Total Chicken Nirvana: California Chicken Tikka!
Wednesday, June 1, 2005 22:16
So this week I began working freelance in The San Fernando Valley…north of the boulevard. (And no I don’t work in porn…sigh) However I do appear to work in a culinary wasteland. Yesterday, the highest quality food I could find within a 3 block radius of where I worked was a Quiznos. And apparently this particular Quiznos’ chicken heater upper device which consists of a cup they drop in boiling water was broken…so I had a cold Quiznos sandwich.
Today however, after a recomendation from a co-worker I enjoyed some damn tasty (and warm!) chicken at California Tikka Chicken. Yes this little gem of a shack nestled deep in the bowels of a Valley minimall serves up some great chicken that might even rival Zankou. Yeah I said it! Start ripping me apart for being a heretic. What Tikka Chicken lacks in atmosphere it more then makes up for in taste. I ordered the Tikka Chicken Combination which as you can see in my picture includes a massive mountain of persian rice, your choice of vegetables or salad, 4 delicious pita triangles and of course, the chicken…Oh the chicken.
The Chicken Tikka melts in your mouth like the tender taste of poultry heaven. It is juicy but not greasy, lean but still savory, and oh so tender. You can also get tacos or burritos made with the signature Tikka chicken and add some hot green salsa to the mix. In fact there is hidden sauce bar next to the cash register which contains cucumber yogurt sauce, salsa, tumeric, a carrot blend and onions. I reccomend trying the chicken with any combination of condiments. Each inspires a new flavor and emotional state. When it comes to the combination plates, I would go for the vegetables over the salad though, just cause I picked the salad and it was kind of dry and lacking in the dressing department. The Pita triangles are glorious. They almost taste like some sort of hybrid pita-nan bread. Wrap them around the chicken and dip them in the cucumber sauce and roll your eyes back for total CHICKEN NIRVANA! The meals are between 6 and 10 dollars and all the combination plates include a soda. The owner is extremely friendly and seems generally thrilled to have new patrons. Although Chicken Tikka is probably out of the way if you live in the city, I would recomend it for anyone willing to make the trek into the sweaty armpit of Los Angeles known as the San Fernando Valley.
(wink!)
California Tikka Chicken
16935 Vanowen St # K
Van Nuys, Ca
818.343.6989
Greg Samsa says:
June 2nd, 2005 at 5:20 pm
Thanks for the excellent pointer. I work in Van Nuys as well unfortunately :) Went here for lunch today for the first time and it was really excellent, especially the Pita/Nan/Tortilla-esque bread. Totally unique and addictive. I have some other recommendations for you to check out in the area. North of there is Rocky’s Tandoori (18108 Parthenia St, Northridge) They are next to Indian Sweets and Spices, which is also good sometimes, but I prefer Rocky’s. Rocky is a totally nice guy and they have really good Indian/Pakistani food. Also I like Kyushu Ramen (15355 Sherman Wy. Van Nuys) especially their Dumpling Ramen and Donburi rice dishes like the Katsudon. Let me know what you think. GS
Jonah says:
June 2nd, 2005 at 6:11 pm
Thanks for the second opinion and the recommendations. I have yet to make it out to Indian Sweets and Spices, it’s on my list.
Kyushu was mentioned here before, must be a notable place.
SoCalorie says:
June 2nd, 2005 at 7:20 pm
I pointed a friend to this site for the first time today, you know, “What do you think it? What do you like?” He looks it over for about 20 minutes and says, “I seriously want some of that chicken tikka from Van Nuys.”
Gabebc says:
June 3rd, 2005 at 1:02 am
Greg Samsa-
Awesome thanks for the tips! I will definately be checking those out on those cold (scorchingly hot) lonely days in the valley. Also you should change your name to Greg Samosa you know like if Kafka was really into Indian food!
Pappy says:
June 3rd, 2005 at 10:22 am
I’d also check out Noosh Deli on Lankershim (just south of Magnolia). Their Chicken Kabob Plate is quite yummy (although I prefer to swap the Tabule for Potato Salad).
KT says:
June 5th, 2005 at 3:11 pm
That chicken nirvana sounds pretty tempting.
Cathy says:
June 5th, 2005 at 3:27 pm
This is actually the third location for this Tikka Chicken restaurant. the first one was east of here and burned down after the Northridege earthquake. It then located across from Cal State Northridege and finally to it’s current spot across from Mulholland middle school. You are right, the owner is very nice. I love getting the Tikka chiken pita sandwich. You get the chicken, salad and yogurt sauce in an easy to eat and carry meal.
SoCalorie says:
June 18th, 2005 at 7:19 pm
So were you freelancing at Image*Ination in the same minimall?
This place is deeeeeep in the heart of SFV. But gabebc’s review got a friend of mine all worked up. We both really liked our chicken combo plates. The poultry is so juicy, tasty, swell. And as Cathy pointed out, the yogurt mint sauce tastes great on the chicken.
If I happened to be in that area again, god forbid, I’d stomp on my brakes and pull over.
Carlos Tiangco says:
January 23rd, 2007 at 12:55 pm
Man, I miss that place! I used to frequent that when I worked for a trade publication on Vanowen. That’s one of the best places I’ve ever been too… period! I love their fish and the safron rice…. heavenly!
Carlos Tiangco says:
January 23rd, 2007 at 12:56 pm
Ooops.. I meant on Hayvenhurst
Karen says:
January 6th, 2009 at 11:32 am
Here are a few other good restaurants in the hood.
Adrians at Vanowen and White Oak, they have excellent Pizza. Thai Tom Yum at Balboa Blvd and Sherman Way, pretty good Thai. Airtel Hotel, very good food - great patio, the only place to have a business lunch in West Van Nuys, Lake Balboa neck of the woods.
Maile says:
June 27th, 2009 at 2:00 pm
Try Mom’s BBQ on Vanowen @ Hazeltine - delicious!
The Firehouse - Greek Food - Victory and Reseda - amazing stuff, huge portions
Second on the ramen joint - it’s really good!