New MS Coast restaurant delivers delicious meals with a health conscious menu

A subset of food culture has slowly been getting its due in South Mississippi.

As recently as just a couple of years ago, there was only one true Indian restaurant on the Coast. A surprising fact given the melting pot the region is, and the array of culturally diverse options spread across the culinary spectrum in the area.

HWY to India is the latest Indian restaurant to throw itself into the mix, with a location at 1408 Bienville Boulevard in Ocean Springs.

The restaurant opened this month and is quickly drawing strong reviews from locals as a second option to the still-new Indian Delight in town.

HWY to India has its own unique vibe to it, separating itself with its diner-like atmosphere and health conscious menu.

The owners have also bought the Daiquiri Factory in the neighboring suite and have plans to re-open it soon with a modern look.

In the meantime, HWY to India is offering a menu for both its lunch and dinner time hours.

We arrived for lunch to test that menu out and see what’s attracting so many customers in the establishment’s first month.

The interior is humble but well put-together. The walls are splashed in red and orange with golden roses painted in. There’s a sheet-metal awning along one side hanging above yellow and pink flowers that brings a nice aesthetic touch.

The booths are black with the same golden rose stylings as the walls and the seats are plushy and red. We sat under a TV playing Indian music hits.

I started with the mango lassi, a wonderful treat that was in multiple hands around us inside the diner. It’s a mango smoothie that was similar in taste and texture to a Gogurt.

For the appetizers, we sought out something that was unique to HWY to India. That was the mahdu vada and honey cauliflower.

The mahdu vada are gluten free lentil-based doughnuts. They’re different from the sweet breakfast items you’re used to. Instead, they’re warm and savory and served with sambar and chutney. The sambar was especially good. It’s also lentil based and originates from South India.

The honey cauliflower was made with chili sauce. Honey and chili are a match made in heaven and the two were the perfect combination for a cauliflower dish. It carried a slight and manageable kick, preparing you for the spices that arrive in the entrees.

Our entrees were the goat biryani with raita and madras chicken curry. Biryan is India’s version of fried rice and has a building spice level as you dig through it. The goat was on the bone and tender. Raita is a cool, dairy-based side that serves as an excellent sweet compliment to the rice.

The madras is a coconut-based curry that isn’t super coconutty in taste but still very good. It also acts as an excellent dip for the naan bread.

To wrap up my meal ... I got another mango lassi for the road. It’s so fire.

HWY to India is open Tuesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for lunch and 4:30 to 9 for dinner.