What Is Chicken Tikka Masala? The Dish, the Spices, and the Story

By the Indian Bites kitchen team, Pustervig 4, Copenhagen. Reviewed for accuracy on 13 July 2026.

Chicken tikka masala is a curry made from marinated, char-grilled chicken pieces simmered in a creamy, spiced tomato and onion sauce. The name says exactly what it is: “tikka” means the chicken is cut into pieces and grilled, and “masala” is the blend of spices that flavours the sauce. It is mild to medium in heat, rich without being heavy, and one of the most ordered Indian dishes in the world. In our kitchen it is a daily favourite, and across our two Copenhagen-area restaurants we have served this dish to a large share of the 200,000-plus guests who have eaten with us. Here is what chicken tikka masala actually is, which spices give it its flavour, and where the dish comes from.

Last updated: 13 July 2026

What Chicken Tikka Masala Actually Is

Chicken tikka masala is built in two stages, and understanding both is the key to understanding the dish. First comes the tikka: boneless chicken is marinated in yoghurt, lemon, ginger, garlic, and spices, then cooked over high, dry heat until the edges char. Second comes the masala: a sauce of onions and tomatoes cooked down with cream and a careful measure of ground spices. The grilled chicken is folded into that sauce at the end so it stays tender and picks up the flavour without falling apart.

The result has three layers of flavour working together: the smoky char from the grill, the sweet-tart depth of tomato and onion, and the warm aroma of the spice blend. That balance is why the dish is so often the first curry people try.

Tikka and Masala: What the Words Mean

“Tikka” refers to pieces of meat that are marinated and grilled, usually in a tandoor, the cylindrical clay oven used across North India. “Masala” simply means a blend of spices. Put together, the name describes grilled marinated chicken in a spiced sauce. It is a close cousin of butter chicken, though the two are not identical.

The Spices and Technique Behind the Flavour

The character of chicken tikka masala comes almost entirely from how the spices are handled. This is where experience matters more than any single ingredient.

The Marinade

Our chicken is marinated in thick yoghurt with lemon, ginger, garlic, turmeric, cumin, and garam masala. The yoghurt tenderises the meat and helps the spices cling to it, while the acidity keeps the chicken juicy on the grill. We let the pieces sit long enough that the flavour reaches the centre of the meat, not just the surface.

The Char

The chicken is cooked at high heat until the outside takes on a light char. That smoky edge is not a garnish, it is a core part of the flavour. Without it, the dish loses the depth that separates a real version from a plain cream curry. In our kitchen we grill the chicken tikka fresh rather than pre-cooking it and letting it sit, which is why the pieces arrive at your table with a clean, smoky taste and a soft centre.

The Masala Sauce

The sauce starts with onions cooked slowly until soft, then ripe tomatoes, ginger, and garlic. The spice blend does the rest: garam masala for warmth, cumin and coriander for earthiness, kashmiri chilli for a gentle heat and deep red colour, and a finish of cream to round everything off. We temper, or bloom, the ground spices in hot oil so their aroma opens up before the tomato goes in. A common question we hear is whether the dish is too strong for younger guests. It is not, because we can ease back on the chilli while keeping the full aroma of the spices, so children get the flavour without the heat.

Where Chicken Tikka Masala Comes From

The origin of chicken tikka masala is one of the most debated food stories anywhere. The most widely told version is that the dish was created in the United Kingdom, often credited to a South Asian chef in Glasgow in the early 1970s who added a spiced, creamy tomato sauce to grilled chicken tikka. Its roots, though, reach straight back to North Indian cooking: the tandoori marinade, the clay-oven grilling, and the spice blends are all traditional Indian techniques. Whatever its exact birthplace, chicken tikka masala is a true meeting of North Indian craft and global appetite, and today it appears on menus around the world, including ours in Copenhagen and Klampenborg.

Chicken Tikka Masala vs Butter Chicken

This is the question we are asked most often at the counter. Both dishes are creamy, tomato-based chicken curries with a similar orange-red colour, so the confusion is understandable.

The tikka masala uses smaller grilled chicken pieces and a more assertively spiced sauce with a fuller onion and tomato base. Butter chicken, known as murgh makhani, is a Delhi original with a smoother, buttery sauce and dried fenugreek leaves (kasoori methi) as its defining note, and it is generally milder and richer. Guests who like a little more spice character tend to reorder the tikka masala, while those after something softer and sweeter come back for the butter chicken. Both are 149 DKK at Indian Bites, so the easiest way to settle the debate is to order one of each and share.

Where to Try Authentic Chicken Tikka Masala

If you want to taste it made with spices imported directly from India and grilled to order, Indian Bites has two locations.

Our Copenhagen city centre restaurant is at Pustervig 4, 1126 København K, open every day from 11:00 to 20:30. You can dine in, order takeaway, or get delivery through Wolt. It holds a 4.7-star Google rating from 634 reviews, which makes it one of the highest-rated Indian restaurants in the city.

Our Bakken location is at Dyrehavsbakken, 2930 Klampenborg, inside the world’s oldest operating amusement park. It is open seasonally, Monday to Friday 11:00 to 20:00 and Saturday to Sunday 11:00 to 21:00, and holds a 4.8-star Google rating. Take the S-tog to Klampenborg Station on line C or F and walk through Dyrehaven to reach us.

The dish is 149 DKK at both restaurants and comes with fluffy basmati rice. All chicken is halal-certified, and if you do not eat meat we serve vegetarian curries such as palak paneer (135 DKK) and dal tadka (125 DKK). You can see the full range on our menu.

Ready to try it? Visit us at Indian Bites Copenhagen or Indian Bites Bakken and order a plate today.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is chicken tikka masala?

Chicken tikka masala is a curry made from marinated, char-grilled chicken pieces (tikka) simmered in a creamy, spiced tomato and onion sauce (masala). The chicken is marinated in yoghurt and spices, grilled until lightly charred, then finished in a sauce built on garam masala, cumin, coriander, ginger, garlic, and kashmiri chilli. It is mild to medium in heat and one of the most ordered Indian dishes in the world.

Is chicken tikka masala spicy?

It is usually mild to medium. The cream and tomato in the sauce round off the heat, so it suits people who are new to Indian food. At Indian Bites we adjust the spice level on request, and we make a gentler version for children by easing back on the chilli while keeping the full aroma of the spices.

What is the difference between chicken tikka masala and butter chicken?

Both are creamy tomato-based chicken curries, but chicken tikka masala uses smaller grilled chicken pieces and a more assertively spiced sauce with a fuller tomato and onion base. Butter chicken is a Delhi original with a smoother, buttery sauce and dried fenugreek as its signature note, and it is generally milder and richer. At Indian Bites you can order both and taste the difference side by side.

Is chicken tikka masala halal at Indian Bites?

Yes. All chicken and meat served at Indian Bites is halal-certified, at both our Copenhagen city centre location at Pustervig 4 and our Bakken location at Dyrehavsbakken in Klampenborg.

How much does chicken tikka masala cost at Indian Bites?

Chicken tikka masala costs 149 DKK and is served with basmati rice. Add a garlic naan for 30 DKK or a cheese naan for 35 DKK to round out the meal. The dish is on the menu at both our Pustervig and Bakken locations.

Where can I try chicken tikka masala in Copenhagen?

At Indian Bites, Pustervig 4 in Copenhagen city centre (open daily 11:00 to 20:30) or Dyrehavsbakken in Klampenborg during Bakken’s season. Both serve halal-certified chicken and use spices imported directly from India.