Royal India

4894 Hwy. 290 W. Austin, TX 78735 (512) 346-0909

Mon-Fri: 11am-2pm Sat-Sun: 11:30am-3pm Sun-Thu: 5:30-10pm Fri-Sat: 5:30-10:30pm

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A couple of months ago this location on 290 W. next to the Holiday Inn Express was a South American churrascaria. My how things change. Today, we introduce you to Royal India, recently opened but already making some noise. And why not? This is the slightly more upscale sister restaurant to one of my long time favorites, the Star of India.

Royal India is a vegetarian’s dream, as are most Indian restaurants, and the appetizers reflect this. The Tandori Samosa is a nice take on an Indian classic and its smooth filling accented with a dash of cumin really primes the palate. The crispy Vegetable Pakora is another great appetizer with wonderful flavors: the only limit on the vegetables that can be used to make this dish is the inclination of the chef. I always get it. And you have to try the Aloo Paratha, a wheat bread stuffed with potatoes and peas and popular throughout India. It certainly is popular with my family. The Calamari Manglorian is also a nice take on my favorite squid.

The main dishes at Royal India cover a lot of ground: from the tandoor (classic Indian oven) to a variety of lamb and seafood. I always get the Tandoori Chicken, a dish where the chicken is seared from the high heat of the tandoor, thereby sealing in the flavors. Lots of white onion with this dish which works for me. The Paneer Tikka Noorahjani is a clasic indian kebab emphasizing the famous cheese indiginous to south asian cuisine. And the Butter Chicken is as advertised: a soft and textural digression into the more subtle and richer flavors that can also characterize Indian cuisine. And do try the Grilled Salmon which is light and beautifully spiced.

There are vegetable dishes at Royal India that are a complete delight. The Dal Makhani is often served in India as a main course and the star of this dish is the lentil. It is from the Punjab region and its rich, dark, flavors are mesmerizing. And I must have the wonderful Saag Paneer, a dish mixing rich sauteed spinach and chunks of paneer. I can go through a basket of Naan bread eating an order of Saag Paneer. It’s perfect for dipping and stands on its own as well. The Mushroom Mattar Chettinad is another fun yet substantial dish with a confluence of marvelous flavors.

And for dessert, finish off with a slice of their ever-so-accomodating Mango Cheesecake. Royal India has ramped up Indian food in Austin and I highly recommend a visit soon.

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