Punjabi Dhaba

(617) 547-8272

225 Hampshire St (Beacon Street)
Cambridge, MA 02139 42.3738 -71.1011

Get Map & Directions »

Neighborhood: Mid-Cambridge

royalbharatinc.com

Hours:

Daily 12pm-12am

Price:

$

Last updated 7.20.11

Category:

Restaurants

Payment Methods:

Cash

Restaurant Special Features:

Local Favorite, Cheap Eats

Cuisine:

Indian

Smoking Permitted:

No

What People Are Saying About Punjabi Dhaba

Featured Review

Contributor

Contributor

In Short – Classic Punjabi dishes--plus a handful of other classics from al over the continent--come quickly and cheap in this, one of the Boston area's few fast-food Indian spots. Popular items include tender lamb vindaloo over basmati, chicken tikka with tangy-sweet mango chutney and crisp samosas. Drinks like buttermilk-laced pineapple lassi are available to put the fire out. Due in part to the nondescript seating areas, most patrons take their curries to go.

ambiance
75.0% positive
  1. “It has a very interesting atmosphere from the pictures on the wall and the Indian music playing.”
  2. “The location is great.”
  3. “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.”
  4. “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.”
drinks
100.0% positive
  1. “forget the tasty breads like the garlic naan and sweet drinks, including the pineapple lassi with buttermilk.”
food quality
88.6400032043457% positive
  1. “Good food and very nice people working”
  2. “Best Indian food in Cambridge!”
  3. “The appeal of Punjabi Dhaba is simple - diverse menu, and absolutely fantastic food.”
  4. “The food is fantastic, it costs 2/3 of the cost of any other Indian restaurant in Cambridge, and the servers are really friendly.”
  5. “If you don't like dining on prison trays, you might order your food to go.”
  6. “The food is terrific and it is the only place that can have up to an hour wait just for take out!”
  7. “The service is friendly, the food is awesome, the price is right, the portions are huge.”
  8. “Great food great prices”
  9. “forget the tasty breads like the garlic naan and sweet drinks, including the pineapple lassi with buttermilk.”
  10. “the pice may b4 $ (less), but it does not mean you make the food disgusting.”
  11. “... food is delicious”
  12. “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.”
  13. “The best indian food in town”
  14. “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.”
  15. “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.”
  16. “best food in Boston.”
  17. “The food is great (northern indian food especially) and affordable.”
  18. “It comes with rice, chutney, samosa, curry, vegetables or daal --a fantastic, filling meal for only $6-7!”
  19. “the perfect spot for a quick and low-cost meal.”
  20. “Very tasty food, BUT A LOT OF M O U S E!”
  21. “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).”
  22. “Punjabi Dhaba is a great place to bring a few friends and enjoy a meal.”
  23. “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.”
  24. “My friends & fam love dhaba too for the music, & the authenticity of the food.”
  25. “Punjabi Dhaba plays cool music and there food is flavorful.”
  26. “this Inman Square favorite offers mouth-watering authentic Punjabi fast food.”
  27. “the wait is long and to make it even worse the food is tasteless.”
  28. “Economical place to get good tasting Indian food”
  29. “The food is great - the portions large, and the prices very good.”
  30. “Delicious food, fair price, smiling staff, and great music videos playing.”
  31. “Chicken Biryani was the just fried rice with chicken, frozen peas, and tomatoes - the tomatoes tasted like dirty dishwater.”
  32. “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.”
  33. “The food must be fresh because of the turnover.”
  34. “... every dish is the best”
  35. “My favorite dish is the Lamb Masala, but truly you cannot go wrong here.”
  36. “The chicken korma is the best I've had anywhere.”
  37. “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.”
  38. “Great authentic food - great prices”
  39. “It's a great place for authentic Indian take out.”
  40. “Inspired by the delicious street food offered at Indian truck stops, Punjabi Dhaba?”
  41. “Delicious indian food, friendly crowd!”
  42. “The prices are reasonable and the quality/quantity of food is great.”
  43. “Everybody is friendly and it is fast-food type.”
  44. “Some of the best (northern) indian food in town.”
menu variety
100.0% positive
  1. “The appeal of Punjabi Dhaba is simple - diverse menu, and absolutely fantastic food.”
overall
100.0% positive
  1. “Punjabi Dhaba is a great place to bring a few friends and enjoy a meal.”
  2. “very good place for students.”
  3. “Definitely a good place for lunch or a quick dinner.”
  4. “It's a great place for authentic Indian take out.”
service
88.88999938964844% positive
  1. “Good food and very nice people working”
  2. “... n friendly cashier.”
  3. “Delicious indian food, friendly crowd!”
  4. “The service is friendly, the food is awesome, the price is right, the portions are huge.”
  5. “The food is fantastic, it costs 2/3 of the cost of any other Indian restaurant in Cambridge, and the servers are really friendly.”
  6. “Delicious food, fair price, smiling staff, and great music videos playing.”
  7. “Everybody is friendly and it is fast-food type.”
  8. “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.”
  9. “The staff were very friendly.”
value
100.0% positive
  1. “Delicious food, fair price, smiling staff, and great music videos playing.”
  2. “The food is great (northern indian food especially) and affordable.”
  3. “The food is great - the portions large, and the prices very good.”
  4. “... n ofcourse with best price”
  5. “Full of flavor at a great price!”
  6. “The service is friendly, the food is awesome, the price is right, the portions are huge.”
  7. “Great authentic food - great prices”
  8. “Great food great prices”
  9. “The vegetarian curry could use some work, but it definitely gets me my indian-fill at a very nice price.”
  10. “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).”
  11. “The prices are reasonable and the quality/quantity of food is great.”
wait time
66.66999816894531% positive
  1. “the wait is long and to make it even worse the food is tasteless.”
  2. “Definitely a good place for lunch or a quick dinner.”
  3. “the perfect spot for a quick and low-cost meal.”
4 Star Rating: Recommended

01/06/10

Full of flavor at a great price!

by Meghan Christine , Citysearch Contributor at Citysearch

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
4 Star Rating: Recommended

01/21/09

Mouth-watering authentic Punjabi fast food.

by hardinghouseinncambrdge at Citysearch

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.

1 Star Rating: Poor

11/14/08

very bad!!!! disgusting!!!

by Sharath1981 at Citysearch

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!!!
4 Star Rating: Recommended

11/09/08

Great authentic food - great prices

by lucianoFromRome at Citysearch

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.

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

10/09/08

Best Indian food by FAR

by james02141 at Citysearch

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

The Details on Punjabi Dhaba

Place Categories:

  • great punjabi fast food
  • great price
  • great place
  • best indian food
  • worst indian
  • nice indian music
  • favorite dish
  • savory soo
  • disgusting food
  • not amazing service
  • very interesting atmosphere
  • best chicken korma
  • nice casher
  • especially good chicken saag
  • best resturant
  • friendly crowd
  • highly recommend platters
  • great location
  • great qualityquantity
  • enjoy meal
  • great authentic food
  • very friendly staff
  • huge portions
  • favorite punjabi dhaba
  • perfect spot
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