Finding great, authentic Indian food in Nebraska isn’t really as challenging as you might think. In fact, if you’re in the Lincoln area, all you’ve got to do is stop by your friendly neighborhood gas station. Inside you’ll find what is possibly the most delicious food to ever come out of such an establishment.
From a distance, the south Lincoln Valero station and convenience store known as Suraj’s Place looks pretty typical.
Facebook/Biji’s Best
But upon closer inspection you’ll notice that it starts to look a lot more homelike. And that’s exactly how it feels when you walk in, too.
Google Streetview
This isn’t surprising, given that the building houses not only the living quarters of part of the owners’ family, but also a commercial kitchen turning out some incredible food.
Facebook/Biji’s Best
The restaurant inside the convenience store is called Biji’s Best. Biji is a Punjabi word meaning grandmother, which is fitting given that the head chef is, in fact, a grandmother.
Facebook/Biji’s Best
After sharing her traditional cooking with friends and neighbors for decades, this grandmother, Amrita Mahapatra, began sharing on a much larger scale.
Facebook/Biji’s Best
The gas station and convenience store is a relatively new fixture in Lincoln. It’s quickly become a favorite in the neighborhood, and plenty of people make a special trip here just for the delectable food.
Facebook/Biji’s Best
You won’t find a huge menu here; there are a couple of entrees and some sides every day, and the menu rotates. But don’t think too much about it - get whatever is on the menu for that day because it’s all going to be delicious.
Facebook/Biji’s Best
From crispy, savory samosas…
Facebook/Biji’s Best
…To perfectly pillowy naan, everything here is handmade from scratch, right here in the kitchen.
Facebook/Biji’s Best
You can call in your to-go order and take home dinner for the whole family; just be warned that your car will smell so delicious afterward that you might be tempted to lick the upholstery.
Facebook/Biji’s Best
If you can’t make it in for a hot meal, don’t worry. There are almost always a few ready-to-warm meals or snack packs in the cooler (provided you get there before they sell out). And if your tastes run more toward the American, there’s also a selection of handmade grab-and-go sandwiches, cookies, and other snacks.
Facebook/Biji’s Best
Suraj’s Place/Biji’s Best is located at 5640 Hidcote Drive in Lincoln. It’s open 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Keep up with specials and other news on Biji’s Best’s Facebook page.
Facebook/Biji’s Best
Google Streetview
Believe it or not, this isn’t the only world-class Indian restaurant hiding in a gas station in Nebraska. There’s another just outside of Overton that you should definitely make plans to visit – read about it right here.
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