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Shani's should not be so secret, esp. if you're on the west side and needing a chicken fix. Inside of Chapati (which is also fantastic in its own right), they make some of the most flavorful chicken in Indy. Definitely not your standard fried chicken. I tend to always get the spicy chicken sandwich (served on small naan bread), and the masala fries. There is a little wait, but only because they everything is made to order when ordered. Play some caroms while you wait!
I would give this place 5 stars if the pricing was more appropriate. The tandoori chicken burger is GREAT - unique idea, great taste, good presentation. But $9 for a little burger that won't fill most people up is very overpriced, especially since most "Nashville Style Chicken Burger" places are HUGE (and naan as the buns is much less bulk than a regular burger). This was more of a slider than a burger/sandwich. Honestly it's a good thing to try once for the experience, but if they consider pricing it to a more normal sandwich price like ~$5 (considering the tiny tiny size) it would be worth going again.
Oh, I like you, Shani. A lot. Like... I had your leftovers for breakfast this morning with blueberry pancakes and it rocked my world. Just as good the second time as it was fresh last night! For those who already adore Chapati, this is one more reason to pay a visit to the strip. Owned by the same masterminds behind Chapati, the beauty of this spot is that you can both sip chai from Chapati and chow down on delicious fried chicken from Shani's at the same time. On the chicken front, it's just as much about the spicy sauce on the side as it is the flaky, delicious fried chicken. We opted for the boneless chicken tenders. There is a dedicated space for the chicken shop that also serves as a small private event space but I'm not sure how often it's used specifically for the chicken shop. We ordered and dined on the Chapati side during our visit which is beautifully decorated and fun. Bottom line: go get that chicken.
The extra crispy tandoori chicken was legit! Crispy, flavorful and moist. We also had the garlic naan which was good, but a little salty for my tastes. The secret door to Shani's must be under construction right now because when we went you just ordered at Chapati. Which was fine with me because we were ordering from both places. The chicken was HUGE. Probably 2x the normal size of a normal wing, thigh or leg... but that just means leftovers and they conveniently leave boxes up front for the taking. It's definitely worth trying out.
What a wonderful food experience! The flavor profile for the chicken is out of this world! This definitely competes for my favorite fried chicken in Indy. We started with the Malai Bomb (deep fried potato and cheese balls). They were delicious! There are three flavors of chicken to choose from: tandoori, spicy or faridi (dry spice). They were out of the faridi when I came so I'll have to go back and try it. The tandoori and spicy were both delicious! The owner told us the spicy is sometimes too much for people but my group all liked it. Most of us ordered the chicken sandwich and we weren't disappointed. A perfectly fried chicken thigh with Indian spices sandwiches between a soft naan bun. It was incredible! They are small and most people could probably eat two. Bravo on nailing it!
This has been on my list for awhile. I've read reviews how it is connected to Chapati, through an inside door. Well... that's not the case anymore. Please don't open the door on the right thinking that is Shanis because you'll be embarrassed, like us! You can order at the Chapati counter. The Chicken was good, and I especially liked it with the mango sauce. The right amount of spicy. I meant to get the extra crispy but forgot, but the tandoori was good. The malai bombs were dense and tasty, and the masala fries were as well.
What a fantastic hidden gem with a fantastic experience. Wonderful staff cook ambience and there are two different restaurant menus to choose from. I can't wait to go back and try the Indian options! The chicken sandwich was sweet and spicy, perfect crunch, tasty "bun"! Defn a unique chicken sandwich option you need to try
Loved this place! The vibe, the staff and the food were great. Warning-food listed as spicy, is REALLY hot ! The spicy sauce is soooo tasty but literally fire in a bottle. The restaurant has dedicated almost half of its space to carom tables and couches. The other half is for the dining area. Every item we tried was fantastic and left us wanting more. The portions were generous, but there was a little sticker shock when looking at the menu. That being said, the price is pretty fair and reasonable based on the portions and food quality. Would definitely visit again!
We were a little sad that we couldn't eat in Shani's and walk through the secret wardrobe (either under construction or private party - maybe even both?) but we still had a great meal in tandem with Chapati! I had heard so many good things about the fried chicken so we ventured out here to try it. I got the Tandoori leg and thigh with masala fries. The staff warned that the Faridi was very spicy so I was fine with trying the standard. It was crispy and juicy chicken but I think the masala fries were the best! Due to the fact that the Shani's side was not open, my husband was able to order from the Chapati side too and the food was amazing. Tons of flavor and juicy chicken!
