With all of the various iterations of masalas, curries, and chutneys, it can be daunting to order Indian food if you don’t know what you’re looking for. That’s exactly what led Neal and Samir Idnani to open NaanStop – an L.A. food truck turned Atlanta restaurant that aims to make Indian food accessible to everyone.
The genius concept of delivering bold Indian flavors in familiar formats (think sandwiches, rice bowls, and salads) earned NaanStop the distinction of Best Indian Lunch in Atlanta. We spoke with Neal to get the scoop on what inspired the brother duo to open NaanStop as well as details on an event you won’t want to miss.
How did NaanStop get its start?
When we were growing up our friends loved our mom’s food, but they would never go out to eat at Indian restaurants. Our family often talked about opening a quick service Indian restaurant as a easy, fast, and convenient way to share our mom’s recipes. In 2011, we opened [NaanStop] as a food truck in Los Angeles. After running the truck for a year, we wanted to be closer to our family, so we moved to Atlanta in 2012 and opened our first location downtown.
What’s a customer favorite at NaanStop?
The Chicken Tikka Masala is definitely our best seller. It’s a popular intro to Indian food. People love our samosas, too.
What inspires the menu creations at NaanStop?
Everything on the menu is made using our mother’s recipes. It’s Indian flavors presented in a way that meets your lifestyle.
Why do you think consumers voted you best Indian cuisine in Atlanta?
Because mom’s a really great cook! We’re just doing it the way she taught us.
Do you have any exciting plans or events coming up?
We’re always looking for new opportunities, but nothing is finalized. Right now we’re just focused on providing a great experience and making sure our crew is nice and happy to everybody.
As far as events go, we have huge one coming up on August 29th. It’s our Customer Appreciation Day where we’ll have $1 entrees all day long with the purchase of side and a drink. We served 1,000 customers last year. If you haven’t tried Naanstop it’s a great opportunity to come out and see what we have to offer.
The ATL lunch crowd has cast its votes and named NaanStop the Best Indian Lunch in Atlanta. With an approachable, comfortable take on traditional Indian dishes, there’s no better place to introduce your taste buds to this exciting cuisine.