, they have an ATM nearby***
So, don’t be fooled by the fact that it’s a little hole in the wall & go have some lunch at Spice N Curry!

Oh yeah, Indian in Sweetwater! Now that’s something to write home about.
So, you wouldn’t realize it unless you ventured in, but this tiny grocery store has a cafeteria in the back with awesome food specials. They make about 3 – 4 different curry style dishes served with nan and rice plus a bottle of water or soda for $ 8! I mean, that’s unheard of nowadays! It’s simply a steal for so much food and flavor. The coolest thing is that this gem is in the middle of Nicaragua land! How this store has managed to thrive is mind boggling, but I am so glad they are in business.
The store also sells a variety of Indian trinkets, incense and jewelry. Those mala beads that all yogis seem to be fashionably strutting into yoga class in are sold here for $ 5. Honestly, every time I eat here, I walk out with some sort of obscure and beautiful Hindu paraphernalia.
You would be amiss not to check this place out!

After leaving New York and moving to Miami I thought I would never find affordable Indian food again. I visited NYC again and ate Indian food there after a long time of not having any and my stomach was awakened with my need for Indian food. So when I came back, my search in Miami began. At first I was disappointed, most places were subpar and over priced. But, then I found Spice n Curry and all was good once again. This place is great! Every time I’ve eaten here it has been a good experience. The food is delicious and best of all, it’s cheap. 7 dollars for a meal. How can you beat that?! The answer is: you can’t. The samosas are also delicious and their naan (which is included in the meal) is great. This is my go to place, not only for Indian food but, also just for take out in general.

I went in here because I have been wanting Indian food but could not afford my favorite place — Bombay Dharbar. This restaurant is actual a mini café located inside of an Indian grocery store. Everyone there speaks 2 languages (atleast) and the owner is very nice and attentive. I went with my boyfriend and his mom and they got the chicken curry, goat curry, and I got the vegetarian curry. It was SO good. It wasn’t that spicy. It was very flavorful. My boyfriend tried my curry and said it was even better than his. Anyways, so they serve you if you get the special; curry, rice, chotney (I don’t know the actual word… but it’s just beans), naan, and you get a drink. I tried the frootie which was a mango juice. It was light and very good. When picking the beans, he offered black eyed peas or garbanzos (chick peas). I got the chick peas and they were the best I’ve ever had. Like, seriously. Everything was amazing and cheap. Go try it out!

This place is everything. It’s vegetarian friendly so if you’re a vegetarian, you won’t have to stick with less than average meals. Big portions, low prices, plenty of options and delicious food. I can’t wait to go back.

Food is delicious. Homey. Cheap. Same cook and attendants every time. I’ve gone a few times and I feel like a part of their restaurant, even though I don’t talk much. They even give me free desert or appetizers sometimes at lunch.
Cafeteria is open 11−4pm.

This place is definitely one that is worth trying. It was my first time having Indian food and I’m so glad I gave it a shot. The goat is really good that’s what I would recommend. They have great prices and people working that would be more than happy to help you out of you have any questions.

Meals in the back are delicious, great price and good portions. The store itself is small but packed with yummy culinary goodies. The owner is pretty friendly. He’s certainly not a smile-​y guy, but he is really helpful and polite. Great place to visit if you want to try mutton curry (just watch out for the bones)!

Was very surprised by this little hole in the wall. The food is authentic and delicious! More of a mom and pops spot, very limited seating and dishes but I’ve been a few times and really enjoyed it.

Never have I had such a simple yet authentic, incredibly tasting lunch… This is the real deal! Best Chicken Biryani and Samosas in town. All at an affordable price.
I shall return many times my friends.

Great little place… easy to miss, but hard to forget once you’ve tried the food. Bar type seating makes it really easy to catch up on things with your neighbor. A pleasure to eat lunch here.

These hole-​in-​the-​wall places are the best. Going to Spice N Curry chaat house is a multi sensory delight.
I love the smell of the spices and incense that hit you as you first open the door and walk in. I love perusing all the products in the market & being able to find items I can’t find in conventional supermarkets — Lipton Red Label tea, Cadbury Flake bars, and of course all the Indian, British, and other foreign products.
I love that every time I go, the place is filled with people who are actually from India — that must tell you something, right? — and love that I can hear Marathi or Hindi or whatever Indian language they are speaking.
Best of all is that back counter where you can sit & order your takeaway, or eat your meal right there. I prefer the latter just for the experience. I like to imagine just for a few moments that I’m not in Miami, but have stopped off on some side-​street in Mumbai for a bite to eat.
And of course, there’s the food. This is Indian comfort food at its best. Hot, savory, and a carnival of flavors to the senses. I always order the goat biryani because it’s that good. It’s Mumbai-​style which is delicious. Rice with saffron, cardamom, cloves & more, with fall-​off-​the-​bone meat… Amazing. Great samosas, too. You can pick up a cold beverage and sweets (ladoo, anyone?) in the refrigerators in the back. I need to veer away from these favorites and explore other menu items. I don’t think anything is homemade — it’s probably frozen food — but that’s fine by me for this place.
The portions are generous and the prices are remarkably low. One order of the biryani can feed two-​three people, and is only 8 rupee — er, dollars! ;-) This comes with naan & a beverage.
I wish the chai were not out of a machine, but it’s good anyway & that’s what it is for this kind of place — basic, unassuming, no-​frills grocery store with a modest lunch counter for hungry patrons.
Don’t expect a restaurant with silverware, tablecloths, cloth napkins, etc. Everything is served on disposable plates/​bowls. But for what it is, it is great if you want fast, hearty, delicious and affordable Indian food.

