Taj Cafe - Ventura

Appetizers

• Samosas$3.95

  These extremely popular Indian snacks are vegetarian turnovers stuffed with potatoes, peas and delicate spices. Served with homemade tamarind chutney

• Aloo Tikki$4.95

  Tiny potato pancakes topped with chopped onions, tamarind and green chili chutney

• Sev Puri$5.50

  Handmade crispy crackers topped with onions, potatoes, two-chutneys; covered with crisp chickpeas, flour noodles and garnished with cilantro

• Bhel Puri$5.50

  Puffed rice, onions, potatioes, sev, cilantro tossed together with wheat crackers and chutney

• Shrimp Pakoras$8.95

  Crisply fried marinated shrimp 8.95

• Fish Pakoras$8.95

  Fresh fish of the day in bite size pieces cooked in our gram-flour butter. Served with sweet tomato chutney

• Shrimp bhel$9.95

  Mildly marinated tiger shrimp tossed with puffed rice, onions, potatoes, chips, crisp noodles and chutney

• Uttapam$9.95

  Some call it 'Indian Pizza'. Very popular south Indian griddle cake made from cream of wheat. Served with coconut chutney and topped with tomatoes, onions, cilantro, green chili

• Chutney Sampler$4.95

  Three freshly made chutney served with wheat flour chips

• Onion Bhajia$5.95

  Onion fritters seasoned with ginger and spices; served with sweet tomato chutney

• Chicken Pakoras$7.95

  Gram-flour marinated all white-meat fritters served with sweet tomato chutney

• Mix Vegi Pakoras$6.95

  Spinach, cauliflower and potatoes mixed with a light marinade and served with sweet tomoato chutney

• Chaat Paapri Chips$7.50

  Wheat flour chips topped with potatoes, onions, crispy noodles, yogurt, two chutneys and a sprinkle of 12 spices

Soups and Salads

• Chiken Soup$4.95

  Flavored with ginger, onions, garlic and spices. Garnished with rice, spinach and tomatoes.

• Sambar (Lentil Soup)$4.95

  Spicy flavored south Indian style soup with coconut and mustard

• Mulgtawny Soup$4.95

  A special mix of chicken soup with sambar

• Chicken Salad$9.95

  Tandoor grilled chicken, mushroom and homemade cheese cubes served on a bed of Romaine lettuce, tomatoes and cucumbers with our homemade dressing

• Salmon, Shrimp Salad$10.95

  Tandoor shrimp or tandoori salmon, mushroom and homemade cheese cube served on a bed of Romaine lettuce, tomatoes and cucumber with our homemade dressing

• Vegetarian Salad$9.95

  Pan-tossed mushrooms, Indian cheese and eggplant in a light marinade served on a bed of Romaine lettuce, tomatoes and cucumbers with our homemade dressing

• Fresh Green Salad$4.95

  Fresh Romaine lettuce with cucumbers and tomatoes tossed in our homemade dressing

Tandoori Entrees

(Cooked in the traditional Indian oven. These dishes are served with mint chutney, marinated onions and wedge of lime)

• Fish Tikka$13.95

  Marinated fresh salmon

• T. Shrimp$13.95

  Marinated jumbo shrimp

• Chicken Tikka$11.95

  Boneless pieces of chicken marinated with ginger, garlic, cilantro and spices

• Tandoori Chicken$11.95

  This all original Indian specialty is marinated overnight in a special sauce of yogurt and spices

• Lamb Seekh$13.95

  Lean minced lamb flavored with minced onions, green chilies and spices

• Lamb Tikka$13.95

  Tender piece of marinated lamb cooked in the 'tandoor' to perfection

• Taj Special$18.95

  A sampling of our tandoori items include chicken tikka, lamb tikka, tandoori chicken, lamb seekh, T. shrimp. Served with garlic naan.

Kormas

(Mild cream based sauce made with a blend of exotic spices, nuts & raisins)

• Vegetable Korma$10.95

  Mix veggies in korma sauce

• Chicken Korma$12.95

  Mild curried chicken pieces in korma sauce

• Lamb Korma$13.95

  Mild curried lamb cubes in korma sauce

Bombay Frankies

(Homemade egg-washed Bombay style burritos served with vegetable pickle)

• Lamb Frankie$10.95

  Stuffed with lamb, cooked in a special sauce, two chutneys and marinated onions

• Chicken Frankie$10.95

  Stuffed with chicken, cooked in tomatoes, onions, ginger and ground spices, two chutneys and marinated onions

