What to Order at Bombay Tandoori: A Complete Guide for First-Time Visitors

Trying an Indian restaurant for the first time can be exciting, but with so many curries, tandoori dishes, biryanis, breads, appetizers, and desserts on the menu, deciding what to order can sometimes feel overwhelming. If you're searching for Indian food in Torrance, CA, Bombay Tandoori offers a wide selection of traditional dishes that make it easy to discover the flavors of Indian cuisine.

Located on Pacific Coast Highway in Torrance, Bombay Tandoori features an extensive menu with options for meat lovers, seafood enthusiasts, vegetarians, and diners who prefer mild or bold flavors. From crispy samosas and smoky tandoori chicken to creamy curries, aromatic biryani, freshly baked naan, and traditional Indian desserts, there is plenty to explore.

If this is your first visit, this guide can help you decide what to order at Bombay Tandoori and introduce you to some of the restaurant's popular menu categories.

Start with an Indian Appetizer

One of the easiest ways to begin your meal is with an appetizer. Indian starters offer a great introduction to the spices, textures, and cooking techniques used throughout the cuisine.

Vegetable Samosa

A classic choice for first-time Indian food diners is the Vegetable Samosa. These crispy pastries are filled with seasoned vegetables and offer a satisfying combination of crunchy pastry and savory filling.

They're also easy to share, making them a great starter for families or groups.

Chicken or Lamb Samosa

If you prefer meat, Bombay Tandoori also offers Chicken Samosa and Lamb Samosa. These provide the same crispy appetizer experience with flavorful meat fillings.

Mixed Vegetable Pakora

For a vegetarian starter, Mixed Vegetable Pakora is another excellent choice. Vegetables are coated in a seasoned batter and cooked until crisp, creating a flavorful appetizer that's perfect for sharing.

Other appetizer options include Onion Bhaji, Paneer Pakora, Fish Pakora, and Chicken Pakora.

Try Something from the Tandoor

One of the highlights of Indian cuisine is tandoori cooking. A traditional tandoor is a high-temperature clay oven that gives food a distinctive smoky aroma and lightly charred exterior.

If you're visiting Bombay Tandoori for the first time, trying something from the tandoor is a great way to experience this traditional cooking style.

Tandoori Chicken

Tandoori Chicken is one of the most recognizable Indian dishes. Chicken is traditionally marinated with yogurt and spices before being cooked in the tandoor, creating tender meat with a flavorful, smoky exterior.

Bombay Tandoori offers both half and full portions, making it suitable whether you're dining alone or sharing with others.

Chicken Tikka

If you prefer boneless chicken, Chicken Tikka is an excellent option. Pieces of chicken are marinated with aromatic spices and cooked in the tandoor until tender.

Paneer Tikka

Vegetarian diners can choose Paneer Tikka, which features Indian cottage cheese prepared with spices and cooked in the tandoor.

Tandoori Mixed Grill

If you have trouble choosing just one tandoori dish, the Bombay Tandoori Mixed Grill offers an opportunity to enjoy several grilled specialties together. It's a particularly good option for diners who want to explore different tandoori flavors.

Choose a Classic Indian Curry

For many first-time visitors, Indian curry is the main attraction. Bombay Tandoori offers chicken, lamb, goat, seafood, and vegetarian curries, so there are plenty of choices.

Butter Chicken

If you prefer a creamy and relatively mild curry, Butter Chicken is a popular place to start. Tender chicken is combined with a rich, flavorful sauce that pairs especially well with naan or rice.

Chicken Tikka Masala

Another well-known choice is Chicken Tikka Masala. Grilled pieces of chicken are served in a flavorful curry sauce, making it an excellent option for anyone who wants to combine the smoky character of tandoori chicken with a rich curry.

Chicken Vindaloo

For diners who enjoy stronger heat and tangy flavors, Chicken Vindaloo is worth considering. Vindaloo is known for its bold spice profile and is a good choice for people who enjoy more intense Indian dishes.

Karahi Chicken

Karahi Chicken offers another flavorful option. Cooked with aromatic spices and traditionally associated with a wok-style cooking method, it provides a different flavor profile from creamy chicken curries.

Explore Lamb and Goat Dishes

If you enjoy richer meat dishes, Bombay Tandoori's lamb and goat selections are worth exploring.

Lamb Curry is a classic choice, while Lamb Vindaloo provides a spicier alternative. Other options include Lamb Saag, Lamb Dopyaza, Lamb Shahi Korma, Lamb Tikka Masala, and Rogan Josh.

For goat lovers, the menu includes Goat Curry, Goat Masala, Goat Korma, and Goat Vindaloo.

Goat is particularly popular among diners looking for traditional South Asian flavors, while lamb offers a rich and tender alternative.

Don't Skip the Biryani

Another must-try category for first-time visitors is biryani.

