Founded in 2002 in a Greenwich Village location that still stands, The Kati Roll Company is quickly expanding with locations in not just New York, but also Texas, London, and now New Jersey, with a restaurant opening in Jersey City, few steps from the Journal Square Path train station. The facade is a bit different from the usual red sign, with its catchy mustard sign, but the interior is very similar, with Bollywood scenes on terracotta murals.
What are Kati rolls? Originating from Kolkata in India, where the owner, Payal Saha, is from, this is a street food made of chargrilled vegetables or meat that are wrapped in flatbread, like a crepe. The bread we always have when going to The Kati Roll Company is called paratha, and is a layered flatbread usually made with whole wheat flour, brushed with ghee (clarified butter) or butter and folded over itself multiple times (seems like the puff pastry technique in a way). I would not say that the menu was totally new to us as we went several times to their location near Bryant Park and so, there was no surprise: we knew it would be delicious! Jodi got their vegetarian options: there is for instance the Unda paneer roll ($9.30), that is a paratha layered with an egg (Unda) and some Achari paneer, that is paneer (cottage cheese cubes) drenched in. North Indian gravy. Or the Unda Chana roll ($8.80) that is filled with Chana masala. On the non-vegetarian side, I always go with the Unda shami roll ($9.60) that is filled with minced lamb and lentil croquettes and spices, a must have if you love lamb. And their best seller apparently, the chicken tikka roll ($9.30), a grilled chicken breast that marinated in spices and yogurt. All of these were packed in flavor and I truly appreciated that they were not spicy. What I love as well in this place is their paratha that is grilled on a flattop, giving a slight crisp and a nice char.
For drinks, I got my go to Indian beverage: a mango lassi ($6.20) and their masala chai ($3.60).
Although this place is not new to me, I was glad to be there for their opening in Jersey City, their kati rolls being exciting and most importantly delicious. It takes a little bit for the food to be ready as they make it to order, but the wait is worth it!
Enjoy (I did)!…