In an increasingly saturated market, Salaam Bombay holds its own. Budapest has been experiencing a boom in Indian restaurants recently as the cuisine has become popular, and a friendly competition seems to be spurring the city’s establishments to create evermore-delicious food.
At Salaam Bombay we found rich and exotic flavors showcasing traditional Indian foods from throughout the country. Making our experience even sweeter was the excellent service, the laid-back, but cosmopolitan atmosphere and an unexpected reminder of our mutual love for foreign flavors.
The space is eclectic yet inviting with modern colors and fortunately does not fall into the trap of overwhelming amounts of decorations meant to give an eastern feeling. This is the type of place where you could meet friends after work for a good meal and conversation, or even pop into for a satisfying alternative to a canteen lunch. Salaam Bombay’s location downtown in the financial district means it is easy to reach for those working in the city as well as those visiting the many sights of the area.
With plenty to choose from, the menu offers dishes from different regions of India for an array of flavors. It is set up so that you may choose from vegetarian dishes, or select a style of dish and then choose from seafood, chicken or beef.
As my dinner guest and I are both fond of spicy foods, we asked them not to hold back on the spice and to make it how it would be served in India. The restaurant happily obliged and the result was delicious.
We decided to start with the veggie samosas, always a favorite, which were crispy on the outside and stuffed full with vegetables. The green sauce accompanying the dish was particularly delicious, adding just the right touch and foretelling of the good things to come.
I decided on the Xacuti chicken, a dish from Goa that combines the smooth flavor of coconut milk with a bit of spice in a vivid red sauce. My companion chose the Tawa prawns, a spicier dish that covers large prawns in a dark purple sauce. Both were excellent.
On the side, we shared a bowl of whipped yogurt with diced cucumber and tomato that was a great pair to the spicy main dishes we had chosen. A large selection of naan, or Indian bread, was too tempting to pass up. We indulged in the Kashmiri naan, which has dried fruits baked inside for a sweeter flavor. And of course, to make the most of the rich sauces of the main dishes we had plenty of basmati rice.
While this time around we each chose our own main dish and shared the sides, one of the best aspects of Indian cuisine is choosing a few dishes to share amongst the table. The portions at Salaam Bombay certainly lend themselves to this method, and I highly recommend taking the opportunity to enjoy as many of the different flavors as possible.
This is part of what makes the restaurant ideal for groups of all sizes, from a few people to large parties. The space is arranged well to do so, and a large table in the back, slightly separated from the main dining area, would make a great place for a group celebrating a special occasion.
There are a few sweets offered, but having stuffed ourselves on all the tasty dishes we decided to finish the meal with a hot mint tea. An excellent end to the meal, the mint was refreshing and light after the intense flavors and spices. We left feeling satisfied and pleased to have ventured into the world of flavors India’s cuisine offers.
Menu
Starter
Veggie Samosa
Sides
Whipped yogurt with cucumber and tomato
Kashmiri naan
Mains
Tawa prawns
Xacuti chicken
Dessert
Mint tea
Salaam Bombay
1051
+36.1.411.1252
