Private Indian Cooking Class in Atlanta with Naina

Cook chaat and Indian-inspired Southern dishes in Naina's contemporary kitchen, then eat what you made.

A private Indian cooking class in Naina's Decatur home kitchen, 20 minutes from midtown Atlanta, where you prepare 2–3 dishes from scratch (chaat, a main course, and dessert), then sit down to eat together or pack the meal to take home. You can add a guided market tour to source ingredients beforehand. Naina teaches in English and Hindi, accommodates dietary requests, and includes wine or beer with dine-in options. The class runs 2 to 3.5 hours depending on which option you choose.

The experience

Naina's kitchen is where you learn to cook intuitively: using spices and your senses to build flavors instead of following a rigid recipe. You'll prepare dishes like aloo tikki chole chaat (Indian street food), an Indian or Persian-inspired Southern main (fried chicken or shrimp and grits), and shrikhand with seasonal fruit. The hands-on instruction covers the techniques and flavor combinations behind each dish, so you leave understanding how to cook this way at home, not just how to follow one meal.

The class comes in three formats. The most complete is the 3.5-hour experience with a market tour: Naina drives you to either Your DeKalb Farmers Market or Cherians Indian Grocery Store, where you spend an hour learning to select produce and spices for your class. Then you head to her Decatur home and cook together before sitting down to eat. If you skip the market, the cooking class alone runs 3.5 hours when you dine in with Naina (and her family when they're home), or 2 hours if you cook and take the meal home. Wine or beer comes with the dine-in options. A 4-guest minimum applies to the dine-in experiences. The take-home class needs just 2 guests.

You'll start with a refreshing drink (mango lassi or fresh limeade), and crudités with a roasted eggplant or cheese dip while you settle in. Naina is a culinary entrepreneur whose mission is to demystify the cuisines of India, Persia and the Near East, and she brings genuine joy to teaching. She welcomes dietary requests, so mention any restrictions when you book.

What’s included

• Private hands-on cooking instruction with Naina in her contemporary kitchen.
• preparation of 2–3 seasonal dishes from scratch.
• mango lassi or fresh limeade and crudités to start.
• wine or beer with dine-in options.
• the meal you cook (eaten together or packed to take home, depending on your choice).
• a guided market tour at Your DeKalb Farmers Market or Cherians Indian Grocery Store if you select that option.

Options for this experience

6 options

Cooking class followed by lunchGuide in English or Hindi · 11:00

Cooking class followed by dinnerGuide in English or Hindi · 17:00

Morning class with a take-home mealGuide in English or Hindi · 11:00

See 3 more options

Evening class with a take-home mealGuide in English or Hindi · 17:00

Market tour, then cooking, then lunchGuide in English or Hindi · 10:00

Market tour, then cooking, then dinnerGuide in English or Hindi · 16:00

You pick the guide language when booking.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 10:00, 11:00, 16:00 and 17:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (5 to 11 years) · Infant (under 5): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Hindi

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Stroller friendlyPets welcome

Operated by Traveling Spoon

Is this one for you?Choose the take-home option if you want a shorter class (2 hours) and prefer to cook without the commitment to a full meal sitting afterward. Pick the dine-in class if you want the full experience of cooking together and then eating as a group. The 3.5 hours gives you time to cook without rushing, and the wine or beer is included. Add the market tour if you want to learn how to shop for Indian ingredients and select produce before you cook, which deepens the hands-on learning.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Hindi.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 11 years); Infant (under 5): free.

What dishes will I actually cook during the class?

You prepare 2–3 dishes from scratch: aloo tikki chole chaat (Indian street food), an Indian or Persian-inspired Southern main (either fried chicken or shrimp and grits), and shrikhand with seasonal fruit. The exact menu shifts with the season, and Naina teaches you the spice work and techniques so you can adapt the recipes at home.

Can I choose to take the food home instead of eating it there?

Yes. The take-home option runs 2 hours and includes cooking three dishes that you pack up to enjoy later. The dine-in experiences are longer (3.5 hours with a market tour, or 3.5 hours without) because you sit down together after cooking, with wine or beer included.

What happens if I add the market tour?

Naina drives you to either Your DeKalb Farmers Market or Cherians Indian Grocery Store for a 1-hour guided tour where you learn to select fresh produce or Indian spices and ingredients for your class. Then you head to her Decatur home, about 10 minutes away, for the cooking class and meal. The market tour option requires a 4-guest minimum.

Does Naina accommodate dietary restrictions?

Yes. Mention any dietary requests when you book and Naina will adjust the menu. She teaches you the core techniques so you can adapt the dishes to your needs at home as well.

Where is the class held and how far is it from Atlanta?

Naina's home and kitchen are in Decatur, about 20 minutes from midtown Atlanta. If you choose the market tour option, Naina picks you up at the market and drives you to her home from there.