Tandoor & Tadka — Restaurant in Carbondale

I couldn’t wait to try the newest addition to the Southern Illinois-area Indian restaurant lineup: Tandoor & Tadka, located in Carbondale. Their prices are excellent, and the food is…well, amazingly delicious! Outstanding service and attention to detail; Navi was an excellent host. AND they have the best kids menu I’ve seen 😂

We ordered the Peanut Chaat appetizer, Murg Malai Tikka, and (of course) Chicken Tikka Masala (spice levels are mild, medium, hot, and Indian hot), along with garlic cheese naan and several cups of their Indian Masala Tea.

The peanut chaat (peanuts cooked with spices and tossed with fresh tomato, red onion, and cilantro) is a traditional Indian street food; theirs is so good that I’m hooked for life! I could have left full and happy after eating just this, but I’m glad I didn’t because the rest of our meal was ridiculously good!

The chicken breast chunks in the murg malai tikka (grilled chicken marinated in creamy yogurt and spices cooked with sliced onions) was perfection. It’s almost impossible to cook chicken this way without it being at least a touch overdone, but this chicken almost melted in your mouth, it was so tender and juicy. And the flavor? Seriously out-of-this-world! It couldn’t have been better.

The Indian hot chicken tikka masala was wonderfully spiced and very hot—not as hot as some other places I’ve been, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing, as the heat didn’t obscure the fragrant spices of the sauce. The all-white meat chicken chunks were not as melt-in-your-mouth as the murg malai tikka, but still wonderfully tender and juicy. The sauce had a nice balance between tomato and cream, with the lovely aromatic spices I hoped for.

The garlic cheese naan was very soft and fresh, with plenty of butter and garlic, and tucked inside was more cheese than what I usually find in Southern Illinois Indian restaurants. I would have liked more cheese, but that’s because I LOVE lots of cheese; most people would be quite happy with the amount it came with.

The masala chai was so good we ordered four cups! I would have ordered more, but I was so full I couldn’t fit one more thing in my stomach. Sadly, this meant there was no room for dessert; but dessert will definitely happen on my next visit.

Tandoor & Tadka ranks the highest on my list of Indian restaurants I’ve eaten at, so make sure you check them out!

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As an African-American male, I had never before experienced Indian cuisine, and I must say this was one of the most profound and memorable moments of my life. From the moment I walked through the doors of this remarkable restaurant, I felt welcomed as though I had stepped into the home of an old friend. The atmosphere was warm, inviting, and filled with vibrant energy, a perfect backdrop for what would soon become one of the greatest culinary experiences of my life.

The dishes served were nothing short of extraordinary. Each bite exploded with flavor, engaging my taste buds in ways I never imagined possible. The spices, the richness, the textures—it was a symphony for the senses, unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. I’ve dined at many places before, but none have ever left me feeling as deeply satisfied, both physically and emotionally, as this one.

What truly elevated the experience was the staff. Their warmth, attention to detail, and genuine care for each guest were absolutely beautiful. They took the time to explain the menu, share stories of the cuisine, and ensure that my experience was flawless from start to finish.

To the owner: your restaurant is more than just a place to eat. It’s a celebration of culture, love, and connection. You’ve created something truly special, and I left not only with a full stomach but with a heart full of gratitude. Thank you for welcoming me into your world and giving me a dining experience that I will never forget. I can only hope that others will have the chance to walk through your doors and share in the beauty that you’ve crafted here.

For anyone reading this, you owe it to yourself to visit this restaurant. It’s more than just a meal; it’s a journey, one that will leave you feeling enriched, satisfied, and deeply moved. Trust me—you won’t want to miss...

Our experience is not that bad as we came first time. We were 8 people in our group so we sat on the family table. Food is ok. The lady who is working there she was the only working lady there. They don't have enough staff.so service was very slow. Now coming on food we ask for side of onion after 10 min the lady come told us they don't have a onion. Like seriously 🙄..now coming on the payment. We ordered full plate of tandoori chicken tikka masala ( the menu price is $21.99) and they charge us $24.99. So I ask one of other guy who also working in the kitchen (I believe.)why they charge 24.99 as your menu price is 21.99. So frist he told me it's gredhuty (only on one item) I told him only on one item how's that possible as he already charge us $20 for gredhuty. 🤔🤔 then he ask me wich table you were sitting. I told him on the family table as we were 8 people. Now he gave me other answer. That they have different price for a family table (Lol only for tandoori chicken though) all other price are the same. I didn't argue with him but he thought as a costumer we didn't notice anything and we were dum people. Message for the owner please hire more staff and make sure you update your menu price (whatever you charge to all your customers). Also please train your whole staff for how to explain customer thing like this what happened to me. Do not give nonsense answers.

So thing is who ever goes here please make...