Ista – Indian Tapas in LKF

The whole inspiration of Ista is to bring Indian street food to a casual/upscale setting. They specialize in serving tapas and kebabs and they cook each dish the way it is cooked in India. We even heard first hand from the owners that staying authentic is the only way to go!

I really like the decor they chose especially in the bar area. Purple is one of my favourite colours so I was immediately smitten with the purple bar chairs that are oh so chic. We don’t have pictures of it but my most favourite part of the decor is the cabinet that they use to hang up coats. It also has purple trim and I want to move it into my apartment asap!

Ista’s signature dishes include tandoori chicken salad, chamman seekh kebab (cottage cheese mince coated with finely chopped peppers), gilafi seekh kebab (silky minced chicken cooked in the tandoor), aadraaki champ (twin chops flavoured with ginger and cooked in the clay oven) and haleem (wagyu beef cooked with whole grain wheat and lentils).

At the lunch we ate our meal tapas style and everything that was chosen was like heaven to me. I am the first to admit that I am not a foodie but I can’t deny that I loved it so I left a very happy customer …foodie or not! We even booked a pre holiday lunch with a few of our girlfriends for the next week and I was just as happy with my meal although the food was a tad bit spicy for some so be aware if spice is not your thing. Some of their salads (I can highly recommend their chickpea one) aren’t too spicy so there is plenty on the menu for those who don’t like their mouth on fire when eating.

Stuffed Mushrooms

Twin Chops

Dahi Puri

Ista offers a set lunch Monday – Friday (HK $98-$148) and they are also open for dinner between 6:30pm-11:00pm.

Ista, 2/F, Onfem Tower, 29 Wyndham Street, Central, 2530 5353 (above Wooloomooloo in LKF)