The Taj Cafe

574 E Main St, Ventura
(805) 652-1521

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Customers' Favorites

Curry Tandoori Chicken
Saffron Chicken Combo
Chicken Tikka Masala
Chaat Papri Chips
Chicken Biryani
Ginger Lemonade
Tandoori Combo
Butter Chicken
Chicken Curry
Coconut Curry

Menu

Savories
Samosas (product with gluten)
Stuffed with potatoes, green peas, and exotic spices. Served with tamarind chutney.
Mix Veg Pakoras(gluten free)
Spinach, cauliflower, potatoes mixed together, and cooked in a light garbanzo flour marinade. Served with sweet tomato chutney.
Aloo Tikka (gluten free)
Topped with chopped onions, tamarind, and tangy spices.
Uttapam(gluten free)
Griddle cake made from rice and lentil flour. Served with coconut chutney. Toppings tomatoes, onions, cilantro, and green chilli.
Chicken Pakoras(gluten free)
Garbanzo-flour marinated all white meat fritters served.
Bhel Puri(product with gluten)
Puffed rice (like rice cereal) onions, potatoes, sev, cilantro, and crushed crisp wheat crackers tossed together with two chutneys.
Mushroom Bhaji(gluten free)
Mushroom fritters seasoned with ginger and spices. Served with tomato chutney.
Sev Puri(product with gluten)
Crispy crackers topped with onion potatoes, two chutneys topped with crisp garbanzo flour noodles, and a garnish of cilantro.
Chutney Sampler (only chips have gluten)
A variety of freshly made chutneys served with Chips.
Onion Bhaji (gluten free)
Onions fritters in garbanzo flour batter seasoned with ginger and spices. Served with sweet tomato chutney.
Fish Pakoras(gluten free)
Fresh fish of the day in bite size pieces cooked in our garbanzo-flour batter. Served with sweet tomato chutney.
Shrimp Bhel(product with gluten)
Mildly marinated tiger shrimp tossed with puffed rice.

Soup and Salads
Punjabi salad(gluten free)
Fresh cut cucumbers, tomatoes, onions and pickles seasoned with lemon juice and blend of 12 spices.
Sambhar-Lentil Soup(gluten free)
Mildly spiced South Indian style soup with coconut and mustard aroma.
Chicken Soup(gluten free)
Mild delicious soup made from scratch flavored with onions, ginger, garlic, and spices. Garnished with rice, spinach, and tomatoes.
Fresh Green Salad(gluten free)
Fresh Romaine lettuce with cucumbers and tomatoes tossed in dressing.
Mulligatawny Soup(gluten free)
A unique mixture of sambhar with chicken soup.
Vegetarian Salad(gluten free)
Pan tossed mushrooms, Indian cheese, and eggplant in a light marinade. Served on a bed of Romaine lettuce with tomatoes and cucumbers tossed in dressing.
Chicken Salad(gluten free)
Tandoori grilled chicken, sauteed mushrooms, and cheese cubes. Served on a bed of Romaine lettuce, with tomatoes, and cucumbers in dressing.
Shrimp Salad(gluten free)
Tandoor grilled shrimps, sauteed mushrooms, and cheese cubes served on.
Fish Salad(gluten free)
Tandoor grilled white fish, sauteed mushrooms, and cheese cubes served on.

Mumbai Frankies (Does Not Include Rice or Bread)
Chicken Frankie(product with gluten)
Stuffed with chicken, cooked in tomatoes, onions, ginger, ground spices, two chutneys, and marinated onions. Egg-washed Bombay burritos served with the vegetable pickle.
Lamb Frankie(product with gluten)
Stuffed with lamb, cooked in a special sauce, two chutneys, and marinated onions. Egg-washed Bombay burritos served with the vegetable pickle.
Cauliflower Frankie(product with gluten)
Stuffed with gobi aloo, two chutneys, and marinated onions. Egg-washed Bombay burritos served with the vegetable pickle.

