Motu Indian Kitchen — Restaurant in East Longmeadow

A life raft in a sea of played out America eatery choices! The thought of another pizza, burger, pasta dish, taco, soup, sandwich or sushi offering holds no appeal & decades of the same stuff is no longer appealing. Motu Indian Kitchen is a cuisine that’s filled a flavor vacancy in the area.

Just ordered Veggie Pakora, Wings and a Masala Chicken taco & had to jump on for an immediate/first impression review.

Pakoras were your standard pakora of chick pea flour, onion and herbs and delicious. I enjoyed the patty shape over the more common balled style I’ve had in the past.

The wings were perfection! Perfection! With nothing more than the way they came out of the box (no sauces or chutneys added) these wings hit every flavor profile - the right amount of salt, spice for flavor & not to overwhelm with heat, just acidic enough to cut through the richness & not dried out or over cooked in any way. Per.Fec.Tion.

Lastly, I had a build your own taco that I based off their Butter Chicken Taco combo offering. Garlic Naan base was made of the most tender naan I’ve ever had. The dough had zero toughness to it and screamed FRESH. To this I added chicken masala, achari mayo, pickled onions, lettuce, desi salad and mint chutney. I’d attach a photo but all that is left is some runaway sauce and a few well used napkins. Just like the wings the combination of ingredients were beyond compare. Everything could not be more correct! Think comfort food mixed with your best friend’s sassiness, or a hug that makes your day better & puts a little skip in your step.

Price was in line with what typical Indian food costs but I didn’t finish the wings or pakora so I was able to make 2 meals out of what I paid.

This place deserves your...

Just like their original restaurant Panjabi Tadka, in Springfield, this place is amazing!

Hard to not compare Motu Indian Kitchen to their other restaurant, however this one seems to be a tiny bit better in terms of food quality and price. For two people we spent about $47 in Motu while about $68 at Panjabi Tadka.

The food: is delicious and flavorful! Those not familiar with spice may find the food packs decent heat! It's nothing crazy but just be prepared if you're not into spicy food. Chicken Masala, chole bhature, samosas, and Chaat papri were all delicious, zero complaints. We were so full we did not have room for dessert. If you're wondering what's a Thumbs Up it's basically a coca-cola.

The staff: is limited, because this is a more casual experience (think Chipotle) I believe it was just the owner out front taking orders and the kitchen staff. The owner was polite, friendly, and interested in our feedback.

The atmosphere: the interior is still somewhat small and cozy, with a few decorations. Looks like after Cookie's restaurant the place needed to be brought up to building code. There are maybe 4 tables and 2 booths. Love the warm wooden tables and chairs. While you can dine in, the experience seems a bit more geared towards take out (again, think Chipotle). There are two electronic order stations out front as well as a person to help you or order from. The tablet had pictures of food as you order which those unfamiliar with Indian cuisine will definitely appreciate. I wish the drink options also had pictures.

They have a reward system where you get $5 OFF after spending $50.

Overall a delicious experience and a much needed addition to East Longmeadow as we have no nearby Indian...

Before I review I want to say thank you to the owners for such a delicious and pleasant dining experience. I (and my family) thoroughly enjoyed everything (food, service, and atmosphere).

Some background: the owners are brothers who took the recipes from their fathers restaurant (which is in Springfield, MA and has been there for 30 years) and combined them with a contemporary service style in their new location. We'll done gentlemen!

I'm a big fan of the classic dish Chicken Tikka Masala and their version is fantastic. I got the combo with cheesy garlic Naan and the combination of it all was so satisfying. My wife and I each got an order of it.

We also ordered a chicken Tikka masala taco on garlic Naan for our son, we got the masala mac and cheese (really good, but I couldn't eat too much because it was for our daughter.. but I jad my eyes on it haha).

For dessert we got their version of tres leche cake and when I took my first bite I wanted to take more home for the next day. It was perfectly sweetened, perfect moist balance from top to bottom, and the frosting was delightful.

There are more dessert options, including cookies, too.

The contemporary service style involves three options for ordering (person-to-person, kiosk ordering, or via a QR code on each table), allowing or easy ordering.

Their drink selection has a mixture of lassi, imported sodas, standard American sodas, and even adult beverages for those who want it.

I loved it. Thank you again for a great...