It's... okay. Perfectly serviceable Indian food, but nothing too exciting. Pros: buffet is very reasonably priced, good variety of options and even includes masala chai, food was hot. Chicken tandoori was flavorful enough, chicken tikka masala and aloo baigan (potato and eggplant curry) were fine. The standout for me was the bhatura (light and crispy fried dough). I didn't try the goat curry, palak paneer or naan, but they looked pretty good too. Services was okay - one of the servers (manager?) was a bit rough around the edges but softened by the end. Water was refilled. Fine for a quick, low-key hit of Indian food. read more

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The waiter was so lovely, the location was perfect before our 7:30 curtain at the Central Square Theatre, and the food was delicious! The ambiance was a little worn but authentic, like you might actually be in an Indian restaurant somewhere on the subcontinent. And it's in Central Square which still maintains its student neighborhood vibe (and student prices!) while its surrounding "sister" squares have all gone "posh". We're not too experimental and we're not big eaters so our order included garlic naan, lamb rogan josh, and chicken tikka masala with a beer and glass of chardonnay. The best recommendation; there wasn't a morsel left. We left pleasantly sated and walked across the street to our show. By the way, if you're driving, there's a garage at 55 Franklin Street that had plenty of space at 5:30PM. read more

Popped in for lunch buffet and it's unlikely I will return. The ambiance and service was pretty straightforward. My rating is really a 2.5 The food was just ok. I love good Indian food and this just wasn't it for me. The cauliflower was cold, masala wasn't anything special, and the tandoori chicken had an off taste. The curry goat was very delicious though. read more

Desi Dhaba - Lunch buffet - Indian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

I haven't tried their lunch buffet yet but I got to try their dinner menu. I was pleasantly surprised that they have a selection of chaat on their menu which I wasn't expecting at all. We got the bhel poori ($7.99), lamb madras ($18.99), garlic naan ($4.99), and a mango lassi ($4.99). The bhel poori was tossed with chopped onions and tomatoes, and with the lemon drizzle on top, became an interesting texture that was wet yet crispy at the same time. The flavors were great, though, and I could see this being a really nice snack to enjoy alongside the large selection of imported beers they have. Our server gave us the option of mild/medium/hot for spice level so we asked for the lamb madras to be hot. It was actually decently spicy. I thought that the lamb could be a bit more tender but the dish overall was very flavorful. It came with a side of perfectly cooked rice. The garlic naan had a strong buttery fragrance and was thin and crispy-- I generally prefer naan that is chewier/fluffier, but this could be nice for people who prefer crispy naan. I was a big fan of the mango lassi! It had a strong mango flavor and was both sweet and tart at the same time. read more

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We were promtly greeted by the manager who brought us place settings and water. We came for the buffet, which was quite reasonably priced. The food was standard Indian buffet, about a dozen offerings. One that item I had never seen before was the bhatura which was like french toast except the bread was soaked in pureed chic peas instead of eggs - crispy and delicious. I will definitely return to this low-keyed restaurant when i am in the mood for a satisfying Indian treat. read more

We enjoyed Desi Dhaba's lunch buffet. There was a nice selection of vegetarian and meat options, and the saag and the goat curry were particularly good. The samosas were also tasty, with a little kick of cinnamon. The quiet ambiance and friendly service were just what we needed after a delayed overnight flight to Boston and checking in to our Airbnb. read more

I had a completely vegan catered dinner from here, and every single dish was delicious. I love the abundance of vegan options, and I believe some of the vegetarian items can be made vegan as well. My favorite was the spinach and potato dish. Highly recommend! read more

Desi Dhaba - samosa, pakora, channa masala - Indian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

I had a very disappointing experience at Desi Dhaba in Cambridge. The restaurant had an unpleasant odor, the dining area felt unclean, and the restroom was in poor condition. The food was not worth the money or the calories -- poorly cooked, oily, and unappetizing. The overall atmosphere was uncomfortable, and I honestly feel nauseated thinking about the meal. I would not return and hope this helps others make an informed decision. read more

Buffet food was lukewarm at best. Chicken tikka masala was not very creamy but was soupy. Food is kept out from beginning to end I'm guessing and there's usually a wait for restock. The spinach saag was pretty good with rice however this place just didn't hit the spot for me. read more

I went with my boyfriend to have the lunch buffet.But the waiter accused me of being greedy when I only had two plates. Never have I been so humiliated. On top of it there was lipstick on the cup and Flys in the drink and they didn't have the decency to take something of our bill or add a free item for our troubles. CHEAP! CHEAP!! CHEAP!!! I will never step foot again read more

