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Indian? Mexican? Treat yourself to both at Tikka Tacos

by Robin Garr » Wed Dec 06, 2023 7:19 am

Indian? Mexican? Treat yourself to both at Tikka Tacos

Behold, the Bollywood taco! More Indian than Mexican, it features bites of chicken tikka and avocado filling Indian paratha flatbread with taco toppings added.

Image

What is tikka? Based on a Punjabi word meaning “small pieces of meat,” it’s an Indian dish of marinated, tandoor-roasted meat. Eat them right up, or serve them in a creamy sauce as tikka masala.

Okay, then, what’s a taco? You’re kidding me, right? Everyone knows what a taco is.

But what happens if for some inexplicable reason someone decided to put these two things together? Shazam! Now we’ve got Tikka Tacos, a curiously delightful new spot on Preston Street near Audubon Park.

Opened recently in the former home of New Wave Burritos, Tikka Tacos promises us “Indo-Mexi Fusion.”

“Indo-Mexi Fusion”? This is a combination of words that one rarely hears. But they already had me at “Tikka” and “Taco.” I love Indian food, and I love Mexican food. How could I not leap in the car and head straight for this wondrous new experience?

Tikka Tacos’ narrow, windowless room receives little daylight, but walls painted adobe yellow and pale sky blue with pops of red chiles brighten the space. A small bar with a half-dozen tall seats fills one side of the room.

Our friendly server, who may also have been the owner, told us that the idea to merge Mexican and Indian fare came out of a conversation over a few drinks that paid off. An effort to train one chef in both cuisines didn’t work out, though, so, he said, a Mexican and an Indian cook work together in the kitchen.

The menu does lean more toward tikka than taco, but both cuisines are front and center, variously separate or blended. ...

Read my full review on LouisvilleHotBytes,
https://www.louisvillehotbytes.com/tikka-tacos

You'll also find this review in LEO Weekly's Food & Drink section this week:
http://www.leoweekly.com/category/food-drink/

Tikka Tacos
3311 Preston Highway
918-4606
Google business page: https://bit.ly/TikkaTacos

Noise Level: It was sporadically noisy in the crowded room, especially when Imagine Dragon's pop rock hit Believer hits the sound system. Sound levels averaged just under 70dB, with conversation-blasting peaks to 81.9dB.

Accessibility: The restaurant appears accessible to wheelchair users, but rough and uneven surfaces and concrete car bumper blocks outside the front entrance can make for a treacherous trip from your car to the door.
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Mary Anne

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Re: Indian? Mexican? Treat yourself to both at Tikka Tacos

by Mary Anne » Sun Dec 31, 2023 9:34 am

This place is good, really really good. The owner, Shawn Aranha, is both gracious and generous. I went in with two friends, and between us, we sampled a lot of the menu. The Bollywood tacos are perfect, and that cilantro sauce...beyond good, I'd like to take that home in a big jar. The Chicken 65 was perfect (leftovers will be perfect in a tortilla). I had paneer tikka masala, my go-to, and it was beautifully seasoned with lots of paneer. One of my dining partners had the chicken tikka masala and licked the plate clean. My other friend, someone who "isn't a fan of Indian" ordered a Philly Cheesesteak that she deemed great and got to try a small portion of butter chicken thanks to Shawn, who was intent on converting her. He succeeded. Garlic naan is a must. We will return...soon! It'd be a good place for a Hot Bytes offline gathering.
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Robin Garr

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Re: Indian? Mexican? Treat yourself to both at Tikka Tacos

by Robin Garr » Sun Dec 31, 2023 4:29 pm

Mary Anne, I'm glad you liked it. It definitely made me happy!

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