First of all, I've known this place since it was a food truck in the middle of nowhere, and I've always been a big fan. I moved out of Bakersfield but every time I visited, I had to make sure I go to this place. This time I brought my friends who also live in bigger cities, but everyone ended up falling in love with this place and couldn't stop talking about it. I'm so happy that they moved from the food truck location to a nicer place and more central to the nicer part of Bakersfield (near riverwalk) . My friends who I took to this place, still rave about the food they had here. It's so authentic, delicious, and just special. You ordered at the counter, and during lunch time there are options to get the lunch combo which are two types of dishes with rice or naan. I usually chose the usual, either tikka masala, butter chicken, or curry. But this time I wanted to try something I never got from the menu, which is the Shahi Matar chicken. Oh.My.God, it was the bomb! It's sooo good. The other thing that I always got was the veggie pakora. It goes sooo well with the curry dishes. Amazing. Services were pretty fast, around 10mins of wait during busy lunch time. If you didn't finish the food (which they give you really good portion), they have the lids for everything and ready to take home. Everytime I go back to Bakersfield, I always ensure to come here and bring my visitor friends here too. I already miss all the food here. read more

I found about Punjabi Dhaba from a recent Los Angeles Times article, and I was excited to try it during a recent Bakersfield visit. They have an extensive menu, and it took me a while to figure out what to order. To her credit, the cashier took her time explaining the various options available and was patient in answering my menu questions. I ended up ordering one of the lunch combos with chole masala, chicken tikka masala, and naan along with a mango lassi. I'm happy that the employee steered me away from the a la carte menu, because the lunch combo was quite a filling meal. Both the chole and chicken tikka masalas were well-seasoned, and the naan had an excellently flaky texture. The ambience was casual, and I felt welcomed by the cashier (though some of the looks by other diners highlighted how much I differed from the primarily South Asian customers during my lunch). I would definitely revisit during a future Bakersfield stop. read more

Food 12/10 Service 4/10 - chaotic and feels like you are in India where there's no real line and the cashier doesn't know what's going on in the kitchen Ambiance - casual and no frills but no complaints either Dishes tried - Great kadhi chawal and the parantha is as big as it gets and really very authentic The reason this place only gets 2 stars is because their parantha was served folded with butter inside its foil which was hidden in the fold and that butter melted before we started eating it because of the heat of the folded parantha and we found the empty foil paper which could have been swallowed whole had we not opened the parantha or looked carefully! The chef needs to give the butter on the side or open the butter out of its pack otherwise it's super unhygienic! read more

Punjabi Dhaba - Inside - Indian Near Me - Bakersfield, California

Had heard a lot about this place before we actually came here. It has really good food, full of flavor, and didn't feel too heavy. The service was quick and owners were very nice. The ambience was good too! Would love to go back again read more

Punjabi Dhaba - Butter chicken, tandoori roti, garlic naan - Indian Near Me - Bakersfield, California

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5 years later and this place is still crazy good! Super stoked that they now have a brick-and-mortar location. The restaurant that was here before was also Indian and also delicious!! Service is friendly and quick. The spice levels are mild, spicy, and very hot. I love hot food, but since it has been a while since I was here, I could not remember how to order it, and they recommended I stick with spicy. My wife went mild. We ordered the curry chicken, the tikka masala and the aloo ghobi with a garlic naan. The curry was excellent, nice little kick.I definitely will go with the very hot next time. The aloo ghobi was a little on the salty side this time. Tikka masala was silky, smooth , and creamy but I felt it was lacking a little "oomph". Still a very solid spot. read more

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Punjabi Dhaba's new location is a popular stop for long haul truckers. Skip the usual fast food spots during your drive between NorCal and SoCal. In India, a dhaba is a roadside eatery, so this delicious and healthy concept in the Central Valley has been tried and true. As I researched this topic, I learned that there are actually dhabas every 100-200 miles along Interstate 40. This location is often just the beginning for a long drive along the east-west route. Here, you'll find delicious meals made from organic vegetables and fresh ingredients. On my next journey up north, I definitely want to try the Chole Masala (chickpeas) curry and its big fluffy kulcha flatbreads. Butter Chicken: The orange curry contains tomatoes, spices, and plenty of butter. It's tangy like chicken tikka masala, but it's sweeter, milder, and creamier. The dark meat chicken is tender and smoky from the clay tandoor. Pour the rich smooth gravy over basmati rice, or scoop it up with a roti. read more

