Don’t Miss the Parottas at Saravanaa Bhavan

I’ve eaten a fair number of parathas. The rich, buttery breads are served at countless Indian restaurants and can be delicious if they are made properly. The breads are rolled in layers with butter or ghee, a little bit like French pastry is “turned,” resulting in flaky layers. Unfortunately, most places offer dense, oily disks that would be better used for Frisbee golf instead of for mopping up curries.

Saravanaa Bhavan’s parathas are a lot like I expected they’d be, but their parottas, on the other hand, are flaky in ways I’ve never seen Indian breads achieve. I wish I’d taken another picture after I pulled this one apart — while soft and not crusty, it was as flaky as a croissant. The bread almost fell apart as I tore away pieces and dipped them in dal, chickpea and other curries. It was the best Indian bread I’ve encountered in quite some time.

Don’t judge this vegetarian Indian restaurant because it’s a chain. Saravanaa Bhavan is taking over the entire planet for a reason. The food is mostly excellent, the prices are low, and as you might expect, the dining room is packed. Indian families pile into this place, their tables eclipsed with massive, paper-thin dosas and other vegetarian dishes.

Saravanaa Bhavan, 8604 N. MacArthur Blvd., Irving, 972-506-7755, saravanabhavan.com