Walking in, the way they decorated is very nice. It's very inviting for dining and good convo. Maybe too calming because I had to wake the cashier up to take my order haha. I loved their spin of the chicken sandwich by using naan bread. Chicken sandwich was ok, but nothing to write home about.
SPOILER ALERT: If you are having trouble finding shani's secret kitchen, it is the restaurant that says "CHAPATI". We had the fried chicken ( tandoori spice level) with masalas fries, garlic cheese naan and falooda. For those wondering what is the seasoning on fries, it is an Indian masala called "chaat masala". You can easily find it at an Indian grocery store. We got the chicken extra crispy ( it was too crispy for my taste). You can choose the regular if you don't like it to crispy. Garlic cheese naan was great and the falooda made me nostalgic. Falooda is an Indian dessert which had ice cream, chia seeds , sev ( its like noodles), nuts and fresh other things. It is pretty sweet. And they have a CARROM BOARD in the restaurant. It is an Indian board game and we had a lot of fun playing Carrom.
5 years ago
I had been reading all about this chicken and happened to be in the area today so we tried it. It definitely lived up to the hype. First, the place was really cool inside and very very clean. Second, the staff were SO nice and helpful. They explained the options and even brought us condiments and other sauces to try. The chicken was fresh and made to order and you can tell. It was piping hot when he brought it to our table. I ordered it with the sauce which was described as a 6 out of 10 on the spicy-ness scale. I LOVE spicy food--honestly food usually isn't spicy enough for me. This wasn't Thai food, but if it were I'd describe it as "Thai hot". Probably more like an 8-9 out of 10. But I couldn't stop eating this chicken. It was spicy, but full of flavor. You know how sometimes it's just hot but lacks flavor? This was NOT that. Shani's, you have a new fan! We will be back! (This is the chicken tenders with fries). read more
11 months ago
Read the reviews and since I'm new to the city, I wanted to try...was excited to try. I called and immediately should have changed my mind. The customer service sucked. The Man was so rude. I was asking questions about the menu and he told me that he's busy and doesn't have time for my questions. I apologized and hung up. Decided to still try it so I called back this time and just ordered the whole chicken with a side I didn't know what it was. I didn't have a chance to ask bc remember he was too busy to talk. The chicken was very mediocre and dry. Idk if we ordered it wrong but I didn't taste anything special. I don't get the hype but blessings to them. read more
Shani's should not be so secret, esp. if you're on the west side and needing a chicken fix. Inside of Chapati (which is also fantastic in its own right), they make some of the most flavorful chicken in Indy. Definitely not your standard fried chicken. I tend to always get the spicy chicken sandwich (served on small naan bread), and the masala fries. There is a little wait, but only because they everything is made to order when ordered. Play some caroms while you wait! read more
Business owner information
Maisum F.
We are thrilled you loved it! Thank you so much!
I would give this place 5 stars if the pricing was more appropriate. The tandoori chicken burger is GREAT - unique idea, great taste, good presentation. But $9 for a little burger that won't fill most people up is very overpriced, especially since most "Nashville Style Chicken Burger" places are HUGE (and naan as the buns is much less bulk than a regular burger). This was more of a slider than a burger/sandwich. Honestly it's a good thing to try once for the experience, but if they consider pricing it to a more normal sandwich price like ~$5 (considering the tiny tiny size) it would be worth going again. read more
7 years ago
Oh, I like you, Shani. A lot. Like... I had your leftovers for breakfast this morning with blueberry pancakes and it rocked my world. Just as good the second time as it was fresh last night! For those who already adore Chapati, this is one more reason to pay a visit to the strip. Owned by the same masterminds behind Chapati, the beauty of this spot is that you can both sip chai from Chapati and chow down on delicious fried chicken from Shani's at the same time. On the chicken front, it's just as much about the spicy sauce on the side as it is the flaky, delicious fried chicken. We opted for the boneless chicken tenders. There is a dedicated space for the chicken shop that also serves as a small private event space but I'm not sure how often it's used specifically for the chicken shop. We ordered and dined on the Chapati side during our visit which is beautifully decorated and fun. Bottom line: go get that chicken. read more
The extra crispy tandoori chicken was legit! Crispy, flavorful and moist. We also had the garlic naan which was good, but a little salty for my tastes. The secret door to Shani's must be under construction right now because when we went you just ordered at Chapati. Which was fine with me because we were ordering from both places. The chicken was HUGE. Probably 2x the normal size of a normal wing, thigh or leg... but that just means leftovers and they conveniently leave boxes up front for the taking. It's definitely worth trying out. read more
8 years ago
What a wonderful food experience! The flavor profile for the chicken is out of this world! This definitely competes for my favorite fried chicken in Indy. We started with the Malai Bomb (deep fried potato and cheese balls). They were delicious! There are three flavors of chicken to choose from: tandoori, spicy or faridi (dry spice). They were out of the faridi when I came so I'll have to go back and try it. The tandoori and spicy were both delicious! The owner told us the spicy is sometimes too much for people but my group all liked it. Most of us ordered the chicken sandwich and we weren't disappointed. A perfectly fried chicken thigh with Indian spices sandwiches between a soft naan bun. It was incredible! They are small and most people could probably eat two. Bravo on nailing it! read more
5 years ago
This has been on my list for awhile. I've read reviews how it is connected to Chapati, through an inside door. Well... that's not the case anymore. Please don't open the door on the right thinking that is Shanis because you'll be embarrassed, like us! You can order at the Chapati counter. The Chicken was good, and I especially liked it with the mango sauce. The right amount of spicy. I meant to get the extra crispy but forgot, but the tandoori was good. The malai bombs were dense and tasty, and the masala fries were as well. read more
Business owner information
Maisum F.
