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Travelers
Categories: Food Restaurants Indian Food, Indian
501 E Pine St(between Summit Ave & Belmont Ave)
Seattle, WA 98122
Neighborhood: Capitol Hill
(206) 329-6260
- Hours:
Tue-Sat 11:30 am - 8 pm
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
97 reviews for Travelers
Review Highlights
"Great chai and amazing food during weekends."
(in 45 reviews)
"Travelers serves the BEST Indian Thali in Seattle."
(in 22 reviews)
"The variety of aromatic/essential oils, teas, incense and..."
(in 6 reviews)
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97 reviews in English
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Review from Maylee L.
12/30/2011
All type of teas to choose from. A place to sit and relax with shrines surrounding you. This place is so extraordinary and unique! There are mini desserts for you to try. I got the milk cake and the cashew fudge mmmmmmm they are cheap too! This place is so spiritual and absolutely AMAZING!!
I am surprised that this place barely have reviews because I think it is super interesting. -
Review from Melody T.
2/5/2012
Great location in Capitol hill.
Great chai- must try. I am not usually a fan but loved it here.
Also has cool spices and knick knacks in the store.
Hoping to visit again before we leave Seattle. -
Review from Winston S.
Bellevue, WA
12/6/2011
I recently visited Travelers as part of a Savor Seattle food tour. For me, Travelers was the highlight of the tour.
Walking in the door, you are immediately hit with the warm, inviting smell of spices - not overpoweringly so, but enough that you can feel your bones warming up after a chilly Seattle wind has taken it's toll.
The chai at Travelers is worth a trip to downtown in and of itself. I was intrigued by the inclusion of black pepper in the chai. After a few sips, the pepper started to take hold and added a whole new set of layers of flavour. All too soon, I found my cup empty and wishing I had a thermos to take some along for the rest of the tour.
I definitely will be back to the tea store and the restaurant on Beacon Hill just moved to the top of my "must eat" list. -
Review from Lauren B.
1/9/2012 1 Check-in Here
Great chai!!! (haven't had their food) A fun place to hang out, and they have a nice little Indian grocery selection as well.
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Review from Henric K.
Saint Louis, MO
1/7/2012
I just had an extremely good lunch here for less than $10! I ordered the daily special and got six stainless steel bowls each filled with delicious contents, including spicy chutney, yogurt dip, and a lentil soup with a very complex flavor. It's good to order a few pieces of bread to accompany the food. The place is nice (and warm) and the service was very friendly. This place is definitely a keeper.
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Review from Jill K.
Tacoma, WA
10/31/2011
Sadly, I can't review the food here.
That's because six of us walked out before we even had a chance to order. That should tell you how poor of an experience we had.
We arrived around 6pm to have dinner on the suggestion of a friend who swears by the place. We had a visiting Indian friend with us, here from London, and since we'd immersed her in American food all week, we felt it only fair to have Indian food at least once.
First of all, it was hard to tell that there was a restaurant at all in the building. Walking up to it, I thought it to just be a shop. There is a sign out front, a sandwich board type deal on the sidewalk, so at least we realized we weren't crazy or in the wrong place.
Walking in, the service we received immediately was probably some of the worst any of us have ever had. The gentleman that approached us at the counter couldn't have made it more clear that he was not interested in serving dinner to us. When we told him there were six of us, he sighed, looked at his seating area and said, "We'll get some tables moved together, I guess. We'll do the best we can."
OMGWTFBBQ.
After some cursory glances at the menu, which seemed really sparse, we decided to scrap the whole thing and find somewhere else to eat. Granted, I know that was kind of jerk of us, since they'd just moved the tables together, but we really didn't feel very welcome in the establishment. However, the gentleman could've done a bit more to hide his displeasure with us when we informed him of this - you'd thought we'd said we intended to shoot his mother or something.
In addition, one in our party purchased some pre-packaged meals and two hot samosas, to soften the blow in a way. The samosas were all right (we joked later that they cursed our entire evening, since they came from the Mean Man at the Indian Place), but they didn't even provide her with a bag for her other purchases.
