As we told you earlier this week, our old friend Meru opened a new cart this week called Vooter Adda, right next to his Vendy-Award Winning Biryani Cart.
The menu is small, with only half a dozen fried rice and noodle dishes, but it’s also one of the more inexpensive carts around.
For our first visit, we tried the masala lamb fried rice, which was $4. We figured this was the best way to get both the Indian and Chinese influences.
Before leaving the cart, we asked Meru what Vooter Adda meant. His answer was perfect, considering it was Halloween yesterday.
Meru told us that Vooter Adda means “ghost house” (i.e. a haunted house). Just in time for Halloween!
Opening up lunch at Vooter Adda, we could see the fried rice was topped with fresh cilantro, sriracha, and Meru’s “special sauce”.
Lunch was chock full of goodies like carrots, peas, onions, bell pepper, egg and soy beans. The two sauces kicked up the heat quotient quite a bit, too.
We’re not sure where the Indian influence comes from, but there might have been some Indian spices in the fried rice. They certainly didn’t jump out, as the spices usually do in most Indian dishes.
Of course, the main ingredients were fried rice and “lamb”, which was obviously gyro meat. Did you expect real pieces of lamb for $4?
As it is, we told Meru we’re not sure how he’s going to make any money selling lunch for $4, but he’s been in this business a long time, and is still going strong.
In addition to fried rice, you get a small salad and a spring roll.
The spring roll was filled with cabbage, bean sprouts, etc, and he grilled it for a little crispiness. Meru then squirted sriracha and “special sauce” on the spring roll too, which added some flavor. The spring roll would have been a bit boring without it.
Meru is trying to fill a niche here. He’s not expecting to blow everyone away with a $4 fried rice dish, but it is better than the halal carts situated on nearly every corner of midtown. Vooter Adda is a step up from that, and a dollar cheaper!
Next time, we’ll have to check out the Manchurian chicken or shrimp (or both in a combo for $5).
