This place was recommended by a family. We tried and we were not disappointed. It was ono!! One of the best indian food I have tried in the island. We will definitely go back again. Super clean inside. Pleasant waiters, and consistent on always checking on customers. Always refilling water. Even taking away dishes. They don't wait last minute. I really like their service! read more

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Loved this place!! Servers were very nice. We got the pani puri, lamb vindaloo, and tadka saag. The pani puri came with 6 pieces and was a fun crunchy and soft appetizer. Slightly expensive in my opinion. The lamb vindaloo was so good. I am typically not a fan of lamb as I am nervous that it will taste gamey. However, this was perfectly seasoned and had no gamey taste. You are also able to adjust the spice to your tolerance level and we got mild. Although the waiter suggested medium spice for optimal flavor. We wanted to make sure everyone in our party could eat it and enjoy, so they gave us extra spice on the side. The tadka saag was a spinach curry with a splash or cream. We got it with chicken. This was my favorite curry. Very creamy and silky which was similar to the base of palak paneer. We paired all of these with their garlic naan which was the perfect addition. Although on the pricy side, I will be back again for more. read more

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Had dinner here twice while visiting the Waikiki area. The food is excellent, rivaling joints in the SF Bay Area. The veg momos are especially good and the fact that they're not laced with paneer in the filling is a huge plus. The garlic naan, roti, saag curry, and daal (both yellow tadka and the daal makhani) are well worth ordering. As of this review each entree comes with a small (personal-sized) bowl of rice. Prices you'll definitely pay the Hawaii/Waikiki tax. And seating is quite limited. Try to come with 4 or less people otherwise you'll be waiting a real long time for a table. Take-out is a valid and well-utilized option. read more

Tadka Indian Cuisine - Daal makhani, mix veg curry, rice. - Indian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Tadka Indian Cuisine opened up 2 years ago in McCully Shopping Center, serving authentic curries, vegetarian and rice dishes. I loved their food before, and went back recently to celebrate my own birthday. Their butter chicken and garlic cheese naan are both 5/5; rich, decadent, with impressive cheese pull from the naan itself. Their mango lassi was also very delicious, with a strong mango flavor and thicker texture like kefir. Gulab Jamun was so so (4/5). I wished it was a bit bigger like Kamana Kitchen on the Big Island. Overall, very delicious. You will be paying about $20 for entree items but the curries come with rice which was nice. Would definitely return again in the near future. read more

Tadka Indian Cuisine - Exterior - Indian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Wonderful flavors and great service. A great smallish space with a wonderful menu and delicious food! Started with two delicious appetizers, the pari puri and fried cauliflower. Great tasty bites! Then the lamb in a coconut curry and saag pannier. Wow the flavors were so rich, lamb tender and delicious. This will be our new favorite for Indian food. read more

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Small Indian spot right in McCully shopping center on the bottom floor. Parking in the center is tight and gets busy around 6pm. Met my friend for dinner at 5:45, right before the dinner rush and go sat right away. They sat 3 people after us and took their order first while we sat there for another 5 mins, but they always kept our water filled and we didn't wait long for food. There's about 10 tables inside and at 6:30 there was a line of people waiting. It's BYOB and has a max allowable time at the tables (signs on the door). Walk ins and whole party must be present to be seated. Onto the food. I got the butter chicken "vindaloo" spicy. It had great flavor, and was spicy but I could've had hotter! (I have a high spice tolerance, same with my friend). My friend got the shrimp vindaloo, same spice level, and enjoyed it. It is her favorite Indian spot! I wish they gave more chicken I had a lot of sauce left over but ate all the rice - and they asked if we wanted more rice but I'm not sure if it's extra $ or not. Naan smelled and looked great - perfect to dip in the extra sauce - however I am gluten free so I was just envious. Overall, not a bad experience. read more

Tadka Indian Cuisine - Butter Chicken & Shrimp Vindaloo - Indian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Excellent every time! Love the chicken tikka masala with garlic naan. The lamb tandoori is amazing too!!