Cross this off our list of "places to eat at in Seattle" because we won't be back. -
Review from Lolia S.
San Francisco, CA
7/29/2011 4 photos
There are two doors - one leads to their retail shop (I didn't make it there; it sells Indian clothing, textiles, accessories and jewelry). The other door leads to their small café and grocery section where you can find spices, soda (Thums Up), mixes, snacks, teas, etc.
The café serves Indian breads (chapati, naan), thalis, samosas, parathas, some fusion items (naan pizza, quiche) and chai. The savory snack mixes, sweets (e.g., barfi) and cookies in the case looked interesting because they had an Indian influence. The food is homemade and reasonably priced. They only have a few small tables.
* Rice bowl ($5) http://s3-media3.px.ye...: contents vary depending on what the chef feels like including that day. Mine had thin, crunchy pappadum pieces, creamy yellow dal, a sweet tamarind chutney, mint chutney, chole, raita, onions, and tomatoes. The chole wasn't as flavorful as I expected but overall it was a satisfying bowl with many different textures and flavors.
* Chocolate chip cookies with masala cashews - unusual combo, the cookie was very sweet so I didn't think it worked with the masala spices
They claim to have the best chai in town.Listed in: Supermarkets and food markets, Space Needle City
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Review from Kristen D.
Seattle, WA
10/15/2011
I didn't realize this place was vegetarian, so I was pretty disappointed.
I got the Chole Plate, which consisted of chickpea curry, salad, garlic naan and yogurt. Beside the fact that I was hoping for chicken or something like that, the naan was pretty atrocious. Naan is one of my favorite things at Indian Restaurants. Here, however, the naan was too crispy and stale. It was like they got it from the day old freezer section in the grocery. The chickpea curry had decent flavor, but nothing to write home about.
The service here isn't that great either. There were only 2 other people in the restaurant at the time and it took over 30 mins to get our food. Maybe I'm just too impatient, but it felt like eternity for not that great of food.
The chai tea was fantastic though -
Review from Chiri E.
Food here is phenomenal. I was almost giving up on good Indian food in Seattle-metro area until Travelers happened in my mouth.
Initially, we walked in to the boutique side which carries a variety of imported Indian goods like little Buddha tchotchkes, clothing, books, music, jewelries, HUGE tea selection and many more.
There was a dining table randomly placed in middle of this boutique, where a couple were having delicious looking thali served on small bowls neatly placed on 1 giant circular tray. This was EXACTLY how food was served when I visited Sri Lanka (different country, but similar culinary style). I was instantly intrigued and decided to check out the cafe part of the store next door.
At the cafe, my bf and I ordered a small chole (chickpea dish), dal (lentil soup), salad and naan. They were all delicious and satisfying. My thoughts:
- Spices were not too strong yet retained very distinctive taste.
- The texture was really great, mostly soft and easy to eat.
- All served in perfect proportion, not too large.
- Healthy!
- VERY reasonable price: under $10 for each dish.
For drinks, we ordered a mango lassi and a cup of tea. Mango lassi is like a cold yogurt smoothie with mango pulp--a common drink in India and a great desert. Both the tea and lassi were very tasty. We wanted to share a small meal at the time, but I definitely will try the thali next.
The seating area of the cafe was cool too. Music was calming and not too loud, not like the ones that make me feel like I'm trippin' on LSD with elephants. I smelled relatively strong aroma from the incense, similar to other imported goods stores I've been to around here. I was okay with it, but some may not like that. There were a lot of little trinkets and Buddhist arts to look at while eating which was pleasant and felt more like being in a tea house rather than a cafe. The music, the scent and the arts all contributed to overall a great meditative and cultural dining experience. A+Listed in: Happy Wallet, Happy Belly
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Review from Daren D.
6/11/2011
I was heading up to check out the construction site of Capitol Hill Station (holy honkering huge hole!) and I just SO happen to walk by this.... wait.... CHAI. Yuss. Walks in...
