How KūKri Came to Be
KūKri is Basit Gauba's bold answer to a simple question: what happens when Nashville hot chicken meets Pakistani spice tradition? Three Albuquerque locations later, you already know.
KūKri - Hot Chicken Tenders | Our Story
The Food Truck That Started It
Before the brick-and-mortar, there was Tikka Spice — Basit Gauba's food truck feeding Albuquerque with bold, Pakistani-spiced flavor. The demand was so loud, he had no choice but to open a real kitchen.
What's in a Name
"KūKri" means skinny chicken in Gauba's language — unpretentious and honest, just like the food. Pakistani spice traditions reshape every tender, turning a Southern classic into something genuinely new.
100% Halal, For Everyone
Every item is 100% halal — not an afterthought, but a founding commitment. KūKri fills a real gap in Albuquerque's fast-casual scene.
A James Beard Kitchen
Gauba is a James Beard semifinalist — evident in how carefully this kitchen calibrates heat, layers flavor, and builds a menu from tikka tenders to loaded queso fries.
Three Spots, One ABQ
One location became three — Downtown 505 Central, Midtown Green Jeans, Northeast Heights Tin Can Alley — because Albuquerque claimed KūKri as its own.
