Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
New Jerseyans can’t live without their convenience stores. Whether it’s Wawa, QuickChek or just a local bodega, they’re a part of everyday life in the Garden State.
But Fresh Mart in Edison definitely isn’t your typical convenience store.
Sure, the shop is located in a strip mall and has the requisite aisles of candy, chips and more. Not unlike Wawa, it serves breakfast sandwiches, cold subs and hot foods like mozzarella sticks and empanadas. But next to the digital menu displaying those options is another screen with another menu. This one is is filled with a plethora of of Indian street foods.
Fresh Mart is a New Jersey-based chain owned by Mahesh Patel with five locations across Central Jersey. Patel and his family opened the Edison shop in January and run it themselves.
This particular Fresh Mart location started serving Indian street food in March and is the only location that does it.
The store is a mere 10 minutes away from Oak Tree Road, a bustling shopping district Edison with more than 400 South Asian businesses — including many eateries.
“I grew up in Edison and I know the only place to get Indian street food or any Indian food in general is Oak Tree Road,” co-owner Krushant Patel told NJ Advance Media. “We just wanted to create an option for people in this part of Edison and bring something that is more authentic and tastes like we’re back in India.”
Tacos filled with samosas (stuffed savory pastries), sandwiches with paneer (a mild, soft cheese used in Indian cooking) and dabeli (dinner rolls stuffed with potato and sweet chutneys) are some of the items customers can find on the Indian menu. And Patel says they plan to add even more Indian offerings soon.
Garlic enthusiasts (like myself) will love the garlic dabeli ($4.49). The pungent aroma of garlic wafted from the container before I even took a bite. Inside the garlic-laced dinner roll was a vibrant sweet potato filling. The first bite delivered a bold, garlicky and spicy flavor paired with a serious crunch, followed by a surprisingly sweet and soothing center. There’s also a plain dabeli option ($3.99) for those who don’t like garlic.
The samosa tacos (three for $9.99) reimagine the market’s classic samosas by opening them up and tucking them into soft corn tortillas that are topped with cheese, onions and a selection of fiery secret sauces.
Though I’m usually sensitive to spice, these tacos were so remarkable that I couldn’t stop coming back for more. The heat was intense, but every bite was worth it — I eventually grabbed a giant water bottle to contain the burn. Next time I might go for their authentic Indian chai or canned mango juice.
But the star of the show was the paneer sandwich ($4.99). This dish features paneer masala (paneer cheese mixed with a blend of spicy herbs and sauces), tomato, red onion and a slice of melty American cheese between two pieces of white bread. While paneer is mild and milky, the sauces and toppings made this incredibly flavorful.
This is the only Fresh Mart location with this food option — for now. Patel says the chain plans to eventually offer Indian street food at all of its locations.
Here’s hoping the expansion happens sooner than later. This fantastic food is too tasty and affordable to be available at just one store.
Now I can say my go-to spot for Indian food is a convenience store.
Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust.
Lauren Musni may be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @Laurengmusni. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
English