Indian Food Worthy of a Crown

"Authentic" has become very much the key word for those looking to find a favorite ethnic restaurant. When it comes to Indian food in Roseville you can't get much more authentic than Taj Oven (as in India's famous Taj Mahal, which means "crown of palaces"). Located at 943 Pleasant Grove Boulevard, you might have heard good things about this fabulous dining option under its prior name of Indian Oven. However, in 2013, new owner, Inderjit Johal, decided that the restaurant needed a new name to reflect its delicious offering of authentic dishes from his home country, specifically the world-renowned cuisines from North India.

For traditionalists, Taj Oven's chicken tikka masala and lamb rogan josh are some of the creamiest, richest you'll ever taste. For vegetarians, the menu offers up a variety of options, including masala and korma versions of channa (chickpeas), bhindi (okra) and navrattan (a nine vegetable mix). And whether carnivore or herbivore, most dishes can be customized with your preferred level of "heat," ranging from the innocuous "mild" to an eye-watering"hot." But not to worry, Taj's use of hot spices will not overshadow the flavor of your meal as sometimes is the case at other, less authentic Indian restaurants.

Parents can rejoice, too! Taj Oven has sure-fire offerings to please even the pickiest of little ones. Have them try India's version of "nuggets," chicken pakora, boneless chicken pieces dipped in a special batter and fried to golden perfection, served with a sweet tamarind sauce – very good chance this will become their new favorite!

With an already affordably-priced menu for both eat-in and take-out meals, Taj Oven offers even more value with its popular lunch buffet. The restaurant is open seven days a week for lunch from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., serving dinners 5:00 to 9:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 5:00 to 10:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Call ahead for take-out at 916-772-4800.