• Cauliflower Frankie$10.95

  Stuffed with potato and cauliflower, two chutneys and marinated onions

Masala Specialties

(All dishes are tandoor cooked, served in a mouth-watering masala sauce)

• Chicken Tikka Masala$12.95

  Our most popular masala dish

• Lamb Tikka Masala$13.95

  Boneless lamb chunks in masala sauce

• Fish Tikka Masala$13.95

  Marinated fresh tandoori fish in masala sauce

• Shrimp Masala$13.95

  Jumbo tiger shrimp tandoori with a light marinade in masala sauce

Taj's Exclusive

• Agra Chicken$12.95

  Chicken poached with ginger, onion, green chili and spices; sautéed with dry mango powder, coriander and cayenne

• Mango Chicken$12.95

  Our very own tandoori chicken in a sweet 'n tangy sauce

• Chicken or Lamb Vindaloo$13.95

  Spicy specialty from Agra cooked with potatoes, tomatoes, ginger, onions and lime juice

• Masala Dosa$10.95

  A south Indian vegetarian special. Crispy crepe made of rice and lentil flour, stuffed with spiced potatoes

Non-Vegetarian Curries

• Chicken Curry$11.95

  Boneless pieces of chicken in a traditional sauce made from tomatoes, onions, ginger garlic and freshly ground spices

• Chicken Saffron$12.95

  Boneless tandoori chicken twice-cooked in a rich tomato-saffron flavored sauce

• Lamb Saffron$13.95

  Boneless lamb tandoori twice-cooked in a rich tomato-saffron flavored sauce

• Lamb Curry$13.95

  Boneless pieces of lamb cooked in a dark traditional sauce made from tomatoes, onions, ginger, garlic and freshly ground spices

• Fish Curry$13.95

  Garlic sautéed fish of the day in a curry sauce made with ginger, onions, tomatoes and lime juice

• Shrimp Curry$13.95

  Pan-tossed black tiger shrimp in a sauce made with ginger, onions, tomatoes and lime juice

Vegetarian Entrees

• Vegetable of the day$10.95

  Chef's choice of the day

• Mixed Vegetable$9.95

  Carrots, cauliflower, potatoes and green peas, sautéed with onions and ginger

• Baingan Bartha$9.95

  A puree of tandoor baked eggplant, sautéed with onion, fresh tomato, ginger and green chili

• Gobi Aloo$9.95

  Cauliflower and potatoes, sautéed with tomatoes, ginger, green chili, ground coriander, turmeric and cumin seeds

• Saag Aloo$9.95

  Pureed spinach leaves and bite size potatoes sautéed with onions, ginger and spices

• Saag Paneer$10.95

  Pureed spinach leaves with homemade Indian cheese cubes, sautéed with onion, ginger and spices

• Saffron Paneer$10.95

  Sauteed Indian cheese cubes with mushrooms cooked in a tomato-saffron sauce

• Shahi Paneer$10.95

  Sauteed Indian cheese cubes with nuts and raisins in a special sauce

• Kabuli Cholay$9.95

  Indian chickpeas cooked with browned onions, ginger, ginger, tomatoes and green chili

• Aloo Mattar$9.95

  Potatoes and green peas in a homemade sauce with tomatoes, ginger, green chilis and herbs

• Dal$8.95

  Chef's selection of Indian lentils for the day

Dinner Special Combos

(substitutions gladly accepted for an additional charge of $2)

• Vegetarian Combos$16.95

  Your choice of two vegetables from our vegetarian entrees served with basmati rice, lentils, naan and raita

• Curry Combo$16.95

  Your choice of chicen tikka or tandoori served with aloo mutter, lentils, basmati rice, naan and raita

• Tandoori Combo$16.95

  Your choice of chicken tikka or tandoori served with lentils, aloo mutter, naan, rice pullao and raita

Breads

(All breads are baked in the tandoor)

• Naan$1.95

• Onion naan$3.95

• Aloo paratha$3.95

• Lamb naan$4.95

• Garlic Cheese naan$4.95

• Garlic naan$2.50

• Paratha$2.95

• Tandoori Roti$2.50

• Chicken Naana$4.95

• Pashori Naan$4.95

Basmati Rice

(we use pure basmati the highest quality rice grown in the foothills of the Himalayas, for all our rice dishes)

• White Rice$2.95

• Vegetable Biryani$5.95

• Lamb Biryani$9.95

• Pullao Rice$3.95

• Chicken Biryani$9.95

Condiments

• Chutneys$1.50

  Translated as "relish" or "salsa"; no Indian meal is complete without at least one!

