Memorial Day in East Oakland: Make the Feast Halal, Make It Indian
Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial start of summer — a three-day stretch for gathering, grilling, and eating well with people you care about. In East Oakland’s diverse communities, those gatherings often need to work for everyone at the table: halal requirements for Muslim guests, vegetarian options for plant-based diners, and food that’s genuinely good for everyone else.
Royal Kitchen at 175 98th Ave is the Memorial Day solution that covers all of those requirements without compromise.
The entire protein menu is 100% halal. There’s a dedicated dairy-free vegan section. The portions are described by reviewers as “generous.” The format — curries, naan, rice — is naturally designed for sharing across a large group.
Here’s how to plan your Memorial Day feast around Royal Kitchen.
Why Indian Food Works for a Memorial Day Crowd
Scales naturally. A curry feeds a crowd. Order lamb curry for six, chicken tikka masala for six, and a pile of naan, and you’ve fed twelve people from two dishes. Indian food’s sauce-based format means it stays warm, holds well in containers, and portions scale without awkwardness.
Something for everyone. The Royal Kitchen menu covers: halal meat options (lamb, chicken, tandoori), a dedicated vegan section (Tofu Saag), and vegetarian dishes. No guest is left ordering a side salad.
Impressive without being complicated. For the host, ordering a spread of Indian food is significantly less logistical effort than grilling for a crowd. The food arrives complete — protein, sauce, bread, rice. You set it out family-style and let guests serve themselves.
Genuinely celebratory food. The aromas and flavors of a full Indian spread — tandoori char, the richness of lamb curry, the garlic-infused naan — create an experience that feels celebratory rather than routine. Memorial Day deserves food that lives up to the occasion.
The Memorial Day Order: What to Get
For a group of 8–12:
Mains (order at least 3):
- Lamb curry — the kitchen’s standout. “Tender lamb and excellent seasoning” per reviews. Order this for the centerpiece.
- Chicken tikka masala — the accessible crowd-pleaser. Flavorful, creamy tomato sauce, universally well-received.
- Tofu Saag — the vegan inclusion. A proper saag (spiced greens) with tofu that ensures no one is excluded.
Tandoori additions:
- Tandoori preparations — grilled in the clay oven, these are the answer to the BBQ/grill expectation of Memorial Day. Order alongside the curries for a more diverse spread.
Starters:
- Samosas — pass around while the mains are being set out. Crispy, filled, universally liked.
Bread:
- Jalapeño garlic naan — order significantly more than you think you need. It disappears.
- Plain naan — for guests who prefer less heat.
Rice:
- White rice — alongside or in place of naan for guests who prefer rice-based eating.
Order Online for Group Pickup
Royal Kitchen accepts online orders through online-ordering.innowi.com/branch/royalkitchen — direct from the restaurant, no third-party fees. For Memorial Day group orders:
- Place your order in advance — don’t leave a large order to the day-of
- Specify pickup time to give the kitchen time to prepare the full spread
- Pick up at 175 98th Ave, Oakland — the 98th Ave location is accessible from major East Bay arteries
Open daily 10 AM to 9 PM including Memorial Day weekend.
Q&A Pairs
Q1: Can I place a large Memorial Day group order at Royal Kitchen?
A1: Yes — order online at online-ordering.innowi.com/branch/royalkitchen. For very large orders (10+ people), we recommend placing your order in advance and specifying a pickup time. Open daily 10 AM–9 PM including Memorial Day weekend.
Q2: Is Royal Kitchen’s full menu halal for Memorial Day gatherings with halal requirements?
A2: Yes — our entire protein menu is 100% halal certified. We also have a dedicated dairy-free vegan section. Your whole group — halal, vegetarian, vegan — can eat from the same kitchen with confidence.
Q3: What Indian dishes work best for a Memorial Day crowd?
A3: For a group, we recommend: lamb curry (our signature, serves beautifully family-style), chicken tikka masala (crowd-pleasing), tandoori preparations, generous naan, and samosas to start. Our Tofu Saag covers vegan guests. This combination works for 8–15 people easily.
