Fusion food news

Inventive Indian-Mexican restaurant twist on Chipotle debuts in Arlington

Tikka Bowls and Tacos is a fun fusion of two cuisines.

Tikka Bowls and Tacos

An inventive new fusion restaurant has debuted in Arlington: It’s the first Texas location of Tikka Bowls and Tacos, a Florida concept that does a fresh fusion of Indian and Mexican cuisines in a fast-casual setting.

The restaurant opened in mid-February in the former Halal Guys space at 4144 S. Cooper St., off I-20 and across from The Parks Mall.

The company was founded in Florida in 2022 by brothers Krupal and Bhavin Patel, and has two locations, in Jacksonville and Saint Johns. The Arlington restaurant is owned by their cousin Neel Patel, who wanted to bring the family-operated franchise to Dallas-Fort Worth.

Patel feels excited to bring the concept to a centralized part of Dallas-Fort Worth, and is also optimistic it will appeal to students at nearby UT-Arlington, which has one of the most diverse student populations in the country, including 32 percent Hispanic and 12 percent Asian students - an audience tailor-made for what Tikka Bowls and Tacos is doing. (UT-Arlington students will get a 10% discount on their orders, he says.)

“There’s so much diversity here, with more ethnicities and more tastebuds,” he says. “We wanted to go ahead and give it a shot here.”

The concept is similar to Chipotle and Cava, featuring customizable bowls and tacos made to order, cafeteria style.

You start with a base of cilantro lime rice or brown rice, then top it with choice of protein (chicken, beef steak, goat, paneer, or plant-based chicken). Both the goat and chicken options are halal, meaning they’re permissible or kosher to Muslim diners.

Toppings include both Mexican and Indian influences: Indian curry, black beans, jalapenos, lettuce, fajita peppers, cheese, pico de gallo, mango salsa, jalapeno, cabbage, lettuce, and sour cream. Pineapple guacamole is available for extra.

Tacos are the same deal, but with choice of naan bread or flour tortilla for the shell. Other build-your-own options include burritos and salads.

The menu also has biryani, a mixed rice dish, plus Indian snack foods like samosa chaat, savory fried pastries filled with potatoes and peas and topped with Mexican or Indian flavors; pizza made with naan bread on the kids menu; and a halal version of chicken wings.

Desserts include the Indian specialty gulab jamun, a sweet, deep-fried pastry dropped in sugar syrup, and a fun fusion twist on churros made with naan bread. Beverages include beer, masala, and cardamom chai tea.

“Indian food and Mexican food have really similar tastes,” Patel says. “They both have a lot of flavors, so why not mix them together?”

openings

Downtown Dining

Indian restaurant Gymkhana adds an urban touch to downtown Dallas

Gymkhana

A plush new Indian restaurant is now open in the heart of downtown Dallas: Called Gymkhana, it's located at 1408-1410 Main St., in the former Which Wich Sandwich/Birdguesa space, where it's serving a wide range of Indian dishes in an elegant, upscale setting.

Gymkhana is from prolific restaurateur Praveen Prasannan, an industry veteran with international experience working at hotels and on cruise ships. Prasannan is also the owner of Shivas Bar and Grill, an elevated Indian concept he owns with his brother Prinu, with outlets in downtown Dallas and in Allen; and Elephant Bar & Grill, another upscale Indian brand with locations in East Dallas and Bishop Arts.

Gymkhana — which is no relation to a London-based concept with the same name — is Prasannan's latest creation, and furthers his mission to champion authentic Indian food — from all parts of India, including Mumbai, where he's from — in a nicer environment than other Indian restaurants in the area.

The menu features traditional Indian dishes but with an occasional contemporary flair. Soups, for example, include a traditional madras tomato soup next to a lobster bisque. There are classics like samosas but also adventurous fusion items like hummus with garlic naan, or mussels "Indian style" with velvet tikka sauce.

They offer a number of dishes baked tandoori-style in a clay oven that imparts an irresistible smokiness, in dishes such as lamb and chicken kebabs.

Like most Indian restaurants, Gymkhana is vegetarian-friendly, even offering vegan dishes such as chana masala — chickpeas in a spicy tomato-onion sauce. Prices are relatively low, with entrees averaging about $21.

"I wanted to make sure it was affordable — that was important," Prasannan says.

GymkhanaGymkhana

Decor
The restaurant is inspired by the traditional social clubs of India, celebrating the spirit of togetherness and conversation, designed with intricate detail, Prasannan says.

"I brought in antiques from India to create a distinctive atmosphere, to give the restaurant a strong identity," he says.

The facade features centuries-old hand-carved wooden doors, with a row of lights across the top that reflect down on the sidewalk and give the entry a sophisticated, big-city feel.

The interior boasts royal blue jewel-toned banquettes, sparkling chandeliers, and hand-painted murals depicting regal figures, elephants, and intricate patterns — a combination of modern and traditional.

The space combines what was previously two storefronts with seating for up to 150, and that was intentional, Prasannan says.

"One of my priorities was to be able to offer a place for private parties and events — we receive so many requests," he says.

He's also a big believer in bringing Indian food to the center of Dallas. The majority of Indian restaurants are in suburbs like Irving, Plano, Richardson, Frisco — but Prasannan's restaurants are all in inner city areas like East Dallas, Bishop Arts, and downtown Dallas.

Their presence lends a cosmopolitan urban touch to their neighborhoods — and Gymkhana does it one better with late-night hours, staying open until 11 pm on weeknights and 1 am on weekends.

downtown openings