If you’re new to Indian food, or you’re bringing someone who is, Butter Chicken is the dish that usually gets ordered first — and for good reason. At Royal Kitchen in East Oakland, it’s a halal-certified, tandoor-to-sauce classic that works as both an easy entry point for first-timers and a reliable go-to for regulars who already know what they like.
What’s Actually in Butter Chicken
Butter Chicken — known in India as murgh makhani, literally “butter chicken” — starts with chicken that’s marinated and cooked in the tandoor, then finished in a sauce built from tomatoes, butter, cream, and a blend of warm spices like garam masala, cumin, and ginger-garlic. The result is a curry that’s rich and a little sweet, with a smooth, orange-red color that comes from the tomato-and-cream base rather than heavy chili. It’s less about heat and more about depth — a dish built to be comforting rather than aggressive.
On Royal Kitchen’s menu, Butter Chicken sits in the Chicken Dishes section at $15.99, alongside close relatives like Chicken Tikka Masala, Chicken Korma, and Chicken Curry. If you want a faster, lower-cost way to try it, the Quick Combo menu also lists Butter Chicken and Rice for $11 — a straightforward way to sample the dish without committing to a full plate.
Halal by Default, Not by Exception
Because Royal Kitchen’s entire kitchen is 100% halal certified, Butter Chicken doesn’t require any separate confirmation — the chicken is sourced from certified halal suppliers and prepared in a kitchen that never handles pork in any form. For halal-observant diners who’ve had to ask “is this one okay?” at other restaurants, that’s the whole appeal: it’s the same question-free ordering experience as every other dish on the menu.
The Dish Most People Confuse With It
Butter Chicken and Chicken Tikka Masala get mixed up constantly, and Royal Kitchen’s menu actually settles the debate by offering both — plus a third option that splits the difference. Chicken Tikka Masala leans more tomato-forward and spiced; Butter Chicken leans sweeter and creamier from the butter and cream base. If you genuinely can’t decide, Royal Kitchen lists Chicken Tikka Masala in Butter Chicken Sauce, a hybrid that takes tikka masala’s marinated, grilled chicken and finishes it in the milder makhani sauce — a real menu item, not a special request, for guests who want both styles in one dish.
How to Order It
Butter Chicken pairs naturally with Garlic Naan or Butter Naan, since the bread is built to scoop up a thick sauce like this one; a side of Rice works too if you want to stretch the dish further. It’s a strong order for mixed groups, since it’s mild enough for spice-sensitive eaters but still full of flavor for guests who eat Indian food regularly. It also holds up well for delivery and takeout, since the cream-based sauce keeps the chicken moist rather than drying out on the ride home.
For a faster, lower-commitment way to try it, order the Butter Chicken and Rice Quick Combo ($11) instead of the full plate — a practical way to introduce someone to the dish without a big order. However you order it, Royal Kitchen’s Butter Chicken remains one of the clearest examples of what a fully halal kitchen can do with a dish that’s usually treated as the “safe” option: it’s safe because of the certification, and it’s popular because of the execution.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is butter chicken made of?
A: Tandoor-cooked chicken simmered in a sauce of tomatoes, butter, cream, and warm spices like garam masala and cumin. Royal Kitchen uses halal-certified chicken throughout.
Q: Is Royal Kitchen’s butter chicken halal?
A: Yes — the entire kitchen is 100% halal certified, so Butter Chicken is halal by default, with no separate halal menu to check against.
Q: What’s the difference between butter chicken and chicken tikka masala?
A: Butter Chicken’s sauce is sweeter and creamier from butter and cream; Chicken Tikka Masala’s sauce is more tomato-forward and spiced. Royal Kitchen also serves a hybrid, Chicken Tikka Masala in Butter Chicken Sauce.
Q: How spicy is Royal Kitchen’s butter chicken?
A: It’s traditionally one of the milder, creamier dishes on the menu, though spice level can be adjusted on request.
Q: Is there a cheaper way to try Butter Chicken at Royal Kitchen?
A: Yes — the Quick Combo menu lists Butter Chicken and Rice for $11, a smaller-format way to sample the dish.
Q: What should I order alongside Butter Chicken?
A: Garlic Naan or Butter Naan for scooping the sauce, plus rice if you want to stretch the dish for a bigger appetite.
