TikkaTacoRito Wants to Be the Next Indian Fast Casual Chain | Eater Portland
"Opening July 1 at 1426 NW Glisan Street in the Pearl District, this fast-casual concept from Hari Venka and his wife Aarthi Ethiraj translates Indian flavors into customizable Mexican formats like burritos, kati rolls, and bowls. A former engineer who has been a home cook since 2008, Venka developed the menu during the pandemic and aimed to make dishes that are simple, scalable, and familiar to diners — the menu was designed so no prior cooking experience is required to assemble items. Tortillas and roti are made in-house on a heated press (about 20 seconds from dough ball to finished bread) to serve as the foundation for burritos and kati wraps, and bowls/salads are filled with grains and proteins such as chicken, goat, and paneer that are marinated overnight in yogurt with a blend of chili powder, fenugreek leaves, and cumin. Proteins are cooked in a cylindrical claypot oven (400–500°F) that uses gas plus a few coals to impart a smoky flavor; the oven fits 12–14 skewers, each holding five or six chicken breasts. Creative items include taco bombs inspired by panipuri (deep-fried hollow shells filled with taco ingredients and a chutney-like sauce for an "explosion of flavor") and a "boba caviar" dish similar to sabudana khichdi made with tapioca pearls, and Venka notes his own family's habit of rolling food up — even his second-grader prefers things wrapped — as part of the concept's appeal." - Janey Wong
