There is a little restaurant not too far from where I live, if you’re driving too fast you could drive right by it. In fact it’s sort of a dive, paint peeling from the walls, some lightbulbs burned out from the “stained glass” fixtures above the tables, and the banquettes sticky from over-use. But all of these transgressions can be forgotten once you have tasted this restaurants specialty– The Tandoori Chicken Sandwich.

A new amalgamation of the Western world, coupled with traditional Indian ingredients Tandoori Chicken USA is a truly bizarre, yet absolutely wonderful place to eat. So just what is the famed Tandoori Chicken Sandwich? Slices of warm tandoori chicken breast, pure (no knuckly bits here) and slightly piquant, nestled amongst crisp lettuce leaves, with a smattering of cooling mint sauce, all wrapped in naan, lending a pleasing charred flavor to this delightful chicken sandwich. The perfect match of east meets west. I usually am not the hugest fan of fusion cuisine, but to the chefs at Tandoori Chicken USA I say, “Bring it on!”

In homage to what it once was, a Foster’s Freeze, Tandoori Chicken does serve the traditional American fast food fare, burgers, and fries, but despite the bottles of ketchup lying about, I have never actually seen someone order these. But that is what makes dining at this restaurant so weird and wonderful; it is the fact that I could get a side order of fries with my Tandoori Chicken Sandwich that is so…egalitarian.

After ten years in El Sobrante, a small unincorporated town north of Berkeley, Tandoori Chicken has opened another outpost in Concord. Let me tell you, this place looks positively civilized. With carpet on the floor, chairs replacing banquettes, and neon signs of the chicken cooking in its very own glowing tandoori oven, it may be cleaner, brighter, more gentrified, but the Tandoori Chicken in El Sobrante is the place for me. I like my Tandoori Chicken Sandwiches with a little slice of Americana please.