I enjoyed the somewhat SE Asian/Indian vibe and the background meditation music(?); seems fitting drinking an amazing chai. Decided to try it with rice [milk]. Nice. Also tried a cardamom(?) cookie with an almond at center. Subtly good. Staff felt ok, maybe a bit strange to me like hum-drum. I wanted the Huge size, but no fit the cup holder. I'm interested in pairing a chai drink with the food and trying that out sometime. -
Review from T F.
Seattle, WA
5/22/2011
This place is like nothing else in town. Prob the whole left coast.
The food's spice and freshness is uber yum.
The flavor combinations are inspired. Would it be harmful to say hella healthy too? All veg and some vegan items too.
I'm in love with the fact they sell herbs and spices from all over the globe.
Kinda gives ya an indicator of the brilliance of flavors of the dishes.
Those folk know their herbs and spices.
Funny, I was there one day and this Indian family was finished eating and, asked to speak to the Chef. The elder sari'd woman hugged the Chef, thanking him for his good Indian food. Saying that now she feels good about leaving her son here, Seattle, knowing he can get good home cooked food. Her smile was huge. Now, if that doesn't tell ya something...an Hindu mother saying the food was good enough for her son. Can't beat that with a stick. Mamas know food, am I right.
The dining room is goofy tho. Few seats. The ordering line procession is cumbersome. Yet, having traveled the globe; London, NYC, SF, Berlin, Hong Kong...you kinda know a place is good when the locals are lined up to get in. Suffer for beauty. heh. -
Review from Rebecca S.
Capitol Hill, Seattle, WA
We went to Traveler's last weekend and split the monthly thali which included moongiko dal (lentils), tse phing (rice noodle soup), cabbage and carrot salad, banana raita, rice, Indian pickle, mango chutney, papad and galub jamon. While I liked most of the dishes, it just didn't have a good flow - I mean we had lentils with some type of pho soup with a thai slaw and banana yogurt... it all just seemed kind of weird together.
I also bought a couple pieces of pistachio barfi - which is basically sweetened condensed milk, sugar and nuts. I was excited that they sold it, because I haven't ever had any that wasn't from India, but it wasn't as flavorful as I remember it.Listed in: I love Capitol Hill, For the Herbivores
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Review from Pranav K.
Bellevue, WA
8/21/2011
Most Indian food in Seattle/Bellevue is served with dollops of oil and cream apart from the dry tandoori dishes. Therefore for a change I wanted to try the highly recommended thali at Travellers.
We had the janta thali ($7.5) sampling the only 2 entree options, baingan bharta (almost pureed brinjal) and the veg "kebob" along with dal makhani. We also had rice, pickle (definitely not home made) and cucumber raita along with it. Had to order the roti separately.
The brinjal was average and the veg kebob although good, was a little dry on the palette. The cook definitely took the makhani in the dal makhani seriously and added ghee and cream over it. The cucumber raita was excellent and the rotis fresh and soft. Would recommend trying the rotis instead of the heavy naan or paratha. One of us ordered the aloo stuffed paratha and although tasty it was deep frickin fried which is NOT how parathas are made in indian homes.
We also tried the chai and maybe the blame is to be attached to the choice of non-fat milk but the chai was defn diluted and not so interesting. I would rather stick to making tea at home. The thumbs up was also lacking in fizz and I am not sure if it was expired or not :) For sentimental reasons I had to drink it anyway !
The only saving grace was that most of the food was light and affordable. The closing time of 8pm definitely suggests an all American kitchen and the lack of spice in anything probably confirms it :P -
Review from Masha F.
Portland, OR
6/1/2011
I'm unable to find any place even close to Travelers. Once a month or so I come from Portland and always look forward to a couple of meals here. Oh Travelers, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways...
The Full Thali...a meal fit for royalty. Served on a metal platter with many, many tiny metal dishes each filled with a taste of India's best. Not cheapo Indian fast food, but a work of culinary art created by a local who traveled to India, tasted everything she had to offer, and returned inspired. I doubt even the country of inspiration would have something so tasty.