Biryani combines fragrant rice with aromatic spices and a choice of meat, seafood, or vegetables. Bombay Tandoori offers several varieties, including:

• Chicken Biryani
• Lamb Biryani
• Goat Biryani
• Shrimp Biryani
• Vegetable Biryani

If you're unsure which one to choose, Chicken Biryani is an approachable starting point. Those looking for richer flavors can try Lamb or Goat Biryani, while seafood lovers can choose Shrimp Biryani.

Vegetable Biryani is an excellent option for vegetarian diners.

Order Fresh Naan with Your Curry

One of the best ways to enjoy an Indian curry is with freshly prepared bread.

Bombay Tandoori offers several types of naan and other Indian breads, including:

• Plain Naan
• Garlic Naan
• Cheese Naan
• Onion Kulcha
• Keema Naan
• Peshwari Naan
• Tandoori Roti
• Plain Paratha
• Aloo Paratha
• Gobhi Paratha

Garlic Naan is an especially easy choice for first-time visitors because its savory garlic flavor pairs well with almost any curry.

If you're dining with a group, ordering several different breads can make the meal more interesting.

Vegetarian Diners Have Plenty of Choices

Indian cuisine is particularly well known for its vegetarian dishes, and Bombay Tandoori has an extensive vegetarian selection.

Some options include Matar Paneer, Shahi Paneer, Paneer Masala, Karahi Paneer, Saag Paneer, Chana Masala, Daal Makhni, Daal Turka, Aloo Gobhi, Bhindi Bhaji, Baingan Bharta, Saag Alu, and Malai Kofta.

For a first-time vegetarian diner, Chana Masala or Saag Paneer can be excellent choices. If you prefer something creamy, consider Shahi Paneer or Malai Kofta.

Add Rice and Raita

While naan is a natural companion for curry, rice provides another excellent way to enjoy your meal.

Bombay Tandoori offers Plain Rice, Zeera Rice, Brown Rice, Rice Pellow, and Vegetable Biryani.

Adding Raita can also provide a cool and refreshing contrast to dishes with stronger spices. Raita is traditionally made with yogurt and complements rice, curries, and spicy dishes.

Save Room for Indian Dessert

After enjoying savory Indian dishes, finish your meal with a traditional dessert.

Bombay Tandoori offers several options, including Gulab Jamun, Rasmalai, Mango Malai, Rice Pudding, Carrot Pudding, Kulfi, and Matka Kulfi.

Gulab Jamun

These soft, sweet dumplings are a classic Indian dessert and can be served hot or chilled.

Rasmalai

Rasmalai offers a softer, creamy dessert experience and is a good choice if you prefer something delicate and rich.

Kulfi

For something cold and traditional, Kulfi is an Indian-style frozen dessert with a rich and creamy texture.

What Should First-Time Visitors Order?

If you're still unsure what to choose, consider building your meal around a few different categories.

For a Classic Indian Experience

Start with Vegetable Samosa, followed by Tandoori Chicken, Butter Chicken, Garlic Naan, and Basmati Rice.

For a Vegetarian Meal

Try Paneer Tikka, Saag Paneer, Chana Masala, Garlic Naan, and Vegetable Biryani.

For Meat Lovers

Consider Lamb Seekh Kabab, Lamb Curry, Chicken Tikka Masala, and Garlic Naan.

For Spice Lovers

Try Chicken Vindaloo, Lamb Vindaloo, or Goat Vindaloo, depending on your preferred protein.

For a Group

Start with several appetizers such as samosas and pakoras, then share a combination of tandoori dishes, curries, naan, and rice. This allows everyone to sample different flavors.

Enjoy Your First Indian Dining Experience in Torrance

The best part of visiting an Indian restaurant for the first time is discovering how much variety the cuisine has to offer. You don't have to choose just one type of dish. A complete Indian meal can include crispy appetizers, smoky tandoori specialties, rich curries, fragrant rice, freshly baked naan, refreshing drinks, and traditional desserts.

At Bombay Tandoori, the extensive menu makes it possible to create a meal based on your own preferences. Whether you're looking for Indian food in Torrance, vegetarian dishes, flavorful curries, tandoori specialties, or biryani, there are plenty of options to explore.

Visit Bombay Tandoori in Torrance, CA

Ready to try authentic Indian cuisine?

Bombay Tandoori
 4111 Pacific Coast Hwy., Torrance, CA 90505
 Phone: +1 (310) 303-3185
 Email: bombaytandoori@rocketmail.com

From your first samosa to your final bite of kulfi, Bombay Tandoori offers plenty of opportunities to discover your favorite Indian dishes.

Final Thoughts

Knowing what to order at an Indian restaurant can make your first visit much easier. At Bombay Tandoori, you can start with classic appetizers, explore the tandoor, choose a flavorful curry, add biryani or naan, and finish with a traditional Indian dessert.

Whether you prefer chicken, lamb, goat, seafood, or vegetarian dishes, the menu offers a variety of choices for different tastes. For anyone searching for authentic Indian food in Torrance, CA, Bombay Tandoori provides a menu full of traditional flavors and dishes worth exploring.