• Achaar$1.50

  Vegetablespickled with spices and salt

• Kachumber$2.95

  Chopped cucumber, red onions, cilantro and tomatoes with a splash of lime juice

• Raita$2.95

  Homemade yogurt with cucumber and onionsa really cool dip!

• Papad$2.50

  Lentil cracker baked in the tandoor

Beverages

• Ginger Lemonade$2.95

  The very refreshing homemade lemonade with a ginger punch

• Mango Lassi$2.95

  A delicious combination of mango and homemade yogurt

• Sweet Lassi$2.95

  Sweet homemade yogurt drink with a rose aroma

• Masala Lassi$2.95

  Mildly spiced homemade yogurt drink

• Masala Chai$2.95

  Indian hot tea with spice and milk

• Indian Iced Tea$2.95

  Made from Indian tea leaves with a lot of flavorful spices. Served with sweetened milk on the side

• Coke

  Diet Coke, Sprite, Sparkling and Mineral Water, Coffee

  • each$1.95

• Raj's favorite Iced Tea$3.95

  Mint flavored iced tea with fresh homemade lemon-ginger syrup. Very refreshing!

Lunch Specials

• Vegan Lovers$9.95

  Your choice of one from one of baingen bartha, gobi aloo, aloo mutter, mixed vegetables, saag aloo or kabuli cholay served with dal of the day, basmati rice, papad, pumpkin chutney, fresh salad and kachumber. Choice of 2 items

• Curry Lunch$9.95

  Your choice of one from vegetable, chicken or lamb curries served with dal of the day, basmati rice, pumpkin chutney, garlic naan and fresh salad. Choice of 2 items

• Paneer (Indian Cheese) Lunch$9.95

  Your choice of one from saffron paneer, shahi paneer or saag paneer served with dal of the day, basmati rice, pumpkin chutney, garlic naan and fresh salad. Choice of 2 items

• Korma Lunch$10.95

  Your choice of one from vegetable, chicken or lamb cooked in a mild creamy curried sauce with nuts and raisins, served with aloo mutter, dal of the day, basmati rice, pumpkin chutney, garlic naan and fresh salad

• Tandoori Salad Lunch$9.95

  Your choice of one from vegetarian tandoori or chicken tandoori salad, served with garlic naan and pumpkin chutney. Substitute fish or shrimp for $2.00

• Seafood Lunch$13.95

  Your choice of one from fish or shrimp cooked your waycurry, masala or tandoorigrilled and served with aloo mutter, dal of the day, pullao rice, garlic naan and fresh salad

• Masala Lunch$10.95

  Your choice of one from mixed vegetable dumpling, masala, chicken tikka masala or lamb masala served with aloo mutter, dal of the day, basmati rice, garlic naan, pumpkin chutney and fresh salad

• Vindaloo Lunch$10.95

  Your choice of one from chicken or lamb in a hot 'n spicy vindaloo curry sauce served with dal of the day, basmati rice, pumpkin chutney, garlic naan and fresh salad. Substitute fish or shrimp for $2.00

• Mango Lunch (sweet)$10.95

  Your choice of one from chicken or lamb skewered-tandoori served in a delicious creamy mango sauce served with aloo mutter, dal of the day, pumpkin chutney, basmati pullao and fresh salad. Substitute fish or shrimp for $2.00

• Tikka Wrap$9.95

  A freshly baked garlic naan topped with your choice of one from chicken tikka or lamb seekh, with shredded paneer cheese, marinated onions, fresh lettuce, a touch of raita, pumpkin chutney, tamarind and mint chutney served with seasoned aloo pakoras

• Tandoori Lunch$10.95

  Your choice of one from tandoori chicken, chicken tikka, lamb tikka or lamb seekh served with aloo-matar, dal of the day, basmati rice, garlic naam, pumpkin chutney and fresh salad

• Create Your Own Lunch$12.95

  Your choice of meat, vegetable and a side served with dal of the day, garlic naan, pumpkin chutney and fresh salad. Substitute fish or shrimp for $2.00

Desserts

• Kheer$4.95

  Indian rice pudding with flavor of green cardamom

• Gajjar Halwa$4.95

  Carrot pudding made with carrots, golden raisins and almonds

• Gulab Jamun$4.95

  Milk balls in a rose flavored syrup

• Kulfi$4.95

  Choose between three mouth-watering, homemade flavors of Indian ice-cream: mango, ginger or pistachio

• Garam Thanda$6.95

  Our delicions warm carrot pudding topped with pistachio ice-cream