Came here craving comfort food and flavor--and wow, this place delivered on everything. The chai masala milk tea was perfectly spiced and creamy, not overly sweet, with that warm ginger-cardamom kick that feels like a hug in a cup Easily one of the better chais I've had. The pani puri was a highlight--crispy shells, tangy mint water, and that addictive balance of sweet, sour, and spicy Fresh, vibrant, and totally crave-worthy. We also ordered the chicken momos, which were juicy and well-seasoned, with a soft wrapper and great dipping sauce. You can tell they're made with care The garlic butter naan came out hot, fluffy, and brushed generously with garlic and butter--dangerously easy to eat on its own (but even better soaked in curry) Speaking of curry, the Goan chicken curry was rich, aromatic, and layered with flavor. Slightly tangy, mildly spicy, and deeply comforting--this was the star of the meal Overall, everything tasted fresh, authentic, and thoughtfully prepared. Definitely a spot I'll be coming back to when I'm craving bold flavors and cozy vibes. Highly recommend! read more

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It was raining and I missed my turn for the restaurant I was headed to. I ended up at McCully Shopping Center. I saw there was an Indian restaurant and decided to check it out. It's a charming place. It is small and intimate. I was greeted by staff and shown to my table right away. The menu was extensive and offered items I have not seen at other Indian restaurants. I ordered butter naan, tandoori chicken and hot tea. Everything was delicious and I like the green sauce that came with the chicken. The tandoori chicken was served on a sizzling platter. The servings were good portions and good for sharing. I must have arrived early as there were few diners when I arrived. When I left the place was packed. Good for a date night and a group of people. I don't normally give 5 stars but this place deserves it. read more

Tadka Indian Cuisine - Tandoori chicken - Indian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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I visited on a Friday night and my group of 3 was promptly seated! The service was excellent, everyone was friendly. The food was delicious, and we really enjoyed the samosas. The best spot for Indian food in Honolulu! I will be back. read more

Over half of the customers spoke in foreign tongues of India or sounded like Dell technical support. In other words, the best Indian eatery on the Island. Three things sets Tadka apart: - spices used in the right amount to provide flavor. - ghee used sparingly. The food is not overly rich. - salt used sparingly. Steamed chicken momo delicately seasoned with onion, garlic and forward cumin. Well steamed. toothsome wrapper, juicy filling. They pair perfectly with the accompanying creamy tomato chutney. The rogan josh (lamb), beautifully aromatic and rich. Cardamom forward with notes of cinnamon, cloves, and ginger amongst a plethora of others. The lamb, well braised, fork tender and moist. The saag (chicken) taste like a combination of both spinach and a mustard green having more complexity but less bitterness than either alone. Again, just the right amount of spices in the right ratios to maximize the flavor. Cumin, coriander, turmeric notes. The braised chicken, fork tender. Chicken biryani solid. Huge portion and again, well seasoned and flavored. The tangy raita is a must adding complexity and making each bite different. The only issue, the chicken was dry. Outstanding naan. Puffy and airy on one side, gently crisp on the other. It's hard to resist devouring the entire thing as soon as it hits the table. The tangy yogurt within makes the flavor of the curries and stews even more pronounced when using it as a mop. Finally, a mango lassi to wash it all down. Outstanding. Lots of tangy yogurt to offset the sweetness of the mango. Note: Thanks Kathy A for the tip about going around 13:00. Plenty of parking and open tables with no wait time. Very friendly and efficient service. Absolutely enjoyable and highly recommended. read more

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I have a friend who is from India, born and raised there, and just back from visiting his family in Annai Nagar, Pallam it was because of his recommendation we're trying this restaurant. When you walk in and half of the tables are occupied by people of Indian persuasion you know you're going to have authentic cuisine. Came about 12:50, a fantastic time for lunch because the work crowd is done and grabbed a table for two. Smallish restaurant with seven tables for two or four people and one large round table for six to eight. Breezy and cool inside with the wonderful fragrance of spices filling the air. The food is excellent, the service is great. The dishes are shareable but not family style...maybe two or three. I didn't take a pic of the naan but it was delicious too. Those Pani Puri were one bite wonders. Served with a sauce you squirt inside then pop those little crispy spheres in your mouth or you can draw it out into two bites. I could have eaten an order all by myself but since there were two of us I didn't. I was surprised by the Samosa Chaat as the crispy fried samosas were cover in a sauce full of potatoes, chickpeas and regular peas then swirled with spicy chickpea curry balanced out with yogurt. Outstanding flavors. The Vindaloo was fiery hot as advertised. The menu shows four chili peppers next to the name and it's no joke. I ordered it with Lamb and thought it a bit chewy but that's a preference. We finished with Gajar Haluwa, a sweet pudding type dish made with carrots, cardamom and finely chopped nuts. This restaurant is on the bottom level of McCully Shopping Center. Plenty of parking depending on the time of day. The restaurant does ask for a 70 minute limit during peak dining times which wasn't a problem for us as the food was served quickly and we didn't linger after. read more

