Flavors of Boracay: Authenticitiy Meets Cool at Little Taj Indian Street Kitchen

When life throws you samosas, eat it. It's a story that began at the height of the pandemic with closures both temporary and permanent sweeping the island paradise of Boracay. For Patrick and Shria Florencio, fresh, new and creative ideas were needed to keep their restaurant business afloat during the most challenging chapters in the island's history. The spark came when the couple drew inspiration from Shria's own family traditions, paving the way for Little Taj Indian Street Kitchen. And why not. No other restaurant offered authentic Indian cuisine on the island. And that's the opening Patrick and Shria needed for their newest concept.

As small business owners struggling to survive in a new normal, Patrick and Shria needed solid and creative ideas to rise above the pandemic. Drawing inspiration from her own Indian heritage, Shria began testing the waters with her own Veggie Samosas and soon orders started pouring in online. The new concept then shared a space within the couple's restaurant, Nonie's in Station X serving authentic Indian dishes from family recipes alongside popular bestsellers from their flagship restaurant. The initial success of the concept encouraged the restaurateur couple to open Little Taj Indian Street Kitchen in Dmall, and is now the island's go-to spot for authentic Indian cuisine. It's one of many inspiring stories from the island, now slowly rising from the long days of the quarantine experience.

Born out of the pandemic, the concept is about to make its mark on the evolving culinary landscape of the island. The island has countless similar and inspiring stories transforming the restaurant scene, bringing creative innovation and fresh new ideas to the table. And the island adapts to the times with the opening of new establishments breathing new life to Boracay. 

To further set the new dining concept apart from the island's diverse culinary offerings, Patrick and Shria Florencio injected a playful, fun and quirky twist to its focus on authenticity. That cool island vibe, vibrant hip tunes and modern feel combine for a unique dining experience on the island. Welcome to Little Taj Indian Street Kitchen...

But first, some soothing libation. And this is where Little Taj Indian Street Kitchen weaves authenticity and tradition with a contemporary, modern and playful tone in a silky smooth and elegant brand defining and setting the tone for your dining experience. Colorful murals adorn the walls adding to the quirky vibe of the island's new dining hot spot. Every Friday and Saturday, Little Taj Indian Street Kitchen showcases fresh DJ beats as you enjoy authentic Indian cuisine and inventive cocktails...

...like the Goan Fizz (P 280), a refreshing concoction made with Bombay Gin, fresh lime juice, lime cordial, cilantro and blue pea soda giving it a distinctive hue. Vibrant citrus hints with a mildly sweet finish play on the palate, with the flavors intensifying with each successive sip. Drawing inspiration from the beach vibe of Goa, the Goan Fizz fits right in at Boracay.

The Bombay Bhang (P 280) with Dewar's Whiskey, Manille Calamansi Liqueur, lemon black tea syrup, lime juice and house made calamansi soda brings refreshingly sharp citrusy notes followed by a soothing sweetness rounded out by the deep hints of whiskey. 

The Indian theme is reflected in their other specialty cocktails like the Dirty Lassi (P 250) with yogurt as its base blended with rum, the Mumbai Mule (P 280) with tea-infused vodka, the Kerala Dream (P 280) with whiskey and grated paneer, Gita's Choice (P 280) with tequila, cardamom and clarified tomato water, Kolkata's Joy (P 280) with rum, lime, orange and coriander and Agra's Horizon (P 280) with rum, lime and cinnamon. The inventive cocktail creations offer a glimpse of the creative alchemy behind the bar, and a preview of the authentic flavors from the kitchen.   

The transition to tradition is effortlessly smooth and seamless with the serving of the first dishes at Little Taj Indian Street Kitchen. The Stuffed Paratha with Cheese (P 250, also available with chicken filling) or crispy flatbread filled with creamy cheese served with tikka masala sauce kicks off your culinary journey to India at Little Taj Indian Street Kitchen. The richness of the cheese is enhanced by the equally rich tikka masala sauce delivering flavorful bursts bite after bite... 

...while the Plain Dosa with Coconut Chutney and Tomato Sambal (P 300), a thin and crisp crepe and a Mumbai staple, brings equally vibrant notes followed by a delectable play on textures. Little Taj Indian Street Kitchen also serves other traditional dosas like Potato Dosa (P 400), Pav Bhaji Dosa (P 400) with vegetable filling and Rawa Dosa (P 300) made with semolina, spices and aromatics. 

