California Chutney

Worse Indian restaurant. The tandoori chicken looks like cat food. And the rice is saltier than the Red Sea.

I’ve been craving for samosas but my friend told me to try Chutney in Old Pasadena. The place is super nice. I ordered tandoori chicken duo and chiken tikka fries and it was so good! Must try!

I come here way more than I care to admit — i literally won’t checkin every time, even though they’re offering the free pappadams cause it’s too embarrassing. hah. I will say i LIKE this place (the 3.5ish kind of like) but it’s hard for me to even 4 it as that seems like it should be reserved for real places that I don’t just go to cause there aren’t that many casual, decent lunch options in Pas
This place is straight forward tho: they’re fusion cali/​indian food — however you imagine that, is really what it is. I didn’t think I knew what that meant either but when you try it you’ll prob have that same «well, yeah that’s exactly what it is» reaction. fresh greens and various americanized indian proteins?
Lots of flavorful chutneys to choose from but my default seems to be that cucumber yogurt.
LPT: don’t feel pressure to choose when you’re ordering at the bar tho cause they have a separate chutney bar around the corner w separate containers that you can decide on without the pressure of the line behind you. Despite that, I still manage to have a hard time carrying all the tiny sauces back w me – I’ve got no tips for that so feel free to share if you’ve managed to figure out how to balance a row of six of em up your arm or somethin
Chipotle style ordering ranging from their [naan] Taco Tuesday pricing of ~3 $ a pop to plates of food at $ 12 – 13. The foods all seem to be the same just priced and served up diff. as in, a $ 10 bowl is rice topped w protein, veggies, chutney while the $ 12 plate is rice NEXT to protein, veggies topped w chutney hahaa. welp, at least it’s hard to mess up your order.

Just.plain.delicious! A friend of mine introduced me to this place last weekend, and I’ve already gone back just two days later. While leaving, bumped into another friend who was on her way in. A week ago, she had mentioned that she wanted to tell me about a new place she found: much to her disappointment, she could see I had already discovered it. Great, delicious spices: like any good Indian restaurant. I enjoyed the lamb and the chicken tikka masala. I love picante food. This place gives the right amount of kick and spice so that it’s tasteful and not too hot (for those who like hot and spicy food). If that’s not your thing, avoid the spicy condiments, but savor the flavorful rice bowls or «tacos» a la naan bread, or try the plates. In all cases, the price is right.
For dessert, get the yummy mango lassi. Definitely worth a try!
Chutney is not included on the list to introduce visiting friends and family for a quick, delicious, meal while perusing Old Town. I believe another reviewer called this place Chipotle for Indian food. An apt appellation.
Service is pretty good, albeit the last time I went they were significantly understaffed, the manager was on a break, the condiments/​sauces had run out and the young lady behind the counter taking orders, fixing orders, receiving payment for orders wasn’t going to have any remote chance of refreshing the condiment any time soon. But I chalked that up to a rare occasion. I’ll be back.

I love this place, it has great bold flavors. The customer is top notch as well, as everyone is courteous and knowledgeable regarding the dishes. The only negative is there is a man that walks around talking to himself and tries to begin conversations with the patrons. Other than that, I love this place.

This was actually a great place with excellent, clean, tasty food, and not expensive.
Bright and cheery and great selection of on tap beers. Recommended.

Having been here more than a half a dozen times now I can say that the food has consistency. It’s nice to have vegetarian and vegan options for dietary restricted people. Wife has now become dairy free and gluten free which has been easy here since they provide a chart for these restrictions. This is not an upscale fancy restaurant but more of a quick solid lunch or dinner spot that won’t break the bank, similar to a chipotle. On a few occasions I had a staff member with a little slower demeanor or a toned down energy level but for the most part and especially the last three time, they have been on point. I like the kale paneer, and lamb the best. Naan is very good (except I don’t eat bread anymore but it was good back when I had it). Lassi is a tasty treat too. Check them out especially if other places close by have a long wait, they will be quick and tasty.