Now, even for people who prefer to cook at home because it's cheaper, Travelers is worthwhile. There's simply no way you could gather all the spices and ingredients necessary to cook Travelers' Full Thali in all its glory and not break your bank. It's the full gamut of flavor, and it changes every month.
I'm not sure how to explain the way that flavors mix, but you know when you order sushi, it seems to have the perfect ratio of tastes and textures? And how it never seems quite enough and is always fresh with every bite? That's how the Full Thali is, except with Indian food!
The Chai. Oh, mother. Even the Naked Chai, stripped of its highly caffeinated tea, is sheer bliss. Who knows how many spices make up this cardamom-rich beverage?
The setting. The name of the restaurant is right, for you certainly feel as though you've stepped across a few seas when you sit down. Great (and not annoying Bollywood) music, an altar dedicated to a different Hindu god replete with all manner of decoration, and all kinds of interesting people -some at a birthday gathering, some working on laptops - and really chill servers who are probably the root of all new fashion. Across the hall is the store, which offers the most complete and inexpensive variety of essential and scented oils.
How I wish we had something like this in Portland, but I suppose we're spoiled enough already. -
Review from Jim W.
Seattle, WA
12/24/2011
Average food - seems to depend on the day and time. It's really the staff that are appalling - particularly the servers at the front desk. They are openly bored, stoned, rude, or something, but, either way, clearly hate their jobs and make it very clear that they would rather be doing anything than serving customers.
They have ignored me when I have stood at the counter, hit on my friend really intensely and treated me with open disdain and hostility, and the owner almost hit me with a chair after arranging for an evening event - and, didn't apologize. I noticed that he also ignored me when I was waiting to buy something but instantly was available to assist a really cute young man. Hmmm.....
One time I was served chai and it was luke warm - I took it back and it was made very clear to me that I was a pain in the server's derriere to have bought it back.
Another time I ordered mango lhasi and asked if it would be brought to me and the server told me, coolly, "sure" and then turned away.
Travelers wait staff - stay off the crack and stay on top of providing service, as opposed to abuse to the people that ensure you have a pay check.
I do not recommend if you are looking for a relaxing positive atmosphere. -
Review from Chris T.
3/6/2011
We went here for the food, so I will be reviewing this from a restaurant perspective.
Went all out and ordered the $16 Thali plate. Got about 8 ounces of food (after you take away the 10 metal canisters they serve it in). Service was superficial and terrible. Took over 20 minutes to 'prepare' our plate, which just involves ladling spoonfuls of stewed vomit into dipping cups.
As another reviewer stated, it's just white vegetarians trying to cook Indian food.
In short, I paid $16 to walk out hungry. -
Review from Shekinah S.
Seattle, WA
2/5/2011 1 photo
3.5 Stars
We ate at Travelers about a year ago and I'm not sure why we haven't been back! We went on a Sunday to enjoy the Thali plate (was $12, now $14) and $4 naan pizza. They layout of the place is a little strange. It's nicely decorated, but hard to ignore the fact that you are eating in a cramped cafe attached to a small grocery store with a boutique on the other side. But service was friendly and the presentation of the food was lovely. I especially enjoyed the steel/silver cups, bowls and plates.
I wasn't entirely sure what we were eating, but according to the online menu, the Thali platter (see pic) is composed of: dal (like lentil soup), yogurt raita, "salaad," basmati rice, chutney (and/or fruit?), pickle (I think we actually had olives), papadam (thin crispy bread), two vegetables (we had seasoned cauliflower and potatoes, and tofu with mushroom and peas), and a "sweet" (something like rice pudding). I tried everything except the dessert and thought it was all tasty, though nothing was spicy. The portions are smallish, but probably considered reasonable outside of gluttonous America, and it's a nice way to try lots of different things. I do wish they gave you more of the papadam as you need it in lieu of utensils. The little naan pizza (green chutney, Monterey Jack cheese, red onions, tomatoes) was also very yummy and helped fill us up.
