After hearing about numerous Indian food places around Bakersfield, a friend told me to try Kelly’s Tandoori Grill. As I have never tried Indian food before, I was excited to see how good it really is and the 4.7/5 stars on Google really fueled my interest.
Kelly’s Tandoori Grill is Located on 401 Chester Ave, about a 12-minute drive away from Cal State Bakersfield. Kelly’s is a family owned and run business. They started their business in England where they initially served only Indian food, they then migrated here to the United States and expanded to provide an international catering experience of Indian and American food.
Their expertise is catering, but inside their restaurant there is a dine in portion located against the windows. It was empty upon arrival but as I went with my boyfriend, we didn’t mind the peace and quiet.
We were welcomed and seated immediately and looked over the menu. The menu was a mixture of both Indian and Mexican cuisine, and I was pleased to see it was on the smaller side. The restaurant had a cozy feel to it with the entrance garnished in arrays of green plants with a view of the kitchen where Kelly herself was preparing our food.
We ordered the Chicken Tikka Masala, which came with rice, salad, and naan bread, all for $13. We also ordered the Spicy Chicken Burrito with rice and beans for $10, as well as a Mango Lassi for $3.
Our food arrived quickly after we placed our order, and I was so excited to finally try Indian food.
The Tikka Masala was easily my favorite. Paired with the naan bread and rice, the flavors were so delicious. Not too overpowering, but not lacking any flavor either. It was a perfect blend of spices and seasoning. The chicken was so tender and smokey, it was unlike anything I had before.
After speaking to the owner Bucky, he said he grills and smokes the chicken first, then his wife, Kelly, adds the seasonings, spices, and marinates the chicken, essentially cooking the chicken again creating a tender, flavorful dish.
The Spicy Chicken Burrito was good, but I found it more to be a Mexican flavored dish, still great, nonetheless. It would be good for someone who likes to stick to what they know but also venture out a little bit.
The Mango Lassi was alright, I expected more of a smoothie texture, but it was more of a yogurt. I liked it, but I don’t think I would order it next time.
The atmosphere was so welcoming, chatting with the staff and owner Bucky made my experience a 10/10. For it being my first time trying Indian food, I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed it and how lovely the people were.
