Tandoor Express: Indian Cooking and Takeout in South Carolina

What Tandoor Express offers

Tandoor Express is an Indian restaurant that specializes in tandoor-cooked meats and breads, along with curries and rice dishes typical of North Indian cuisine. The restaurant operates as a dine-in and takeout spot, with a menu built around the tandoor—a clay oven that cooks meat and naan bread at high heat, giving them a charred exterior and smoky flavor.

The core menu includes tandoori chicken, lamb, and paneer (Indian cheese), served with rice and vegetables. Beyond tandoor items, the kitchen prepares curries in different heat levels—butter chicken, tikka masala, vindaloo, and dal—along with breads like garlic naan, peshwari naan, and roti. Most locations also offer lunch buffets during midday hours, which let you sample multiple dishes at a fixed price.

Key Takeaways

• Tandoor Express serves North Indian food centered on tandoor-cooked proteins and traditional curries, available for dine-in or takeout.
• The tandoori chicken and naan bread are signature items, cooked in a clay oven that gives them a distinctive smoky char.
• Lunch buffets are usually offered during midday hours and let you try several dishes without ordering à la carte.
• Heat levels vary across the menu, so you can request mild, medium, or hot depending on your tolerance for spice.
• Takeout orders can be placed by phone or online, and most locations deliver within a set radius.

The tandoor and what it cooks

The tandoor is the centerpiece of the menu. This cylindrical clay oven reaches temperatures around 900 degrees Fahrenheit, cooking meat and bread in minutes. Marinated proteins—chicken, lamb, paneer—are threaded onto metal skewers and lowered into the oven, where the intense dry heat seals in juices and creates a smoky crust. The result is meat that is charred outside and tender inside, with a flavor you cannot replicate in a standard kitchen oven.

Naan bread is slapped onto the inside walls of the tandoor and bakes in seconds, puffing up and developing dark spots. Garlic naan, brushed with garlic butter after cooking, is a staple side. Peshwari naan, filled with coconut and raisins, offers sweetness alongside savory mains. Plain naan, roti, and kulcha (stuffed bread) round out the bread selection.

Tandoori platters come as appetizers or mains. A tandoori chicken appetizer typically includes a few pieces with onion and lemon. A full tandoori chicken entrée gives you a half or whole bird, enough for one or two people, served with rice and a vegetable side like cucumber raita or mixed vegetables.

Curries and rice dishes

Beyond the tandoor, Tandoor Express prepares curries that simmer on the stovetop. Butter chicken (murgh makhani) is a mild, creamy curry made with tomato sauce and cream—a common entry point for people new to Indian food. Tikka masala is similar but often slightly spicier and made with yogurt-marinated chicken. Vindaloo is the hottest standard curry, made with vinegar and whole spices, and is meant for people who enjoy significant heat.

Vegetarian curries include chana masala (chickpeas in tomato sauce), dal (lentil soup), saag paneer (spinach and cheese), and aloo gobi (potatoes and cauliflower). These are often less expensive than meat curries and can be ordered as mains or sides. Biryani—a rice dish cooked with meat or vegetables, spices, and sometimes dried fruit—is a complete meal on its own and comes in chicken, lamb, goat, or vegetable versions.

All curries come with basmati rice unless you order biryani, which includes rice cooked into the dish. You can request heat level adjustments; most restaurants will make a mild version of any curry if you ask when ordering.

Lunch buffets and pricing

Many Tandoor Express locations run lunch buffets from around 11 a.m. to 2 or 3 p.m., Monday through Friday. A buffet typically includes three to five curries, a tandoori item, rice, naan, and a vegetable or lentil dish. You pay one price and can fill your plate as many times as you want. Buffet pricing is usually lower per person than ordering à la carte, making it a good option if you want to try several dishes or are dining with others who have different preferences.

À la carte entrées (curry with rice and bread) generally range from moderate to mid-range pricing depending on the protein. Tandoori platters cost more than curries because they require the tandoor and often come with larger portions. Appetizers—samosas, pakora, tandoori items—are cheaper and good for sharing or starting a meal.

How to order and what to expect

You can dine in at most Tandoor Express locations, which typically have casual seating and simple décor focused on the food rather than ambiance. Takeout orders are placed by phone or through online ordering platforms. Delivery is available in many areas within a certain radius of the restaurant; check the website or call to confirm your address is in the delivery zone.

When ordering takeout or delivery, naan and other breads travel better than curries, which can separate or cool unevenly. If you are ordering curry for delivery, ask for it in a separate container from rice so you can reheat it properly at home. Tandoori items stay moist and flavorful for several hours if kept in a closed container.

Lunch service is usually busier than dinner, especially on weekdays when the buffet draws office workers. If you are ordering takeout during lunch rush, expect a 15 to 20 minute wait. Dinner orders typically take 20 to 30 minutes depending on how busy the kitchen is.

Spice levels and dietary requests

Indian restaurants measure heat on a spectrum from mild to extra hot. Mild curries have little to no chili pepper and rely on other spices for flavor. Medium curries have noticeable heat but are not overwhelming. Hot and extra hot are for people accustomed to spicy food. When you order, tell the staff your heat preference; they can adjust any curry to match it.

Vegetarian and vegan options are built into the menu—dal, chana masala, saag paneer, aloo gobi, and vegetable biryani are all meat-free. Paneer dishes are vegetarian but not vegan because paneer is cheese. If you follow a vegan diet, ask which curries are made with oil rather than ghee (clarified butter) and which breads are made without butter.

Tandoor Express can usually accommodate requests for less oil, no onion, or other modifications if you mention them when ordering. Call ahead if you have a severe allergy; the kitchen can tell you which dishes are safe.

Finding a location near you

Tandoor Express has multiple locations across South Carolina, with restaurants in larger cities and some suburbs. Each location operates independently, so hours, menu details, and pricing can vary slightly. The easiest way to find the nearest one is to search online for "Tandoor Express" plus your city name, or check Google Maps for locations, hours, and customer reviews.

Call ahead before your first visit to confirm hours and whether the lunch buffet is running that day. Some locations may close for a few hours between lunch and dinner service, or may not offer the buffet every day.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between tandoori and tikka masala?

Tandoori refers to meat cooked in the tandoor oven—it is dry, smoky, and charred. Tikka masala is a curry sauce made with cream and tomatoes, usually served over chicken that was marinated and cooked in the tandoor first. Tandoori is a cooking method; tikka masala is a dish.

Is naan bread vegan?

Plain naan is usually vegan—made with flour, water, salt, and yeast, then cooked in the tandoor. Garlic naan and peshwari naan are brushed with ghee (clarified butter) or butter after cooking, so they are not vegan. Ask your server which breads are made without butter.

Can I get my curry made less spicy?

Yes. Tell the staff your heat preference when ordering, and they can adjust any curry. Start with mild if you are unsure; you can always order hotter next time. Mild does not mean flavorless—it just means less chili pepper.

How long does takeout usually take?

Most orders take 20 to 30 minutes. During lunch rush (11 a.m. to 1 p.m.), expect 15 to 20 minutes. Call ahead to place your order so it is ready when you arrive, or use online ordering if the restaurant offers it.

What should I order if I have never had Indian food?

Start with butter chicken or tikka masala—both are mild, creamy, and familiar to people new to Indian cuisine. Order it with garlic naan and basmati rice. Add a tandoori chicken appetizer to try the tandoor oven. If you want something vegetarian, chana masala (chickpeas) is a good entry point.