
Review: Talwar Express near Bristol Hippodrome
Posted on: 24 Jan 2025Talwar Express: Delicious Street Food from Every Corner of India
Alys Marshall reviews Talwar Express, 7 St Augustine's Parade, Bristol, BS1 4XG.
Despite being as central as you can get, Talwar Express feels tucked away inconspicuously on St Augustine’s Parade. Bristolians may have known about this street food spot for years, but it’s a hidden gem for non-natives to discover.
I had the pleasure of reviewing the pop-up sister restaurant in Clifton — Talwar Kitchen — last month, and while that was a quieter, more luxurious experience, Talwar Express undoubtedly delivers on its promise: vibrant, flavourful Indian street food in a comfortable and unpretentious setting.
The generous menu is comprised entirely of small plates, so you can get a taste of many different dishes without overdoing it (my favourite way to eat). Chef Muraliraj Narashimaraj has incorporated dishes from every part of India, in the hope that anyone who’s visited any part of the country will find something familiar to indulge in.
After much deliberation, we started our meal with a couple of options from the Chaats list. The Dahi Puri we gleefully ate all in one, to fully enjoy the delicious implosion of yoghurt and tamarind, but the Kale Pakora was the underdog of the evening for me, with the perfect balance of crunch, salt and sweetness — I didn’t want to share.
For our starters, we tried the Prawn Koliwada, which was just as fragrant and succulent as you’d hope, and the soft Chettinad Paneer was served with a type of Indian rice noodle called idiyappam, which was a nice touch. We also sampled the Keema Pav, a blissful combination of salty, rich minced lamb on a fluffy brioche.
Mains were a heartier affair, with the Junglee Mas (which I believe is a 100-year old Rajasthani recipe) was such a warming treat on a chilly November evening, while the Kundapura Chicken was a little lighter but just as tasty. Both paired fantastically with the Malabar Paratha, which we greedily used to mop up all the sauce, and dunked into our Dal Makhani.
Just as I found in Talwar Kitchen, the drinks menu was perfectly curated, with a good selection of softies for the low and no-alcohol customer, while I enjoyed a delicious (and very reasonably priced) glass of Chenin Blanc.
Talwar Express is undoubtedly great value for money, offering small plates but generous portions, without a dud amongst them. The tiny team of staff was noticeably committed to delivering an attentive service; we didn’t wait long for our food, and everything was set down freshly steaming from the kitchen.
It’s a competitive landscape for Indian food in Bristol, but Talwar Express stands out as authentic, memorable street food at an accessible price point.
Talwar Express is located at 7 St Augustine's Parade, Bristol, BS1 4XG.
Visit www.talwarexpress.com for more information or to book.
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Alys is a full-time copywriter, avid reader and podcast enthusiast currently based in Henleaze. As a recent transplant from the North, she’s keen to explore everything the South West has to offer, but is especially interested in exploring the food, art and culture scene in Bristol.