Tandoor Indian Cuisine in Mission Valley, San Diego, California

The usual prescription for an aching bout of craving for Indian food while visiting San Diego, California is a trip to one of the many savory South Asian eateries along what is locally known as Little India along a stretch of Black Mountain Rd in Mira Mesa ... or a spin into the northwest corner of the Gaslamp Quarter in downtown where 5 upscale Indian restaurants preside over 4th Avenue from E St down to Market St. So it was a pleasant surprise for me to stumble onto Tandoor Indian in the strip mall (where Ralph's and CVS Pharmacy are) across Friar Rd from Hazard Center in Mission Valley while searching for an electronic store last week.

This is a fast food type of joint that specializes in tandoori dishes - specifically chicken tandoori. The menu is large-ish with all the usual Indian dishes found at just about every Indian joints around here. Curry or saag of chicken, lamb or seafood; kababs with rice or fries; tikka masala, paneer, tandoori. The many combination plates offered are really good deals (ranging from $5.50-7.30). There are 5 variations of Naan ($1.60 plain - $3.50 Keema) plus roti and parathas to be had for less than $4.

The portion is very generous (especially at this price!), though the food tend to be on the bland side... and pretty dry. I've had the $5.49 2 pieces chicken tandoori with rice pulao. dal (lentils), and plain naan; and the $5.49 Malai kofta (tomato curry with vegetable balls) combination plate with dal, rice pulao, raita yogurt and naan. Both served as lunch and dinner simply because I didn't have a prayer at finishing the whole thing in one sitting.

For the chicken tandoori I was given a big drumstick and a thigh... looking a bit intimidatingly red and lean. They were well cooked: moist and tender without that annoying tendency to fall off the bone prematurely (my light yellow shirt escaped a spiced meal unscathed for once. My mom would be proud!). The plain Naan that comes with the meal (something you won't see at any of those Gaslamp Quarter places!) is very good - thicker and softer than at Taste of India or at Gourmet India, and just as chewy. I just wish that the Dal wasn't so bland tasting. That Naan would be ideal for countering the tongue-scorching and sinus-clearing lamb curry (which can be had for only $7.79 here). The rice pulao, on the other hand, is strangely ghostly... it doesn't taste or smell anything... and hardly even register any calories to your stomach. The next time I hit this place I'll try having cottage fries as a side instead.

The Malai kofta is really just OK (I'm an unrepentant meat-eater and don't often indulge on vegetarian dishes)... the curry itself tastes something quite nice though rather diluted. The vegetable balls really won't covert me from real meat, but they are supposed to be good for me, right? Supplementing the thing with a $2.19 side order of garlic Naan helps a lot. And for this price... I'll be sure to drop in just for that every time I find myself in Mission Valley area!

If you like Indian or Middle-eastern food and don't want to spend more than $10 for a filling lunch or dinner of it, Tandoor Indian Cuisine in Mission Valley (across Friar Rd from Hazard Center) is a good place to check out. The owners are friendly enough (they aren't exactly outgoing at first, but if you ask nicely, they really go out of their way to cater to your need) and the service is quite fast, too.

Special deals:
$8.99 Saturday dinner buffet from 5-9PM and $8.99 Sunday brunch from 11AM-3:30PM.

Tandoor Indian Cuisine (In Mission Valley): 5608 Mission Center Rd (at Friar Rd), San Diego, CA 92108. Tel. (619) 47-0751, Fax. (619) 291-2025. Cash & credit cards accepted. Catering service available.
Hours: 11AM-9:30PM daily