Naan tacos were delicious. I had the duo with Paneer and Lamb Keema and went a little greedy with the toppings. I suggest keeping it to a minimal and getting the chutney on the side from the self serve chutney bar. I added scallions, cilantro and pickled cucumbers as well as the cilantro sauce to both of my tacos. The final assembles were extremely juicy and flavorful, and the freshly made naan surprisingly held up really well despite the heavy wet fillings. Each taco also came with complimentary braised chickpea which made for a satisfying and filling meal. I also got the mango lassi which was delicious and complimented well with the heat from the tacos!
Don’t forget the papadums with Unilocal check in. They were great for sampling the different chutneys.

Naan tacos were pretty interesting. It’s hard to know what to put on them, so it was nice once I picked my protein that the guy behind the counter had quick and strong opinions about what to put on top. If in doubt, trust the employees… they know what’s up.
The chicken masala with yogurt was ok. I liked the chicken tandoori with the sweet sauce on top (forget what kind it was). That one was awesome, though the naan actually sort of detracted from the flavor a bit…

Was in the Pasadena area so did some Unilocaling and found this spot. It’s like a Indian food chipotle. I got the tacos. I thought they were really good. The taco shells they use is freshly made naan bread they make then and there on a piece of stone or something. Chewy and crispy.
I got 3 tacos. Chicken marsala, tandoori chicken and shrimp. They were all tasty but you got to ear it there because their meats are stewed so the taco will eventually get soggy.
The girlfriend got a bowl but wasn’t very happy with it.
I would come back for the tacos though.
They even have a sauce bar If you want extra sauce.

California Chutney is a great spot for fast Indian food. It’s amazing that an Indian place with low prices exists right down the street from Akbar. The two establishments are polar opposites. Akbar is your typical sit down with a dark interior, a romantic setting, and steep prices. Cal Chut is bright, cheery, and more affordably priced.
While both have great tasting Indian food, I can definitely see myself eating at the Chut much more frequently.
For starters, they simply have great tasting food. Sure, the woman serving my food could have given me more shrimp, but it was a small gripe during an otherwise pleasant experience.
This place is the epitome of fast casual, and is right up there with Blaze, Panera, Chipotle, Luna Grill. It’s fresh food, served faster than a sit-​down restaurant. You pay a little more than you would for a burger from Wendy’s, but its a trade-​off most Millennials are willing to make.
The sauces here are fantasmic. Definitely try the Tamarind Apple, it is exquisite. And the chickpeas are scrumptious too.
If you are a soda lover, they have the fancy soda machines that seem to be springing up everywhere these days. Near the soda machine are utensils and napkins for your dining-​in enjoyment.
The décor of California Chutney is simple, clean, and it makes good use of ambient light with large windows all around this spot on the corner.
If you’re looking for something to delight your tastebuds without ripping a hole through your wallet, give Cali Chutney a go :)

2^nd time here and tried tacos the first one and a rice bowl the second time.
Basically you pick your protein and for vegetarians there is a vegan chickpea one and vegetarian paneer and kale one.
The first time I tried chickpea naan tacos which were delicious! They put a small bed of greens then put some of the Chana masala curry on top. Then they ask if you want to top it off with a chutney and additional toppings (red pepper, pickles, cilantro, onions, spicy pickles, spicy shallots, papadum shavings and some more.) I got the duo ($ 9.30) and it was pretty filling.
This time I got the rice bowl ($ 8.95)with paneer and kale. It is a hefty portion and I was full eating ¹⁄₃ of it. It comes on a mountain of saffron rice. They add the protein and then ask about toppings and chutney as well. Even if you want to try other chutneys there is a chutney bar!
There are different cool variations on chutney like mango ginger, tamarind Apple, cucumber yogurt.
They all taste pretty good. For the price, you get a good amount of food!
–1 star for the bathrooms. trash not taken out, toilet paper out with no extras, paper napkins on the floor, and a pervasive mild odor (but not of excrement. something else).
Also the paneer and kale was a bit too heavy for me but it isn’t bad. Probably will pass next time as it is mostly all cheese with bits of kale.

