Punjabi Dhaba

Ate here over weekend & loved it. great place more

I am always looking for places to have dinner on the cheap with my friends before a night out in Boston. The appeal of Punjabi Dhaba is simple – diverse menu, and absolutely fantastic food. For two people, two meals, can also mean breakfast, and the price rings in at a fraction of the cost of a meal out. The seating area is very limited, so I recommend calling ahead and ordering takeout – that way you can eat it at the comfort of your home while you get ready for the night out – and have a bottle of wine. My favorite dish is the Lamb Masala, but truly you cannot go wrong here. I have eaten at many Indian restaurants, and this is one of my favorites, especially when considering the takeout options in the area. Make sure you know the number of who called in the order because that is their basis on who gets what – I had to guess on the last four of my friend’s and luckily did get them right. Parking in Inman Sq is always hard to find, but if you know you will only be in line for less than ten minutes a block down there is an empty parking lot at night where you can sneak in and out without being seen (if there is no on street parking). Pros: diverse menu, and big portions Cons: not much dine-in seating, gets crowded for pickup more

Called an ?Indian Highway-Side Cafe,? this Inman Square favorite offers mouth-watering authentic Punjabi fast food. Inspired by the delicious street food offered at Indian truck stops, Punjabi Dhaba?s menu is full of inexpensive treats. Highlights include chicken tikka with sweet mango chutney and spicy samosas; and Baingan Bhartha, a dish of smoked & mashed eggplant cooked with peas, bell peppers and herbs. Also, don?t forget the tasty breads like the garlic naan and sweet drinks, including the pineapple lassi with buttermilk. It?s the perfect spot for a quick and low-cost meal. Despite the no-frills decor and noisy atmosphere, Punjabi Dhaba is a spice-filled dining experience that should not be missed. more

One of the worst Indian fodd I have ever had in BOSTON!! the wait is long and to make it even worse the food is tasteless...the place is small and too noisy....no spice, no salt what so ever and there is no Indian flavor!!! the keema naan is too dry that you would choke up on it....don't try the biriyani as it has no salt nor any flavor for the different types available....i thought Indian food (be it punjabi) is all about flavor which does not exist at this place.....i have had better dishes!!! so plz don't go to this restaurant....the pice may b4 $ (less), but it does not mean you make the food disgusting.....for such kind of dishes I would not even pay a penny!!! STAY AWAY!!!! Pros: none!!! Cons: u name it and its all there!!! more

This place has a lot of character - the loud Pubjabi music on the TV makes you really feel like you are in an authentic roadside cafe in India. The food is great - the portions large, and the prices very good. There is indeed quite a wait to get your meal & the service is not amazing- but it's part of the character of the place. It's a great place for authentic Indian take out. more

Punjabi Dhaba is a great place to bring a few friends and enjoy a meal. This place is always busy, and the staff are working hard. The food must be fresh because of the turnover.. There are always lines out the door. I cannot say the same about freshness for the other indian restaurants in the boston area. Punjabi Dhaba plays cool music and there food is flavorful. I enjoy the whole experience. I also get takeout often... On the weekend, no matter what the guy on the phone says.. give them at least 30 to 40 min to make your food before you go and pick it up. My office also gets catering from them occasionally and the food is always a superhit. The chicken korma is the best I've had anywhere... its a must have... and also for those vegetarians... the paneer chilli masala is yum! Did I mention there is a private second floor where you can eat too.... I <3 Punjabi Dhaba! Pros: Bustling, Energetic Atmosphere Just Like INDIA more

\r The prices are reasonable and the quality/quantity of food is great. Do give them plenty of time to prepare the food though. It is mostly a take out place and difficult to seat a large party for eat-in, besides the long wait time.\r Pros: Good taste and value Cons: The place could be cleaner more

This is really the place to go for quick, cheap Indian food. I'm told by Indian friends that the food is... more

This is really the place to go for quick, cheap Indian food. I'm told by Indian friends that the food is pretty authentic, and you really can't be... more