We perused the shop on the other side after we finished eating. There's lots of pretty jewelry, but most of the stuff is a little too new age hippie dippy for moi. I'd come back for the food and possibly Indian groceries, but skip the boutique. I'd recommend Travelers for vegetarians, vegans, or anyone who wants a light, healthy, not too spicy Indian meal.
Tea & Spice Shop Hours:
Mon - Thurs 10am - 7pm
Fri & Sat 10am - 9pm
Sun 12pm - 9pm
Cafe Hours:
Tues - Thurs 11:30am - 3pm
Fri & Sat 11:30am - 3pm, 5pm - 8pm
Sun 12pm - 3pm, 5pm - 8pm
Boutique Hours:
Mon - Thurs 12pm - 7pm
Fri - Sun 12pm - 8pmListed in: Orientalism
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Review from Nick B.
2/5/2011
I went here for the food, so this review doesn't speak to the merits of the store or the quality of the goods sold there.
The restaurant (if you could really call it that) was small and cramped. It seemed like an afterthought to the actual store, almost as if, the owner said, "well, I guess I better use this empty space."
Moreover, after being seated, the person seating us failed to tell us that we needed to order at the counter. Which of course was kind of a pain because we sat there for about 5 minutes as throngs of people lined up at the counter to purchase their chai tea.
The food was less than spectacular. I've had a lot of Indian food and to be honest this food tasted like an American was trying to cook Indian food. There wasn't nearly the same authentic flavor, it tasted somewhat bland.
Finally, the prices are absolutely insane. This is the airport kiosk of restaurants: vastly overcharging for the same stuff that you could get elsewhere because they have a captive audience.
There being so many alternatives for Indian food (Preet's in Redmond is an excellent example), I would suggest you skip this place, unless of course you're looking for a beautiful Indian gown to go with your meal. -
Review from Alice C.
2/10/2011
Pro's: prepackaged samosa's. Incense. General hippiness. Chai is good and not badly priced. Prices for the prepackaged food, which are all vegetarian, are very cheap.
Con's: staff is very slow, and when I stopped in today, my experience dropped a star from what would have been a four star review. I wanted some pre packages samosa's (I've had bronchitis for the better part of a week, wanted food, and wanted minimum effort to cook). Noticing that the case was out of prepacked samosas, but still had a large container of them in the back corner, I waited to ask the woman behind the counter if she could throw some in a container for me. I was told no, she could not do this, and she could not do so because, and I quote, "I would have to wash my hands and walk over there, when i could just put some of these ones (in the heat lamp thing) together with tongs."
I could have gotten the warm ones. I really could have. However, I was so turned off by the woman's totally unwillingness to walk maybe eight feet, put on a pair of gloves, and put three (3!!)samosa's in a to go container that I just left. And what's with this about "having" to wash your hands?! Dear Lord. I would certainly hope that, in a food service environment, you would wash your hands FREQUENTLY. -
Review from Miz J.
Seattle, WA
3/18/2011
I love this place, but then, I don't give a rat's patoot about the dining area being an afterthought. I come for the food, which is fan-fricken-tastic.
I love the atmosphere. Surrounded by spices, trinkets, Hindu gods, and huge and beautiful altar often adorned with fresh flowers and bells hanging above it--this place feels jumbledy and homespun to me. Indian homespun, that iz. Travelers is one of the few authentically quirky and fun spots left on the Hill. Like the B&O espresso, or Bimbos Burritos, it's not a sterile, corporate hell or an "upscale" restaurant that looks and tastes like every other "upscale" restaurant. Travelers is Old Hill.
This is authentic South Indian food, not the ghee-saturated Palak Paneer and Baingan Bharta we usually get around here. The lunch Thali, which costs less than 8 bucks and includes little bowls of rice, the day's special veggie dish, and smaller tins with chutney, fantastic hot/salty Indian pickled veggies, and a little fresh fruit. I always feel like I'm getting away with something when I leave. The food is SO good and so cheap!
The dinner costs twice as much, but you also get almost twice as much food, and more varied dishes. I always end up taking about 1/3 of the food home, which is fine, as it's excellent the next day for lunch.
