Even after being abroad for a year and even not ever having been to the Kati Roll location in Midtown, I had no difficulty in finding the place thanks to their signature bright orange flag that hangs proudly for all to see a block away.
I was excited- no wait, REALLY excited, when I found out that they opened one about 10 minutes (walking distance) from where I work, which is near Penn Station. That day, I was craving for something savory and homey. One of my favorite comfort Chinese foods is the scallion pancake with a fried egg on top. I guess Kati Roll is the closest thing to that.
One of the reasons why I keep coming back to Kati Roll is because of the genuine flavor. I love the extra kick that the array of spices give with each an every bite. Whether it’s the cheese, potato, meat, or even the egg, there’s something about that green sauce that they put on in the end that’s so addicting.
For me, Kati Roll is a bit overpriced, but you can buy two of the same rolls for a discount. One roll, technically, should be filling enough (if we follow portion sizing) but generally people need two to fill them up. Of course, this also depends on what type of roll you get. Obviously, the more stuffing, the more filling. I always get two and save one for dinner.
I wouldn’t recommend getting the Unda (egg) roll because it doesn’t give you a taste of the full potential of Kati Roll. Don’t get me wrong- the Unda roll is delicious, but if you’ve made your way there, then you might as well spare a few more bucks and get something more substantial.
(The Unda Aloo, from all angles)
My personal recommendations are the Aloo Masala (Potato) Roll, Achari Paneer (Cottage Cheese) Roll, and the Unda Aloo (Potato and Egg) Roll. Notice how I didn’t mention any of the meats. Well, that’s because I have yet to try any with meat. But I’m sure that I’d enjoy them all the same. I think next time I’ll venture into the meat territory.
Kati Roll always has a line, but I was pleased that their Midtown location has much more seating than the one at McDougal. Still, I had to wait about 15 minutes for my order during lunch. They have an assembly line sort of effort so considering how many orders actually go through, the service is quite decent.
Check out their menu before you go so that you don’t get lost with all the foreign sounding ingredients.
49 W. 39th St.
New York, NY 10018
Near Sixth Ave.
See Map | Subway Directions 
212-730-4280 Send to Phone
You should also check out:
- Magnolia Midtown & all of their Red Velvets (cupcake, cheesecake, cake)
- Dhaba: $9.95 for an Indian Buffet
- Arang (in Ktown)
- PJ Clarke’s: A burger review
- Bar Americain
