Earlier this week while at work, I received a text from family if I wanted to get together for dinner and luckily it was my night off with no plans. What even really piqued my interest was the question if I was game for Indian food, which is somewhat lacking in Honolulu with comparison to the Indian food scene in LA. I was willing to try a new place. The venue: Tadka Indian Cuisine (TIC), located on the 1F of McCully Shopping Center, which opened in October 2023. The chef used to be partners with Spice Up on S King St and decided to open up TIC. The kiddies have been here before so I let them take lead on what to order. I knew that if I had some curry, naan bread and some rice, I'd be a happy camper. But when favorite niece and nephew both have a sophisticated palate, I knew I was in for a treat. TIC was busy when we arrived on a weekday at 530pm. The restaurant was full on we put our name on the waitlist. For a table of 5, the wait was just under 30min. As we sat down and were given menus, I didn't bother opening it as the kiddies dictated and coordinated the menu. We started off with appetizers of vegetable samosas and then ordered 4 different curries, 4 naan breads and a lamb dish, as highly recommended by the table next to us. When asked if I wanted a mango lassi, I graciously agreed. Our wait for the food didn't seem long as it's been some time since I last ate with my family so we were engaged in conversation. Overall, I was pleasantly impressed with the food as it was brought over in a good pace. Personally, standouts were the vegetable samosa, cheese naan bread and saag paneer. The overall winners were the lamb boti kabob, which was served on a sizzling platter, and the mango lassi. The lamb was executed medium where it was still moist and juicy, and served on a hot sizzling platter. The lamb was under seasoned for my taste but dipped the lamb in some curry sauce. Although the staff forgot my mango lassi and had to remind them, the wait was worth it. The lassi was so thick and rich with a nice mango essence. I'd order these 2 items again. Service was above average as there were many wait staff on the floor and they were trained well - - our appetizer plates were exchanged out for dinner plates, our water glasses were refilled continuously during our meal and staff came to check up on us multiple times. Overall, an above average experience at TIC where I'd be game for a return visit. Food was tasty and paired with great customer service, I'm glad to report that TIC makes a bold statement of mentioning them as a legit Indian restaurant in Honolulu. NOTE: Table has a note advising patrons of the maximum 70min dining time when it's busy. There were a handful of people waiting outside for tables. Staff were courteous of this ruling and assisted us with containers for our leftovers.

I ordered take out during non peak hours. Pick up for 4pm and no problem ordering calling the phone number. I got there about 30 min early and they were able to finish it to be done earlier after I called to see if it could be done sooner. They called as soon as it was done as I waited in the car. Ive been wanting to try but seemed like its so busy during dinner hours I feel like I won as I had no problem. It was great tasting not too spicy. I had the chicken saag, butter chicken, lamb kebabs, samosa chaat, and shrimp korma. The naan was so good! It was crisp yet soft probably the best Ive had on island. Id definitely come back

We LOVE Tadka!! Best indian on island The curry is authentic and has such a rich flavor. We start with the samosa chaat. It was amazing since there was a crisp on the bottom. We also tried the pani puri since i've been seeing it online for a while and wanted to try. Was so fun to eat! I had the paneer makani and was sooo good. The spice level was perfect as well as the paneer. Everything came with rice which I LOVE about tadka. The naan was also amazing, never disappoints. My bf got the butter chicken I believe and he loved it. Make sure to get there when they open or there might be a wait! Also our server was so helpful teaching us about the pain puri. The restaurant is quaint so make sure to get there with your party near the opening time.

Dining at TADKA Indian Cuisine in the McCully Shopping Center was an exceptional experience that transported our taste buds straight to the heart of India. We started our meal with the Pani Puri ($8.31), a delightful appetizer featuring crispy hollow puris filled with a spicy and tangy tamarind water. Each bite was a burst of flavors, perfectly blending the heat of Indian spices with a refreshing tang that made for an exciting start to our culinary journey. Next, we enjoyed the Sizzling C-Momo Chicken ($15.59), which arrived at our table with a dramatic sizzle, immediately captivating our senses. The chicken momos were juicy and tender, infused with a blend of spices that provided a perfect balance of heat and flavor. The accompanying sauce added a rich, smoky depth that enhanced the overall experience, making this dish a standout. For the main course, we savored the Butter Chicken Curry Mild ($18.99) and Vegetarian Tadka Biryani ($16.63). The Butter Chicken Curry was a creamy delight, with tender pieces of chicken bathed in a luscious tomato-based sauce, subtly sweetened with a hint of cream. The blend of spices was mild yet aromatic, making it a comforting choice for those who prefer less heat. The Vegetarian Tadka Biryani was a fragrant medley of basmati rice and vegetables, cooked to perfection with aromatic spices like cardamom, cloves, and saffron. Each mouthful was a symphony of flavors, making it a hearty and satisfying dish. We also tried the Lamb Boti Kabab ($21.27) and Garlic Cheese Naan ($6.60). The Lamb Boti Kabab featured succulent pieces of lamb marinated in a mix of spices and grilled to perfection, delivering a smoky and robust flavor that was simply irresistible. The Garlic Cheese Naan was the perfect accompaniment, with its soft, fluffy texture and generous filling of melted cheese and garlic, adding an indulgent touch to our meal. Pro-tips: Arrive as early as 4:30 pm for dinner to minimize wait time and snag readily available parking spaces, as the restaurant does not take reservations. With a dining limit of 70 minutes and only around 9-10 tables, making sure everyone arrives on time is crucial to enjoy a seamless dining experience. The restaurant's cozy ambiance, coupled with attentive and friendly service, made our visit to TADKA Indian Cuisine a memorable one.