Huge thanks to Unilocalers who posted about Spice N Curry. I’m not sure I ever would have found it, otherwise.
What appears to be a small-​time ordinary Indian grocery store has a wonderful chaat café hidden in its back corner. It’s definitely not a proper café in the traditional sense (minuscule dining room with just several bar stools at a counter, menu marked up on a dry-​erase board, etc) I think a lot of the disgruntled Unilocal reviewers here walked in with the expectation of dining at a traditional Indian restaurant (with waiters, a host, pleasant ambiance, quality service, filled water glasses etc.). WRONG: you’re at a grocery store that happens to cater some food options in the back. As soon as you enter, tell them you’re there to eat at the café (else they’ll think you’re there to shop at their store). They will direct to you to the back and show you their makeshift menu.
The value meals are a STEAL. My mutton meal came with one large buttered naan and chole, curry rice and mutton curry, freshly chopped onions, and a mango juice drink. For $ 8, that is practically unheard of. My friend joined me and ordered an entrée of Chicken Biryani. They brought out a mountain of biryani rice on a plate. I honestly can’t remember the last time biryani tasted this good. I’m so grateful I got the chance to try out their samosa chaat as well: their samosas are ON POINT and by virtue of association, the samosa chaat is too — made with appropriate spice n’ care! The two Latino gentlemen who prepare the food behind the counter are a delight to be around and really go the extra mile to satisfy your requests. On the other hand, the owner isn’t exactly the friendliest guy in town — might even ignore you while he’s there and might strike you as being curt as you try to interact with him while checking out.
I say it’s worth it! Don’t go here for all the things that make ordinary Indian places really expensive (ambiance, soft bollywood music playing in the background, lovely interior décor, stellar service, etc.). Come here for the good, cheap, quick, and simple FOOD, and I’m sure you will become a fan!
PS: very easy to order take-​out here. Watch out for their café hours. I believe they’re only open for lunch.

Cannot think of a better exchange of money for food than at this place! It feeds your soul and not to mention the staff-​which doesn’t even adequately describe these guys. They’re so kind and full of knowledge. Great place.

I’ve been a loyal customer here at Spice and Curry for a matter of months now, and here’s my review:
— The place: I feel like a part of the store. Every time I walk in, starving (as most college students tend to be), I am treated as if I never left from my last meal. Jai and company have this wonderful diversity in their personalities. They bring life to what would otherwise be a quiet Indian grocery store.
Whether it’s the incense, the allure of the warm masala’s prepared daily, or the lunch counter style of eating, I feel like this spot really has a social aspect to it. I NEVER speak to others during lunch at other restaurants, yet here, I feel as if the others at the counter are not only sharing an incredible meal with me, but we’re all brought together by the food, conversation, and atmosphere fostered by Jai and his team.
Things may seem odd at first, but you’ll soon open up to the idea of this place.
— The Food: I know this is what you were all waiting for, my apologies for being so long winded! This is why I come here almost twice a week after all… I can’t find a plate of food near my office that not only offers a hefty meal, but is only $ 7 ($ 8 for the goat, and it’s definitely worth it)! Now aside from the economic value of a meal at Spice and Curry, you would be hard-​pressed to find flavors as unique and exciting to the palette in Sweetwater as you would find here. If anything, Jai has done exactly what he intended to do with this little lunch counter; he has provided a window in to the food that he loves and the food that he so carefully prepares alongside his team.
The beauty of all of this lies in the simplistic menu (which has never changed)! There’s three main options:
— Chicken Meal
— Veggie Meal
— Goat Meal
Jai decides what he will make on any given day in the early morning. Whether it be Korma, Tikka, Chicken Kofta, the dreaded (yet loved) Vindaloo, Saag Paneer, Fenugreek and Potato, etc. any meal you order here will be delicious and filling.
To wrap it all up, I’ll summarize it as best as I can: The variety is what keeps me coming back time and time again. The flavors keep me excited and keen on learning and discovering more about Indian cuisine. Finally, Jai and his team give me that 30 min break from an otherwise hectic workday to unwind and relish the simple things in life… An excellent plate of food shared with strangers from all walks of life.
— LP

