I might become addicted to the Chicken Tikka Masala from Tandur Indian Kitchen

Yesterday, I went inside and ate everything. I love Indian. I love fast casual. I’m now a Tandur fanboy.

And it’s not just me. Charlotte will be Tandur’s second city. The first is Knoxville, where guests have given the concept ratings of 4.5/5 on Yelp, 4.8/5 on Facebook and 4.4/5 on Google.

My expectations for Tandur were high — and after my visit, they were exceeded.

Tadur’s vibe is “fine casual.”

Upon entering, you’ll find a touchscreen to your right where you can view dishes and educate yourself on all things Indian food — including the benefits of certain spices.

The restaurant is fast casual, so you’ll order at the counter, grab a number for your table and the staff will bring out your meal to you, typically within a few minutes.

All dishes are plated and diners will be using real silverware, not plastic. In terms of design, Tandur is well ahead of its peers. I loved the giant, exposed ovens and open view into their spice rooms — where they keep over 30 spices.

Tandur’s menu includes “saucy” entrees, wraps, salads and kebabs along with a kid’s menu, starters and unique sides.

I tasted about a dozen dishes and can tell you that Tandur will be one popular restaurant for my family. I enjoy Copper and Maharani, but Tandur is delicious, fast and less expensive.

The saucy entrees and kebabs will be your favorite. These range from $9.50 to $11.95 and are served with a choice of Saffron basmati or brown rice and include fresh naan bread. You start by picking a sauce – Tikka Masala, Kerala Coconut Curry, Korma, Vindaloo, Kadai, or Saag. Then you pick a protein: chicken, shrimp, steak, lamb meatball, paneer, tofu or veggies.

As you’d expect, the most popular item is the Chicken Tikka Masala ($9.95) which comes with rice and naan. I ate it and it’s outstanding.

I also recommend their Lamb Seekh Kebabs ($11.95) served with rice and mango slaw.

And it sounds odd, but start with their Spiced Okra Fries ($5.50) and baked Tanduri Wings ($7.95). One starter that I didn’t try, but I’m excited about, is their Chicken Naanchos ($4.50).

Given Tandur Indian Kitchen’s food, price point and vibe — I expect this will be a new hit fast-casual restaurant in our city. The restaurant will open the first week of April at which time my Chicken Tikka Masala addiction will begin.