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We went on a Monday at noon and got a table right away in the small dining room. I was very appreciative that they did not jam the tables closely together. It made it easy to get to your seat, and they needed the room to take orders. There's a good-sized menu, and a special, which made it difficult to choose. We had to try the pani puri after seeing it and reading about it. I was surprised it was served a bit cool; for some reason, I expected it to be hot. But my friend and I both enjoyed the crunchy bite of curry flavor. I would order this again. The garlic cheese naan was fresh and soft and good, but I felt as though I was eating pizza, which threw things off a bit. The fried vegetarian samosas were a miss. (They were unrocognizable as samosas.) Neither of us cared for them. I wish we had gotten regular samosas. But this is a matter of taste. My friend had goan coconut lamb curry. She wanted some spice, so they made it mild-medium, but she ended up wanting it to be more spicy. She said the dish was fine. I enjoyed my goan coconut chicken curry, and was happy that it really was mild per my request. I want to taste ingredients, not heat. Heat numbs my tongue and dulls the flavor. I didn't want white rice so I was wishing for more curry. I asked if a side of chicken biryani was possible, but it wasn't. I know restaurants don't usually do that, but I suggested it. The only real drawback was the sticker shock when I got the check. That was one expensive lunch for two, and that was without drinks. We drank only water. read more

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It's rare I get to eat Indian food but fortunately Yelp GF let me have my pick of restaurant for dinner. The last time I ate Indian food was in India so I was pretty excited for the meal. I heard lots of good things about Tadka Indian Cuisine so we met there. It's located on the ground floor at McCully Shopping Center. They do not take reservations and it's first come, first served. The restaurant dining area has tables set up to accommodate parties of about 2-6 people. Interior is fairly plain but they do have a cashier area that's modern. After reading some fellow Yeeps reviews, I had an idea of what I wanted to try. Since it's only two of us, we couldn't order it all. Well...we could but that's a lot of leftovers lol. After narrowing down what we wanted to try, we ended up ordering Pani Puri, Lamb Vindaloo, Lamb Boti Kabab and Garlic Cheese Naan. The kitchen didn't take too long to get our order out. They showed us how to eat the Pani Puri as you have to squeeze a cold liquid from a bottle into the shell before consumption. It's a fun and refreshing appetizer to start off our meal. The Garlic Cheese Naan and Lamb Vindaloo came out next. Their Garlic Cheese Naan was huge and smelled amazing. It tasted better than it looked! We both thoroughly enjoyed that. The Lamb Vindaloo had a good portion of lamb inside and the curry came with a nice spice to it. Personally, I would have liked it spicier but it was overpowering for Yelp GF as is. It also came with a serving of rice. The Lamb Boti Kabab came out last on a sizzling platter. We asked for medium rare but it was more medium/medium well and a little tough. Yelp GF enjoyed the sauce it came with it. It was a lot of food and we had to take home the left over Lamb Vindaloo. They gave us a take out container and the check before asking if we wanted dessert. We asked them for the menu again to order dessert and the servers looked slightly annoyed as they have people outside waiting for a table. After a quick glance. We ordered a Gulab Jamun to share since two dessert items were not available and one order or Garlic Cheese Naan to go. It's BYOB so Yelp GF enjoyed another beer while we waited on dessert. When it finally arrived, I took my photo then took a bite. Definitely don't do that! It's HOT! Wait a bit for it to cool down or your mouth will hate you lol. It's hard to describe it but it was good. The check came out shortly after but they forgot the Garlic Cheese Naan. Since people were waiting outside, we just decided to forget about it and pay to not annoy the staff more. The customer service was mostly friendly aside from the end of the meal. They do have their own restroom and it's BYOB so it's a good option for Indian cuisine in the McCully area. read more

