If you had told me that some gas station mini mart had some of the greatest Indian food in LA, I’d look at you like you were crazy. However after seeing LAist and Food and Wine hail The Bombay Frankie Company, housed in a gas station next to the 405 exit for Santa Monica Blvd. as having the best Indian food in L.A., my curiosity was peaked.
Sure enough, The Bombay Frankie Company is tucked off to one side of the mini mart. Forget whatever reservations you might have about eating mini mart food. In spite of its somewhat strange location, the kitchen is spotless and the food is fantastic. You order at the counter and can either eat there or take away.
The main dish is the frankie, or as they like to call it an Indian version of a burrito. You can choose chicken, fish or vegetarian versions which come wrapped in a naan, cooked to order in their tandoor oven. Your filling comes with potatoes, cucumbers, red onion, chutney, raita with some tamarind sauce.
After biting into my first ever frankie (chicken tikka), I could not believe that frankies have managed to fly under the radar for so long. It was a flavor explosion in my mouth, sweet, spicy and just the right amount of heat.
My husband’s aloo gobi-filled frankie, cauliflower and sweet potato, was damn tasty as well.
The frankie was stuffed with veggies, making each bite different.
Some had a lot of cauliflower – others had sweet potato.
The Bombay Frankie Company also has bowls (if frankies aren’t your thing, but try it, you’ll love them) and samosas. Their samosas are great, not heavy with oil, dense with filling and that touch of heat that made it irresistible.
Has The Bombay Frankie Company changed the way I feel about eating food from a gas station mini mart? Most definitely. I’m hoping that these Indian burritos will take Los Angeles by storm and shower The Bombay Frankie Company with success.
Location – 11261 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles 90025
Website – http://www.thebombayfrankiecompany.com
Kid-Friendly – Yes?
Kid’s Menu – Yes
Vegetarian Friendly – Yes
Vegan Friendly – Yes
Gluten-Free Options – Yes