San Diego, CA (The Joy of Food) — Tandoor, in the heart of gridlocked Mission Valley traffic hell, has the same Punjabi-inspired menu as almost every other Indian restaurant in San Diego at a slightly lower price point with the quality to match. You could do better, but you could also do a lot worse.
What seems to draw the crowds, and me, are the tandoor-cooked meats, boneless chunks of chicken tikka or tender lamb served with lentil soup, raita, loads of basmati rice, and fresh-baked, if a little overly doughy, naan.
Tasty kabab plates come garnished with mint chutney and onions and served with rice or fries. Count on the chicken to be on the under-seasoned side in anything, and it’ll be your lucky day if the dal hits a flavor note more profound than water. Some of the menu is a hit, and parts of it are something else.
If what you’re after is just the protein, there is also an à la carte option which gets you an 8-ounce portion of anything on the menu. I do this sometimes and add naan, which actually comes out a few cents more than the plate, but you get a whole piece of this and none of the dal.
On weekends there is a buffet available, and more naan. Some fancified tables with white linen tablecloths line the otherwise sterile room for indoor dining, but I’ve never actually seen anybody sitting in the place. Everyone takes their food outside to the patio which is shared with the rest of the strip-mall shops.
There’s usually a guy at the cash register taking orders and the vibe is very much ‘give me your money and get out.’ If you’re big on friendly or fawning service, this is not the place for you. They seem to care about the food, though, which through the years has remained consistent, decently priced, and is always immaculately plated whether dining in or taking it to go.
When I worked in the area I came here off and on, whenever I was feeling brave enough to put up with the traffic clusterfuck at that Friars and Frazee intersection. You all know the one I’m talking about. Tandoor may not be San Diego’s best Indian food — that’s to the north in the Miramar area — but less than ten bucks will get you enough food for two meals, and it will be wholly satisfying if you keep your expectations in check.
Written by Joy
Thanks for reading. The Joy of Food blog celebrates eating well, traveling often, and living la dolce vita. San Diego, California is home base, but thoughts are from all over. Reviews and photos help to highlight wonderful (or not) food experiences from around the world.
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