Yo Poznan!

After our recent review of Maharaja Indian Restaurant on Gwarna Street in the city center, we couldn’t resist wandering across to their sister spot, Maharaja Mart. Think of it as a mini-India in the middle of Poznań, stocked with everything under the Indian sun—spices, rice, sauces, snacks, even stuff you didn’t know you needed until you saw it.

But let’s be real. Sometimes you want Indian food fast. No marinating overnight, no grinding spices like a Bollywood grandma, just straight heat-and-eat goodness. Lucky for us, Maharaja Mart has a stash of ready-meals that only need warming up.

And because we’re not just a pretty face (though we try), we decided to launch a new Poznań Daily experiment: Office Bake Reviews. Basically, we grab Indian ready-meals, cook them up in our tiny office kitchen, and tell you if they slap.

First Up: Dum Aloo by Ashoka

Quick background: Ashoka is a heavyweight brand when it comes to Indian ready-meals—kind of the Real Madrid of curries. Dum Aloo is baby potatoes simmered in a spicy tomato gravy with just the right masala kick. It’s vegan, gluten-free, and comes with a “medium spice” warning. We nuked it on our office hob instead of the microwave, because we’re fancy like that. Flavor? Warm, tangy, tomato-rich, with potatoes that soak up the spice like champs.

Sidekick: Bombay Biryani

No Indian meal is complete without rice, and this one brought basmati royalty to the party. The Bombay Biryani comes with mildly spiced veggies, also vegan and gluten-free. It’s aromatic, a little earthy, a little floral (thanks, basmati), and feels like comfort food with flair. Basically, a hug in a box.

Essential: Garlic Naan

We couldn’t resist grabbing a pack of garlic naan. According to the label, it was baked in a tandoor clay oven. According to our microwave, it was ready in 90 seconds. Was it perfect? Not quite. But warm, garlicky, chewy goodness on the side? Yes, please. And yes, we ditched forks. Indian food without eating with your fingers should be illegal.

The Verdict

We loved it! For under 50 PLN, we fed two hungry editors a full Indian spread that actually tasted legit. No sad “plastic curry” vibes here—just flavorful, filling dishes that scratched that Indian itch without leaving the office.

So here’s our tip: next time you crave Indian food but don’t want to leave Netflix, stock up at Maharaja Mart. They’ve got hundreds of imported products, and we’ve already filled our office shelves like it’s Diwali. Stay tuned for the next Office Bake Review—because if it’s edible and microwavable, we’re on it. Seriously tasty!

Maharaja Mart – ul. Gwarna 9 (right across from Maharaja Restaurant)