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The Tiffin Truck on Regent Street has become a real foodie favourite, with an almost cult-like following. Every time someone asks our community for an Indian restaurant recommendation, you are guaranteed to hear someone mention the Tiffin Truck.

I have been a huge fan for years, especially their desi breakfasts. My only gripe is that the restaurant is so central that it can be hard for people who don’t live within Cambridge to get too…

…but that has now changed, as they have just opened a new sister restaurant in Orchard Park, located in the north of Cambridge! 😍

The interior

Upon entering, you immediately notice that the restaurant lacks the vibrant colours of its central Cambridge counterpart. It is basic and minimalist but it is still early days yet. The restaurant isn’t huge but is able to host dozens of people, so any party size except the very largest should be manageable.

I love the colourful Indian artwork on the walls, that jumps out at you with a vibrant slap. I found myself walking right up to each piece to study their unusual mix of traditional Indian and pop art. I was particularly fond of the elephant artwork along the left wall that had an almost psychedelic feel.

The menu

The menu is exactly the same as the original Tiffin Truck, with a diverse selection of different Indian dishes. There is a dedicated vegetarian menu, Thali options, chai, and a children’s menu. Alcohol is served with a wine list, spirits, and Cobra Beer on draft.

Kale Chaat

Their kale chaat is truly special and one of the most attractive presentations of the dish I have ever seen. It is served in what appears to be a bowl of yogurt but underneath is a layer of kale and chickpeas.

The dish is made from two polar opposite ingredients, kale and yogurt, but when they are combined both compliment eachother perfectly.

The smoothness of the yoghurt and the crispiness of the kale merge into an explosion of exciting texture, especially when the fruity pomegranates burst in your mouth. This is emphasised further by the sweetness of the yoghurt and the bitterness of the kale that just seems to work.

Chicken 65

Despite the crudely chopped garnishing of onions, the Chicken 65 was a worthy attempt at the popular dish. The chicken was thin, crispy, and tasted great. The accompanying lemon was very welcome, as the chicken was slightly dry but by adding some juice and a zesty pop, it brought the dish back to life.

Chilli paneer

The chilli paneer was utterly superb. It came out in a metal plate as a generous portion with a thick spicy sauce. The green and red peppers added a satisfying spicy crunch and the paneer cheese was cut into manageable cubes, making it the perfect dish to share.

Mama’s Pepper Chicken Curry

I was presented with two curries, one being warmly named ‘Mama’s Pepper Chicken Curry’ – a South Indian style curry served with very large chunks of boneless chicken. The curry was mild and therefore accessible to everyone, while also being thick and creamy, making it perfect to mop up with the accompanying paratha.

I thoroughly enjoyed the large chunks of chicken swimming in curry sauce. One of the chunks was particularly huge and fell to pieces when I picked it up. It was the sort of chicken that I really enjoyed sinking my teeth into.

The hints of lemongrass gave the dish an almost floral, lemony sweetness that added a subtle dimension to it that made all the difference. Beautiful!

Lamb Jalfrezi

I have never been the biggest fan of Jalfrezi, with only a handful of restaurants ever being able to win me over. I can safely say that the Tiffin Truck’s take on the lamb jalfrezi is superb but it is not your typical Jalfrezi. The first thing I notice is that it comes with more sauce than a lot of other Jalfrezi’s I have tried over the years. The curry also lacks the fiery kick the dish is known for. I enjoyed the creaminess and the lamb chunks were incredibly soft but in many ways, it felt like a different curry entirely. That didn’t stop me from devouring this smooth bowl of lamb-filled deliciousness!

The garlic naan was made fresh and served in a basket. It was still warm on arrival and had a soft base with a nice crispy skin. The naan had a salty taste that may divide opinions but I really enjoyed it. This was the perfect mop up for the two curries.

I was also treated to some paratha, a type of flakey, multi layered flatbread. I have always been a big fan of it and today was no exception.

Dessert

For dessert, I was given two dishes – the Mango Kulfi and (what I think is called) Moong Dal Halwa.

The Kulfi is a type of Indian ice cream that was incredibly refreshing, especially after two rather heavy and savoury meals. The portions look small in the photo but both dishes were bigger than they looked.

The Moong Dal Halwa is made from lentils, so is more savoury but with a sweet aftertaste. Both dishes look very similar by eye but offer two very different experiences. I preferred the Kulfi but both were well prepared.

Dessert

The new Tiffin Truck doesn’t offer anything new to people already familiar with their restaurant in central Cambridge but that is no bad thing. It is the same delicious traditional Indian cuisine that has won hearts across the city but is now located in a significantly more convenient location (with a ton of free parking).

The restaurant hasn’t got the same colour and warmth as its sister restaurant yet but it has only just opened. I expect, in time, they will be able to emulate this.

Now, I can pop by any time I like and enjoy their food, I have a feeling I will be visiting a lot more frequently. In fact, I already have my eye on their Thali menu 🤩

Thanks for reading.