Tandoori Entrees (Does Not Include Rice or Bread)
Chicken Tikka(gluten free)
Boneless pieces of chicken marinated with ginger, garlic, cilantro, and spices. Served with mint chutney, marinated onions, and a wedge of lime.
Tandoori Chicken(gluten free)
Special tandoori chicken is marinated overnight in a special sauce with yogurt and spices. Served with mint chutney, marinated onions, and a wedge of lime.
Garlic chicken tikka
MILD boneless pieces of chicken marinated overnight in garlic and saffron, grilled in Tandoor oven.
White Fish Tandoori
Melt in mouth White Fish, marinated and grillled.
Taj Special(only garlic naan has gluten)
Big meat platter. Sampler of tandoori items includes chicken tikka, lamb tikka, tandoori chicken, lamb seekh, and t. Shrimp. Served with garlic naan, mint chutney, marinated onions, and a wedge of lime.
T Shrimp(gluten free)
Marinated jumbo shrimp. Served with mint chutney, marinated onions, and a wedge of lime.
Lamb Seekh(gluten free)
Lean minced ground lamb mixed with minced onions, mint, cilantro, green chilies, and spices. Served with mint chutney, marinated onions, and a wedge of lime.
Salmon Fish Tikka(gluten free)
Marinated fresh fish. Served with mint chutney, marinated onions, and a wedge of lime.
Lamb Tikka
Tender pieces of marinated lamb perfectly done. Served with mint chutney, marinated onions, and a wedge of lime.
SPICY Mirchi Chicken tikka
SPICY herb marinated pieces of boneless chicken cooked in Tandoor.

Taj's Exclusive (Does Not Include Rice or Bread)
Masala Dosa(gluten free)
It is a crispy crepe made of rice, lentil flour, and stuffed with mildly spiced potatoes. Served with sambhar and coconut chutney.
Mango Lamb(gluten free)
Boneless grilled lamb in a mild creamy sweet and tangy mango sauce.
Saagwala Chicken(gluten free)
Pureed spinched, seasoned chicken cooked with onions, ginger, and garlic fresh ground spices.
Saffron Chicken(gluten free)
Very delicious mild chicken saffron infused creamy tomato and onion gravy sauce.
Saagwala Lamb
Pureed spinched, seasoned lamb cooked with onions, ginger, and garlic fresh ground spices.
Mango Shrimp(gluten free)
Boneless grilled shrimp in a mild creamy sweet and tangy mango sauce.
Mango Chicken(gluten free)
Boneless grilled chicken in a mild creamy sweet and tangy mango sauce.
Saffron Lamb(gluten free)
Very delicious mild lamb saffron infused creamy tomato and onion gravy sauce.
Saffron Fish(gluten free)
Very delicious mild fish saffron infused creamy tomato and onion gravy sauce.
Saffron Shrimp(gluten free)
Very delicious mild saffron infused creamy tomato and onion gravy sauce.
Agra Chicken(gluten free)
Chicken first poached with ginger, onion, green chilli and spices, then sauteed with dry mango powder, coriander, and cayenne.
Mango Fish(gluten free)
Boneless grilled fish in a mild creamy sweet and tangy mango sauce.
Saagwala Fish(gluten free)
Pureed spinched, seasoned fish cooked with onions, ginger, and garlic fresh ground spices.
Saagwala Shrimp(gluten free)
Pureed spinched, seasoned shrimp cooked with onions, ginger, and garlic fresh ground spices.

Vegetarian Entrees (Does Not Include Rice or Bread)
Saag Paneer (gluten free)
Pureed spinach leaves and Indian cheese.
Gobi Aloo(gluten free)
Cauliflower, potatoes sauteed with tomatoes, ginger, green chilli, ground coriander, turmeric, and cumin seeds.
Makhani Paneer(gluten free)
Indian Cheese cooked in tomato base creamy sauce with a blend of six spices.
Tadka Dal
Yellow lentils freshly sauteed, garlic, tomatoes, cumin, and spices.
Malai Koftas
Grated vegetable dumplings in a delicious masala sauce.
Saffron Paneer(gluten free)
Indian cheese with mushrooms in a tomato saffron sauce.
Mixed Vegetable(gluten free)
Fresh Carrots, cauliflower, potatoes, green peas cooked with onions, tomatoes, ginger, and spices.
Baingan Bharta(gluten free)
A puree of tandoor baked eggplant and sauteed with onions, fresh tomatoes, ginger, and spices.
Kabuli Choley(gluten free)
Indian garbanzo beans cooked with browned onions, ginger, garlic, and tomatoes.
Dal(gluten free)
Chef's selection of Indian lentil cooked with onions, tomatoes, ginger, and garlic.
Matar Paneer(gluten free)
Indian Cheese, green peas cooked with onions, tomatoes, ginger, and garlic.
Gobi Manchurian (gluten free- Weekdays ONLY)
Fried Cauliflower florets in tangy savory tomato pan sautéed.
Aloo Matar(gluten free)
Potatoes, green peas in a sauce with tomatoes, ginger, green chilli, and herbs.
Saag Aloo (gluten free)
Pureed spinach leaves, potatoes with onion, ginger, garlic, and spices.
Shahi Paneer(gluten free)
Indian cheese with nuts and raisins in a very special creamy onion base sauce.