The curry goat…
The vegetable curry is also delicious but that goat.
Very nice little spot with awesome products in every inch of the store. The tandoori spice we take for camping and/​or lazy meals is by far the best condiment to resolve a last minute grilling situation.
These guys turned me onto Amla hair treatments and they sell this awesome aryuvedic hair oil that has made my hair SHINIER and given it an incredible BODY.
They also sell a mix of herbs that works surprisingly efficient at fighting off colds and throat infections. You just boil it and sip on the magic brew and be prepared to cough up all kinds of phlegm, hair balls and lost socks you blamed the dryer on
Also… Fresh produce. These guys actually have bitter melon. How cool is that?

This place has it all. The store is stocked FULL of all manner of Indian spice and things nice. The freezers are full of treats for your taste buds. The vegetarian selection is pretty deep and not one noted.
But once you go back to the far right is when you hit nirvana. There you will find the Chaat house and some of the tastiest Indian food you will find in all of Miami. Everything is made that morning and by the finish of the lunch time rush there is not much left. So get there early.
I usually go for the Channa Masala and it never disappoints. Pair it with the colorful rice and crunchy fried onions sprinkled on top and I am a happy camper.
Not fancy, not expensive, small (just a few stools) but it feels like being somewhere special and secret.
Try it out… You won’t be disappointed.

Simplicity is perfection. Apparently that is the mantra at Spice N Curry, the Sweetwater shop that doubles as grocery store and «chaat house». The grocery store takes up the front of the building, and here you can find more than a thousand Indian items. Walking in and to your left you’ll find beans, sauces (in liquid and powder form), spices, hot sauces, soups, creams, rice, etc. There is a cooler, as you move along, with vegetables and halal meats, as well as sodas and juices. The other side of the shop has teas, snacks, beauty products, incenses and religious items.
Even though this is your best source of ingredients for cooking Indian food, there is also hot food being served in the back of the store. This would be the «chaat house» part of the business. The menu here is very simple. The is curry and there is biryani. Both come in three forms, vegetarian, chicken and goat. Aside from those dishes, there are vegetarian and chicken samosas, and kachori balls*.
The simple menu attracts many people from around the area. According to the owner, whose name I think is Jamal, the menu hasn’t changed in the six years they have been offering it. Why fix it if it ain’t broken, he says. In this fashion, he’s been able to serve students, Indian nationals, artists, politicians, anyone who can handle spicy food basically.
The specialty is the biryani meal, a type of Indian «arroz con pollo» that uses curry and basmati rice. If you are hungry, or rather really hungry, you could order the curry meal. That brings rice, naan bread, and chana masala, plus a little chopped onion and tomato. All is very good, and very cheap. Nothing is made to order, everything may be frozen food or microwaved food, but it is all good and cheap, and the food tastes authentic. I certainly wouldn’t be appalled to find out they use pre-​made sauces or stuff, because the food is made right.
But my reason to come here is because there are not many good Indian restaurants around, and even though this place only serves two dishes and some snacks, there is a vibe, some type of mysticism that floats around. I come, I eat, and rest, I talk to the people here, and I feel more in touch with myself and the universe. Weird as it sound, that is how it is for me.
Namaste.
*: Make sure to get the tamarind chutney for your snacks. Delicious.
PS: If you plan on using a credit card to pay, there is a $ 10 minimum. In other words, get your food, and get something else to take home, or as a gift.

This is a chaat house tucked in the back of an Indian grocery store. There are 4 or 5 stools at a little counter in the back, so it’s not very good for large groups of people. It’s more for a quick or casual meal (or even a snack).
The food is some of the best and most authentic Indian food I’ve had in a while, and comes at a great price. I’ve found Miami to be lacking in good Indian restaurants, as the only others I’ve come across have been much more expensive and not memorable.
You can do your groceries, grab lunch, and chat with the friendly store owner about virtually anything. We like to come here for quick lunches, and I’ve tried most of the items on the menu. The best part is the hot chai you can drink after your meal.
Their chicken samosas are small, and you can get 3 for $ 1.25; they are a great and flavorful snack.
The samosa chaat is my favorite menu item — it’s a must try!
The food is pretty spicy, and if you can’t handle the spice then they can make it milder for you, but then your food may taste a little too sweet.
The servings are very large and the prices are great!
Make sure to take cash if you are planning on eating here! Unless you spend $ 10 (which would require ordering a LOT of food), they don’t accept credit cards. You could always buy some candy or grocery items if you needed to get your tab up to $ 10, though.
**NOTE: they are always kind and when you have many heavy bags, someone always helps you carry them to your car.