Chicken Tikka Masala, Done Properly
Chicken Tikka Masala is the curry Britain took to heart, and for good reason. It is comforting, creamy and easy to love, the dish people order when they want something they know will be good. At Saffron Soho we cook it the way it deserves, starting in the tandoor and finishing in a sauce built for balance.
What It Actually Is
The name tells you the method. Chicken tikka means boneless chicken, marinated and cooked in the clay oven. Masala means a spiced sauce. Put them together and you have grilled, smoky chicken folded into a creamy, tomato-rich gravy.
The story goes that it was invented in Britain, when a cook added a sauce to tandoori chicken to suit local tastes. Wherever it began, it has earned its place. It is the bridge between the smoke of the tandoor and the comfort of a creamy curry.
How We Cook Ours
It starts with the chicken. We marinate breast pieces and cook them in the tandoor, so they carry char and smoke before they ever meet the sauce. That smoky backbone is what separates a real tikka masala from a bland one.
The sauce is creamy without being heavy, with a gentle, warming spice rather than heat. We want it rounded and balanced, the kind of dish a first-timer enjoys and a regular orders without thinking. It is mild by design, and proudly so.
How to Eat It
Tikka masala wants bread and rice. A warm naan for tearing and dipping, pilau or saffron rice to carry the sauce, and you have a complete plate. A drier tandoori starter on the side gives a nice contrast to the creaminess.
If you like the style but want to explore, our Butter Chicken and Ruby Chicken sit nearby on the menu, each rich and silky in its own way. Tikka masala is the easiest door into that family of curries.
What to Drink With It
A creamy curry is best matched with something clean and refreshing. A cold lager resets the palate between mouthfuls, and a crisp white wine picks up the brightness in the tomato. If you prefer a cocktail, choose something citrus-forward to balance the cream.
Come and Eat With Us
We serve the full menu straight through from midday, late into the night: until midnight, every night.
You will find us at 63 Old Compton Street, W1D 6HT, two minutes from the West End and close to Leicester Square and Tottenham Court Road.
Book a table online or call us on 020 3941 9935, and try the curry that won the nation over.
Frequently asked questions
Is chicken tikka masala spicy?
No, our chicken tikka masala is mild by design. It has a gentle, warming spice rather than heat, with a creamy, tomato-rich sauce. It is one of the easiest dishes for anyone new to Indian food.
What is in chicken tikka masala?
Boneless chicken is marinated and cooked in the tandoor for a smoky char, then folded into a creamy masala sauce built on tomato and cream with a gentle blend of spices.
What is the difference between butter chicken and chicken tikka masala?
They are close cousins. Both are mild and creamy, but butter chicken leans on butter and cream for a rounder, richer sauce, while tikka masala has a more tomato-forward, lightly spiced masala. Both start with tandoor-cooked chicken.
What should I order with chicken tikka masala?
A warm naan for dipping and pilau or saffron rice to carry the sauce. A drier tandoori starter on the side gives a nice contrast to the creaminess.