Masala Specialities (Does Not Include Rice or Bread)
Chicken Tikka Masala
Served in special recipe masala sauce.
Paneer Tikka Masala(gluten free)
Indian cheese cooked in masala sauce.
Lamb Tikka Masala(gluten free)
Boneless lamb chunks in masala sauce. Served in special recipe masala sauce.
Mushroom Masala(gluten free)
Mushrooms cooked in masala sauce. Served in special recipe masala sauce.
Fish Tikka Masala(gluten free)
Marinated fresh tandoori fish in masala sauce. Served in special recipe masala sauce.
Shrimp Masala(gluten free)
Tiger shrimp tandoori with masala marinated sauce. Served in special recipe masala sauce.

Korma Specialities (Does Not Include Rice or Bread)
Vegetable Korma(gluten free)
Mild Creamy delight cooked with onions, ginger, tomatoes, garlic, blend of exotic spices, nuts, and raisins.
Chicken Korma(gluten free)
Mild Creamy delight cooked with onions, ginger, tomatoes, garlic, blend of exotic spices, nuts, and raisins.
Lamb Korma(gluten free)
Mild Creamy delight cooked with onions, ginger, tomatoes, garlic, blend of exotic spices, nuts, and raisins.

Thali Combinations
Curry Combo
Your choice of chicken or lamb curry served with Vegetable Korma, Pullao Rice, Garlic naan, and raita.
Vegetarian Combo
Your choice of any two vegetables served with dal (lentils), Pillai Rice, Garlic naan, and raita.
Tandoori Combo
Your choice of chicken tikka or tandoori chicken served with Vegetable Korma, Garlic naan, rice pulao, and raita.

Non-Vegetarian Curries (Does Not Include Rice or Bread)
Chicken Makhani/ Butter Chicken (gluten free)
Boneless tandoor grilled chicken in a creamy tomato sauce with a blend of six spices.
Spicy Vindaloo Chicken( Curry(gluten free)
Spicy specialty from Agra cooked with potatoes, tomatoes, ginger, onions, vinegar, and lime juice.
Chicken Curry
Boneless pieces of chicken in a traditional sauce made from tomatoes, onions, ginger, garlic and ground spices.
Shrimp Curry(gluten free)
Pan tossed black tiger shrimp in a sauce made with ginger, onions, tomatoes, and lime juice.
Lamb Curry(gluten free)
Boneless pieces of lamb cooked in a dark traditional sauce made from tomatoes, onions, ginger, garlic, and ground spices.
Spicy Vindaloo Lamb Curry(gluten free)
Spicy specialty from Agra cooked with potatoes, tomatoes, ginger, onions, vinegar, and lime juice.
Spicy Vindaloo Fish Curry(gluten free)
Spicy specialty from Agra cooked with potatoes, tomatoes, ginger, onions, vinegar, and lime juice.
Dhansak Chicken Curry
Zesty curry cooked with lentils, ginger, onions, tomatoes, garlic, and six spices.
Dhansak Lamb Curry
Lamb cooked with lentils, onions garlic ginger tomatoes and 7 spices.
Spicy Vindaloo Shrimp Curry(gluten free)
Spicy specialty from Agra cooked with potatoes, tomatoes, ginger, onions, vinegar, and lime juice.
Lamb Makhani(gluten free)
Boneless tandoor cooked lamb in a creamy tomato sauce with a blend of six spices.
Fish Curry(gluten free)
Garlic sauteed fresh fish in a sauce made with ginger, onions, tomatoes, and lime juice.

Basmati Rice
White Rice(gluten free)
Basmati with natural aroma and flavor and simply steamed.
Pulao Rice(gluten free)
Basmati prepared with chef's selection of fresh.
Lemon Rice(gluten free)
Basmati prepared with chef's selection of fresh.
Cumin Rice(gluten free)
Basmati rice tossed with roasted cumin.
Lamb Biryani(gluten free)
Basmati prepared with curry, flavorful lamb, nuts, and raisins.
Chicken Biryani(gluten free)
Basmati prepared with flavorful chicken, nuts, raisins, and curry spices.
Brown Pullao(gluten free)
Fresh vegetables- seasoned brown rice.
Vegetable Biryani
Basmati prepared with cooked mixed vegetables, nuts, raisins, and curry spices.
Brown Pullao(gluten free)
Fresh vegetables- seasoned brown rice.

