For vegetarians, Indian restaurants are a godsend. You get to experience the joy of large menu with many options. You don’t have to settle for the one veg entree on a menu–you can re-experience menu decision paralysis. Indian food can also be a regular option for a vegetarian dining at home.
But even in larger American cities, the number of Indian restaurants has been very limited. That appears to be changing, especially as I’ve discovered in Overland Park, Kansas. Fast food style Indian restaurants are a rarity–the typical Indian restaurant experience in Kansas City has long involved picking the one with the buffet you like.
So in late 2024, I discovered two Indian fast food restaurants in south Overland Park, located within a mile of each other. Desi Bites is a fast food restaurant located in a small strip mall, which is behind the Sam’s Club on 135th Street and 69 Highway in OPKC. It’s part of the KC India Mart space. It’s easy to miss. Just a small sign hanging over the door. But the car and pedestrian traffic in the parking lot indicates that it is a popular destination.
Desi Bites is a national chain, with 15 locations, mostly in the central U.S.
I’ve dined at Desi Bites twice. On my first visit, I got my favorite dish, Channa Masala, which I also use as a benchmark to compare restaurants. One the second visit, I tried Vegetable Biryani.
You can place your order with the person working the counter, but the restaurant also has two ordering screen kiosks. The latter may be better if you need time to ponder their large menu.
The seating is limited, which can become an issue on weekend nights when the place is very busy. But the table turnover appeared to be fast on my visits.
Desi Bites serves the entrees in large oval, plastic containers which come with lids. This means big portions and you’ll have an easy way to take home anything you can’t eat. This format is also awesome for takeout and delivery.
On my first visit, I got Channa Masala (chickpeas) as my main entree, with a side of onion pakora and bread. I thought I had ordered bread, but they gave me an Irani chai tea. I may have mumbled that part of my order or they just got it wrong, but it gave me a chance to try the tea. I ordered the bread separately.
The Channa Masala was excellent. Chickpeas were cooked properly. Good mix of spices. Not overly hot spicy. This was what I want to get from an Indian restaurant. Price point affordable, given the portions. I’d rate it an “A” or maybe 8.5.
The Onion Pakora was excellent in taste. Portions were large, to the point where I was surprised that I was taking an appetizer home. Pakoras are typically fried bit-sized veggies. This batch was basically like onion rings. I think, though, that this later kicked me in the gut that night. I’m not used to eating fried food, especially anything spiced. Might have been the overall meal.
The mango lassi met my expectations. The Irani chai tea was a surprise, but I really liked it. This year I’ve been trying more teas from restaurants and tea houses. You an follow that journey here on the blog or on my social media.
On the second visit, I tried their Vegetable Biryani. I’ve been curious to try biryani more often at Indian restaurants, which is something I rarely get. I think I may have eaten biryanis on a regular basis when I lived in the Washington, DC area.
This entree did not disappoint. I love rice dishes, especially anything made with this style of rice. The entree had the vibe of fried rice. Spicing was good. Perhaps it could have used more vegetables? Maybe small pieces, because I’m not expecting stir fry.
As I’ve said, their menu is large. There is a ton of options for meat eaters and vegetarians. They also have tandoori dishes, dosa, chats, tiffins, parotta, wings, kebabs, pulavs, curries, and much more.
I’ve been happy with all of the food I’ve gotten from Desi Bites. Judging from a bunch of online reviews, quality and consistency appear to be an issue. It might be that their menu is too big for fast turnaround, with lots of in store customers and lots of delivery and take out. Might be helped by more staff and a larger back of the house space and operation.
8562 W 133rd St, Overland Park, KS 66213
http://www.desibites.com/
