Chandler's Indian Dining Moment: A Historic Drive-Thru and a Health Warning
Chandler is at the center of two contrasting Indian food stories in the Phoenix metro area this season. Entrepreneur Rahul Sahota is celebrating the launch of Tikka Drive — Arizona's first-ever drive-thru Indian restaurant — while another Indian eatery in the city found itself in the spotlight for the wrong reasons after drawing five health violations from Maricopa County inspectors.
Tikka Drive Opens Arizona's First Indian Drive-Thru
Rahul Sahota has opened Arizona's first-ever drive-thru Indian restaurant, Tikka Drive, at 80 W Warner Road in Chandler on the northwest corner of Arizona Avenue and Warner Road. Sahota brings years of culinary experience from running Namaste Indian Restaurant in Scottsdale, and has built Tikka Drive around the Punjab-rooted family recipes that underpinned his first establishment. The restaurant features five authentic clay tandoor ovens imported directly from India, visible to customers at the drive-thru window, where naan is hand-crafted in the traditional manner. All cooking is done in pure ghee, making Tikka Drive also Arizona's first seed-oil-free Indian restaurant, and the kitchen operates without freezers or microwaves. The menu centers on classic North Indian dishes including butter chicken, chicken tikka masala, paneer tikka masala, and chicken korma, each customizable to a spice level from one (mild) to five (authentic hot). The restaurant is open daily from 10:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Chandler, home to one of the Phoenix metro's largest Indian American communities, provides a natural launchpad for the concept, which is designed to introduce Indian cuisine to mainstream fast-food consumers while also serving the established South Asian customer base in the East Valley. Tikka Drive's success could serve as a template for similar fast-casual Indian concepts across Arizona and beyond. [1]
Chandler Indian Restaurant Cited for Five Health Violations
Maricopa County health inspectors cited an Indian restaurant in Chandler for five health code violations during the week of May 25, 2026, as part of a broader inspection sweep that flagged 13 violations across three metro Phoenix restaurants. The Chandler establishment accounted for nearly 40 percent of all violations recorded in that inspection cycle. Among the problems documented were employees handling clean silverware immediately after touching trash without washing their hands — one of the more serious cross-contamination risks under food safety standards. Inspectors also observed staff members touching food without first washing their hands, and found that the restaurant was not sanitizing dishes and equipment properly. These categories of violation are classified as critical under Arizona Department of Health Services guidelines because they directly elevate the risk of foodborne illness. Maricopa County Environmental Services conducts routine restaurant inspections and publishes results publicly to help consumers make informed dining decisions. Restaurants that receive critical violations are typically required to correct deficiencies on the spot or within a short timeframe, and may be subject to follow-up inspections to verify compliance. Diners can search inspection records at the Maricopa County Environmental Services website before visiting any establishment in the Phoenix metro area. [2]
Sources: [1] AZ Family · [2] azcentral.com and The Arizona Republic