Crispy Karma Indian fried chicken opens in New Hyde Park

Simple concepts don’t come easily to Jay Jadeja and Raquel Wolf Jadeja. Their 6-year-old Sea Cliff restaurant, The Onion Tree (on both Newsday's Top 50 and Top Pizza lists), is a modern tavern serving regional Indian specialties inspired by Jay’s mother, pizza inspired by his love of Neapolitan cuisine and fusion dishes that reflect his restless spirit.

So, Crispy Karma, which opened May 11 in New Hyde Park, represents a real departure. "It’s a first," Jay conceded, "a concept that’s easy to explain: We make fried chicken with Indian flavors."

The fast-casual style of the restaurant is a novelty for the couple as well: Order from the brief menu at the counter and you’ll be eating (or taking out) in minutes.

Crispy chicken thighs (certified halal) are the main event here. The signature preparation, Fiery Karma, employs a marinade of tamarind, ginger and Thai chilis and, the menu warns, is "not for beginners." Milder, but no less flavorful, is The Parsi, flavored with cilantro, chili and lime. Prefer your thighs roasted? The Spicy South features Byadagi chilies, fennel and vinegar; The Punjabi is a take on tandoori chicken; Butter Chicken is bathed in the beloved creamy sauce; The White Chick is really more of an ode to yellow with turmeric marinade, garlic and Cheddar.

There are also three meat-free options: roasted paneer, grilled portobello mushroom and vada pav, the iconic Mumbai fried mashed potato patty.

Once you "choose your karma," decide whether you’d like it on a potato bun topped with papaya-cabbage slaw and two chutneys ($14, includes hand-cut fries) or in a bowl with salad or basmati rice ($15). There are also wings and tenders (fried Fiery Karma or roasted Butter Chicken) and bone-in chicken pieces (fried Parsi or roasted Punjabi, $15 for a half bird, $25 for a whole). Plus spiced fries, dosa-battered onion rings, slaws, salads and, for dessert, cookies.

Raquel noted that "Jay has been on a quest to get back to his roots, to really explore Indian flavors. To use those flavors in a fast-casual American setting — it’s the next phase."

Her own marketing smarts not only convinced her that pairing two popular trends — fried chicken and Indian food — would be a winner, but that this location, less than a mile from LIJ Northwell medical center and scores of associated doctors’ offices, was an ideal launching pad. "We’re at the convergence of Nassau and Queens," she observed. "It's a busy area that’s both medical and residential. There are South Asian customers who are familiar with this flavor profile but, just as important, lots of people with what I call ‘an expansive palate.’ "

The last two years have been a time of invention and reinvention for the seasoned restaurateurs whose pre-Onion Tree ventures included West East Bistro in Hicksville (2013 to 2016) and Wild Side Bistro in Oakdale (2016 to 2020). In 2024, they doubled down on pizza with the opening of Onion Tree Pizza Co. in Manhattan’s East Village. Crispy Karma chicken popped up there the following year as well as in a storefront in Times Square and, this past winter, at Rites Brewing in Bay Shore.

In February, they made the difficult decision to close the Manhattan pizzeria. "I thought it would resonate more," Jay said, ruefully, "But with the rising costs, the competition in the city, the commute from Long Island — it just didn’t make sense." Meanwhile, they were putting the finishing touches on a new business, Onion Tree Meal Prep, which translates Jay’s dishes into reheatable, 500-calorie-maximum meals. Ordered by Friday, delivered on Sunday, customers have the option of making one order or subscribing. Prices start at $70 for five meals.

Meals are delivered (to most of Northern Nassau County and parts of Western Suffolk) in a spiffy catering van, which they were able to buy thanks to a fundraising campaign through Honeycomb Credit, an investment crowdfunding platform.

For now, Raquel is shuttling back and forth between Sea Cliff and New Hyde Park while Jay launches the new shop whose bright decor is dominated by a decidedly cool chicken, wearing sunglasses and sitting in the lotus position. He’s philosophical — but not too philosophical — about the name, Crispy Karma: "You get what’s coming to you," he explained. "And what’s coming at you is good fried chicken."

Crispy Karma, 271-11 Union Tpke., New Hyde Park, 347-343-2441, crispykarma.com. Open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Saturday, closed Sunday.