Low priced Indian food was basically unheard of for me, until I found Chutney. Their prices are comparable to a chipotle or any other fast casual, they have 5 – 6 different protein options and meal plans to suit any diet. I have gotten the paneer masala and chicken tikka masala and they are both delicious. When my boyfriend ordered the shrimp they were very stingy with the portion, even though you pay extra, but when I got my paneer and chicken for my mom they put a substantial amount.
The side options of chickpeas or lentil are also both delicious but I wish they had another vegetable option, since both chickpeas and lentil are both carbs and if you’re eating it with rice it becomes very carb heavy. A vegetable biryani would be wonderful in my opinion. I also like that they have mango lassi, hot chai, and chai cookies which I have yet to try.
I also have to say, kudos for having a fancy soda machine and super kudos for a delicious sauce bar — cilantro and the tamarind Apple are my favorites. This place could easily fit into my fast casual rotation of eateries.

My lunch here today was spicy, healthy and delicious. I had a Chicken Tikka Masala topped salad, I also added chickpeas, marinated cucumbers, cilantro, mango and spicy toppers. Yum! Yum! Yum!
My friend ordered Samosas and they were fantastic too. I had ordered a hot chai, and had to request it several times, but for some reason they just didn’t bother to add it to my order. This is why I give 4 stars. Even when I came back to tell her I didn’t get my drink she just said, «oh, I didn’t add it.» It seemed that she knew and wasn’t surprised at all. Weird. I really wanted some hot tasty chai too.
I couldn’t finish my meal and I really wanted to because it was delightful, for a salad, it was satisfying and didn’t make me want to grab a bag of chips or a cookie afterward. This is a quick place to eat that I’d try again.

This place stinks! I love indian food and… I must say I am highly disappointed in not only the food but the staff is … worse than the bland food.
Staff has a lack of knowledge when it comes to the food they are actually serving.
Poor poor poor service…
Never ever again… poor representation of a Chipotle version of Indian fast food.

WHAT A HIDDEN GEM!!!
I had been wanting to try this place for a while and it definitely didn’t disappoint!!!
The place wasn’t too crowded and we were greeted right when we walked in! We ordered our food in a chipotle-​esque fashion, paid at the end, and sat ourselves.
We ordered:
TANDOORI CHICKEN NAAN TACO
— for those that don’t want or can’t handle spicy foods
— soooo good the chicken was cooked really well and I loved the curry
— I put veggies and chickpeas on mine as well as the dark chutney with green onions and cilantro
PANEER WITH KALE NAAN TACO
— level 2 spiciness which was actually pretty spicy
— it’s a vegetable option so the «meat» is tofu
— ITS SO GOOD I WANT TO CRY
— I put veggies and chickpeas on it also with the cilantro chutney
CHICKEN TIKKA MASALA BOWL
— on a bed of rice with chickpeas
— also a little spicy but so good
— the bowl is easier to eat but not as fun as the tacos
MANGO LASSI
— here we go THE BEST DRINK IVE EVER HAD
— it looks like a mango smoothie but it’s so much better than that!!!
— it’s not numbingly sweet which is a plus
— also it’s stays consistently thick
— this is a must in my opinion
Also another cool thing, they made the naan RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME! My mind after that was blown.
Overall I really like this place! It has good food, good service, AND A DELICIOUS MANGO DRINK!
I would 100% recommend and come back in the future!

