You Tuk Tuking to me? Oh okay you win!

A FEAST of delicious tapas style dishes - from chicken lollipops to lamb curries – is available at Tuk Tuk Indian Street Food.

Our litmus test on an evening out is to succeed in making our friend and resident curmudgeon, Zara, smile.

Diners in Edinburgh's Tuk Tuk Indian Street Food restaurant.

She and a bustle of hungry customers are tempted by a cheeky evening Indian treat at this friendly and casual diner on Leven Street.

It came on to the scene in 2012, and its sister establishment on Glasgow’s Sauchiehall Street opened in January this year. Both diners are called Tuk Tuk’s after the three wheeled auto rickshaws used in Indian cities to take people short distances as a cheap and efficient method of transport. The restaurants seek to emulate the thrifty aspect of its namesake.

The colourful orange-tinged restaurants, inspired by the hawker street food stalls of India - are open every day from 12.30 to 10.30pm. They have a BYOB (Bring Your Own Booze) policy, and the Edinburgh eatery has a small supermarket just next door that helps customers take full advantage of this.

We are served water as we sit down, and are given wine glasses for a bottle of Pinot we have brought in. A friendly waiter recommends their fresh lime juice (Nimbu Pani) and some of our party order their famous ice cold lassis to get started.

An ice cold coconut lassi.

These are an Indian take on a smoothie, and blend yoghurt with fruity flavours including mango, lychee or coconut. They are reasonably priced at £3 for a glass, or £8 for a jug.

We order some poppadoms and an assorted chutney tray as we wait on everyone from our group to arrive.

Poppadoms and chutney.

All of the tapas options are £4 - £5, and three per person is recommended. We share a variety from each of the three sections of the menu – their Roadside Plates, Tuk Tuk Street Curries, and a few from their Meat Market.

Our selection of tapas dishes.

The vegetarian Puri Yoghurt Bombs are ordered for the table. Everyone enjoys these cute fried parcel snacks filled with an explosion of sev, yoghurt, tamarind, chickpeas and mint.

Other options from the first section include pakora platters, samosas, chilli noodles, and chicken lollipops - which the menu describes as ‘moreish Keralan spiced chicken wings’.

From the curry section we order the Butter Chicken, and a Chicken Korma, each are £5.45, and have plenty of succulent chicken pieces covered in mild, pleasantly flavoured sauces.

The group also enjoy a Lamb Kolhapuri with a medium spiced chilli and coriander sauce. We select a vegetarian and gluten-free option too – the Saga Paneer – made from a delicious mix of spinach and their home-made cottage cheese.

A tuk tuk in India. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.

From the final section of the menu, the meat market, we opt for the skewered Gilafi Kebabs – they are both tasty and great for sharing.

Any sauce remaining on our plates is greedily mopped up with some of their sweet peshwari naan. A steal at £2.45.

There is a tempting array of desserts and ice cream floats but we are all too full to try them. Zara hopes to leave room next time for the Gulab Jamun and ice cream – they are warm milk dumplings, pistachio and cardamom syrup, priced at £3.80.

Tuk Tuk’s certainly pays homage to the tastes, sounds and smells of the Indian street food vendors that inspired them. Affordable food, quirky décor and attentive staff make this an interesting destination but, of course, a bring your own booze option is always a draw for those who enjoy a night out that doesn’t empty their wallet.

Tuk Tuk signage. Photo courtesy of Tripadvisor.

The Scotsman food critic was evidently impressed, stating confidently: “you’d have to be a real misery guts not to love it a little bit.” We have to agree. Although Zara was still looking downcast and felt that our group should up the ante and crack more jokes next time we visit!

It’s best to reserve a table at Tuk Tuk’s – this can be done online at https://tuktukonline.com/about/ or by giving them a call on 0131 228 3322.

The SCAMPI Test 24/30

Service: 4

Cooking: 4

Atmosphere: 4

Music: 3

Price: 5

Inspiration: 4