Red Fort Cuisine of India has opened its doors in Ogden, occupying the former El Matador Building located at 2564 Ogden Avenue. The renovation of the site took longer than expected before the restaurant became operational.
The restaurant group, which includes owners Wahid Noori and Harpal Singh Toor, has expanded to this fifth location. Previous sites include the original restaurant in St. George, as well as locations in LaVerkin and Meridian, Idaho. This Ogden location provides access to specialties such as butter chicken, naan bread, and tandoori chicken, which were previously only available to local diners at the Layton location.
Ali Noori, a manager at the Layton location, stated that the building was sold to the Red Fort group by owners Tony and Paula Hasratian last year. The El Matador establishment had been in business for over 60 years before closing in September 2022.
The menu features various dishes including chicken tikka masala, lamb, seafood, and vegetarian options. Signature items include butter chicken, which is prepared with a butter base rather than a tomato base, and naan bread cooked in a tandoor clay oven. The restaurant also offers specialty drinks like lassi and the Fort Lime drink.
The business was established by Wahid Noori and Harpal Singh Toor. The Noori family, who immigrated to the United States as refugees from Afghanistan, manages the restaurant operations alongside kitchen manager Mujtaba Faiz.
