DEAL OF THE WEEK
Tarka Indian to spice up Spring with new location
Tarka Indian Kitchen is coming to the new Market at Springwoods Village in Spring and scouting additional locations. The restaurant at 2168 Spring Stuebner at Holzwarth opens Wednesday.
Austin-based Tarka, which made its debut in Houston in the Heights in June, has five other stores, in Austin, Round Rock and San Antonio. The menu includes traditional curries, kabobs and biryanis, masala fries and Naaninis, or pressed naan sandwiches filled with shredded lamb, curried chicken or vegetables. Made-toorder dishes, ordered at the counter, typically cost less than $10.
“It’s a natural next market as we expand outside of Austin,” said CEO Tinku Saini, who cofounded the chain in 2009. “It’s a big city, with the potential, we think, for 10 to 15 locations.”
Houston’s foodie culture and diverse population factored into the decision to expand here, Saini said. The eco-friendly restaurant is targeting areas such as Sugar Land, Katy, the Energy Corridor and Memorial City. It looks for shopping centers that fit in with its modern upscale design, with a mix of daytime and evening traffic and ample parking. Patio seating is a plus.
Tarka offers customized dishes with various sauces put on chicken, lamb, shrimp, vegetables or paneer. Spice levels range from mild to extra hot. Drink options include beer, wine, mango lemonade, Lassis and fair-trade sodas. The company says it strives to be socially and environmentally conscious in sourcing its ingredients.
Other Austin-based concepts expanding in Houston include Hopdoddy Burger Bar, Tacodeli, Ramen Tatsu-Ya, Pluckers Wing Bar and Torchy’s Tacos, which has also opened in the Krogeranchored Market at Springwoods Village. The Big Salad, which opened its first location outside Michigan in Sugar Land last year, is also now open in Market at Springwoods Village.
Tarka will donate 10 percent of sales during opening week to help with the Houston Food Bank’s Hurricane Harvey relief efforts.