Hi! Sorry, we couldn’t provide a 5 star experience. We just had to…
5 years ago
What a fantastic hidden gem with a fantastic experience. Wonderful staff cook ambience and there are two different restaurant menus to choose from. I can't wait to go back and try the Indian options! The chicken sandwich was sweet and spicy, perfect crunch, tasty "bun"! Defn a unique chicken sandwich option you need to try read more
Loved this place! The vibe, the staff and the food were great. Warning-food listed as spicy, is REALLY hot ! The spicy sauce is soooo tasty but literally fire in a bottle. The restaurant has dedicated almost half of its space to carom tables and couches. The other half is for the dining area. Every item we tried was fantastic and left us wanting more. The portions were generous, but there was a little sticker shock when looking at the menu. That being said, the price is pretty fair and reasonable based on the portions and food quality. Would definitely visit again! read more
We were a little sad that we couldn't eat in Shani's and walk through the secret wardrobe (either under construction or private party - maybe even both?) but we still had a great meal in tandem with Chapati! I had heard so many good things about the fried chicken so we ventured out here to try it. I got the Tandoori leg and thigh with masala fries. The staff warned that the Faridi was very spicy so I was fine with trying the standard. It was crispy and juicy chicken but I think the masala fries were the best! Due to the fact that the Shani's side was not open, my husband was able to order from the Chapati side too and the food was amazing. Tons of flavor and juicy chicken! read more
Walking in, the way they decorated is very nice. It's very inviting for dining and good convo. Maybe too calming because I had to wake the cashier up to take my order haha. I loved their spin of the chicken sandwich by using naan bread. Chicken sandwich was ok, but nothing to write home about. read more
SPOILER ALERT: If you are having trouble finding shani's secret kitchen, it is the restaurant that says "CHAPATI". We had the fried chicken ( tandoori spice level) with masalas fries, garlic cheese naan and falooda. For those wondering what is the seasoning on fries, it is an Indian masala called "chaat masala". You can easily find it at an Indian grocery store. We got the chicken extra crispy ( it was too crispy for my taste). You can choose the regular if you don't like it to crispy. Garlic cheese naan was great and the falooda made me nostalgic. Falooda is an Indian dessert which had ice cream, chia seeds , sev ( its like noodles), nuts and fresh other things. It is pretty sweet. And they have a CARROM BOARD in the restaurant. It is an Indian board game and we had a lot of fun playing Carrom. read more
2 years ago
Business owner information
Maisum F.
Thank you soo muchhhh!!!