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Solid choice for Indian/Nepalese cuisine in Honolulu! Conveniently located on the ground floor of McCully Shopping Center (in the former Thai Lao space, RIP), with plenty of parking. Got there at 5pm on a Saturday thinking we could beat the dinner rush, but there was already a long line and we waited around 40 minutes to be seated. But by around 6pm there were a few empty tables, so looks like we just mis-timed their dinner rush. Started off with some appetizers including the pani puri (which you don't see on many menus in Hawaii!) and vegetable momos (great option for my pescatarian dining mate). Both were good. Nothing mind-blowing, but good. Then came my favorite menu item by far, the mango lassi. Served in a huge beer mug and topped with a good helping of pistachio pizzazz, it was the biggest and fanciest lassi I've ever had. Delicious. For my main, I had the most basic of basic American orders: Butter chicken and a garlic cheese naan. I know, it's the chicken Alfredo of Indian restaurants, but I also order chicken Alfredo all the time. So sue me. Butter chicken was deliciously creamy and just the right amount of spice. Generous portion that I could've easily turned into 2 meals, but it was so good I accidentally stuffed my face until my take-home leftovers portion was just a small cup. All curries also come with a side of rice, which was served together in 1 big shared bowl for the table. The garlic naan was also chef's kiss, but I'll forego the cheese next time, which to my surprise was a generous heaping of mostly unmelted Mexican blend unceremoniously sprinkled on top. Service was quick and friendly and the general atmosphere was lively with everyone in the place clearly enjoying their meals. There was a posted 90-min dining time limit due to the long lines. I didn't actually see it get enforced, but looking at the sign throughout the meal did make me feel a bit anxious. All in all, a great addition to the food landscape of Honolulu, and I'll definitely be back to properly explore the menu. read more

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Lunch at McCully Shopping Center in Honolulu, Hawaii... I've seen photos and read reviews for Tadka Indian Cuisine and had time to try it for myself! Located on the ground level, I appreciated the free shared parking lot and friendly, welcoming service in the almost full restaurant. The air-conditioning, clean environment, and background music were pleasant! Thanks for refilling my water glass... I didn't have to ask! I ordered the Butter Chicken and Garlic Naan. Both were delicious! I finished all of the complimentary rice and was offered more... but I didn't accept. I was so full since I dipped the garlic Naan into the leftover sauce from my butter chicken dish. I'm so glad that it wasn't spicy! I was able to devour everything! I'll be back! read more

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Intimate dining room, but worth it if you can get in there. Bathrooms clean, and the service is very attentive and quick. We ordered the chicken biryani, pani puri, malai kofta, transitional and vindaloo curries, naan - of course, AND samosa chaat - the star of the show. read more

Tadka Indian Cuisine - Chicken Biryani, lamb Vindaloo, Malai Kofta, Mango Chutney - Indian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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After a long flight and rainy Hawaii day, I was craving warm spicy Indian food. Tadka was about a ten minute walk from where I was staying, and decided to give it a try. And I'm so glad I did! To start off, I got the mango lassi and wow was it delicious I could have finished multiple of them. It was so delicious and creamy and strong mango flavor. For food I started with garlic nan to dip in the food. I also got the chicken tiki masala and goan coconut curry. I got them both medium. The food came out quickly and hot. The server was super friendly and checked up on us often. I loved both curry's and couldn't pick a favorite. They were both full of spices and flavor and was filling. The garlic nan was perfect to dip in the curry. I also liked how we were served extra rice when they saw we were low. Overall the place was great and welcoming and the food and service was amazing. It is definitely worth a try when craving Indian food. read more

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I am very new to Indian food. So ofcourse I had questions which dishes was good. Our servers helped us so much, they were sweet and gave recommendations. Our waters were also always filled. They came and checked on us after our food was served to our table. Overall experience was 10/10. It's a nice shop inside, clean colorful and comfortable seating. Pani puri was nice and light. Love that crunch. Garlic cheese naan omg, so good and you dip in that butter chicken. Amaaaaazing! Butter chicken, so tasty the perfect flavor. Goan shrimp was a light coconut curry flavor. Mango lassi, yes please!!! Keep up the amazing food and amazing customer service!!! read more

