Indian restaurant chain makes Carolina debut as store opens in uptown Charlotte

EDITOR’S NOTE: This story was updated Sept. 6.

A fast-casual Indian restaurant has debuted its first store in the Carolinas in uptown Charlotte.

Tikka Shack Indian Grub opened its ninth location Aug. 30, the company said on its social media sites.

“The lines were long and thank you for your patience,” Tikka Shack said on Facebook.

The 2,800-square-foot corner site at 400 S. Tryon St. was previously a B. Good restaurant location. The Northeast chain permanently closed all four Charlotte locations during the pandemic.

Tikka Shack, based in Lubbock, Texas, serves traditional Indian dishes and build-your-own masalas and curries.

The uptown Charlotte offers a mix of corporate offices and residences, plus sports and other event visitors. “That location also is a good restaurant district,” company president and founder Pramod Prodduturi previously told The Charlotte Observer..

Franchise owner Nilay Patel signed a multi-unit deal and plans to open two other restaurants: one at Ballantyne and another likely in University City over the next couple of years, Prodduturi said.

What to expect at Tikka Shack

Tikka Shack is a casual Indian restaurant.

“All of the food is made to order,” Prodduturi said.

Its menu of Indian staples and street food includes curry bowls, grilled kabobs, wraps and Biryani, plus build-your-own meals. Meal prices start at $10.50, according to the menu online.

Here’s a sample of Tikka Shack favorites:

▪ Tikka masala and chicken: Tomato-cream masala spiced with paprika, coriander and turmeric.

▪ Southern curry and shrimp: Coconut curry with an India kick. Curry infused with coconut milk, curry leaves, red chilis, cilantro and mustard seeds.

▪ Tikka wrap and chicken: Grilled chicken wrapped in handmade naan — a leavened, oven-baked flatbread — with mozzarella, red onion, tomatoes and garnished with cilantro.

▪ Kabob bowl and chicken tikka: Two skewers served on basmati rice and side of mango salad and Tikka sauce.

Making Tikka Shack

Prodduturi also is president of the Masala Wok, serving Indian and Asian food. That franchise opened 21 years ago.

“But we have seen the popularity and demand increase for Indian food,” he said. So Prodduturi and his team came up with a new, smaller brand with popular menu items from Masal Wok, creating Tikka Shack six years ago.

Tikka Shack has eight other locations in Texas, Arizona and Pennsylvania. Each store hires about 15 full- and part-time employees.

This story was originally published March 17, 2022 at 10:08 AM.