Breads
Garlic Naan
Naan topped with chopped garlic and cilantro.
Garlic Cheese Naan
Naan filled with cheeses topped with garlic and cilantro.
Naan
The classic lightly leavened bread made with white flour.
Garlic Chilli Naan
Naan topped with green chillies and cilantro
Tandoori Roti
An unleavened whole wheat bread.
Papadum (Gluten Free, Vegan)
Lentil flour crackers baked in Tandoor
Aloo Naan
Mildly spiced potato stuffed naan.
Poora(gluten free)
Garbanzo flour bread.
Onion Naan
Naan filled with grated onions and flavorful masala.
Lamb Naan
Naan filled with flavorful ground lamb. Served with mango chutney.
Aloo Paratha
Whole wheat bread stuffed with grated spiced potatoes. Served with mango chutney.
Plain Dosa(gluten free)
Rice and lentil flour bread.
Cheese Naan
Naan studded with cheese.
Butter Naan
Naan stuffed with butter.
Chicken Naan
Naan filled with minced tandoori chicken. Served with mango chutney.
Peshwari Naan
Sweet naan stuffed with nuts and raisins.
Paratha
Multi-layered Whole Wheat bread.

Condiments
Raita(gluten free)
Yogurt with cucumbers, carrots, and onions.
Chutneys(gluten free)
Translated as relish or salsa.
Kachumber(gluten free)
Chopped cucumbers, red onions, cilantro, tomatoes, and with a splash of lime juice.
Onions, Pickles, and Chilies
Acharr(gluten free)
Indian vegetable pickles intensely flavored with spices and salt.

Beverages
Mango Lassi
A yummy combination of mango and yogurt.
Sodas
Raj's Favorite
Mint flavored iced tea with fresh lemon-ginger syrup. Very refreshing.
Indian Ice Tea
Made from Indian tea leaves with flavorful spices. Served with sweet milk on the side.
Ginger Lemonade
Very refreshing lemonade with a ginger pinch.
Masala Chai
Indian hot tea with spice and milk.
Strawberry Lassi
Somade yogurt and strawberries.
Sweet Lassi
Sweet yogurt drink with a rose aroma.
Coffee
Still Mineral Water Sparkling Perrier
Indian Coffee
Milky coffee.

Desserts
Gajar Halwa
Carrot pudding made with golden raisins and almonds.
Gulab Jamun
Milk balls in a rose flavored syrup.
Kheer
Indian rice pudding with the flavor of green cardamom.

DAILY SPECIALS

Garlic Chicken Tandoori SPL Combo
Mild Boneless pieces of Chicken marinated in Garlic and Saffron, cooked in Tandoori Oven. Served with Vegetable Korma, Basmati Rice, Garlic Naan, Raita and Mint chutney
Rack of Lamb Chops Tandoori Special (One Person )
Marinated overnight in more than a dozen of spices, ginger, garlic, yogurt than Tandoori (oven) grilled Served with Vegetables Korma, Garlic Naam, Saffron Rice, and Yogurt raita.
Spicy Mirchi Chicken Tandoori SPL Combo
Marinated with Spicy herbs and grilled in Tandoori Clay Oven. Served with Vegetable Korma, Basmati Rice, Garlic Naan, Raita and Mint chutney

Photos

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Recent Reviews

Nice, cozy spot to sit down and eat a hearty meal. We are vegetarian and had many good choices. Papadum came with 3 flavorful sauces. The saffron paneer was excellent and unique. The sweet lassi had genuine rose extracts and reminded me of India. Dal makhani was as good as expected. The owner conversed with us as though we were family and even gave us a complimentary appetizer and dessert. Overall, we loved the restaurant.
March 2026
The food was delicious, the staff was kind, the atmosphere was great. The portion sizes were generous and the quality was amazing. We ordered the saffron paneer, daal makhani, mixed vegetables, naan, out of which the saffron paneer was my favorite. I recommend this restaurant to anyone who wants authentic Indian food!
March 2026
We enjoyed our dinner. The saffron paneer is a unique dish. The owner is friendly and chatted with us adding to a congenial atmosphere. The lassi with authentic rose essence was quite refreshing. Recommended!
March 2026

More Reviews

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The Taj Cafe

574 E Main St, Ventura, CA 93001
(805) 652-1521