Shahi Chicken Curry
Slow-grilled, richly rewarding
Get directions ↗ · 2 min walk from Grand Mercure
Last orders 30 minutes before closing
Dine-in · takeaway · delivery via GrabFood and LINE MAN
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes this dish 'Shahi' (royal)?
The use of good-quality ingredients like cashews, cream, and saffron gives it a royal, rich taste.
Is this dish spicy?
No, it is very mild and focuses on aromatic and creamy flavors rather than heat.
Does it contain nuts?
Yes, a rich cashew paste forms the base of the gravy.
Can it be made dairy-free?
Unfortunately no, as yogurt and cream are essential to its texture and flavor.
What is the best pairing for this curry?
A soft, buttery naan or fragrant Kashmiri pulao.
About Shahi Chicken Curry
Shahi chicken curry descends from the kitchens of the Mughal court, where shahi, meaning royal, marked the dishes made with the costlier ingredients: nuts, cream, saffron, and whole aromatic spices. It belongs to the same family as korma, pale and rich rather than red and sharp, and it leans on dairy and nut rather than tomato.
At BHARAT the boneless chicken is cooked in a gravy built on cashew and almond paste with onion, yogurt, and ground cardamom. There is little tomato in it, which keeps the colour light and the flavour soft. The masalas are ground fresh in the kitchen every day, the chicken is halal-marked and bought from Makro daily, and the kitchen uses no pork and no alcohol in any dish.
This is the mildest and most fragrant of the curries here, and the most clearly Mughlai. The cardamom and the ground nuts set the tone, the yogurt gives a faint tang under the sweetness, and there is no chilli heat to speak of, so it reads as aromatic and creamy rather than spiced. It is distinct from the tomato-based butter chicken in both colour and taste, sitting on the nut-and-dairy side rather than the tomato-and-butter side. The yogurt and cream are part of its structure, so it is not a dish that can be made dairy-free. The chef from Uttarakhand can add some warmth if you prefer it less plain.
It pairs well with quieter accompaniments. A soft, buttery naan suits it, and a fragrant Kashmiri pulao matches its gentle, perfumed character.
Best ordered fresh — call ahead if you are coming straight after work. Visit BHARAT →
See also: the Main Course - Non Veg menu · best Indian food in Bangkok · halal Indian food in Bangkok · order for delivery.