ARLINGTON, Texas–The Patel brothers, Neel and Kartik, came to Arlington with a mission to share their culture and cuisine with the masses.
What they found most inspiring has been what the community has been able to share with them.
Originally born in India and only moving to Texas in early 2023, Neel Patel arrived in Arlington with a successful business model molded by his cousins. His cousins have been in the restaurant industry for more than a decade in Florida and cracked the concept for Tikka Bowls and Tacos, a “Chipotle-style” concept serving Mexican-Indian fusion cuisine.
What the brothers never could have accounted for was their recipes becoming an integral part of the practice of Ramadan for many in Arlington’s local Islamic population. They have been able to have their restaurant, located at 4144 S. Cooper St., certified as Zabiha halal, offering the highest level of cleanliness and blessings on the meat as it is being butchered and prepared. Offering all of their meats certified as Zabiha halal has led to a massive wave of reassurance to those participating in Ramadan and wanting to break their fast with food that is in line with their faith.
While not being of the Islamic faith personally, the Patel brothers felt thoroughly included in the reverence and blessings that came every evening of Ramadan while the devout prepared their Sajadas and began the blessings and prostration before they broke fast.
“I believe there was a lot of blessings in the air,” Neel Patel said. “What my belief is and what my brother believes is that if someone comes into your house and prays that means that you’re also part of that prayer, and also part of those blessings.”
Both brothers commented on the outpouring of culture and seeing them blend with their own by saying it has been incredible to see and was never something they would have anticipated.
After bearing witness to the auspicious evening meals of Ramadan, the Patels have shifted their business philosophy to a new approach.
“We don’t take this business as business anymore,” Neel Patel said. “It’s like a family where anyone who walks in is treated like family. You’re welcome in anytime you want and we’re here to help you out like you were in my own family.”
This philosophical paradigm shift has afforded new perspective on culture and inclusion for the two brothers, as well as many regular customers of Tikka Bowls and Tacos.
“Say you’re the first one to try Indian food and you like it,” Neel Patel said. “Now you’re on this journey to find all of the other spices and the best versions of the food. And you say, ‘Hey, what else can I explore in this culture and in this cuisine?’ Now you can see for yourself that our food is as colorful as our culture, right?”
With this point of view, the brothers are now using their food as a vessel of sharing their message of acceptance and tolerance of and toward others. Even when asked about what makes their restaurant stand out from the crowd, their immediate thought was not of the food or the concept, but rather of the interpersonal exchange they have with their customers. Their level of service and attention to detail has amassed nearly 700 hundred positive reviews in only seven months of operations while maintaining a 4.8-star rating.