The Beef Keema Samosa (P 280-3 pcs/P 450-6 pcs) offers bold savory flavors with a thick yet mildly crisp pastry filled with beef curry. The bold notes of the beef curry punches through the pastry, lingering long on the palate. A hearty meal in itself, these samosas pack serious flavors. Another tasty variant is the Vegetable Samosa (P 200-3 pcs/P 350-6 pcs) for those looking for a vegetarian option. 

The light and crisp Pani Puri (P 280) takes inspiration from the popular Indian street food of crispy fried puffed dough filled with potatoes and chickpeas topped with herbs paired with a tangy and mildly spicy tamarind sauce. The vegan treat offers a play on contrasting flavors and textures, you'll want another. The puffed dough becomes the perfect vessel for the flavorful vegetable filing and tamarind sauce delivering all the flavors in a crisp bite-sized package. 

The Fish Tikka Tandoori (P 450) features the day's fresh catch marinated in a rich blend of spices and cooked in a traditional clay tandoor oven. The thick and flavorful tikka drapes the palate with its bold notes while the subtle sweetness of the fish rounds out the flavors. Every dish at Little Taj Indian Street Kitchen is made from scratch using authentic ingredients including the spice blends resulting in full and almost unrestrained flavors. For Patrick and Shria, there's absolutely no room for compromise when it comes to authenticity.   

For the mains, Little Taj Indian Street Kitchen brings out their savory quartet of popular dishes led by the Chicken Tikka Masala (P 400) with tender chicken marinated in spices and yogurt, cooked and served in a creamy spiced curry sauce. The richness of the tikka masala is built on layers of complex notes from the blend of spices making it the ideal base for the savory dish. Add a generous dab of the thick sauce on rice or paratha, and wait for the flavors to pop on your palate. All curry dishes at Little Taj Indian Street Kitchen are served with your choice of rice or traditional paratha for a complete meal.

The Lamb Shank Rogan Josh (P 700) is a traditional Kashmiri dish with tender lamb shank slow cooked in aromatic spices, and one of my many personal picks at Little Taj Indian Street Kitchen. Fork-tender lamb simmered for hours in the thick sauce drapes the palate with a buttery and savory richness tempered by the sharpness of the equally rich curry with its mild yet lingering heat. This is a dish that demands an extra bowl of rice. The flavors of the lamb are rich and clean, complemented by the bold notes of the curry. 

The Palak Paneer (P 450) with its distinctive green hue from the fresh spinach cooked with onions, paneer, spices and herbs in a thick and flavorful curry is another traditional staple recreated at Little Taj Indian Street Kitchen. The combination of Indian cheese, curry and spinach along with other ingredients come together for a unique kind savory richness. The creamy texture of the cheese and the velvety smooth consistency of the curry just build on the layers of flavors with each bite.

The Hyderabadi Biryani (P 450-Chicken/P 350-Vegetables/P 650-Lamb) with long grain rice cooked with fragrant spices, roasted cashews and fried onions topped with egg and served with a side of yogurt is another must-try dish at Little Taj Indian Street Kitchen. A solid meal on its own, the rich spice blend and your choice of Chicken, Lamb or Vegetables conspire with the soft and fluffy long grain rice for another savory feast. The blend of spices and aromatics are infused in the rice for flavorful bites, while the egg, roasted cashews, tender chicken and a dab of creamy yogurt completes the flavors.  

From starters to mains, Little Taj Indian Street Kitchen brings fresh ingredients and masterful execution together with each dish for an authentic Indian dining experience. In addition to steamed white rice, the savory mains were paired with traditional soft Paratha that's perfect for mopping up all the curry sauces...

...and Crispy Paratha adding a delectable textural contrast. The extensive menu at Little Taj Indian Street Kitchen is a faithful snapshot of traditional Indian cuisine from dosas to curries, biryani and tandoori dishes. But save room for dessert...

The Barfi (P 190), a creamy Indian milk and cardamom fudge cake caps our authentic Indian feast with an indulgent sweet finish and subtle hints from the spices. The flavors and textures reminds one of the local yema, making it both somewhat familiar yet uniquely different. And that's the best part about experiencing foreign cuisine broadening one's palate for new flavors.   

A soothing cup of Masala Chai (P 140) with refreshing hints of a subtle spice blend rounds up a sumptuous evening of authentic Indian flavors in one of the developing culinary stories of the island. Who says you can't find authentic Indian cuisine in the island? You'll find it here at Little Taj Indian Street Kitchen. 

They say there's always two sides in any crisis and for those who rise to face the challenge head on when life throws you samosas, you take a bigger bite and go for another without turning back. One of the island's newest dining destinations born out of the long days of the quarantine experience, Patrick and Shria Florencio are all set to delight your palate with authenticity and a cool vibe at Little Taj Indian Street Kitchen.