Chicken masala mac & cheese? Butter chicken tacos? Naan pizza? They sounded too good to be true at first. But after trying them, I can confirm that I’d be more than happy to order them again and again.
Motu Indian Kitchen in East Longmeadow takes some of the most popular items from your typical Indian restaurant and puts just enough of a creative spin on them to make you go, “Why has no one done this before?”
The end result is a lineup of dishes where the familiar flavors are still going full throttle, but in a format that’s a little bit closer to American mainstream cuisine.
Let’s be clear: There’s nothing wrong with authentic Indian food. If you want that, you can swing by Motu’s sister restaurant, Panjabi Tadka in Springfield.
But Motu’s fills an Indian fusion niche that I did not realize I was hankering for.
For me, masala mac & cheese is like a chicken parm sub. They’re miles away from classic Indian or Italian cuisine. But they’re still absolutely delicious.
Motu Indian Kitchen | Review
Even if you don’t frequent Western Mass., there’s a good chance you may have seen one of Motu’s videos on social media highlighting some of their awesome menu options.
The fusion of chicken masala and mac & cheese is one of those things that will grab your attention when you’re scrolling through Instagram.
But the food at Motu goes far beyond social media attention. The restaurant backs it all up with the flavor.
What’s good on the menu?
The menu at Motu has some familiar Indian highlights in the form of chicken masala, multiple naan variations and samosas.
But I was most excited to try their more ambitious novelties.
Butter Chicken Taco – If you take a piece of naan bread and fold it into a U-shape, does that make it a taco?
I’m not qualified to answer that question. But I can declare that this thing is delicious.
It’s a bit big for a taco (not that I’m complaining) and comes loaded with the creamy sauce you expect from butter chicken.
I didn’t really notice the lettuce inside. But I can confirm the crispy onions on top are a nice touch.
Plus, at $8, it’s a great value.
While butter chicken appears to be the most popular option, you can also get tacos filled with paneer masala or lamb curry. There’s also a sweet/spicy taco that combines a sweet coconut naan with spicy chicken masala.
Masala Mac & Cheese – Here you get nice, big twists of pasta that hold the sauce well, along with your choice of protein – chicken, lamb or paneer.
I went with the chicken and also went home happy.
The creamy, savory masala sauce does a fantastic job of filling the role normally occupied by gooey cheese. The end result is a satisfying dish that actually feels a little bit lighter than normal mac & cheese.
Naan Pizza – I’ve got to be honest. I didn’t think this would actually work.
But the madmen over at Motu did it. They made a functional naan pizza that maintains all the flavors you expect from Indian food while still creating a functional slice you can pull off the place.
In each bite, you get this wonderful parade of savory flavors from the curry, the paneer, the onion and the chicken.
It’s an experience that continues to boggle my mind. My eyes see a pizza, but my brain tastes something totally different.
Embrace the fusion
I’m stoked to see Indian restaurants have a bigger footprint anywhere in the state. But to see Springfield’s Panjabi Tadka doing well enough that they can spin off into a second restaurant with Motu is terrific for the area.
Unlike Panjabi Tadka, which had table service, Motu leans more modern, fast-casual. There are digital kiosks in the restaurant where you can place your order, which is brought to your table.
It’s all quick, efficient and delicious.
What to know about Motu Indian Kitchen
Check them out: Website | Facebook | Instagram
Where is the restaurant located? – Motu Indian Kitchen is located at 520 N. Main St. in East Longmeadow.
What’s the parking situation? – Motu has its open private parking lot with plenty of spaces.
What hours are they open? – Here are the hours of operation at the time of writing:
Monday: 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Tuesday: 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Wednesday: 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Thursday: 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Friday: 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Saturday: 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Sunday: 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.
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“Nick Ate It” is a regular food column highlighting awesome restaurants and food. It’s like the “I ate it so you don’t have to” column, but without the sass.
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