It’s a Punjabi Affair… — Restaurant in Amarillo

July 2025 – Return of the Foodie

Back again—and guess what? Still drooling.

This place continues to deliver the kind of mouthwatering flavor that makes you question every other meal you’ve ever had. It’s one of those rare spots where you sit down, admire how someone has poured their heart into designing this cozy little place so thoughtfully… and then the food arrives, and boom—you forget the walls exist. Total food trance.

This is Indian cuisine in its most authentic, no-shortcuts form. Beautifully crafted, thoughtfully plated, and served with care.

We tried the Fenugreek Paneer and Matar Paneer—both were comforting, creamy, and cooked with love (and clearly, someone’s grandma-level spice skills). The Naan Taco? Honestly, it stole the show. It was so good, it made the curries feel like the warm-up act.

Naan could use a little upgrade, but it wasn’t bad—just competing against some seriously excellent dishes.

Also, tried spice level 3 this time. I thought I could handle 4, but after 3 danced lightly on my tongue and politely knocked, I realized maybe I’m not quite ready for the firewalk yet. It had flavor, but I missed that extra kick. Next time: bring it on.

⸻

August 2024 – The First Time That Hooked Us

This place deserves 6 stars out of 5. Honestly, Michelin needs to invent a special badge just for this dhaba-style heaven.

Yes, the menu is limited—but every item on it is a banger. You could close your eyes, point randomly, and still end up with a plate of pure joy.

We had Shahi Paneer and Matar Paneer, and they tasted exactly like the ones you get back in India. No shortcuts, no watered-down flavors—just the real deal.

Service? Super fast. Interior? Calm, cozy, and surprisingly soothing. It’s the kind of place that whispers, “Don’t worry, the food’s going to hug your soul.”

Pro tip: Spice level 3 is plenty—even for regular Indian spice lovers. Anything beyond that and you’re basically signing a waiver.

Now it’s official: this place is a fixed stop on every Amarillo visit. No debates. No detours. Just pure desi...

I can now say I have dined at all four of Amarillo’s Indian restaurants. While they are all excellent, I do believe I saved the best for last. Punjabi Affair, in all its understated coziness and location, is simply the best. And when I make reference to location, it is hard to believe this was once a Mr. Burger hamburger joint. The current owners have done a delightful job making it look inviting, providing both indoor and patio seating.

I ordered the Chickpea Masala in the vegan rendition. This is one of the things that stands out most to me about Punjabi Affair: There are multiple items that are listed as having both vegan and non-vegan. Perfect! This makes it easy for everyone in a group to find something to their liking and dietary preference.

The presentation alone was outstanding, with rice occupying one half of the bowl, and the curry the other half, perfectly symmetrical and non-overlapping. A large piece of Naan wrapped in foil was positioned atop it, along with a thin wafer.

While I ordered Mild for spiciness, I found there to be sufficient heat to my liking. The dish was flavor-forward, thanks to an abundance of cumin and turmeric in the curry. It was so good that I instinctively slowed down if only to be able to savor it a little bit longer.

Chickpeas are an excellent source of plant-based protein. The American diet usually finds them only on salad bars as a topping for one’s greens, not as a main course. Indian food, though, frequently features them, endearing me even more to the cuisine.

I’ll be back to try some of the other vegan items, but I am also sure that my carnivorous family members would also find this place to their liking. I bet...

It's a small place on a curb with a very limited menu. It's meant to be a drive through or take out, especially during winter. They have some place to sit outside but if it's cold, even with space heaters, it can get uncomfortable. The people who work here are really nice and polite. They were willing to make changes based on your preference (e.g., exchanging rice with naan).

I would suggest calling in advance as they have specials that are not in their menu.

The food itself was authentic and yummy. We opted for spice level 3 but some of the items turned out to be a little too spicy. The reason for taking off 1 star is because they use food coloring in most of their preparations. For me the taste of food speaks more than its looks.

We recommend this restaurant to anybody looking for authentic Punjabi food...