ST. GEORGE —Sitting in a cozy booth with the smell of fresh spices in the air, you see a captivating image of the Taj Mahal. Workers steep homemade sauces in the distance, and you instantly feel something familiar — hunger.
And how could you not?
“Careful, it’s hot,” Mandeep Jit, part owner of Turmeric Indian Grill said, handing over a steaming cup of homemade masala chai tea.
Jit and his two brothers Sunny and Gurdeep are the owners of Turmeric Indian Grill, a restaurant that originally opened on St. George Boulevard three years ago. Their goal is to provide the community with fast, fresh, authentic Indian food while removing the fear that often comes with trying ethnic food for the first time.
“We’ve introduced Indian food in a much easier, less intimidating way to our community,” Mandeep Jit said, “while never losing any of the authentic flavors. Once you try it, you’ll love it.”
After establishing its first location in May of this year, Turmeric Indian Grill expanded, opening a restaurant in Midvale and a food truck in Kanab. But they haven’t stopped there.
Turmeric Indian Grill’s newest location in Washington City will open to the public on Thursday, Aug.17, beginning with a grand-opening celebration. Festivities begin at 11 a.m. and include a presentation by the Chamber of Commerce and Washington City Major Kress Staheli. A variety of free food samples will be provided and giveaways will include restaurant gift cards.
The authentic Indian menu consists of bowls with a base of turmeric rice, a choice of protein, vegetables, sauces and toppings, with a finishing sauce such as yogurt cilantro or mint chutney. Each of their 15 different sauces is churned up to five hours and cooked fresh daily.
Achieving the same fresh taste you’d experience in India, their garlic naan and garlic cheese naan have become fan favorites and come from an original family recipe.
From eight-layer smothered burritos to masala fries, Mandeep Jit said there’s something on the menu for every age. Their yogurt smoothies, also known as Lassis, come in mango and strawberry with a dessert menu that includes Gulab Jamun – homemade cake balls in organic sugar cane syrup.
Family history
Mandeep Jit said his father left India in the early ’80s to look for better opportunities. Landing in California, it wasn’t until 1988 that he was able to bring his wife and two of his children back with him. In 1990, when Mandeep Jit was 11 and his brother Bobby Jit was 8, they joined the family in America.
With an ice cream truck as the family business, the four boys learned at a young age how to work hard, run a business and drive. As they grew up, the idea for another family business started when Mandeep Jit noticed something strange — his friends and co-workers were unwilling to try Indian food due to a fear of spices and the unknown. Hoping to change their minds, he convinced them to go to their first Indian restaurant with him in Las Vegas.
“And they loved it,” Mandeep Jit said. “They were just completely amazed by the food.”
His friends said they’d eat it every day if the food was explained in more simple terms. And they did. While traveling for work over the next six months, they ate Indian food all over the U.S. and Canada, texting Mandeep Jit and asking what to order.
Fascinated with the concept of fresh, quick food like Chipotle and inspired by his friends, an idea immerged. Why couldn’t Indian food also be made simple while remaining authentic and delicious? After discussing his thoughts with the family, they were all in. The brothers began cooking around the clock, creating recipes and perfecting them, using their mother as the taster who made sure everything was just right.
“We argued, had fights, wanted to give up,” Mandeep Jit said. “It took us six months before we even thought about opening a restaurant. But it was worth it.”
Turmeric Indian Grill’s opening coincided with the pandemic in 2020, but that didn’t stop the community from trying or loving the food. With 64 different combinations available between choices of protein, vegetables and sauces, he said they have fans from 3 years old all the way up to customers in their 90s.
Jit said using whole spices such as turmeric, coriander, cumin, ginger, garlic, fennel seeds and cardamom — which are known to be good for the stomach, joints, eyes, blood circulation and inflammation — Indian food can not only be delicious, but healthy.
“We want people to have all the benefits of those spices without feeling scared to eat it,” he said. “Our mission is to bring the taste of India in an affordable, convenient and less intimidating way, and that’s what we’ve done.”
The family hopes to see the entire community at the upcoming Turmeric Indian Grill Washington City grand opening on Thursday.
For more information on Turmeric Indian Grill and to order online, visit their website.
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