Thalaivas Indian N Chinese kitchen — Restaurant in Waunakee

We had an absolutely fantastic dinner there last night, and I can't stop thinking about how much we loved it! From the moment we walked in, we were welcomed with warm hospitality and the incredible aroma of authentic Indian spices. We started with the Chicken 555 appetizer – crispy, spicy, and packed with bold flavors that set the tone for the rest of the meal. The Masala Dosa was perfectly crisp, with a deliciously spiced potato filling and flavorful chutneys on the side. The Idly was light and fluffy, just how it should be, and paired beautifully with the sambar, a flavorful vegetable stew that, as the attentive staff helpfully pointed out, the idly soaks up perfectly. But the real stars of the night were the Butter Chicken and the freshly baked Naan (we enjoyed both garlic and plain). The butter chicken - which we've ordered every time we've visited - was rich, creamy, and perfectly balanced – I literally couldn’t resist scooping up every last bit of the sauce with the rice and naan. (Yes, I finished off the leftover basmati rice and sauce out of the to-go container before we even got up from the table!) We’ve also tried their Mango Chicken Curry and Kadai Chicken on past visits, and both were equally outstanding each time – bursting with authentic flavors that transport you straight to India.

Thalaivas is a hidden gem that deserves all the praise it gets. Whether you're new to Indian cuisine or a longtime fan, this place delivers unforgettable dishes with every visit. We'll...

Thalaivas just opened in Waunakee so this is an early review. First time doing takeout from this restaurant. I ordered online and drove there and it took 45 minutes from order to food being ready (2 entries and 2 orders of naan) - not a complicated meal. They had 4-5 tables of customers and 2-3 other take orders in the works. I was in a hurry, of course, so it seemed like forever. I could see that the staff were attentive to customers. Ultimately the food tasted good (I would order a little more spicy the next time) but the naan was a little doughy. The chicken dishes we ordered didn't have as much chicken as some other Indian restaurants we eat at for the money. So, we will try again after they have been open longer. If you order take-out.... give them extra time to have the order ready. UPDATE: ordered take out and was ready much faster. Ordered spicier and was more to my liking. Very light on protein still but the sauce was quite good. Not a good value for me...

We've done takeout twice now from Thalaivas. Very good! It looks like between the first time we ordered (opening weekend) and a few weeks later (last night), they removed a few items from their menu to help streamline the kitchen possibly. My husband was sad he couldn't order the Parotta with Chicken Curry again. But he loved his Chettinad chicken curry!

The chicken tikka masala was very good, and the samosas are big and my friend loved them! The chicken tandoori was okay, the serving size was a little on the small side and I wish I had known it didn't come with rice as I would have ordered some. The naan is all good - order the bullet naan if you like a spicy kick!

The medium spice level is hit or miss, sometimes it is no heat level. Luckily, even if less spicy than I was expecting, the flavors are great!

Please add an option to order extra sides of plain rice on your...