Welcome to Urban Punjab: The Royal Kitchen
At 12549 Harbor Blvd in Garden Grove, Urban Punjab — branded on its own site as “The Royal Kitchen” — serves Punjabi, Indian, and Pakistani cuisine cooked with a real tandoor clay oven at the center of the kitchen. The restaurant describes its food as coming “straight from the heart of Punjab,” built on slow-cooked techniques and generations-old recipes rather than shortcuts. Whether the occasion is a family dinner, a quick weekday lunch, a date night, or a catered event, the menu is built to flex around it — dine-in, takeout, delivery, and catering are all available directly through the restaurant.
Cooked the Traditional Way
What sets Urban Punjab apart isn’t a gimmick — it’s the cooking method. The tandoor clay oven at the center of the kitchen is what gives dishes like Tandoori Chicken and Chicken Tikka their char and smokiness, and the same slow-cooked approach carries through to simmered dishes like Goat Masala, which the restaurant describes as cooked “for hours” in house-made spices for a flavor rooted in pre-1947 Punjab. It’s a kitchen built around technique and time rather than shortcuts, which is part of why regulars keep coming back for the same handful of signature dishes.
What’s on the Menu
The menu spans far beyond the tandoori classics Urban Punjab is best known for. On the vegetarian side, Veg Appetizers include Paneer Tikka ($19.99), Chili Paneer ($20.99), and Dahi De Kebab ($18.99), while Veg Main Course options include Shahi Paneer ($19.99), Palak Paneer ($19.99), Dal Makhani ($17.99, the subject of this month’s dish-education spoke), Malai Kofta ($20.99), Sarson Da Saag (Pind Style) ($19.99), and Baingan Da Bhartha ($19.99).
On the non-vegetarian side, Non-Veg Appetizers range from Tandoori Chicken (bone-in, $18.99) and Chicken Tikka (boneless, $19.99) to Tandoori Shrimp ($24.99) and Chicken Tikka Platter (Boneless, $34.99). Main courses include the two dishes most home cooks and first-timers reach for — Murgh Makhani / Butter Chicken ($20.99) and Chicken Tikka Masala ($20.99) — alongside Chicken Karahi ($20.99), Goat Masala (Desi Chulla Style) ($25.99), and Lamb Curry ($25.99). Rice and biryani options run from Chicken Biryani ($22.99) to Goat Biryani ($27.99) and Veg Biryani ($20.99), and the bread program covers everything from a $3 Tandoori Roti to a $14 Cheese Stuffed Garlic Naan. Desserts (Ras Malai, Gulab Jamun, Kulfi in several styles) and a full drinks list — mango lassi, chai, and a Rose and Mint Milkshake — round out the table.
Built for Every Occasion
This range is exactly what lets Urban Punjab work for so many different visits. Families with young kids can lean on mild, familiar dishes like Butter Chicken and plain Naan (more on this in the Back-to-School spoke below). Office workers on Harbor Blvd can order from the weekday Lunch Special (12 PM–5 PM, Monday–Friday) for a faster, lower-priced version of the dinner menu (see the Weekday Lunch Special spoke). Larger groups planning a party or celebration can explore Urban Punjab’s catering menu, which includes free delivery within 5 miles on orders of $75 or more. And anyone curious about the deeper end of the vegetarian menu can start with Dal Makhani — Punjab’s iconic slow-simmered black lentil dish, covered in full in this month’s dish spotlight.
Visiting Urban Punjab
Urban Punjab is open Monday–Thursday and Sunday from 12 PM–10 PM, and Friday–Saturday from 12 PM–11 PM, at 12549 Harbor Blvd, Garden Grove, CA 92840. The restaurant can be reached at (657) 233-5140, and the fastest way to guarantee accurate pickup or delivery timing is to order directly through Urban Punjab’s own ordering page rather than a third-party delivery app.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: What service options does Urban Punjab offer? A1: Dine-in, takeout, delivery, and catering, per the restaurant’s own website.
Q2: What are Urban Punjab’s hours? A2: Monday–Thursday and Sunday: 12 PM–10 PM. Friday–Saturday: 12 PM–11 PM.
Q3: Does Urban Punjab have a lunch special? A3: Yes. A dedicated Lunch Special menu runs Monday–Friday, 12 PM–5 PM, featuring dishes like Butter Chicken, Chicken Tikka Masala, and Shahi Paneer at lower prices than the dinner menu.
Q4: What is Urban Punjab best known for? A4: Tandoori-cooked classics like Butter Chicken (Murgh Makhani) and Chicken Tikka, along with signature Punjabi dishes such as Goat Masala and Sarson Da Saag (Pind Style).
Q5: Do you offer catering? A5: Yes — Urban Punjab offers catering with free delivery within 5 miles on orders of $75 or more. Call (657) 233-5140 to book.
Q6: How do I order from Urban Punjab? A6: Order directly through Urban Punjab’s online ordering page for pickup or delivery, or call (657) 233-5140 for reservations or catering questions.
