A new halal Indian restaurant opened recently on Langston Blvd, adding some South Asian flavors to the corridor’s diverse lineup of local restaurants.
At 5645 Langston Blvd, Curry & Clay Oven offers mainstays like biryani, palak paneer and curry, as well as fusion dishes such as paneer cheesesteaks, butter chicken pizzas and masala fries, manager Khalid Oylid told ARLnow.
True to the restaurant’s name, Curry & Clay Oven relies on a tandoor, or a cylindrical clay oven, to prepare chicken, salmon and prawn, Oylid said. Meats are marinated in traditional Indian yogurt and masala spices before being placed over an open fire, which gives the food a smoky flavor and tender texture.
Accompanying tandoori items, the restaurant’s curry options can be ordered with chicken, seafood, goat or lamb, or in vegetarian varieties.
The restaurant, which opened about three months ago, offers quite a few innovative dishes, like sandwiches and pizzas with Indian-inspired toppings. So far, however, Oylid said the most popular items include homemade mango lassi and a couple Indian chicken dishes.
“Chicken tikka masala and butter chicken is very popular, I think,” he said. “People love it. We sell, every day, more than 100 orders.”
The restaurant is currently offering chicken, lamb and vegetarian lunch specials starting at $9.99. Each special comes with rice, naan, lentil dal and a gulab jamun dessert.
The restaurant is also taking orders for a $75 Thanksgiving special, which comes with an Indian-spiced tandoori turkey and mashed potatoes. The whole turkey should serve about nine to 10 people, according to the restaurant.
Curry & Clay Oven is located in the space formerly occupied by Chicago’s Pizza With a Twist, a pizzeria featuring Indian-inspired pies. The new restaurant is currently open from 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m. each day, with seating for 24 people inside.