7 years ago
Shattering-Crispy Skin, Succulent Meat, and Complex Spices makes Shani's Secret Chicken Indy's new Fried Chicken Heaven! Visited Chapati with a friend and unexpectedly found the "Secret" (though no longer a secret) Fried Chicken shop just off to the right of Chapati's main counter. As we walked into this side room, we were immediately greeted by Shani's Secret Chicken's only employee with a smile and lots of enthusiasm. The owner, chef, and waiter was very helpful explaining the concept of the menu, the different styles of chicken, and why it was important for him to open Shani's as the Only Halal Fried Chicken spot in Indy. Meaning all the chicken is humanely raised and handled throughout the process. He also makes everything by hand and uses fresh oil on every batch of chicken to really increase the quality of the dish. Excited, my friend and I took advantage of his special for the day and order 2 chicken breast for $10. He was even kind enough to allow us to mix two different styles/flavors for our fried chicken, so we chose the Hot (Super Crispy Breaded version) and the Faridi (a Desi Dry Rub Batterless version). WOW!!! Incredible! Cooked to perfection, the meat was so incredibly tender and moist. Couldn't believe how well he was able to perfectly brown the outside and cook the meat all the way through, WITHOUT overcooking the meat. The "Hot" version had Shattering Crispy skin, and matched well with the sweet-spicy sauce off to the side. The "Hot" version, though not spicy at all, had wonderful spice and aromatic qualities to it. Glorious! And the Faridi...Super Complex Flavors. Definitely not as crispy as the "Hot", but the wallop of flavors you get from this chicken is Next level. I asked the owner/chef/waiter and he said there were no less than 15 different spices in that blend. Ha no kidding :) Shani's a must visit destination. Although their menu is limited, the quality of the ingredients is Very High. If you're looking for a fried chicken fix, I highly recommend you go to Shani's immediately. read more
After reading about this place, I had to see what all the hype is about. Well, the secret is out now. The concept is awesome. You go to the counter of Chapati and tell them that you are there for the chicken. The radio over and let them know that you are coming. You then enter what appears to be a closet door that leads to another room. And that is when the magic begins. I was greeted by the owner, Maisum. He was awesome, super helpful and uber friendly. He went through the menu, in detail, with me. The menu is only one page but I had a hard time deciding on a meal. I wanted it all. I went with the Malai Bomb (deep friend cheesy spiced potato balls) and Tandori (breaded) chicken wings with fries. You can also get the chicken spicy (dipped in sauce) and Faridi (naked). Calling the food delicious would be a gross understatement. It had a distinct taste, not your usual fried chicken. It was supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. The secret sauce had a little kick, just like I like it and was an excellent compliment to the wings and malai bombs. I ventured and tried the sugarcane juice and I was upset. I was upset that I did not get the large one. It had like a smooth sweet melon taste. After I was done with my meal, Maisum checked to see how everything was and if there was anything that could have been better. Maisum said that he had plans to put a tv over there and more tables so that people can watch games over there (go Pacers). This place had a steady flow of customers while I was there so like I said, the secret is out. I highly recommend checking this place out if you like good food and excellent service. Note: They are not open on Tuesdays and usually only open during evening hours the other days. So plan your trip accordingly. read more
7 years ago
Oh, yum yum yum! Definitely recommend this place for its tasty food, friendly staff, and fun atmosphere. We were a little confused at first. Currently you do have to go through Chapati's doors to get to the closet doors for Shani's. We ordered Extra Crispy Spicy (fried), Faridi (dry rub), and masala fries. All were great. Even though I was going for fried chicken, I think I really liked the flavors and juiciness of the Faridi. Looking forward to coming back! read more
7 years ago
I'm originally from the Deep South, so most fried chicken here inevitably disappoints me (hello, Crispy Bird). Shani's was delicious! I ordered a spicy wing and thigh with fries, extra crispy. The chicken came out hot, crispy, and fresh-fried. The spicy sauce is more watery than thick, lightly coating the chicken with flavor. I definitely recommend ordering it extra crispy--it makes it super crunchy, like Korean fries chicken. The service was great: the waiters made sure everything was to our liking, and checked to make sure it wasn't too spicy for us (it was definitely spicy, but not too spicy for us). The interior was no frills, but clean. The Chapati's menu looked yummy, too. My only complaint was that the chicken takes a while to come out. That's because they fry up each piece when it's ordered, instead of keeping it a pre-fried stash in the back. That's ok with me! We ordered some apps to keep us company until the chicken came out. Expect to wait a little bit if you order chicken, but it's good stuff. We'll definitely be back. read more