The service is café style, you order at the counter, someone brings it out, and you bring your dishes to the bin when you're done. Fine with me, as I'm sure it keeps the prices low.
In short, this is a quirky place to get a cheap and delicious meal. Also a great place to bring friends from out-of-town for a little "Seattle flavor" (what little there is left). -
Review from Aubrey P.
Seattle, WA
3/27/2011
AMAZING and unique Indian cuisine. I come here once in a while on the weekend for their thali meals. I don't bother reading the menu, since I have no idea what any of it is, and would probably not order it if you asked me. However, once it comes, it's so delicious and a new taste experience for me almost every time.
It's a great value, the staff is really friendly, and down to earth, the food is delicious.
So, yeah -the dining room is a little strange and not really like an American restaurant. The service is not the same clockwork you'd find in a more "professional" atmosphere. If you want to pay more, or you want something not as interesting, or you want to take a chance eating at a place where the staff is less sincerely concerned about your meal, you can go elsewhere. -
Review from Gloria F.
Seattle, WA
9/25/2011
I have been coming to Travelers since the winter of 1997. I love this place, the food, the atmosphere, and am always more than satisfied with the merchandise sold. I have witnessed people visiting from India praise the chef and indicate that the food reminds them of the food they grew up on. The chef clearly makes a point of changing up the Indian cuisine so that you get meals which reflect various regions and cultures within India.
Bring the same open-mindedness and inquisitiveness you would do well to bring to a tour of India and you will not be disappointed. This place is an institution and yet keeps up with the times. Capitol Hill and Seattle inhabitants benefit from the existence of this place.
Guess you could say I am a genuine fan? -
Review from Urban L.
Seattle, WA
3/16/2011
A big THANK YOU to Yelpers for helping me to find this place. I've walked by it for years, and never realized there's a cafe inside. And it's even a vegetarian cafe!
Went for the 1st time for lunch. As part of a shop, it's casual. We ordered at the counter and grabbed a table. The cashier (also the quiche baker we found out later) was helpful and friendly.
My friend got the quiche (spring asparagus & goat cheese). My rule is to order based on a restaurant's main focus, so I ordered Indian food: Chole Plate which came with chick pea curry, raita (yogurt salad), green salad, and nan. The quiche was decadent and yummy. The chole plate was fule because it had a little of everything. The The atmosphere is quiet and peaceful.
A new Cap Hill favorite! -
Review from Eli W.
1/23/2011
Travelers, definitely serves food, but it is not just a restaurant. It is more of a general store. A somewhat pricey general store
We, however, went for the food.
The food was good. However, unlike what a lot of other Yelpers are saying, the servings are not big/filling.
The flavor of the food was great. There is a variety of dishes you can order. My group and I had ordered a Thali plate, garlic naan, and a naan pizza. All fresh and flavorful.
The chai was nice and spicy delicious. For those of you who are fans of the chai found at India house, Cedars, Saffron Grill, or even Starbucks, Traveler's chai is not the same. The aforementioned places serves a sweeter chai. The chai at Travelers has a less sweet, but spicier flavor.
The service that we experienced was bad. I had ordered a 8oz cow milk chai specifically so that I could get it in a mug, not wanting to use a paper cup and plastic cap when I was going to eat there (anything larger comes in a to-go cup). What I got was a 8oz soy milk chai in a paper cup. Not such a big deal, however when you have a full interchange with the waitress about which sizes come in an actual mug, you would think it absurd for her to not get that right.
Also, the whole time we were inquiring about items on the menu and ordering she seemed agitated.
Some people had said they think the decor is authentic and created a good ambiance. There are a lot of Indian items for sale all around the eating area, however it is not really a restaurant setting and the ambiance is more towards the feeling of eating in a general store.
Good place to eat, but not such a good place for an occasion such as a date, if you care about "ambiance."
Overall, something interesting to check out, however not a place where I would be excited to visit regularly. -
Review from Elizabeth L.