I have still yet to find decent chai in the Boston/Cambridge area. I ordered via UberEats for some late night tea and dessert. I ordered Gulab Jamun ($3.95), Badami Kulfi ($4.50) and Dhaba Masala Chai ($2.95). The gulab jamun (you get two per order) was still hot when it arrived and the best from the three. The badami kulfi, as you can see from the photos, you only get two scoops, which is very less for the price you pay. Nevertheless, it tasted very authentic. The chai, was the most disappointing. It was a little grey in color, indicating that it isn't fresh, it tasted stale as if they had pre-made it and had rewarmed it for the order. Overall likely will be back for the gulab jamun, but a hard pass for the chai and kulfi. read more

Desi Dhaba - Badami Kulfi and Gulab Jamun - Indian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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We had our office party catered by Desi Dhaba and there was not one plate of leftovers. Food was so yummy and absolutely everyone loved it. Great range of spice level so that everyone can enjoy. Would HIGHLY recommend using their catering. Food was hot and delicious. Thank you so much Desi Dhaba! read more

Desi Dhaba - Rice - Indian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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Bottled beer good. Service good and pleasant. Saag paneer pretty good. Kheema naan was garbage - seemed to be peas and stale mutton (90% peas) stuffed in to a pita and air fried. I visit Cambridge a lot and was was hoping to find another regular place but I guess not. read more

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The passing Red Line shakes the ground beneath your feet at Desi Dhaba on Mass Ave. I popped in for dinner twice this past spring. On one visit, I discovered an error in the menu. I had ordered the Shahi Paneer $13.95 due to the description (homemade cottage cheese cooked with chopped spinach, onions, tomatoes, and variety of herbs and spices) printed on the menu, thinking that I would venture forth from one of my usuals (palak paneer) while retaining spinach as a veggie. Turns out that Shahi Paneer is a tomato sauce dish with zero spinach. However, they were willing to replace it with palak paneer, even though they thought I had simply told them the wrong dish. I doubled up on the entrees on this visit, and got my animal protein from the Chicken Korma $13.95. The chicken was tender and of sufficient chunks. While the small cheese cubes were less generous in my veggie dish. Instead of Mango Lassi, I went with a neat sounding Pistachio Milk Shake $2.95, which came white and creamy with bits of nuts throughout. It was yummy, and I ended up getting it again on my next visit. On this visit I ended up ordering Madras Fried Shrimp $10.95 (large shrimp marinated in mild spices, tomato, puree, bell pepper, onion then fried (served with poori) from the appetizer section, and Malai Kofta $13.95 (A true Mughali delight, Vegetable balls simmered in a creamy sauce with nuts and raisins) as my entree. Turns out they only send out complimentary papadum to those who do not order an appetizer. Mystery solved! But since I asked, they brought me some, which I appreciated. Unfortunately, likely due to the humidity of the week, the papadum wasn't as crisp as I've enjoyed in the past. The shrimp were chopped each into probably 2-3 pieces. I rather enjoyed that dish and would be interested in getting it again. As a bonus it comes with a fun poofy bread, which carb lovers like me will appreciate. The vegetarian entree however seemed sparse for the price with only 2 elongated soft balls in a pool of tasty sauce for the price. Perhaps I'll give their goat a try next time. *** On another visit I tried their appetizer platters - the vegetarian one $8.95 and the non-vegetarian one $9.95. Turns out I prefer their vegetarian version, mostly cause I'm not a spicy girl. But their pistachio shake is still yummy! read more

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Reasonable portions and fast preparations for pickup! However, everything was lacking in salt and spice/wasn't as flavorful as we would have wished. The staff was nice when we picked up the items but there was only two people in the resultant around dinner time. read more

Desi Dhaba - Garlic Naan, Palak Paneer, Lamb Rogan Josh - Indian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

the lunch buffet was honestly so horrible. everything tasted days old and was very dry. I would not recommend this place.

Great service and cheap drinks! Bread was very yummy and food was pretty decent. Will be going back for all you can eat lunch buffet read more

Desi Dhaba - Large Bread Basket Chicken Coconut Korma Chicken Vindaloo Raita - Indian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

One of the worst food i have ever eaten One of the worst service i ever experienced Only reason this place is in business is because of its location Food here is NOT indian. I don't even know what to call it. We had kabab platter, goat rogan josh If you see 5star ratings for this place. Only people not familiar with true Indian food give this shithole decent ratings read more

How do I even review a place this bad? I ordered three things- 1 pani puri, where puri were broken, the pani was so so salty that ocean was less salty than it. The potato was missing. 2. Dahi wada- the wada was so hard, I needed an actual hammer to break it. 3. Dosa- the sambar was missing. The only good thing that came with my order was the can of coke, cause they didn't make it. read more