I really enjoyed this new concept in dining: Combine a Hoosier favorite (deep fried chicken and fries) with food that is prepared Halal to create a "gateway" into the world of food that uses tandoori and masala flavors. I get that some people want "authenticity" and that's fine if you have a built in market for that. But how do you create a market if it doesn't exist? Give people something that will take the fear out of trying something new! Brought to you by the family that runs Chapati (check them out too!) and Shani's Fashion Boutique and Salon, it looks like they have another potential hit with this place. During my visit (Feb '19), they are in a soft opening with their food set, but the transformation of their space is still in progress. So, they still don't have a sign up out front which can be confusing. Simply walk into Chapati and either ask where Shani's is, or go through the door on the right wall that leads into the space. They currently only have evening hours, but once fully open, will expand to lunch too! We met the owner who was very enthusiastic and friendly. He took time to show us around and explain his vision for the place while we waited on our food. There are a few places to sit during this phase, or you can sit over in Chapati's finished space if you like. The menu is pretty simple: You can get individual selections of deep fried chicken legs and thighs, boneless tenders, or a chicken sandwich. You can specify if you want the "Classic" (regular Hoosier flavor), Tandoori, Spicy, or Faridi which has a family blend of spices. You can also get Masala Fries (crisper and another family spice blend), Malai Bomb (deep fried potato mozzarella cheese balls), or the Garlic Cheese Naan as sides. Pretty simple and quick to order and the wait is short. My wife who is not a fan of food that uses curry or "exotic" spices was talked into trying the food with me, but she is a good sport and ordered the Classic Chicken Sandwich. It comes served on a naan bun which she thought was a nice touch. Tasty flavor when combined with the lettuce/pickle/mayo. Maybe a touch over cooked, but I thought it tasted fine. We shared the Garlic Cheese Naan which I would say is a MUST TRY! It looks like a small thin crust cheese pizza (it fills a large 'to go' box), but uses a soft naan bread for the crust and is loaded with gooey (in the best sense of the word) mozzarella cheese. You get a spicy sweet and sour sauce that packs a bit of heat to dip your naan in. They slice it in long strips that I would suggest making one more cut across the center to make them more manageable. The flavor is SOOO good. My wife, who doesn't like spicy heat even tried it and thought the savory cheese and naan flavors tempered the heat to where she was glad to share the naan with me. I went with the Tandoori style leg and thigh with the Masala Fries. At first, I thought I got the wrong order. It looked just like Classic fried chicken. But when I bit into it, I could see the outer layer of the chicken under the breading had the expected reddish color where the spices were. As you might guess, the flavor was somewhere between the two styles so that it would make a good transitional option for folks new to the flavors. The chicken was tender and moist inside, crunchy on the outside...just about as good as you could hope for! The Masala fries are more crisp than the standard fries you get most places. They don't offer a plain fry option since they are afraid they will seem tasteless compared to the other food, so they only offer fries with their family blend of spices. The spices are mild but after you eat all of them, you will become more aware of the flavors. The only suggestion I would make is that they need to watch temperatures/order size so that all of the fries are cooked uniformly. Very good! If you like supporting local and exploring new businesses, make a point to swing by and give this place a try. You can even bring friends who aren't willing to try new flavors...but they might surprise you when they take a bite of yours! Review #2224 read more
Business owner information
Maisum F.
We truly appreciate your visit and your amazing feedback! We can tell…
3 years ago
Unbelievable! I was not a spicy chicken fanatic prior, but this meal has changed me. I was blown away with the crispness and flavor! This menu is featured inside the Chapati restaurant (you order it at the same counter) which is an amazing Pakistani restaurant as is. When I got there with my friend they were out of the chicken sandwich but the employee suggested doing two chicken breasts which I gladly ordered since I'm not a huge dark meat eater. I went for sauce on. Employee suggested it was a level 6 (I assume out of 10) which I agree with. It's super flavorful with a medium heat level (think slightly less than the red salsa at Chipotle). I ordered the garlic naan which I have had before and love. The cucumbers and pickles they serve with the chicken are the perfect addition. I will be back very soon with more friends! read more
3 years ago
6 years ago
Excellent chicken sandwich - may be just a little pricey but excellent. Two pieces of boneless chicken with lettuce and Mayo between two pitas. read more
4 years ago
Business owner information
Maisum F.
Appreciate your kind words! Thanks!
6 years ago
4 years ago
Business owner information
Maisum F.
Thank you so much! We are happy to make you happy!
4 years ago
6 years ago
Carried out here tonight, and we were not disappointed! I got the thigh and wing tandoori fried chicken with masala fries, and my husband got the spicy fried chicken with masala fries. We both LOVED the chicken. It had awesome flavor, was nice and crispy (even for carry out), and was super juicy and delicious. The spicy dipping sauce is really great too. My only complaint would be that the masala fries didn't have the seasoning evening distributed on the fries. Most of the fries had very little seasoning on them. The fries that got well coated in the seasoning were delicious. Overall, we were very happy with our dinner and so glad we tried it! read more
4 years ago
Their own website, their Facebook page, yelp, and google all say they are open until 9:30pm. I drove from all the way across town to find them closed. Update your website! Ridiculous. read more
7 years ago
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More info about Shani's Secret Chicken
4930 Lafayette Rd
Ste G
Indianapolis, IN 46254
Lafayette Square
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(317) 405-9874
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https://www.shanissecretchicken.com
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