The Spice Merchant

Centrally located at The Odyssey Mall in Ballito, The Spice Merchant is a vibrant hub of authentic Indian cuisine, boasting an array of traditional dishes, savoury snacks and colourful cultural confections.

A delicious solution to our daily lunch dilemma, The Spice Merchant specialises in freshly prepared, hearty Indian meals that are neatly packaged and efficiently served for quick, on-the-go lunch breaks.

We had the privilege of visiting The Spice Merchant and sampling their stunning selection of meals for the day. Offering a rotating menu of aromatic curries, biryanis, roti rolls and toasted sandwiches, The Spice Merchant ensures that customers experience a diverse variety of flavour profiles across multiple different dishes, compared to the mundanity of a standard fixed menu.

On the day of our visit, the menu selection was particularly enticing, with offerings such as Butter Chicken Curry, Vegetable Biryani, Bunny Chows and a variety of traditional fried savouries like samoosas, spring rolls, puri pathas etc.

Served in a soft and fluffy roti, the Butter Chicken was fragrant and aromatic, with the perfect medley of spices to complement the tender chicken pieces and creamy curry gravy.

With a wide selection of crispy samoosas, we opted for the spicy potato, lamb mince and sweet corn and cheese fillings. Light, flaky and perfectly crisp, the samoosas were generously packed with delectable fillings to ensure the ideal savoury starter.

We were thoroughly impressed by the ¼ Mutton Bunny! A true hallmark of authentic Durban cuisine, The Spice Merchant delivered a superb mutton bunny chow with a generous portion of tender meat, spicy gravy and fluffy potatoes, served with a side of carrot salad.

True to its name, The Spice Merchant offers an impressive selection of traditional Indian herbs and spices, as well as popular masala mixes, marinades, pickles and prayer goods.

In addition to their freshly prepared meals, The Spice Merchant also offers an extensive selection of frozen foods for convenient cooking and entertaining at home. From trays of frozen samoosas, patha rolls and soya products, to frozen paneer cubes, puff pastry and spring rolls, the selection is seemingly endless.

From their friendly staff and efficient customer service, to their wide variety of authentic Indian cuisine, The Spice Merchant is a local hidden gem and an absolute must for adventurous foodies and spice-lovers alike!