Everyone has that one dish they use to judge and compare new restaurants to their favorites. For us, it’s the spicy tuna rolls at a sushi joint, the Caesar at a swanky bar, and, when it comes to an Indian restaurant——it’s all about the samosa!
To us, a samosa needs to be the perfect mix of a soft, lightly spiced mixture with lots of texture and different vegetables encased in a thick, fried wrapper that cracks when pulled apart, releasing a fragrant wall of steam as you pour tamarind sauce over it.
Your mouth water after just reading that? Mine is, ugh!
Our go-to place to add some heat to a meal when exploring Kamloops is Maurya’s Restaurant Bar & Banquet in Downtown Kamloops. This family-owned restaurant has been in Kamloops for over 15 years and brings Lucknowi inspired dishes from head chef Dilip Maurya’s hometown Lucknow, India.
While cooking started as a pastime for Dilip, he quickly found his passion. He worked under some of the best chefs in India, including an opportunity in his hometown to work at a 5-Star luxury hotel, the Taj Mahal Lucknow, under world-famous chef Gulam Rashool.
The Samosas at Mauyura’s are a homage to chef Dilips past and are a classic Lucknowi Samosa down to the thicker, pastry-like crust that is a staple in North Indian cuisine. Maurya’s samosas are stuffed with masala aloo (soft spiced potatoes), savory fennel, and a light green pea stuffing. The real kicker is the housemade tamarind sauce; it is slightly acidic and fruity and adds a bright note to the fried samosa’s heaviness. A match made in heaven.
If you check out Mayura’s, let us know!! Tag us in your photos on Instagram and Facebook, and we will feature them on our feeds. Mayura’s is one of our favorite Kamloops restaurants overall, so expect a few (many) more love notes to their dishes popping up below.
