Silicon Valley denizens are no strangers to the concept of fusion cuisine. From sushiritos to Korean tacos, our palates have adapted to a wide variety of flavors and textures from all around the world, influenced by the melting pot of cultures that make the Bay Area unique.

But when I heard about Tasty Indian Pizza (yes, that’s the name) I was intrigued and somewhat uncertain about what to expect. Combining two classic but undoubtedly disparate foods can be a recipe for disaster, but luckily for Tasty Indian Pizza, not in this case.

With locations in Sunnyvale and Fairfield, this Tasty Indian Pizza is no stranger to the larger Bay Area. This East Side location has been serving up unusual combinations since opening in December. In addition to offering the range of regular Italian pies, the restaurant specializes in 13 different Indian pizzas—all inspired by the complex flavors of classic Indian fare, as well as Indian-inspired appetizers, like spicy tandoori chicken wings ($5.99 for six pieces) and Indian garlic bread ($4.99 for eight pieces).

So, where to begin? As an Indian pizza novice, I decided to choose pizzas that matched my favorite Indian dishes. Tasty Indian Pizza’s reasonable pricing—$13.99 for a small, $17.99 for a medium, and $21.99 for a large pie—made the decision simple, as did the fact that all pizzas can be ordered half-half.

To start, I opted to try the pizzeria’s most popular dish, the Hero, a butter chicken pizza with mushrooms, red onion, bell pepper, tomatoes, mozzarella and topped with fresh cilantro. Loaded with tons of sliced chicken, the combination of creamy butter chicken sauce on chewy, expertly baked pizza crust was unexpectedly appetizing. I also tried the Three Idiots, the spicy version of the Hero, which included the same toppings plus red chili and loads of jalapeno slices. Be warned, the latter is not for the faint of heart: each bite packed a punch and was almost too spicy for me to fully enjoy. However, the generous amount of fresh cilantro topping both pies was a welcome contrast to an otherwise richly flavored pizza.

On the vegetarian front, I sampled the Bethab, a garlicky pizza with white sauce, pineapple chunks, jalapenos, fresh tomatoes, red onion, mozzarella and thin slices of paneer cheese.  The Bethab’s inclusion of pineapple and jalapeno made for an interesting medley of aromas and flavors in this truly East-meets-West pizza. Though I don’t normally enjoy pineapple on pizza, it somehow worked in balancing out the spice from the jalapenos and the rich paneer.

With a handful of options for meat eaters, vegetarians, the pizza purists and the more adventurous fusion cuisine lovers alike, Tasty Indian Pizza keeps things simple, to the point and delicious—just like its name suggests.

Tasty Indian Pizza
1875 Quimby Rd, Ste 140, San Jose.
408.622.8880