India's Tandoori, Hawthorne

We stumbled upon this North Indian restaurant after driving to Al Noor and discovered that they are closed on Mondays. With no alternatives in mind, we drove around the area until we saw a restaurant that peaked our interest and it lead us to India's Tandoori.

The restaurant was nearly empty with the exception of one couple at a table. Usually the lack of patrons is a red flag, but with my partner nearly in starvation mode, we decided to give it a try. The restaurant was dimly lite and minimally decorated. We were immediately greeted and seated by the staff and within minutes of sitting down, our water glasses were filled and the papadum arrived.

Papadum
ComplimentaryMade with lentils and spices, the papadum was warm and crispy. On the table were three jars: chili mint sauce, sweet tamarind sauce, and pickled carrots with chili. Chili mint sauce was my favorite and used it generously with the papadum.

Mango Lassi
2.50
The mango lassi was a tasty balance of mango flavor and tanginess from the yogurt.

Kingfisher Beer
3.95
A very refreshing lager to compliment with the intensely flavored dishes.

Chicken Samosa
3.95
Vegetarian samosas are always a staple, but we decided to try the chicken samosa which was surprisingly good. The filling was very moist and the peas added a touch of freshness and sweetness. The crunchy crust gave the dish some texture and tied the dish together.

Garlic Naan
2.95
Homemade naan topped with fresh garlic and cilantro cooked in a tandoori oven. Crispy around the edges and soft in the middle with a subtle garlic flavor. The perfect edible utensil.

Mixed Tandoori
14.50

The mixed tandoori arrived sizzling with lamb kabab, shesh kabab, and chicken tikka. Every type of tandoori had a distinct flavor and expertly prepared. The bell peppers and onions are sweet and crunchy. This is a good introduction to tandoori for those who can't make up their minds.

Rice Pellow
6.50

The saffron flavored basamati rice was mixed with cashews, peas, tomatoes and raisins. Very fragrant and tasty on its own and even better mixed with some curry.

Goat Curry
11.50

The goat dish is made with leg meat on the bone which gives the dish more flavor. The meat was tender and did not taste gamey. The curry had very deep robust flavors. One of our favorite dishes of the evening.

Chicken Tikka Masala
10.95

The chicken was very tender and moist. We later found out it's because the chicken is cooked in the clay oven first and then tossed in the delicious tomato sauce.

Rasamalai
3.50

This dessert was new to me and I was very excited to try it. There is a piece of fresh cheese topped with rice pudding and shaved cardamom and pistachio. It was served chilled and the pudding was thick and sweet which created a nice texture balance to the graininess of the cheese.

We later met the owner and discovered that there are a total of three locations and each owned by a brother in the family. The family is from North India and the recipes used at the restaurant are all developed by the family.

Overall, the food was very good, the service was attentive, and the ambiance was romantic and relaxing. The dishes came out at a good pace and the portions were generous. We left the restaurant more than satisfied and with enough food for two more meals. I look forwarding to dining here again and can not wait to have the goat curry again.

India's Tandoori
4850 W Rosecrans Ave
Hawthorne, CA 90250