Chapel Hill is getting a new restaurant concept where naan can stand in for a taco shell and Mexican and Indian flavors share the same menu. Tikka Tequila is preparing to open at 504 W. Franklin St., Chapel Hill, in the former Latin Effect space, with Chef Roberto Mendoza targeting the first week of October, according to The Daily Tar Heel.
Mendoza has partnered with Baljeet and Gulshan Singh, owners of NaanStop in Durham, and their son, Happy Rathore, on the new restaurant. The partners told The Daily Tar Heel that the Mexican-Indian combination is something they have not seen offered in the Chapel Hill area, giving the concept a distinctive direction along West Franklin Street.
The restaurant is being developed with UNC-Chapel Hill students and local residents in mind. Mendoza told The Daily Tar Heel that he wants Tikka Tequila to provide fresh, high-protein food at an accessible price point, with meals expected to cost about $10 to $12 per person. A student discount is also planned.
According to their website, the menu will extend beyond the restaurant’s central Mexican-Indian pairing. Breakfast is expected to feature an omelette bar, while lunch and dinner will include dishes such as naan tacos, burritos, bowls, empanadas, steaks, seafood, and pupusas. The pupusas will add a Salvadoran influence, while Colombian-style empanadas will bring another South American element to the menu.
Naan tacos are among the more distinctive offerings. Rather than traditional tortillas, the tacos use Indian naan as the base, with Mendoza highlighting chicken tikka as one filling. The concept is also expected to accommodate different preferences for spice, with diners able to adjust the heat level of their food. Gluten-free and vegan options are expected as well.
According to the Noth Caolina Lottery, Mendoza brings an extensive culinary background to the project. The North Carolina Education Lottery recently reported that he has cooked for Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Joe Biden, and Donald Trump. He also worked with former First Lady Michelle Obama on food programs connected to universities during the Obama administration.
His work extends beyond restaurant kitchens. Through Chef Heaven’s Kitchen, Mendoza has focused on hunger-relief efforts, and the North Carolina Education Lottery reported that proceeds from a 2019 lottery win helped him provide tens of thousands of meals in North Carolina and El Salvador.
At Tikka Tequila, that culinary background will meet the local experience of the Singh family. The restaurant is expected to operate from breakfast through dinner and accommodate approximately 60 customers at a time, with about 25 employees anticipated once fully staffed. The team has already begun hiring, according to The Daily Tar Heel.
With its combination of naan tacos, pupusas, Mexican-inspired dishes, Indian flavors, and an emphasis on accessible dining, Tikka Tequila is positioning its West Franklin Street location as a gathering spot for Chapel Hill’s student and local communities. The restaurant is currently targeting its opening for the first week of October at 504 W. Franklin St.
