Rarely can you find such a beautiful plate of food outside of India. But find I did.
This is a thali plate from the Udupi Palace in Bellevue, Washington (just a half hour east of Seattle). On the weekends, they have a buffet to die for. I’m not quite sure why I don’t visit this place more often – something about having to cross the 520 Bridge to get there. Somehow, flying to India sounds so much easier and better!
What is thali?
In short, it’s the best idea in the world – a platter that combines an array of tastes all on one plate. Thali is popular in both India and Nepal and commonly aims to combine sweet, salty, bitty, sour, astringent and spicy flavors all in one masterfully planned plate (mmm). You’ll spot these at Indian restaurants and often there’s a carnivorous option as well as a vegetarian thali plate. There’s no single food lineup to the thali plate. Items depend on the region and restaurant, but if you aren’t sure what to order and want to try a few things all in one go, thali is there for you!
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