Here’s an interesting piece of food trivia for you: a tikki/tikka and a kebab are two very different things. Tikka are small, marinated pieces of meat that may be cooked in a tandoor, while a kebab typically involves minced meat, grilled or roasted on skewers. Tikka comes from the Persian word for ‘pieces,’ while kebabs are always made of minced meat.
What’s more? Kebabs have roots in Turkish kitchens as far back as 1200 AD, whereas tikka (or tikki, for plural), is a relatively newer invention said to be from Britain. Every Indian restaurant in Goa serves both, kebabs and tikki, and people sometimes use the words interchangeably. Nevertheless, here are some noteworthy places to find Goa’s best kebabs.
Best Kebabs in Goa
Gypsy Baba, Pilerne
Located on the Pilerne-Candolim Road, you will spot this beautiful white Goan house when driving by. Gypsy Baba is an Awadhi restaurant with interiors that are minimal, bordering on bare, but they have interesting paintings on the walls – the best artwork being the 3 ‘babas’ at the back. The good thing is that the restaurant is air-conditioned and is quite cool, especially in the first room as you enter. The outdoor garden seating would be nice in the nighttime, provided there are no mosquitos, but during the day it would be too hot for comfort.
We ordered the Malai Mushroom, Galouti kebabs, and Afghani Chicken kebabs – all cooked to perfection and super tasty! Gypsy Baba has a decent selection of main courses and their desserts have massive scope for improvement. The service was quick, but the staff could be better acquainted with the menu. They seemed very unsure when we asked them to suggest starters, and the owner told us what the specials were, much later.
Mabrouk, Anjuna
Looking to jazz up your weekend meal? I loved the Chicken Malai tikka and Chicken Seekh kebabs from a little stall called Mabrouk in Anjuna. Their kebab rolls are winners and worth trying out. They also have paneer options (call or DM to confirm before you order.). Hope they introduce mutton kebabs too.
Royal Afghan, Cansaulim
The Royal Afghan at ITC Grand Cansaulim is big on kebabs and tikka – so much so, that 80% of their menu is dominated by it, with only 20% having a handful of mains and dessert items. This beachside restaurant with ocean views in Cansaulim boasts of an open kitchen where you can watch chefs hard at work, crafting the most tantalizing array of kebabs – Malai kebabs, Seekh kebabs, and more. You are encouraged to eat with your hands here, and cutlery is only available upon request. Read more about where to get great Mughlai food in Goa.
Masala House, Assagao
Masala House has among the largest range of kebabs I’ve seen in Goa! This upscale Indian restaurant has an array of veg and non-veg kebabs. Keep an eye out for their Great Indian Kebab Festival where they have a dizzying number of kebabs on an all-you-can-eat basis.
Mezmiz, Sangolda
Hold the Indian spices and traverse to the Middle East with Mezmiz in Sangold. Here you can relish succulent juicy Levantine kebabs like koobideh (minced lamb) and joojeh (chicken). marinated in Persian spices like paprika, nutmeg, pepper, coriander, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, and cumin before being chargrilled. Enjoy these Levantine Kebabs in Goa at Mezmiz, one of Goa’s few Middle Eastern restaurants.
These killer kebab joints won’t disappoint when you’re looking to jazz up a weekday meal or when you want to enjoy something snack-y. For more light bites, you may like my blog on Goa’s best food trucks