Seattle, WA
12/9/2010
Delicious S. Indian cooking home-style, cozy, laid-back shop. dishes are surprisingly healthy, not too heavy. Khatte Jimikand was delicious. Friend enjoyed the spinach/walnut raita and mushroom curry with paneer. Chaat salad was a bit bland, have had better naan. Priced reasonably.
Tip: go for the Thali set specials available Friday 5-8pm, weekends 12-3/5-8pm, Thali lunch available T-F 11:30-3p. -
Review from A. B.
Burlingame, CA
7/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
ummm 2 words...BOMB DIGGITY! AMAZING food! so so so so good! LOVVVVVED it. and all vegetarian? and i am not even a vegetarian? very tasty and the staff is super helpful and knowledgeable. I even bought myself some tea's to go so I can make them at home.
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Review from Helen K.
Seattle, WA
10/8/2010
The food here sucks. I'm sorry, it's bland and lacks in seasonings. I eat lots of Indian food, home-made and restaurant and I was very disappointed in everything I ate there.
I really wanted the food to be good there, and heard from not so reliable sources that it was really good. Not to come off as racist, or anything like that- but I feel that it's catered to more of an american, or white palate.
Blah I tell you, Blah food!
But there's a lot of other great things in there that's why I gave it two stars, the food I would give it -5 stars if I could.Comment from Allen K. of Travelers 12/7/2010
I am grateful that your low opinion of our food is not… More » -
Review from Jason F.
Seattle, WA
10/13/2010
Love the atmosphere and the chai. The food was great, but the portions were a little small. That's okay, I ordered the medium "variety" plate.
I wouldn't go there expecting to get your standard large-entree Indian dish. A number of smaller dishes might fill you up, though. -
Review from Yuri S.
Seattle, WA
5/9/2011 2 Check-ins Here
It was sooooo good! The four of us got two full thalis and split them. The raita was the best I've ever had, w pear, walnut, green chilis, cilantro, cumin & black mustard seeds. The malai paneer was so creamy delicious! The lemon Indian pickle was sweet sour salty spicy explode in your mouth goodness! Ok, getting hungry again...
Listed in: Places I like
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Review from Marianna D.
Seattle, WA
7/10/2011 1 Check-in Here
The best chai tea I've ever had. Yummy coconut candy and spicy cashews....also has food. Really authentic food, drinks and decor. Went there with the Craving Capitol Hill food tour.
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Review from Matt N.
Mountain View, CA
7/8/2011
Great food @ a fair price. It's sorta cozy and cafe-like. Good for meeting friends or a very casual first date. Check it out! The sampler plate was a great way to try a bunch of different tastes. Vegetarian / vegan friendly.
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Review from Susan N.
4/8/2010
I knew that talking to random strangers at bus stops would one day pay off.
"Go to Travelers. They have some of the least expensive spices around. And they also have a cinnamon that is nothing like what you're used to. It's out of this world."
And so I ventured over.
The store is pretty big and divided into two different storefronts. The side closer to downtown has a range of Indian stuff from scarves to jewelry and music to praying objects. The other side of the store is food-oriented. Here's where you can go to pick up a variety of atypical spices. If you're looking to try your hand at cooking Indian food, this is the place to get inspiration. Let me just say, this place is the real deal.
In addition to spices, they have a menu. It's not your typical Indian restaurant. This is all vegetarian and South Indian rather than the typical North Indian seen all over the US. I ended up getting the Thali, which included an amazing vegetable curry, daal, some yogurt thing, fluffy basmati rice, a couple other things I don't remember and a strawberry for dessert. Lots of good food for $7.
The chai tea was also amazing. It's not that semi-real stuff coffee shops use. No peoples, it's the real thing. That chai masala taste with just enough of a bite to let you know it's good quality stuff.
There are other things to eat, including naan, samosas and desserts. It's definitely worth the trip up to Capital Hill. -
Review from Jason M.
5/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
It's a thali! $14 for a good amount of food - you could probably split it between two people very easily. The chai was solid, too. Bonus points for having a bollywood film playing while I dined.
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Review from Petra L.
