How We Built a Menu Around Pizza, Tacos & Curry in the Chicago Loop

When we started Mela at 162 N Franklin St, the obvious move was to pick one traditional cuisine and stick to the rules. Instead, we decided to throw out the rulebook and combine three of the world's favorite comfort foods — pizza, tacos, and curry. Somehow, it works beautifully.

Finding incredible Indian food in Chicago isn't hard. But as we looked around the downtown area, we noticed something was missing. We wanted a vibrant spot that treated Indian spices as an exciting starting point, rather than a rigid box.

So, we asked a simple question: what if the rich masala that goes into a traditional curry could just as easily top a crispy pizza or slide into a warm taco?

The Pizza Came First

Our Paneer Tikka Pizza started as a late-night kitchen experiment that nobody expected to keep. We swapped out standard marinara sauce for a bright, house-made green chutney base, loaded it with charred tandoori paneer, and finished it with gooey mozzarella and fresh peppers.

It earned a permanent spot on our Loop lunch menu because our regulars simply wouldn't let us take it off. If the flavor profile is right, the format doesn't matter. A great curry doesn't always have to stay in a bowl.

Then Came the Tikka Tacos

The tacos were born out of pure convenience. We fire up our tandoor oven every single day to make fresh naan dough from scratch. One afternoon, we realized a warm, fluffy naan shell makes the absolute perfect taco vehicle.

Stuffing that fresh naan with juicy Butter Masala chicken and a crunchy, chopped salad created a lunch rush phenomenon. It became one of our most-ordered items within our first month in Downtown Chicago.

But Our Curry Stays Honest

While we love to experiment, some things don't need reinventing. Our rich butter chicken, slow-simmered dal makhani, and aromatic biryanis are built the traditional way. No shortcuts, no watering down, and real spices.

The pizza and tacos are where we get creative. The curry section is where we stay honest.

• Traditional curries are simmered for hours, not minutes
• Fusion tacos use our signature tandoor naan dough
• Pizzas are topped fresh to order with bold, Indian-inspired sauces

That is our entire philosophy: take what is genuinely incredible about each cuisine, keep the flavors bold, and let you order whatever wild combination hits the spot that day.

Lunch in the Loop Just Got Better

Whether you are stepping away from your desk in the Financial District for a quick bite or looking for a casual dinner spot near Millennium Park, we have a table waiting for you.