May 6, 2023
Written By: J.Couch
It seems that this place has been renamed to Bar Asha, not sure if it is plant-based any more? If you know please comment below.
We have tried to make it a point that each time we are in Portland visiting family and friends we try to go out to a new vegan or all plant-based restaurant in town. Portland is loaded with them; it is one of the biggest vegan or plant-based cities in the country. We called up some good friends and asked if they would like to try The Sudra, a plant-based restaurant that specializes in Indian cuisine. They are known for their delicious vegan dishes that pack a punch of flavors and Indian spices.
The restaurant is a small but cozy place with a vibrant atmosphere, located off NE Couch St and NE 28th Ave. How can it be bad if it is just off Couch Street! The interior is adorned with vibrant artwork that looked like old 70’s Indian movie posters, it seemed to create a relaxed and comfortable ambiance.
We started with the Broccoli and Cauliflower Pakora, which is a classic Indian street food that consists of lightly spiced vegetables, pickled, battered and fried to a crispy texture. The Pakoras were perfectly cooked and served with Tamarind Chutney and Soy Yogurt, the accompanying sauces were a great balance of tangy and spicy.
Next up we shared the Curry Thali, you can get a choice of Lentil Kofta, Soy Curl Tikka Masala, or Kale Saag Paneer with Spinach Dal. We chose the Soy Curl Tikka Masala. It also comes with the Chickpea Masala, Ginger Agave Roasted Carrot Salad, Spicy Cucumber Salad, Tomato Chutney, Soy Yogurt and Brown Basmati Turmeric Rice. The dish was a mix of different tastes and spices and packed with flavor. To top it all off we also ordered the Black Seed Naan bread that was soft and fluffy. When we go to Indian food we have gotten where we like the multiple choices so that we get a variety of different dishes that we may have not tried in the past.
There were only two things that I would say that was not the greatest, one was the portions could have been a little more for the mixed plate vs the cost and the service. The service wasn’t too bad, but the girl working that day did not seem like she wanted to be there or deal with anyone that came through the door. I would like to hope that maybe she was just having a bad day, and that is not her normal customer service. If it is, she will not last long in that field.
Overall, our experience at The Sudra was fantastic. The food was outstanding, and the staff was knowledgeable about the menu and had good recommendations. If you’re in Portland and looking for a plant-based Indian food fix, The Sudra is a must-visit restaurant.
Thanks for wandering with us,
The Wandering Couchs