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Dreams do come true...I've been dreaming about trying Tadka Indian Cuisine for months. After three failed attempts due to timing (no fault of the restaurant), we finally made it to a corner table for a Fourth of July lunch date. And it was everything I hoped for and more! Let me say I hyped this place up in my head so much my taste buds were expecting something extraordinary. Every dish exceeded their expectations and mine. Had to get the pani puri because I've never tried this delicious delicacy. It was a perfect start to the meal. My husband described it as a lighter version of samosas. It's way more fun to eat than samosas. Squeeze a little sauce and pop it in your mouth for a bite (or two) of crunchy, savory, freshness. The sizzling momo was the next dish. As a pescatarian I FOMO on sizzling dishes and dumplings. So when a dish offers me both, there is no way I can resist. We licked the platter clean, figuratively not literally because again 'sizzling.' The momo was sitting in a bubbling sauce that's hard to describe so just go to Tadka and try it. The onions and bell peppers were a crunchy accompaniment to the softness of the momo making for a perfect combination of taste and texture. Next was curry. They have so many choices and about a dozen vegetarian options. I chose a traditional curry with shrimp. You can pick your protein on the non veggie curries. All the curry comes with rice. The rice had a buttery sweetness to it. So simple and so good! And we ordered a butter naan because that's the best way to soak up all the curry. And you'll want to soak up ALL the curry. The 'flavor' was warm, rich, savory. The combination of spices felt both exotic and comforting--different yet familiar. By now my taste buds are screaming with delight and begging for more. My stomach is saying save some for next time. And there will be many more next times! The food is outstanding, the service is courteous and efficient, the atmosphere is homey and cozy. In all, it's a place where dreams do come true! Ok, at least my dreams anyway. read more

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We were lucky because we went to tadka on weekday at about 7:15 hoping to get a table knowing how busy they are. We were on the waiting list for a very short time. The food was served quickly and was soooo delicious. Also the service was great! read more

Only ever had leftovers from the in-laws until I recently had the chance to go with my friend group to Tadka. A bit away from home as my fiance and I are traveling from the west side but oh soooo good. I knew what I wanted before I even got here, perusing the menu on Yelp along with all the pictures of curries and tandoori style foods. Keeping it simple with the traditional chicken curry, rice, and garlic cheese naan I really enjoyed the aromatic scent of the food and the colorful (and neat!) presentation. We had other offerings too like the mango lassi and a secondary order of lamb curry. But overall I'd have to say this place is a must go. We all ordered way too much and I think if we come back we'll end up combining some orders to ensure we finish it all with no leftovers. The inside of the restaurant is spacious, well-kept, and nicely AC'd. The only real downside is the parking at McCully Shopping Center always sucks! But, alas, it's not the restaurant's fault that there's a dozen other businesses with customers competing for a stall. read more

Tadka Indian Cuisine - Garlic cheese naan, traditional chicken curry, butter chicken, malai kofta and saag paneer with a side of rice. - Indian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Namaste... Indeed it was meeting with Suri S for dinner as she craved Indian Cuisine and Tadka had been on my list for quite some time though that this would be perfect and it certainly was. Located in McCully Shopping Center the biggest obstacle is parking even on this Monday night though I did get very lucky to find one immediately though there is an additional basement parking access is difficult as it's very tight and a dead end area. Tadka Indian Cuisine is conveniently on the ground floor and Suri got there and secured a table for us the closeness is real as this small space makes it difficult for some personal space as a quick glance to the neighboring table doesn't take any effort lol! Immediately she knew what she wanted and gave me the choice of curry which was the easy Butter Chicken (Medium spice) had just the slight heat with chunks of chicken was so flavorful along with Veggie Momo which I've never tried was so yummy and is now my favorite came steamed though a sizzling version is available as well for stunning presentation, Samosa Chaat is her personal favorite item and is now mine as this bowl of yumminess is so insanely comforting. Dining with a hungry bestie didn't stop us for more as we also got the Lamb Boti Kabob which was a generous massive four chunks of Lamb (Med rare) cooked perfectly served on a sizzling skillet was very impressive as we both enjoyed just a chunk each as we started to slow down not that we're finished as the Garlic Naan to soak it all up was the light and fluffiest I've ever had an knew immediately as I picked it up and looking at how the glistening of the it's seasoned we both was in absolute heaven. The staff here is just a delight and very personable always checking in on us with our drinks and as we slightly stayed quite a bit as we caught up on life, the whole meal was a perfect choice. Thank you! read more

