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Monday Munchies: Tandoori Chicken, Naan & More at Indian Twist

Tandoori Chicken at Indian Twist (Photo by Jackie Tran)

Monday Munchies: Tandoori Chicken, Naan & More at Indian Twist

Sep 30, 20242 min read

Monday Munchies is supported by Botanica.

It’s been an incredible journey for Jimmy Aujla and the team behind Indian Twist. In 2018, they opened the first location at 4660 E. Camp Lowell Rd. About a year ago, a second location opened near the Tucson International Airport (6801 S. Tucson Blvd.), and then most recently they opened a third spot in Dove Mountain (12130 N. Dove Mountain Blvd. #124).

Indian Twist – Camp Lowell location (Photo by Isaac Stockton)

Heck, there’s even a separate concept in the Indian Twist family — Zyka Twist — on Fourth Avenue serving North Indian dishes like Tikka Masala, Chicken Biryani, and Chicken Curry.

There’s a lot to love on the menu at each of these restaurants!

Back in the day, Aujla volunteered as a child in a Sikh temple and assisted his family in opening and operating multiple Indian restaurants across the states of Washington, Oregon, and California.

No matter what you order on the menu, be sure to get some naan — traditional Indian flatbread.

Naan at Indian Twist (Photo by Isaac Stockton)

Indian Twist’s naan is made-to-order in a tandoor oven that’s kept at a constant 700 degrees. The dough is tossed against the oven’s wall and pulled away once it bubbles, blisters, and chars to perfection.

It’s served in a basket and can be paired with any of India Twist’s entrees.

Naan at Indian Twist (Photo by Isaac Stockton)

The Tandoori Chicken is a popular dish — chicken marinated in a mixture of yogurt and spices. The marinated chicken is also cooked in the tandoor oven, giving it a smoky, charred flavor. It’s a dish that’ll get your nostrils flaring the moment it’s placed in front of you.

Get a big whiff of its aroma before digging in.

Tandoori Chicken at Indian Twist (Photo by Aric Mussman)

Indian Twist is located at 4660 E. Camp Lowell Rd., 6801 S. Tucson Blvd., and 12130 N. Dove Mountain Blvd. #124. For information, visit indiantwistaz.com.

All in the Family

Over at 1999 E. Ajo Way, Twisted Indian is a must-visit. It’s the only Indian restaurant on Tucson’s south side and it’s located inside a Chevron gas station!

Aujla’s brother Ben Sihota and sister-in-law Manveen Sihota own the Chevron station. On the menu, you’ll find classics like chicken tikka, butter chicken, samosas, garlic naan, and the Kadai Curry which is a personal favorite of Raj Sihota (Manveen’s son) — he’s in charge of all operations, from managing the restaurant to cooking the food. 

Twisted Indian (Photo by Hannah Hernandez)

Twisted Indian is located inside the Chevron gas station at 1999 E. Ajo Way. For more information, follow Twisted Indian on Instagram. You can also order on DoorDash.com.

Article written by:

Matt Sterner

Matt Sterner

More about Matt

At a very young age, Matt Sterner was gifted with the artistic ability to masterfully roll a burrito to the highest of standards, but the wrapped medley of delicious innards wasn’t his first love. Matt’s first true love was a combination of reading, writing, and creating. He grew up reading comics, the ingredients list of his shampoo and conditioner bottles, choose-your-own-adventure books, and the Scrabble dictionary — something he found useful when challenging his grandmother to a game.

He attended college at New Mexico State University and graduated with a degree in Digital Filmmaking. One of his favorite classes was screenwriting because he became responsible for the story’s birth before it came to life on-screen. After school, Matt took on numerous positions at a local television station in Tucson. From dealing out stories about heartbreak to producing “fluffier” content for a lifestyle broadcast, he learned what it takes to adapt to the many emotions the world of media can stir. Since 2017, Matt has dabbled in the culinary world of Tucson as well as San Diego, California from time to time.

If you’re in the mood for strange stories, head over to his pride and joy, wonkytimes.com. And in case you’re curious — yes, after all of this time, he still manages to roll a killer burrito.

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