That is what led to the opening of Indian Kitchen in April 2021, said Chanchal’s husband, Jagjit Dhillon, who manages the restaurant.
The couple moved to McKinney in 2015 from New Jersey, where Chanchal had a catering business. Now that the Dhillons’ children are older, he said they have more time to dedicate to a restaurant.
Chanchal is Indian Kitchen’s sole chef, which contributes to the authenticity of the food, Jagjit said. The restaurant is closed on Tuesdays because that is when the couple prepares food for the week. Chanchal marinates the meats and makes sauces from scratch while Jagjit assists with chopping vegetables.
Butter chicken and chef’s chicken curry are Indian Kitchen’s most popular dishes, Jagjit said. The chef’s chicken curry comes with a sauce that Chanchal created herself.
The menu also features vegan options, such as the lunch bowl, which comes with rice, lentils and vegetables.
“Every dish has a different sauce,” Jagjit said. “Generally, when you go to a restaurant, you’ll find 50 dishes, but then you taste three [or] four, [and] you will find very similar sauces [with] just a little tweak here and there. We have less dishes, but the sauce is completely different for all.”
He added that he and Chanchal would like customers’ experience in the restaurant to be like that of a kitchen in India, which is why they keep the menu small.
Another aspect of the restaurant that is inspired by the couple’s home country is the artwork, painted by North Texas-based artist Uttara Patil.
The Dhillons’ main priority for the restaurant is to hire more kitchen staff, Jagjit said. Beyond that, he said he is happy if the customers are happy.
“We didn’t think of making this into 10 locations. ... The whole intent is basically to give that experience of Indian food,” Jagjit said.
Indian Kitchen
3905 W. University Drive, Ste. 400
469-952-8282
www.gotoindiankitchen.com
Hours: Wed.-Sat. 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m., 5:30-9 p.m.; Sun. noon-6 p.m.; closed Mon.-Tue.