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Today I was craving Indian! Thank you Irene for suggesting this relatively new Indian place for us! It was a blast having this meal with a friend. We ordered Samosa Chaat, Veggie Momo, Butter Chicken, Garlic Naan, Lamb Boti Kabob. The lamb had generous pieces of perfectly cooked medium rare lamb. Comes sizzling with onions and bell peppers. The samosa chaat is a personal favorite for me to order at every place! The veggie Momo was juicy and complemented well with chutney. The garlic naan has to be one of the best ones I've had! Very fluffy warm and easy to soak up every bit of sauce. Everything we ate was perfectly balanced and delicious! Service was attentive throughout the meal, and even let us talk story for awhile. They did seem to nudge us more near the last 30 minutes to leave though. The tables are very close, so you will be hearing your neighbor's conversation which might make it a tad awkward. Biggest con is parking. The lot is always busy and full of people. It's tight parking too. I had to circle around till I found a spot. There's additional parking below also. **side note - their sign outside said they stop seating at 8:45pm and close at 9pm, however, we were turned away at 8:12pm on another night. I suggest updating your sign so you don't keep customers disappointed when showing up. Especially with the difficulty of parking. Overall recommend if you come earlier and don't mind the hectic parking situation. The food was really good though! read more

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Tadka Indian Cuisine Restaurant adds to the popular Indian cuisine in Honolulu! Opened in Oct. 2023 by Chef Ganesh Shresthe, the former chef and partner on Spice Up House of India Cuisine, who decided to venture out on his own. He showcases his Nepalese heritage and India and South Asian flavors and techniques by using the freshest veggies, meats, and spices. He tends to tweak his recipes to suit the palates of local diners. "Tadka" is a Hindi word used in Indian and South Asian cooking that is a method of cooking, also known as "tempering spices." When tempering a dish, whole or ground spices are heated in hot oil and added to a plate, which extracts and retains and aroma and flavor of herbs and brings them to the dish, making Indian cooking taste so good. Hence, the name Tadka Indian Cuisine was chosen. The restaurant offers: * Appetizers: papadum, garlic govi, samosa, pani puri, potato fry, chicken wings. * Soup: mulligatawny * Bread: naan (butter, garlic, cheese, onion, aloo, roti * Dumplings: veggie/chicken momo * Rice: Biryani (basmati rice), lemon fried rice * Tandoori: chicken, lamb * Curries: butter chicken, chicken masala, traditional, korma, kadai, goan coconut, tadka saag, vegetarian * Dessert: Gulab jamun, rasmalai, rice pudding, kulfi, gajar haluwa * Drinks: lassi, canned soda, black iced tea, masala chai Hubby and I tried the following: * Pani puri. This deep-fried appetizer of 5 hallowed spheres filled with spiced potato, red onion, and chickpeas and squirted with a sweet-sour tamarind sauce. You're supposed to pop it whole in your mouth, but lol, it was too big for my mouth! Did it in 2 tries! Delicious, as it was tangy and spicy with lots of flavors and textures! * Butter chicken with basmati rice. Generous chunks of tender chicken thighs in a creamy spicy tomato sauce that went well over basmati rice. Delicious! * Garlic naan. Perfectly made to order, as it was soft, bubbly and fluffy with the right amount of toasted goodness! Sprinkled with minced garlic and sliced green onion, it was very delicious dipped in the butter chicken curry sauce! * Chicken momo. Served with 5 steamed dumplings of minced chicken with chopped onion, cabbage, garlic, ginger, cilantro and homemade spices, they were delicious with the accompanying tangy turmeric dipping sauce. Reminds me of Chinese dim sum. * Lamb boti kabab with basmati price. Four huge tender chunks of medium-rare lamb marinated in a mixture of yogurt, ginger, garlic, and spices and served on a sizzling cast iron platter with round onions and green peppers. Served with a cilantro dipping sauce. So delicious! I enjoyed the many spices and flavors of the dishes, as they blended and complemented each dish well. Each entrée is accompanied with a bowl of basmati rice and replenished upon request free of charge; staff will ask if you need more rice. Staff was very friendly, knowledgeable, helpful, and efficient. They know that spicy dishes make you thirsty, so water glasses were constantly refilled. Staff was readily available to answer your questions and ensured that all went well. Soiled dishes were often replaced with clean dishes. The small restaurant, which seats a maximum of 28, is clean, bright, and has an interior décor that is cozy and family friendly. Interior walls include artwork and displays from India and Nepal. Near the ceiling around the perimeter of the restaurant has colorful flags that depict Buddhist mantra. Hours of operation are: Thurs to Tues, lunch from 12:00n to 3:00p, dinner 4:30p to 9:00p.; Wed closed. No reservations, and you'll be waitlisted during peak hours, with diners limited to 70 minutes for their meals. We were there when they opened for dinner and did not have any problems getting a table. Located on the ground floor in the middle of McCully Shopping Center in the former Thai Village location, free parking is available on the ground floor and in an underground parking area; however, parking may be difficult to find during peak meal times, as there are a number of restaurants sharing the parking spaces. Note that as a sister restaurant to Tadka Indian Cuisine, Café Tadka recently opened at 808 Sheridan in June 2025 (originally opened May 2024 but closed for renovation until reopening). Owner Ganeshe Shresthe focuses on Southern Indian-inspired street food such as chicken lollipops, chili chicken, dosa, Panjabi Samosa chaat, momos, biryani, curries, and traditional Indian breads that are offered in a casual atmosphere geared more to take-out. Both restaurants appear to have some of the same menu items. So glad that Tadka Indian Cuisine is doing well and has been a great addition to the local scene! We look forward to returning again for authentic Indian/Nepalese cuisine! Support local! read more

