Coming off the 91 freeway at Pioneer Boulevard and heading south into Little India, almost immediately the first Indian-themed business one will notice is Haveli Indian Cuisine.

Located at the former home of a Shakey’s Pizza Parlor, the latest restaurant to add its flavorful aromas to the Little India community seeks to give food lovers visiting the popular thoroughfare yet one more dining option.

“People have choices. Competition is good for everyone. It brings more people to the area, and the more people come, they have more variety and quality,” Mukesh Gandhi, owner of Haveli, told India-West.

Though Gandhi told India-West he is pleased with having the opportunity to serve his customers who walk through Haveli’s front doors, he also believes the qualitative culinary work of his chefs will keep the tables regularly occupied.

Gandhi, who has been in the restaurant business for more than 25 years, is less interested in reinventing the wheel in creating a unique menu and, instead, aims to offer all of the familiar fares of Indian cuisine with a full palate of bursting flavors at a restaurant facility that is as comfortable as it is welcoming.

“I do the best I can for my clients,” Gandhi told India-West. “We’ve been in the food industry more than 25 years. People know who we are.”

What people know as well as the management is the food.

Among the traditional food choices on Haveli’s menu include several tandoori specials, combination platters, and entrees catering to meat lovers, seafood aficionados, and vegetarians alike.

Both the vegetable and meat entrée menus feature 15 items apiece. For non-vegetarians, the meat menu includes chicken tikka masala, chicken jalfrazi, butter chicken, chicken saag, karahi chicken, lamb vindaloo, kheema matter (minced lamb), shahi korma (lamb with boiled egg), and goat curry, among others.

Meanwhile, vegetarians may select from a menu that includes navratan korma, paneer makhani, bhindi masala, bhagan bharata (roast eggplant), vegetable jalfrezi, and bengan imami (sliced eggplant), among others.

Seafood lovers may choose from one of four shrimp dishes or a fish curry plate.

There are also a variety of naans and rice dishes to select from. Prices range from $9.99 to $15.99 for a la carte entrées; appetizers and naans range from $2.99 to $7.99 per item, while rice dishes are as low as $2.99 for basmati style or as high as $14.99 for shrimp biryani.

In addition to a la carte options, Haveli offers an all-you-can-eat daily luncheon buffet for $8.95. While the chef rotates the buffet options daily, diners can choose from as many as 25 items, including salads, main course items, and dessert.

While Haveli currently offers a predominantly North Indian cuisine, Gandhi said there are plans to also include South Indian and Indo-Chinese options on the menu.

Haveli Indian Cuisine, which also offers full-service catering, is located at 17221 Pioneer Boulevard here in Artesia (tel: 562-860-4608). It is open for lunch daily from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.; dinner hours are from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday through Sunday. The restaurant may also be reserved as a banquet facility for events up to 200 people.