We were in the neighborhood on a Friday evening and dropped by for a quick pick up of dal makhni. The vibe is that of a restaurant (not dhaba where I would expect the interiors to be more rustic and earthen). There were 2 tables occupied even during Friday prime time in one of the busiest neighborhoods of Cambridge. Which tells you something. There was a couple at the counter who seemed like the owners, we didn't see any staff on the restaurant floor. Pick up was quick and packaging was clean and solid. Dal makhni came with rice and tasted average. Portion size was good. The place is conveniently located near the Central Square T station and is easily accessible through private and public modes of transport. Overall, the place does a decent job of satisfying your Indian food craving if you're in the neighborhood but fails to leave an impression (positive of negative!) read more

Indian buffet is very good and worth the price. Not the best curry I've ever had, but for the price of $15 I can't complain. There's a selection of 6 curries and tandoori chicken as well as rice naan samosa and pakora. The chai is also a nice addition that I appreciated. Overall, if you are hungry, this is a good spot to go to. read more

Desi Dhaba - Buffet - Indian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Stopped by at 930 pm after a long flight from San Antonio. Have nothing but great things to say. Started with a cucumber salad that was delicious and fresh. Had the appetizer platter of fried chicken and fish and two lamb samosas that were fresh and crispy and flavorful. The side sauces of a spicy chutney and tamarind sauce and a mint sauce were fantastic. We ate all most all the sauces. The mint sauce was especially good-- almost a combination of cilantro and mint -- just a hint of mint flavor and spice -- great on everything. Our mains were the curry goat , a coconut curry chicken and chicken kurahi. All were very flavorful and moist and tender -- great sauces. The service was fast and friendly. Would definitely go back. read more

4.5 stars! I really like the lunch buffet at Desi Dhaba ~ I get to sample several different dishes, such as curry chicken, yellow lentils, cabbage masala, chicken tikka masala, etc. There are rice, naan and another type of bread, and also chutneys. I enjoy coming here after playing sports, especially on a rainy or chilly day. Flavorful comfort food that is also nutritious! The chai tea is also good. I arrive quite hungry, and I leave full and very satisfied. read more

Desi Dhaba - I started eating before taking a pic. Really like the lunch buffet, as I get to sample the various dishes - they also rotate menu items. - Indian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Worst Indian food in the history of humanity. Had lunch buffet with my coworkers and feel like vomiting.. read more

Decent food and prices, but there are better options for Indian food for similar price and nicer setting around this location so I don't see myself coming back often. I came here with a couple friends on a Monday for dinner. We made a reservation but it wasn't necessary since there weren't many people. We split paneer pakora as an appetizer. I really enjoyed it especially with the three sauces that come with it. For my entree, I had chicken tikka masala. The chicken and rice were good but the flavor of the sauce wasn't very rich. Service was good, although we were the only ones for most of the time we were there. The waiter did forget about one of our drinks but remembered to bring it out halfway through our meal. Otherwise, he was attentive to refilling our water and other requests we had. Overall, I wouldn't mind coming back but also wouldn't go out of my way to come here. read more

Desi Dhaba - Chicken Korma, Chicken Tikka Masala - Indian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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Lunch buffet review: excellent choice on our behalf! Has the set up of a traditional Indian lunch buffet. It looked small but what options were there were good. The fried bread pakora was something I'd never had before and loved! The saag was my least favorite of the veg options when normally it's my favorite, but it was ok. The vegetable mix was the star, I had more than my share of that. I recommend coming here if you're craving a buffet- very reasonable price and overall some delicious options for vegetarians! read more

THE BEST PANI PURI I've ever had!! The puris were so light and crisp, The potatoes were in a delicious spicy sauce and the mint water was just the right amount of tangy and sweet. Was in town visiting my brother and had a sudden craving. Googled and found this cute place. The owner came out right when we got in the door and greeted us very warmly. Service was great, very attentive and patient with a group. The Dhabi chai was the perfect end to the night. 10/10 would recommend. read more

Desi Dhaba - Pani puri - Indian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

This restaurant is true to their name in serving traditional Dhaba style food. I've had my Dinner at Desi Dhaba many times with friends and tried variety of options and have always enjoyed their food. Their foods are consistently delicious and very economically priced with generous portions. Definitely worth a try if you're in the area! read more

I got take out here and it was horrible! First of all, the atmosphere of the restaurant is really dark. To add, staff there all looked miserable and did not want to be there. My take out consisted of rice, 2 naan and two side dishes. One of my chicken dishes had PLASTIC in it!!!!! I couldn't believe it. When I went back to return, it seemed like the waiter did not care which shows how much they care about what's in there food!!! I would not suggest coming here unless you want a little extra in your food. read more

Desi Dhaba - Plastic in the chicken dish! - Indian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

The ambience in this restaurant was very poor. There was a lack of food options. Food at best was lukewarm if even. I have been to other Indian restaurants before and their variety of food was 10 times better than this. Please don't waste your time or money at this place. I have and I regret it. read more

