By Lacey Chenault

Image courtesy of Lehja Restaurant.

Located in Short Pump Town Center, Lehja is an Indian restaurant next to The Boathouse. When you step into Lehja, you are greeted by a welcoming staff and instantly immersed in the smells that are radiating from the kitchen. On its website, Lehja is described as a “convenient location [that] makes it an ideal gathering spot for private and business diners alike, and our easygoing decor, inspired by 1970s Southern California, provides a cozy, cultured and refreshing spot right here in Richmond.” Inside, the tables are spaced far enough apart so the atmosphere is not overly chaotic. 

Lehja has a list of accolades given to them since their opening in 2010 for the great experience that they provide. In 2019, they were recognized by the James Beard Foundation, and they were also named one of America’s top Indian restaurants in Forbes magazine.

Photo credit: Lacey Chenault.

Once you are seated, owner Sandeep Baweja, known as “Sunny,” will come up and greet you if he’s in the restaurant. He is welcoming and loves talking to his customers. If it’s your first time dining with them, the servers are more than happy to help you with the menu. When ordering entrees, they will ask for the spice level you want, from 1-5, with 1 being mild, and 5 being Indian hot. 

When ordering, it is common to get a side of Indian bread, either naan or roti. Naan and roti are flatbreads that you can get either plain or with garlic. They are delicious to dip into the sauce of your entree. They also can be useful if you get a dish that’s too spicy; it can help cool down your mouth.

I recently visited with my family. After ordering, we were quickly brought our appetizers. We first ordered the Firecracker chicken tikka ($13), chicken with a ghost chili marinade, pickled cucumber ribbon, and mango-kewra paint. The chicken has a kick of flavor. If you don’t enjoy spicier foods, I wouldn’t recommend getting this, but it’s a great addition to the table if you do. The included pickled cucumber ribbon cools down the spice of the chicken if needed. 

Garlic naan. Photo credit: Yelp user Maylynne G.

My favorite thing that we ordered was the spinach chaat ($11). This is air-fried spinach with pomegranate seeds, cubed tomatoes, white sauce, and brown sauce. This combination of flavors is light and refreshing, and I definitely recommend it.

For entrees, we ordered the chicken tikka masala, which is a roasted chicken dish with creamy roasted tomato sauce and fenugreek ($23). This is a classic order to get at any Indian restaurant. Tikka refers to the way the chicken is marinated and cooked in a tandoor oven, and masala is the creamy tomato sauce that has been simmering. 

Lehja has gotten many rave reviews from customers. Gary from Richmond said, “The owner, Sonny, is a talented restaurateur and has done an excellent job with every element of Lehja. The atmosphere is well done, good service and the food is excellent. Good variety, quality ingredients, and very well prepared. If you enjoy Indian food, this is a place that you will enjoy!”

Lehja does not just have delicious food, but a warm and welcoming environment. I will definitely be back.