Where To Find Indian and Middle Eastern Cuisine in the Olympia Region

Rich, flavorful, spicy, and incredibly delectable are interchangeable descriptions of both Indian and Middle Eastern cuisine. Though two very differing cultures, the similarities in dishes, spices, and ways of eating are a testament to how both sides absorbed a diversity of influences, enriching their respective cultures.

Both cuisines are unique collections of multiple cultures and centuries-old dishes handed down and personalized by every restaurant you encounter here. Olympia and Lacey are home to a collection of incredible Indian and Middle Eastern chefs excited to share their region’s cuisine with you!

While the ingredients may differ a bit, the main theme of both cuisines is to use the freshest ingredients possible, paired with flavorful spices and herbs. Both cuisines revolve around the usage of ripe fruits and vegetables, rich and flavorful dips and sauces, and soft, oven-baked bread. Ready to dive in? We’ve highlighted a few of our current favorites as well as provided a map for you to experience all the Indian and Middle Eastern restaurants in our region.

Akashic Food Trailer

Tzeitel Sainath and her husband and business partner, Varun Sainath describe the food coming out of their food cart on the corner of 4th Avenue and Water Street in downtown Olympia as “epicurean” in nature, and we’d have to agree. The luxurious combination of imaginative curries, colorful salads, and fusion-feeling burgers are inspired by the various places they called home before starting up their food trailer, Akashic, in 2016.

An Olympia native, Tzeitel met Varun (who hails from India) on the Hawaiian island of Kauai where the rising demand for food trucks left a lasting impression on them. Deciding to return to Olympia to start their family, they embraced the opportunity to open their food trailer here as well.

The menu here fuses American, Indian, and local PNW ingredients, and there is no shortage of incredibly fresh and creative dishes. Local favorites are the Bombay Rolls (crispy wraps coated with eggs and filled with saffron rice and grilled meats with chutney and raita), the Gunpowder Fries seasoned with Indian spices, and the Annunaki Burger with fried egg, kimchi, and hoisin aioli.

Website

Curry Corner

Owner Dave Virk and his family have been cooking their regional Northern Indian dishes for Lacey loyalists for over 16 years. Hidden away in a tiny strip-mall on the outer limits of Lacey, don’t let the small footprint fool you. While Curry Corner is currently only open for take-out, their shop is also highlighted by the wide range of Indian specialty ingredients and spices in the small market that shares its space.

Their signature dish may be the beloved Butter Chicken, but additionally popular dishes include the Chicken Tikka Masala, Chana Masala, Malai Kofta, Lamb Curry, Chicken Jalfrezi, and their samosas, Paneer Naan, and Gulab Jamun. They have an expansive menu that belies their small location with options for almost every dietary preference, whether it’s vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian, or gluten-free.

Watch for this hidden gem to potentially open for sit-down service in 2023. “Our customers love our food as it is, but they loved it even more when it came fresh to their table, and we have enjoyed seeing their faces light up when they would order our piping hot fluffy naan, or when the tandoori specialties would come out of the kitchen sizzling, catching everyone’s attention,” recalls David. “When Covid caused a shutdown for restaurants everywhere, many small businesses didn’t survive. We were lucky to be one of the few that received and have continued to receive amazing support from our customer base. But Covid also changed many people’s perspective when it comes to work, and we have had a very difficult time finding the staff to enable a dining experience once again. We do hope that we can provide that for our customers again, maybe in the new year.”

Regardless of whether it’s take-out or dine-in, this location should definitely be on your radar.

Website

Great Cuisine of India

Great Cuisine of India has been a downtown favorite for 19 years. Owner Singh Mukesh and his team shares their love of Northern Indian cuisine with locals and visitors to the area with favorites like Tikka Masala and Butter Chicken.

Their dishes are made from scratch, and there is a variety of options such as the Mixed Grill; a variety of meats served on a sizzling platter, Chicken Masala, vegetarian and vegan options such as the Vegi Coconut Curry, and the Palak Paneer Vegetarian. Thee naan (stuffed or regular) is an amazing addition to any meal or simply on its own.

Website

Nineveh Assyrian Food Truck

Brining a taste of the Near East to the Pacific Northwest, the Nineveh Assyrian food truck on the corner of 4th Avenue and East Bay Drive rests in a food pod at the edge of East Olympia and is a local favorite.

Menu highlights feature their falafel and shawarma, but we can't get enough of the dolma, fried cauliflower with za'atar aioli, and the baba ghanoush. If you don't feel like cooking and have a lot of mouths to feed, ask them about their catering options.

Website

OlymPITA Food Truck

You’ll find nothing but food cooked with love at the OlymPITA food truck in West Olympia. Amier Ayoub and his staff cook family recipes from their Palestinian roots like falafel and shawarma inside their tiny trailer tucked away in West Central Park next to the Parkside Café.. Amier and his wife Christine left Washington DC in 2019 and headed for Olympia, excited to turn their culinary dreams into reality. Sourcing their meat locally from farmers who use sustainable farming practices and using authentic seasonings they get from back home the Middle East (Amier is from Nazareth), the two are proud to give locals and visitors a taste of the street food from their homeland.

Don’t-miss-dishes include the shawarma (doesn’t that go without saying?), the falafel platter, and most definitely the humus bowl with beef or lamb shawarma.

Like many of the small location in this piece, don’t be tricked into thinking they’re not able to put out an amazing amount of delicious food. When you’re ready to impress your family and friends, give OlymPITA a call and have them cater your next get-together.

Website

Spend the weekend and find dining, lodging, events, festivals and entertainment ideas at www.experienceolympia.com. Make sure to share your best shots with us by tagging social posts #ExperienceOlympia and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter (@Experience_Oly) and Instagram (@ExperienceOly)

JOIN OUR NEWSLETTER

Discover All of Our Culinary Delights

Eat and Drink

Craving amazing produce and stellar ingredients? Our region provides a wide variety of culinary experiences waiting for you to enjoy.

Details