I don’t say this lightly…

This might just be the best Indian food I’ve had in Madison. Like the kind of place you try once, and then you immediately start thinking about when you can “accidentally” end up over there again.

Also, shoutout to everyone who told me I had to go here after I posted about Dhaba. Y’all were aggressively correct.

This is not downtown vibey. This is a “tucked into a strip by Menards” type of vibe. A hidden gem in the most unglamorous parking lot you’ve ever seen.

But once the food hits the table, you will forget where you are. Immediately.

Important note: it’s really, really red on the inside. Everything is red.

Rajni is known for South Indian dishes (think dosa, idli, etc.), and they also do some fun Indo-Chinese stuffl which is exactly how you end up ordering things like Gobi Manchurian and having a life-changing moment with cauliflower.

Food nerd note: Isthmus called out that their menu leans very South Indian and has dishes you don’t see everywhere in Madison.

I keep it consistence because I’m trying to be a man of science here:

1) Gobi Manchurian
Holy. Shit.

Perfect spice, perfect flavor, and it straight up melted in my mouth. I told myself I’d stop eating it… and then I did not stop eating it.

2) Garlic Naan
The naan looked incredible, and it delivered.

Light crunch outside, soft inside, melts in your mouth. This is elite dipping bread.

3) Chicken Tikka Masala
This is where Rajni did something I’ve personally never seen before:

They put peanuts on top and veggies inside. It still tasted amazing, but heads up if you’ve got a nut allergy or you’re not trying to surprise your mouth. Also worth noting: it had some peppers in the dish as well. Not spicy though.

And yes: garlic naan dipped in tikka masala sauce is still one of the best food combos on planet earth.

4) Mango Lassi
They said it’s their most famous drink and it makes sense… it’s sweet, creamy, and it resets your palate after you’ve been hammering spicy food (me, always).

Rajni was absolutely incredible, service was awesome, food was out of this world, and I genuinely had no clue this place was sitting right by where I work. Dangerous information for my wallet.

If you love Indian food and you haven’t been to Rajni yet… fix that.
And if you go, do me a favor: get the gobi and tell me if I’m being dramatic. (You won’t.)