Billu's

 As any Sydney foodie would tell you, the best place for Indian cuisine in all of Sydney is Harris Park. A short walk from the station, one is spoilt by choice - I have visited a couple of the local favourites (Chatkazz and Dosa Hut), and now I add another review to my growing list. 

As a lone diner, the best thing to order is a thali. A thali is a plate consisting of a grain (rice and/or flatbread), lentils, a seasonal preparation of vegetables, chutney, and a couple of curries. It is a god-send to someone like me, who wants to try a little bit of everything, with eyes enormous like the moon but a stomach the size of that of a small household pet. 

Non-veg thali, $19.90

All those deliciousness for under $20 - what an absolute bargain! A generous serving of tumbling long-grain rice and two pieces of naan (each cut in half) with which to enjoy a chickpea curry, daal, butter chicken and what I think was a goat korma. Nothing is too spicy - truly a plate for everyone. The chutney has a strong tamarind flavour, and if desired, everything can be dipped into, or drizzled with, plain yoghurt. The "seasonal preparation" of vegetables are some cut carrots and cucumbers, which sound (and are) plain, but they provide quite a welcoming palate cleanse between all these rich and flavourful curries. The thali at Billu's also came with some sweets: two generous, syrup-soaked balls of gulab jamun.

Dahi puri, $8.90

Although the thali is more than enough to satisfy me, I couldn't resist ordering the dahi puri. Delicate crispy shells are filled with potato, onion, tamarind, chickpeas and yoghurt, these are fun one-bite street snacks that must be eaten quickly or the shells melt away into sogginess. 

Sweets, $3 each

At the front of the restaurant, an enormous display cabinet holds a dizzying array of traditional sweets. I couldn't resist packing a couple up for the road, and the lovely waiter helped me with my choice. The top is a parcel of mixed nuts: almonds, pistachios being the key ingredients. I liked that it was satisfying, but not overly-sweet. The bottom is best described as beautiful vanilla paste sandwiched between gulab jamun. I particularly enjoyed the smooth, fragrant paste, though a little goes a long way because it is so sweet. I had to finish this little gem in 3 goes! 

Score: 4/5

Price: approx $30pp 

Address: 62 Wigram St, Harris Park NSW