Food: 3.0/5.0 Service: 1.5/5.0 Value: 2.5/5.0 Decor: 2.0/5.0 Overall: 2.5/5.0 I've heard decent things about this place so decided to give it a try. All in all, I think the food was fine for a convenient joint in the neighborhood, but definitely not worth going out of your way for. I'm honestly a bit surprised by all the positive comments on the food, though keep in mind that I tend to be more carnivorous at South Asian joints than the typical clientele. The place seemed fine save for two fruit flies flying around the chutney at the beginning of the meal, and service was courteous until phone calls became more important than getting my credit card. read more

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Worst food I had eaten in indian restaurant. Veg thali was brought to me from a poor hospital in a remote village in india. Paneer tikka dish was like paneer visited the tandoor from 5 feet away and chopped in plate with some raw vegetables and sprinkled generously with raw tandoori masala. So rating is -5, but because Naan was fine, it made it to 1 star. I would not eat this food again even if someone paid me to eat this. read more

Chicken or lamb vindaloo outstanding, as are the prices and the plain naan. Saag paneer was OK--should have had more cheese and been spicier! Great overall. read more

My favorite Indian restaurant in all of Cambridge. The owner Kumar always remembers our orders and I'd eat here daily if I could.

I ordered takeout from here via Uber Eats and the food was horrible. I ordered the Chicken Tikka and a Vegetarian Platter. The veggie platter was fine. Nothing spectacular but not bad either. The Chicken Tikka... I'm used to something different. This chicken was ice cold when it got to me while the veggie platter was hot. It was dry and had no flavor. And I am still baffled by the big chunks of raw onion and raw cucumber that were in the plate with the chicken. I started feeling sick to my stomach after eating the chicken so I threw the rest out. I won't even bother giving this place another try. read more

Desi Dhaba - Chicken Tikka - Indian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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I saw the reviews of this place after ordering . Kicking myself now because of it . The food is not the worst I've had but it's close . First of all, my brother and I ordered the food to go . He got the curry chicken I got the chicken jalfrazi. Opened the bag and found only a single rice container ,no utensils and two single napkins . So had to run back and ask for stuff that should be in the frickin bag. Let's keep in mind this restaurant was dead as a doorknob so it should have been easy to put some focus and give me some good attention to your customers . But moving forward , we sat outside and started eating . Food was so oily it's disgusting . Some of the pieces of chicken were not cleaned properly and were rather thin for it to have a good texture (see picture) It also wasn't seasoned sufficiently . Well parts of it atleast . The curry taste wasn't terrible but all the previously mentioned points definitely took away from the experience . And washing it down was also another drag with the worst lassi I've ever had . There surely has to be better options than this . Being from NY , this food is very amateurish and the business wouldn't last a month in NY. read more

Desi Dhaba - The pieces of chicken couldn't even be cut properly . Bad texture , oily and not very good . - Indian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

love their food and the service is impeccable. my favorite lamb vindaloo I've ever had. I would highly recommend to any one who needs a good meal in Cambridge. read more

I realize I have eaten here for dinner more than any other place in Boston this past year. It suits me in that it is never crowded, the food comes out fast and it is always really tasty (I am not a vegetarian). The first time I went, we thought the staff was really slow- now we know that you gesture to the staff when you want them to come to the table. Ah ha! I recommend the mango lassi, samosa, chicken korma and chicken masala. Friends have tried the fish dishes and the tandoori and all were good. read more

It was a quiet low-key atmosphere @5:30 p.m. We were one of two tables. The waiter was relaxed but prompt and the tasty mango lassi, nan, veggie biryani and chicken tikka masala arrived quickly seasoned to the degree of spiciness we requested. Afterward we chatted briefly with the waiter. A good experience--we'll be back! read more

I didn't have high expectations for Desi Dhaba since Boston, and esp. Central Sq. in Cambridge is known for having lots of middle-of-the-road, not bad but not good Indian restaurants. So I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed my dinner! The Tomato Soup truly hit the spot and was piping hot, flavorful, perfectly spiced and just plain delicious. I love soup, I love hot soup, I love hot, savory soup, I love hot, savory, spiced soup. So guess how I felt about this soup? If your answer includes "love", you get a piece of naan! My Chicken Vindaloo was appropriately spicy, but not spicy enough for me. Then I made the mistake of trying my boyfriend's Chicken Coconut Korma. Oh, wowee! I've tried the CCK at many places because my boyfriend always gets it and we have a lot of Indian food, but Desi Dhaba's is the best I've had. It was so good, actually, that I ended up finishing the Korma he couldn't finish--which made sense since I kept sneaking bites throughout the meal. :) The naan came fresh, hot and crisp. No complaints there. Dessert was a refreshing Kheer. One order was enough for the two of us because they give quite a huge portion. It was cold and sweet, exactly as Kheer should be, chock full of cardamon-y goodness. Yum! Surprised by how good this place is. Considering it's just a hop and a skip from my apt, I'll definitely be back! read more