Samosas and shopping at OM Lifestyle + Café

Traditional Indian music plays softly in the background when you enter. The small space is practically bursting with a colorful array of jewelry and accessories, clothing, linen and home décor.

Towards the back there is a small dining area, next to a tiny kitchen that serves home-style Indian cuisine. This is OM Lifestyle + Café, and it’s a one-of-a-kind one-stop-shop, a whirlwind look at Indian culture.

Proprietor Suman Gogna is originally from New Delhi, but has been a resident of the Philippines for many years. “I began to bring in things from my travels to India in 1999,” she says. “My friends started taking notice and pretty soon, it just grew into a business of handpicked Indian products, such as fabrics, clothing, accessories and much more.”

While the enterprise began in Suman’s home, she eventually decided to expand and moved it into a retail space in San Juan. “We wanted to reach more people.”

Up for grabs: Authentic merchandise from India. There are all sorts of trinkets, gift items, fabrics, custom jewelry inlaid with semi-precious stones, scents, men’s shirts and ladies’ gowns and many more.

“Through the years we’ve become known for our items,” Suman says. “People can let us know what they want and we can source them from all over in India, not just one city. My clients have come to trust my taste that I have become sort of their personal shopper.” Besides reselling merchandise, the store also comes up with their own designs for some of the items, which they then have made in India.

The café: Suman says she used to cook Indian meals for her friends, which they loved. The restaurant component became a natural extension of the store. They serve a limited but no-nonsense menu comprised of traditional Indian dishes that suits the Filipino palate. “It’s not too spicy or hot, but we don’t scrimp on the ingredients, especially the spices that give the food its flavor,” Suman says.  

What to order: Start with Samosas (P40), which is similar to an empanada but stuffed with spiced vegetables. The crust is crunchy, but once you hit the inside, the filling is warm and tasty. Drizzled with a special sauce it’s the ideal appetizer for the main event.

Must-try: the the Buttered Chicken (P180), a dish similar to our own Chicken Afritada, but with fuller flavors in a curry-like sauce.

There’s the Paneer Tikka (P180), which is a type of Indian cheese; Mutton Curry (P200); and Chicken Tikka (P180), which is marinated overnight in yogurt and spices, resulting in meat quite unlike the way you’ve had it before.

Filipinos must have their rice, of course, and OM serves either Chicken Biryani (P150), or Cumin Basmati (P120). You can also have the mains with Chapati (P30), which is a type of wheat bread.

End the meal with a sweet Gulab Jamun (P45), which are like moist yema balls. The café also serves drinks like Lassi (P80), a traditional Indian yogurt drink, and Masala Chai (P80), a tea with milk, cloves and other spices.

The overall experience: There are many Indian-themed restaurants in the city, but none captures the quirky, homey atmosphere quite like OM. Be advised though that the place is tiny; there are seats good for perhaps 10 to 12 people at a time, so it’s best to call ahead if you’re craving for those Samosas and curry.

The space is open for private lunches or dinners, as well as special food orders. There’s also the added pleasure of getting to know Suman and her daugher Anjie, who, if you’d let them, will be glad to chat with you about the store, their travels and life in India. 

OM Lifestyle + Café is located at the second floor of Fox Square Building #53 Connecticut Street, Greenhills, San Juan. For inquiries and reservations, call 0947-8922293. Visit their website, omlifestyleandcafe.com

Paul John Caña is the managing editor of Lifestyle Asia magazine and is a live music geek. Email him at pjcana@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter @pauljohncana