While Dhaka boasts its fair share of Indian restaurants, authentic Indian street food dishes like Vada Pav, Pani Puri, Samosa Chaat, Dhokla Chaat, and Chola Bhatura and many main dishes like Punjabi Kadhi Pakoda can hardly be found in Dhaka. That’s exactly the gap that Divyaanssh fills, and does a splendid job of it.
“People really enjoy our street food dishes, and that’s something I take pride in because some of our dishes are really uncommon in Dhaka,” said founder Abhi Sarda.
Food
Our welcome drink came in the form of Pani Puri shots.
At first glance, the mini Pani-Puris didn't seem like they would leave much of an impact, but we were pleasantly surprised.
The tamarind water was a combination of boisterous flavours on our palate, and what left us even more awestruck was how we could taste almost each and every ingredient in the Pani Puri.
From the cumin, the tamarind to the puri, it was just street food heaven in a single bite.
Then, we had the Chana Papri Chaat, which was just as good. The Chana, the Papri and the Chaat, combined with the yogurt, stayed true to how delicious this cult favourite is.
The Papri Chaat was heartwarming as it was sweet, savoury, and tangy all at once and tasted familiar in the best way possible.
Our only recommendation would be to serve the yogurt chilled, as that would make us relish this classic ensemble more.
Our next dish was the Cheese Vada Pav (deep fried potato fritters in buns) which was delectable from start to finish.
The warm and flaky Pavs (buns) with cheese smeared on top and the potato fritters smashed in between was memorably comforting.
Although these Vada Pavs had cheese, and we had expected them to be heavy on the palate, these Cheese Vada Pavs were extremely light, which we appreciated.
The Vada Pavs were served with two kinds of chutney, a tamarind and a mint, and a green chilli to complete the plate. We thoroughly enjoyed every single element of these Vada Pavs.
The Chola Bhatura followed, and it absolutely lived up to the hype.
The chola (chickpea curry) was phenomenal. The thoughtful addition of chana masala, and a generously thick gravy made for a dominantly savoury, and slightly tangy Chola, it was top notch, and the Bhaturas were flaky, soft and huge in the best way possible.
The combination of the two made for a gem of a dish, and we are still reminiscing about the Chola Bhaturas, it was just that good.
Then we had their Chicken Keema Pav Bhaji (minced meat with vegetable curry and buns) which was extremely flavourful.
Here too, the Bhaji stole the show, it was masterfully seasoned, and the Bhaji had a dominant umami touch coming from the keema, making for a savoury curry, and the Pavs went really well with the Bhaji.
For desserts, we had the Mawa Laddoos and Gujiya (dessert empanadas) and we thoroughly enjoyed both of them, but if we had to pick, it would go to the Gujiyas again in a heartbeat.
They also serve staples such as dosas, daal makhani, butter chicken, paneer, naan, paratha and much more.
The price range for a meal at Diviyaanssh is Tk100 (for the rotis or parathas) to Tk800.
Ambience
Located in Banani, Diyaansh has a colourful interior and is brightly lit. The space is vibrant, spacious and cozy at the same time. The space also has an inherent Indian touch to it, complimenting the food really well.
They have a specials board right outside featuring the specials of the day, which is a well-thought touch at the entrance.
Challenges
Opened in 2020 as a cloud kitchen, one of their main struggles remains marketing the fact that they have a brick and mortar now.
“People still ask me if we only deliver, and I still have to keep clarifying that they can also dine in,” said Sarda
According to Sarda, starting as a cloud kitchen helped gain regular loyal customers. “A lot of my regular customers have been my customers since day one,” he said.
Verdict
All of their street food dishes are must-haves.
We now have a great place that serves the right kind of authentic Indian street food, and we’re here for it.
Don’t leave without trying their Pani Puri, Chola Bhatura and their Chana Papri Chaat.
Trust us when we say, the food at Divyaanssh is worthwhile.