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I liked the many vegetarian options. I ordered the dal which came with rice. The dal was flavorful but the portion was smaller than other Indian places. Service was quick and friendly. My friend ordered a fried rice dish for under $12 and portion was big read more

Tadka Indian Cuisine - Indian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Ended up here after Maharani had too long of a line and too long of a wait for take out. Relatively new spot and I'm so glad they are in McCully shopping center. Parking is always relatively easy (theres the underground if theres none out front) and whenever I go early enough there isn't a wait either. I love that I can get the palek paneer spicy and its just the right amount with the spinach. I've had the lemon tikka chicken rice, the lamb briyani, chicken curry, and chicken tikka masada. Great amount of leftovers each time for another meal. Beware if you ask for extra spicy, it will be spicy! My friend did that for his first meal of the day with the chicken curry and was feeling the burn. The place is BYOB which is always great if you feel the need for a drink.., read more

Tadka Indian Cuisine - Garlic nann, palek paneer, butter chicken and lemon tadori chicken rice - Indian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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I absolutely love this place! I never knew I loved Indian food as much as I did before I came here! The service is great (I mean they did have a lot of staff on so I would expect nothing less.) It's a little dark in here and a little "tight" but cozy enough. I can't imagine being in here if it was super busy because that might be a little insane. On the plus side the food is delicious and we always end up ordering way too much food, but hey at least we get to take it home right? Last time we went here however the soda I order was completely flat. Not a big deal but just a heads up to anybody who wants a soft drink. Oh they have restrooms in the restaurant for patrons so you don't need to use the communal one which is a major plus in my book! read more

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Everything we ate was so good! It's been awhile since I've eaten momos. We'll be back! read more

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OMG, run, don't walk to here! Was in the mood for Indian food, and a friend suggested it.. this cuisine can't be beat! Sooooo delicious!

I had heard so much about this place but never got to try it. The night before the procedure that ended up in my daughter's emergency birth, my parents we suggested we go out for potentially the last time as a couple. It was everything we could have hoped for and more. I will say that in the evenings McCully Shopping Center is POPPIN so parking can be a struggle. The top lot was super full but we were lucky enough to get one of the spots in the underground lot. The restaurant luckily was not super crowded but it was not empty. A good mix of families and couples. The food was nice and fresh and prices were very reasonable. The medium spice level was pretty spicy but delicious. I loved the cauliflower appetizer. The biryani was ok, very herby with a lot of whole spices in it. Definitely want to go back to try more things as the menu is quite extensive. read more

Tadka Indian Cuisine - Samosa, cauliflower, mango lassi - Indian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

The food is extremely good. All different flavors, and the service is nice and attentive. We love this place read more

Tadka Indian Cuisine - Tiki Chicken Tikka Masala and Mushroom Matar - Indian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Great place. This was our first time eating Indian cuisine so we're mot experts by any means. But food was tasty and staff helped immensely. Even if you study the menu ahead of time! Food is also fun! We got there early (they open at 4:30 and we got there at 4:45) because we heard that the line starts forming at 4:30 and they have a 70 minute dining time limit. Parking is also a challenge if you prefer a space in the front parking lot of the McCully Shopping Center. You can see great pictures and videos on their Instagram and elsewhere on yelp. Small space so lots of tables for two that they try to combine when possible. Sizzling platters and crowd causes the environment to get a little warm but servers are always there to fill your water glasses. BYOB makes your tab reasonable. read more

