OMango Restaurant Review and a Quinoa Salad Recipe
***NOTICE AND ADDENDUM TO THIS STORY*** (See top image) It appears that OMango has suddenly been forced to close down it’s retail store in order to survive. I had pre-posted the story before I knew of the closing. My apologies. OMango will still be offering food truck, party, and festival service as well as custom catering services. I’m very sorry the restaurant is not open — I love the food and hope it will come back soon!!
OMango is a restaurant near my home which I have fallen madly in love with. It is located at 1056 North Route 59, Aurora, IL 60504, which is right across the street from the local Target and right smack in middle of all the construction on 59. This construction (see photo to the right) has prevented customers from seeing the restaurant from the street. However, I encourage you to go and experience this yummy Indian restaurant which has a healthy twist – it offers vegan and regular cuisine all with a lower fat and high-nutrition mentality.
With a contemporary, green, and quick eat-in mind set, OMango is a delicious place to grab lunch and dinner. They have eco-initiatives for their plates and napkins, plus I love that their nutritionally sound recipes truly brings the older, heavier fat recipes forward into contemporary dishes that taste great.
I absolutely adore both the chicken and the naan bread which is prepared in a traditional tandoori oven (above). Garlic naan is a flat bread that is covered in garlic and is brilliant when wrapped around the chicken like a sandwich. Yum! Below is a great lemony quinoa salad recipe featured by OMango which is perfect for your summer parties and celebrations.
- 8 cups quinoa
- 2 TBS kosher Salt
- 8 cups water
- 4 cups mixed bell peppers, small diced
- 2 cups carrots, shredded or small diced
- 2 cups cilantro, chopped
- 4 TBS lemon juice
- 5 TSP garam masala
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 4 TBS extra virgin olive oil
- Boil the quinoa with salt and water in a rice cooker (or on the stove according to package directions).
- Cook until grains are translucent and soft.
- Remove and cool.
- Mix with remaining ingredients and refrigerate.
- Serve cold.
OMango invited my friend, Ruth Brackmann, and me to come to lunch in order to sample the healthier food. They treated us to lunch, but I want to make it clear that I come to OMango ALL THE TIME on my own and get lunch here because I like the food. Ruth loved it as much as I did and was especially pleased that the food was excellent and easy-on-the-wallet daily specials ($6.99). OMango offers catering (affordably priced) as well as full delicious buffet selections ($7.99), but because of the horrid construction, they have had to reduce their daily menu. When the construction ebbs, the menu will go back to a larger selection.
One of the best parts about the restaurant is all the delicious chutneys, spices, and flavors you can try out while you are there (see above). If you are a local to the Naperville and Aurora, Illinois area, please help OMango keep their restaurant alive until the construction ends and they can get more wonderful customers — go try their food. I love it and eat their whenever I can – all for under $10 per person. Why not try OMango for all your summer 4th of July and holiday events? They can prepare food for a group and you can have some astoundingly unique salads and foods at your get-together for a reasonable price. Definitely worth the effort to try something new and delicious.
the restaurant is still open, just take out only.