Mirchi Serves Up Unique Indian Cuisine in Cranberry

Arjun Yarlagadda, manager of Mirchi—an Indian joint tucked away in the Excel Center Plaza off Route 19—believes the menu at his restaurant is like none other in the area.

“There’s a lot more that can be done with Indian cuisine other than putting curry in a bowl and giving it to you served with bread and rice,” he said.

Each ingredient on the menu is chosen with care by him and head chef Babu Partha to be authentic, fresh and, most of all, unique to Mirchi, which opened in Cranberry in June.

While there still is the standard curry, bread and rice on the Mirchi menu, the "Chef Select" portion can only be found at Mirchi’s, Yarlagadda said. Partha, who has 15 years experience with Indian cooking and a culinary degree from India, perfects the recipes for all the Chef Select dishes.  

The chef mixes up all the curry spice combinations by hand. Food is made to order and there are no frozen vegetables or frozen meat.

“Everything is fresh. Delivered twice a week,” Yarlagadda said.

While preparing food this way may take a bit longer than other cook times, Yarlagadda said he didn’t want anyone to walk away from his store hungry. Mirchi strives for quality, he said. 

“The quality—you’d know the difference,” he said.

Mirchi also serves a variety of vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options. The restaurant also uses halal meat. It’s recommended guests call ahead to inquire about gluten-free dishes before they show up to dine, according to Yarlagadda.

“I don’t want people to walk out of this place with an empty stomach,” he said.

While the restaurant has a lunch buffet in the afternoon for a quick meal, those seeking dinner are recommended to call first to make reservations.

Mirchi also offers:

• A party room
• Catering
• B.Y.O.B
• Free Wi-Fi
• Lunch buffet
• Expanded buffet on weekends

To recreate the smells of Mirchi’s buffet in your own home, potential chefs can buy imported spices, dried food and fresh fruit and vegetables next door at the Mirchi Indian Grocery Store. Like Mirchi Fine Indian Cuisine, the store is managed by Yarlagadda and owned by his cousin.

Mirchi Fine Indian Cuisine Hours:

Open Tuesdays through Sundays
11:30 a.m. to 2:30 pm (Lunch)
4:30 p.m. to 9:30 pm (Dinner)

Mirchi Grocery Store Hours:

Open Tuesday through Sundays
11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.