This was the second ever authentic Indian place I have been to, the first was SpiceUp on S King st, however due to their limited hours, I decided to try this place out. The wait felt quite long as I was starving, but that usually indicates the quality and popularity of a restaurant, which withstood with my experience. Nothing stood out regarding the service, my water wasn't refilled as constantly as I had hoped, which had me resort to drinking the water of the person I was dining with and even to the point of drinking from my own bottle of water. The ambiance was just like most restaurants, with the addition of the indian style decorations. One thing I would note is that I didn't notice music playing, which felt weirdly quiet? Or at least during moments of silence, it felt off. To the food though, it was delicious. I wanted to try pani puri and I wasn't disappointed. I loved the sauce (in the bottle), I just wished that maybe I was able to get uses out of the sauce because it was taken away right after we finished pani puris. The naan was DELICIOUS, i LOVE naan so much, it is a necessity when I eat indian curry. I loved pairing it with my shrimp korma. It was delicious and extremely spicy (as I asked for it to be), the curry was thick and filled with spices and herbs. At last we got the Gulab Jamun as dessert, it was very good as well. I just didn't realize it was a whole fried dough ball soaked in syrup (fried flavor but lacked the textural touch). It was completely soft throughout, very sweet and buttery.

Started with the pani puri appetizer. It was a light and tangy snack. Our server showed us how to fill it half way with the chutney and recommended to pop the entire piece in your mouth. Ordered the traditional lamb curry and butter chicken curries mild. The curries come with rice. Loved the depth and thicker consistency of the traditional curry, the lamb chunks were small and a bit dry. The butter chicken tasted as described, creamy and tomato based. The pieces of chicken were even smaller than the lamb. Chicken malai tikka dish came out on a sizzling platter with onions and bell peppers. Garlic naan was nice and fluffy. Portion sizes were polite. Service was fast and attentive. Clean space with many tables and BYOB. Ample parking during weekend lunch and located on the ground floor of McCully Shopping Center.

It's rare for me to feel inclined to write a review update, but in this case it's needed. Tadka Indian opened a few months ago and we've come over a dozen times. The whole family agrees it's the best Indian restaurant on Oahu! Located in McCully Shopping Center on the first floor, it's an easy one to get to walking from Waikiki or on the bus from anywhere in town. They have ample parking on the surface lot and in the basement. This place has been popular, with a wait every time we order. There are always people waiting outside for a table as well. It's a small interior with tables for couples, small groups, or arrangements can be made for larger groups. They've gotten efficient with to go orders as well, always packaged with care and ready to go at the time specified or even a little early. The staff here is super friendly and always striving to make guests happy. I know a few by name now which is always pleasant when a place becomes a favorite. The food is consistently excellent. Meat quality is high, with clean cuts and always well done but moist. Vegetable quality is also fresh, with the right textures in each curry. Highlight dishes: the butter chicken, vegetable korma, lamb vindaloo. The latter is exceptionally spicy in the best way, but be prepared if you order that. Everything else you can specify mild to hot depending on taste. We also enjoy the samosas with various chutneys, crispy outside with soft insides. The naan is well made as well, soft but with just the right amount of toasted goodness; great for dipping the various sauces. Prices are reasonable for the quality; you're getting what you're paying for. If you're a fan of Indian food, and visiting Waikiki or living nearby, do yourself a favor and eat here. As of this writing, they're also opening a new location at 808 Center near Walmart, which will be an Indian street food concept great for lunch. We're all excited to try it!

This place is not a joke and definitely the pani to my puri! Whoever said they wanted naan of this, clearly didn't goan and eat this coconut curry! Located in McCully Shopping Center where the old Thai Lao used to be. It's literally the same set-up with the existing bar/register/cashier area and the tables jazzed up to the current restaurant cuisine, which I'm not mad about. And these people don't play around! When standing in line, make sure your entire party is there, or they won't seat you and there's no reservations beforehand, so may the odds be in your favor. Once inside, the service is rather quick. The servers are friendly, some very witty, but also very accommodating and open to recommendations when asked. If you have a nut allergy, mention that beforehand, so that you can ensure they adhere to those needs. As for the food, some items were a knock of the park! The vegetable samosas had a yummy crunchy outside with a comforting flavorful filling on the inside. The sauces that went with it were delightful as well. And that Goan Shrimp Coconut Curry is totally worth it! As for the Chicken Malai Tikka, the flavors were good but the chicken itself was a little dry for me. And the momos were outshined by everything else on the table, so I would skip on that if anything for the next time. As for the Pani Puri, definitely a different experience to try. The only place on island that offers this item! It's like a crunchy Frito/Funyun on the outside, though I can't quite explain the inside. You just have to try it and tell me how you like it!