California Chutney is located on the corner of Union Street and Raymond Avenue. It’s across Union Street from Slater’s ⁵⁰⁄₅₀. The restaurant is pretty spacious with seating at the right front area and at the back hidden in the corner. You first choose your protein (chana masala, paneer with kale, tandoori chicken, chicken tikka masala, lamb keema with chili & garlic and malabar shrimp curry) and then one of the main dish (naan taco, rice bowl, roti burrito, salad bowl, plates). You can also order their hot plates and biryani (basmati rice cooked with yogurt and spices) dishes. They also have fries and side dishes, kid dishes and beverages.
Food: I ordered the chicken tikka masala salad bowl and it was huge! The salad bowl also came with two naan bread. After, you can put other veges and spices on your dish. This dish came out to around $ 8. They also have a chutney bar at the back where the soda fountain and utensils are. The dish was pretty good especially the naan. Yummm…
Parking: Street parking is available or you can park at the parking garage on fair oaks/​green/​raymond. The first 90 mins are free! Additional hour is $ 2, max $ 6.
Overall, the place was clean and the staff was friendly. The food was delicious and I would come again :)

I love the concept of California Chutney!
Since I normally eat with Indian food with my fiancé it’s a little tough to get all the options you want at a decent price when it’s just the two of you. If you go with a group it’s much easier but then you don’t get the same portions. California Chutney kind of resolves that issue because you can get a plate with what you want on it.
We got two plates which came with a salad, rice, two sides, and one piece of nann. We also added on two (2) samosas and a fountain drink and our total came out to just under $ 30. I mean this isn’t bad considering the location and convenience of having Indian food in a «fast food» kind of setting.
The food was good but maybe a little bland but I guess that’s what their chutney bar is for. I love that they have a bar easily accessible with all the works.
They also have a fancy soda fountain which allows you to make custom drinks which my fiancé is a huge fan of– vanilla orange soda, root-​beer float-​like soda.
Overall
Nice option if you want fast Indian food with options. However, it’s probably not the most authentic.

3.5 stars for this Indian fusion joint, dare i say indian tacos, burritos, flat breads, salads, and fries? It’s got the whole chipotle concept going so you can customize your dishes
Naan serves as the vehicle for the tacos and you can dress it up more at the unlimited chutney/​sauce bar! i also got my tacos with chickpeas, mixed greens, cucumbers, and cilantro
—lamb keema taco: i was warned by the worker that this would be super spicy but it wasn’t, this was pretty good
—chicken tikka taco: this was tasty too!
—chicken tikka fries: Indian spices with feta cheese with chicken, not bad but I wasn’t a huge fan of the spice flavor profile
—papadums: lentil crackers that are great dipped in the chutneys! you get 2 FREE with Unilocal check-​in
The biggest let down about the meal was I wish the naan was crispier/​toastier, that would have made the tacos wayyyy better
NOTE: tuesday is taco tuesday $ 3 for each taco, but when i ordered i just ordered the «duo» which comes with 2 tacos so i think i was charge for the meal instead of the taco tuesday deal

Indian food with a twist, similar to a Chipotle assembly line. I first found out about California Chutney on Instagram and I immediately knew I had to try this place out. Indian tacos? I don’t know about you but that sounds mighty genius to me! I applaud their ingenuity.
Upon walking in, I was struck by how huge their space was. I also saw they were making fresh naan bread. Good signs all around. Ordering is pretty straightforward. Plate, bowl, roti burrito, or tacos. Easy peasy. Decided to go with two naan tacos. Everything is assembled in front of you. You choose your choice of protein, vegetables, chutneys, and additional toppings you’d like. I was surprised by how filling the naan tacos were! They automatically came with Braised Chickpeas and I decided to go with the Paneer for my protein. Their wide array of chutneys is impressive (Cinnamon Pineapple, Tamarind Apple, Cucumber Yogurt, Fresh Cilantro, Mango Ginger, Roasted Chili, Roasted Serrano). Ask them to add it to your tacos or you can do it yourself at their self-​serve Chutney Bar.
The workers were nice and the restaurant itself was clean. Aside from the usual soda options, they also have Honest tea, wine, and beer. Prices are reasonable and the food tasted fresh! I really can’t get over how scrumptious the naan bread was especially for an Indian fast casual restaurant. Brilliantly done, California Chutney.