It took me forever to find this all-vegetarian gem in North Austin. It’s tucked away in a strip mall on far North Lamar and the distance is the only thing that keeps us from regular weekly visits. Its interior and fixings are as unassuming as the strip mall it calls home, but there is nothing modest about the flavors that explode with every bite taken.
SWAD Vegetarian
South Indian Food
9515 N Lamar Blvd, Unit 156
Open 11:30-9:30
Everything we’ve tried on the menu to date has been glorious, but if it is your first time out, I highly recommend the Thali Special. You get a sampling of several dals and curries along with bread and rice portions to help clear your palette for the next bright bite. It is the priciest thing on the menu at $9.95, but the portion is hefty enough to be shared by two if you add an appetizer.
My standby is the Chhole Nan – chickpeas in a tomato-based sauce with a generous side of naan. It is served with a side of lime wedges and thick slices of onion to help balance the slow-building heat in the dish. It is belly-filling heaven in a stainless steel bowl. The Bhature option (fried bread) that is more popularly ordered with the Chhole is just as yummy, but significantly more heavy.
Notes: Most appetizers on the menu range in price from $4-6 with entrees ranging from $6-10. Check in with the kind host when she takes your order if you are a little nervous about spice levels or in need of some direction. Items labeled “seasoned” tend to be seasoned with fresh chunks of jalapeño and are not for the faint of heart.
Enjoy!
Please be sure to check out what the 100+ members of the Austin Food Blogger Alliance are recommending in their annual city guide:
Looking for more? Be sure check out Quarter Life Crisis Cuisine’s post on other North Austin establishments before you make your way into town:
- North Austin Best Restaurants – by Quarter Life Crisis Cuisine
aneelee 
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