Most of the time the food is great. Sometimes it is way too salty - as if there is one cook who is only on the job occasionally and isn't very adept. But for these prices, it's worth the chance. Unless you absolutely HAVE to know the food will be perfect in which case go up the street to Union Square to India Palace. They are expensive but you can always count on the food to be really the best in the area by far! Pros: Great cheap authentic Indian food Cons: No parking, long lines, some times the food is really not up to normal more

the gol gappas are soo yummy :) more

the gol gappas are soo yummy :) more

Although this place is a dive and it's very inexpensive, it has the BEST North Indian food I've had in the Boston area - it's authentic, delicious, and you get plenty of food with your order. It's also open pretty late, which is a big plus. I love this Cambridge classic! Pros: cheap, delicious, open late Cons: ambiance more

Open late is a plus. It's always been a local favorite and always packed at dinner time and you cannot beat those metal trays they serve-on when dining-in, they make me smile. The vegetarian curry could use some work, but it definitely gets me my indian-fill at a very nice price. And the upstairs dining area? Kind of cooky, huh? But gives this place its charm. Definitely a must visit if you're in the cambridge area and want semi-cafeteria style indian! Pros: Good value Cons: Long lines more

best food in Boston. I usually do take outs. Everybody is friendly and it is fast-food type.. very good place for students. You can get ur food very spicy to medium. You can even try out new receipes.. last time I tried chick peas in saag paneer.. It was delicious.... more

They offer excellent indian food, but be ready for a lot of m o u s e in the restaurant especially on the second floor. This restaurant is rather dirty. I would recommend for take-out. more

Punjabi Dhaba is great, I've been there more than a dozen times, and I have fun each and every time, not to mention a scruptious meal.\r On my last visit I noticed a plaque on the wall, it turns out that they just won Best of Boston for 2006. -- Kudos to them!\r My friends & fam love dhaba too for the music, & the authenticity of the food.\r I've been to India a few times in my life, and nothing in the states that I've experienced comes as close to authentic Indian food, as Punjabi Dhaba...\r \r My Fav Spot by far! Must be experienced! Pros: Fun & Light Atmosphere w/Authentic FOOD Cons: N/A more

I appreciate what most of these rave reviews are talking about. It feels more like places I have eaten in while in India and the menu has some items I want to love (fruit chat , samosa chat etc.) But when the food arrives it never quite lives up to my expectations. I went there within a month of it opening and have gone back 1-2 times a year since ( I live and work nearby) , hoping things would improve. Nonetheless I have taken out of town friends there because it is different than the ordinary places. It is great for noisy kids too, but most Indian places put up with that. Finally- it seems quite reminiscent of Kathmandu backbacker places in the early 80's when you look at the clientel. more

I don't know what this person at the bottom is talking about (maybe he/she went on a bad day?) but if you read the other reviews and talk with local Boston students, there's no doubt that this Dhaba is a local favorite. Each order comes in generous quantities, is very authentic Punjabi, and tastes soo savory and fresh (as opposed to typical, greasy, restaurant-style Indian food). I highly recommend the Veg or Non-Veg platters for 1. It comes with rice, chutney, samosa, curry, vegetables or daal --a fantastic, filling meal for only $6-7!! Other favorites are the chole poori or chole bhature (large puffed fried dough with a chickpea curry), chicken tikka masala, any of the parathas (flatbreads), and any of the lighter snacks (like dahi papri or bhel puri) . Don't forget to snag an absolutely lip-smacking mango lassi-drink from the fridge! I love how this place doesnt have the showy ambiance and mediocre, stale quality of other Indian restaurants, and provides the closest thing to what Indians will call home-food or soul-food. Probably not a place I would take a swanky date. Pros: cheap and delicious!!! Cons: long lines on weekends, ample dining space (sometimes takeout is better) more

Ordered two dishes and they were both uninspiring and tasteless. This place is not even that cheap - just go down the street to mass ave and you have more options that are all better. \r \r Chicken Biryani was the just fried rice with chicken, frozen peas, and tomatoes - the tomatoes tasted like dirty dishwater.\r \r ""Special"" curry chicken - I asked for it extra spicy and it tasted like marinara pasta sauce. \r Cons: bad food and expensive for what you get. more