Tadka Indian Cuisine - Pani Puri - One gone already! - Indian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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This place is crowded. They have a 75-minute limit on the time you spend at your table. A couple minutes after we sat down (thankfully we got the last table a little before 7), the waiter asked us where the rest of our party was (they were having trouble finding parking!). The garlic naan was delicious. I enjoyed the Saag Paneer. Unfortunately they were out of samosas. I heard this is the same owner as Spice Up! I thought the Daal Makhani was on the watery side, and prefer the food at Spice Up. Tadka seems like a slightly more bougie, more $$ and high-maintenance cousin. read more

Finally got to try to place out! I love Indian food so I've been eyeing this place for a while, but because of the parking situation, I was always hesitant. The restaurant is located inside the mccully shopping center, so usually the parking lot on the ground floor is packed. I had to park in the lower floor which has TINY parking stalls. The biggest flaw of this parking lot is that more than half of the parking stalls are compact cars only but trucks and SUV's and other larger vehicles park in these stalls, sometimes taking 2 stalls at a time. The restaurant itself was great. Good service and excellent food. The price wasn't bad either -- spent about $30 after 20% tip per person. But because of the rough parking situation, I'm not sure if I'll ever go back. read more

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My experience at Tadka Indian Cuisine was great! We waited about ~25-30 minutes to get seated, but the service was great and smooth after we did get seated. The restaurant itself is pretty small and located/tucked within the McCully Union shopping center, so just keep your eye out for it. The inside is cozy, but definitely enough room for a party of 4-6 if need be! For our appetizer, we got the Pani Puri (my first time trying) and it was pretty good! One of the waiters came over and said that we should fill the Pani Puri shell up to the line, however, I personally like it better when it's not filled halfway, but there's still a decent amount of the sauce in there. For my meal, I ordered the Chicken Korma, medium spice. I'm a spice-lover, so to me, the medium spice wasn't extremely hot to the tongue, but my two friends who came with me (they ordered a Mild Chicken Korma and a Medium Chicken Tikka Masala) said that they definitely felt the kick. The dish was AMAZING. The chicken and curry ratio was perfect in my opinion, and paired with the Garlic Naan, it was GLORIOUS. I also tried the Garlic and Cheese Naan, and that did not disappoint either, but I definitely think that I'm a Garlic Naan kind of girl! If you have a craving for some good Indian food, I would highly recommend trying Tadka! read more

Tadka Indian Cuisine is located on the ground floor of McCully Shopping Center, the restaurant offers both dine-in and takeout options with ample (though sometimes tight) parking in both front and basement lot. We ordered the PaniPuri ($8.31), Lemon Fried Rize ($8.68), Butter Chicken ($18.99), Lamb Saag ($20.12), and Vegetable Korma ($16.63). Portions are generous, and dishes cater to a range of heat preferences. Service is professional and friendly, with well-trained staff maintaining water glasses, and switching out plates. The atmosphere is casual, clean, and family-friendly. read more

It was a Friday night. Arrived at 5:30 pm and was so lucky to get a parking in front of the restaurant. The Oatking was labeled "Tedt Lab" but the restaurant told us it was ok to park in the stall. Additionally, the place had only two tables of guests and the table for 6 was open and sbsilanle'. Jackpot. We had 2 Garlic cheese naan, garlic naan, butter naan, 2 orders of pani puri, shrimp korma, Chicken Rogan Josh curry, chicken kebab, & mango chutney. Basmati rice was complimentary. My fave was the pani puri. read more

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Love Tadka! My family came on a weeknight and we were able to score a parking right away in the crowded McCully shopping center lot. We also got a table right away without having to wait, which was nice since I don't think Tadka takes reservations and they can get busy (restaurant was full). For dinner, I ordered two plain naan, one cheese naan, one order of rice, two curries (vegetable korma medium spicy and butter chicken mild spicy), chicken biryani medium spicy and mango chutney. It was the perfect amount of food for four people! I liked that you could choose the spice level, and medium was perfect for us. All of the curries were so flavorful and filling. Would definitely recommend Tadka if you're craving Indian food. read more

Tadka Indian Cuisine - Indian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

This was place was great. I really enjoyed the food here. We went right when it opened and got seated immediately. The lamb was soft and each dish was flavorful. Samosa chat was really tasty and can easily be a main dish for a person Naan was very tasty and was something that tasted just as good the next day. Ambiance is the usual Indian restaurant, and it was clean and well lit. read more

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