Pav Bhaji vs Tandoori Chicken

Per 100 g, Pav Bhaji has 133 kcal and 2.7 g protein, while Tandoori Chicken has 130 kcal and 18.7 g protein.

Pav Bhaji

133
kcal per 100 g
2.7 g protein

Tandoori Chicken

130
kcal per 100 g
18.7 g protein

Nutrition compared, per 100 g

Both foods are shown per 100 g so the numbers are directly comparable. A single serving of each is a different size, so serving-for-serving figures would not tell you much.

Nutrient Pav Bhaji Tandoori Chicken Difference
Calories Fewer calories for the same weight 133 kcal 130 kcal about the same
Protein More protein helps with fullness and muscle 2.7 g 18.7 g better 86%
Carbs Lower carbs suits low-carb and diabetic diets 15 g 2 g better 87%
Fat Lower fat means lower calorie density 6.7 g 5.3 g better 21%
Fiber More fibre improves fullness and digestion 1.3 g better 0.3 g 77%
Sugar Less sugar means a gentler blood-sugar response 2 g 0.7 g better 65%
"Better" marks the more favourable value for a general healthy-eating goal, not a judgement about the food overall. Differences under 5% are treated as equivalent.

Which is better for weight loss?

Too close to call

Pav Bhaji and Tandoori Chicken land within a few percent of each other on calories (133 vs 130 kcal per 100 g), so neither has a real edge. Pick on fibre and protein instead: Pav Bhaji carries more fibre.

Which is better for muscle gain?

Tandoori Chicken

Tandoori Chicken is the stronger protein source, with 18.7 g per 100 g against 2.7 g for Pav Bhaji. To match that from Pav Bhaji you would have to eat roughly 6.9 times the volume, which is usually the limiting factor when you are trying to hit a protein target.

Pav Bhaji vs Tandoori Chicken — common questions

Pav Bhaji has more calories — about 133 kcal per 100 g compared with 130 kcal for Tandoori Chicken.

Tandoori Chicken has more protein — 18.7 g per 100 g against 2.7 g for Pav Bhaji.

Pav Bhaji and Tandoori Chicken land within a few percent of each other on calories (133 vs 130 kcal per 100 g), so neither has a real edge. Pick on fibre and protein instead: Pav Bhaji carries more fibre.

Tandoori Chicken is the stronger protein source, with 18.7 g per 100 g against 2.7 g for Pav Bhaji. To match that from Pav Bhaji you would have to eat roughly 6.9 times the volume, which is usually the limiting factor when you are trying to hit a protein target.

Yes. Combining them gives roughly 263 kcal and 21.4 g protein per 100 g of each. Indian meals are usually built from pairs like this, and mixing a grain with a protein source generally makes for a better-balanced plate than either on its own.

Neither is clearly healthier — the two are close on calories, and the better choice depends on what else you are eating that day. Per 100 g, Pav Bhaji has 133 kcal and 2.7 g protein, while Tandoori Chicken has 130 kcal and 18.7 g protein.

Other comparisons

Data source: nutrition values are drawn from the Indian Nutrient Databank (INDB), Vijayakumar et al., Curr Dev Nutr 2024;8(7):103790, used under CC BY 4.0, and derived from the ICMR-NIN Indian Food Composition Tables. Values vary with recipe, oil used and regional style.

General information only, not medical advice. See our disclaimer.