Portland, OR
8/6/2009
This might be my second favorite store on the whole west coast (sharing the glory with the likes of New Renaissance in Portland the Bodhi Tree in Los Angeles). From beginning to end, every visit here is charming, sensual, and delightful.
Their cafe is filled to the brim with things to smell, jars, incense, bath needs, spices, and amazing vegan-friendly eats to lure you in with their heady aromas. And their chai? F'n amazing. Despite usually taking the train up (and therefore packing fairly light), I'm always tempted to buy a massive jug of the stuff. One can never have too much chai. Or enough.
The heart of my addiction to Travelers is, however, their retail space. I'm pretty sure that 80% of the incense in my home has come from there. Their prices are good and their selection is outstanding. Travelers taught me to love the scent of amber and all the new ways to incorporate the smell of Nag Champa into my life.
As a person with a scarf collection bordering on infamous, their scarf/shawl section is dangerous. I literally have to set a spending limit for myself or else I'd easily drop $400 on a few of their beautiful hand-woven, embroidered shawls. There are beautiful cheaper options, too. Many of which have *somehow* found their way into my closet. I swear I have no idea how.
They also have a fairly fabulous selection of insanely affordable earrings, for all your 4"-long, decadently-dangly accessorizing needs.
I'm pretty sure this place, combined with New Renaissance and the Bodhi Tree, is what heaven looks, smells, and tastes like. -
Review from Aevi A.
Seattle, WA
1/6/2010
I am brown n i know how vegeterian indian food should taste like... 1st thing the only place where you can get thali style food. (Thali - 1 plate with multiple dishes). The food is fresh home cooked style and with a cup of chai its the best you can ask for.
The service is a little slow (assumption)... may be because one fine chef cooks it for everyone but then the store in itself is pretty interesting as there are a lot of exclusive Indian stuff that you can find here.
I even pick up the food from their fridge to eat at home and i think that its the cheapest, fresh and tastiest that you can find anywhere around Seattle.
Jalebi wasnt that fresh the only time i picked it up but then I dont expect everything to be 5* and making jalebi isnt a childs play either.
Tip: they run out of food early. thali is available only over the weekends. They close at 8pm. Do not run their kitchen on Mondays -
Review from Arun S.
Seattle, WA
5/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place seems a little over-rated. They were surprisingly authentic and had some good options, but the food wasn't amazing. However, they were pricey and had pretty bad service (we got our naan 15 mins after our thali, which was annoying). Overall, nice people, but we won't be back - will probably make the drive down to Kent (Punjab Sweets) instead.
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Review from Rachel A.
9/30/2009
I was treated to some truly awesome Travelers take-out on a recent Friday afternoon (I think their take-out is a new offering?)
In one box, we had:
-A smaller box of delicious chana masala
-A box with a tasty avocado, tomato, lettuce salad
-A choice of rice or naan
-A cup of raita
-And a teeny, tiny cup of chutney.
....for $6! It was like Pandora's box, except crammed full of delicious Indian food instead the woes of humanity. -
Review from eric g.
Seattle, WA
4/14/2009 1 photo
This is the best Chai in town, hands down. I've been all over sampling Chai here drinking Chai there and this is the spot. What makes Travelers Chai the best is that it is spicy, consistent and warm. When I say warm I mean I roll on in and ask for a two dollar Chai, barista glady spins 180 degrees walks 4 steps and pours 12 ounces of spicy goodness from a massive hot pot of Chai that is brewed fresh every morning with percise calculations. All in 30 seconds...
If you like blondes go to L.A.,
if you like Chai go to Travelers
"Drink Chai, See God"Listed in: Best Chai
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Review from jeremy W.
Seattle, WA
6/15/2011
Good authentic foods, best masala chai ever! Great people!
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Review from Christina S.
9/7/2006
Suggest having the Marsala Chai, has a nice aroma and distinct flavor - not like the super sweet/vanilla kind sold in most coffee shops and grocery stores.
Unfortunately the store doesn't open until 10AM, wish I could stop by on my way to work.Listed in: My old neighborhood
