Jaldi Jaldi

Indian fast food: a strange yet obvious concept. The place operates like this: you choose from a selection of curries laid out in large metal bowls in the glass counter, and either plain or pilau rice, and your meal is microwaved for you in a minute or so. The curries — I have tried Aloo Palak and Matter Paneer seem to be very good, probably because they are bussed in from the kitchen of Mumtaz’ flagship restaurant at Clarence Dock: a fresh new batch arrives each time a bowl sells out. The Aloo Palak had a pleasing range of vegetables and a surprising depth of flavour and heat. The Matter Paneer was generous on the paneer front and slightly less interesting but again tasted fresh and authentic. The rice was okay: asking it to respond well to microwaving is probably a step too far, and the food is unsurprisingly not a uniform temperature throughout, but this is nothing a quick stir with your plastic spoon won’t solve.
You can order side dishes (bhajis, pakoras) and dips too. I didn’t bother as I don’t really like miniature versions of the aforementioned snacks they’re usually too greasy and lacking that critical variation in texture thanks to their large surface area, since you ask; also £2.25 seemed a bit steep. I did wish I’d got a peshwari naan (£1.25) and some raita (50p) but those treats will have to wait. The drink selection here is limited to Mumtaz own brand of Lassi, juice or water which disappointed me a bit because I usually enjoy a Coke with my curry but that is probably just because I am a pleb. Naturally it’s not licensed either, but you could just go to the offy and eat your food on a bench.
Overall I liked this place: £3.95 for curry and rice is good value and the novelty of being able to eat decent Indian food out of a dinky cardboard tub (within two minutes of ordering!) is unlikely to wear off soon.