Punjabi Dhaba - Butter Chicken - Indian Near Me - Bakersfield, California

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So Delicious. Great value. Friendly Service. Vibrant decor. Great snack section. Great price point for their lunch special that we tried today. Hubby and I both had the same meal, just different spice levels as I tend to be a light weight. Chicken tikka masala sauce was silky and deliciously spiced with tender chunks of chicken. Green Curry chicken was also chunks of tender chicken, with a vibrant delicious sauce. Thank you for an Amazing lunch. We will return read more

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Came here after a doctor's appointment. This little spot is in a small sequestered corner in the middle of all the medical buildings. It's a small great oasis for when you need to pick something up to eat. I love their combo entries, you get quite a bit of food for the price. With this kind of food, you can get full fast and that is wonderful. The person that took my order was also very attentive. Was able to answer all my questions and made recommendations on what to get. I also got a mango lassi drink as well! It was pretty good! the right amount of sweetness and it paired well with my spicy dish! They have been here for the last few months, but have been a business for YEARS in Bakersfield. If you are looking for a quick curry fix and are off Stockdale, this is the place to go! I do plan to come back and try more of their curries! read more

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You know how sometimes you really need Yelp to come through with a recommendation and Yelp freakin' nails it? Yeah, that's this place. What a great recommendation. Thanks, Yelp! Walking through the private parking lot I couldn't help but notice the giant posters outside the restaurant. This place is hella famous. It's been featured on PBS, as well as in the New York Times, the San Francisco Chronicle and the Bakersfield Californian. With that kind of exposure I expected to walk into a busy restaurant. However, to my surprise, I found myself the only patron in the dining room. At 5 pm. A little bit concerning, but I shrugged it off and approached the counter to order. I told the woman at the counter it was my first time visiting the place. She asked if I had ever had Punjabi food. The question kinda caught me by surprise. I told her I've had Indian food a few times, but I have no idea what region the dishes I've had originated from. I told her I wanted something vegetarian or vegan. She said get the Chole Kulche, you will be happy. She said it very casually, but she said it with the kind of confidence that made me trust her recommendation. While I was waiting for my food I noticed a lot of customers and food delivery guys coming in to pick up orders to go. When I picked up my food the woman behind the counter asked if I would like some pickled vegetables. Yes, thank you very much, I would. Now, it's not a big deal, but it would've been nice if she explained how Chole Kulche is customarily eaten. Later I found out it's actually a very popular street food in India. I had no idea that the big thick piece of bread (kulche) is designed to be split and filled with the Chole (chickpea curry) and topped with the pickled vegetables. So, uncultured savage that I am, I just used the kulche as I would use a piece of naan. Worked just fine. LOL. That kulche was really quite interesting. Sturdy, yet at the same time light and fluffy. It was strong enough to handle the Chole. From the first bite of the Chole I was supremely happy. I knew the woman at the counter had given me good advice. The Chole was wonderfully spicy. Like just the right level of spiciness, which for me is right where it makes me start to perspire a little. The Chole was so good I started thinking about what I would order on my second visit to Punjabi Dhaba. Because there's no doubt about it, I'm definitely coming back to this place. Mikey C says: the sooner the better! read more

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Friggin great. If you like spicy, tell them. Not often I get heartburn, it was SPICY!!!! Very good food. GREAT service. My server was not only extremely attentive, but very cute as well. The decor is beautiful and the music in the background was true Indian. I highly recommend this place. read more

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I'm so glad Punjabi Dhaba moved into this spot. It's absolutely delicious. I most recently grabbed their chicken tikka masala and it was scrumptious! I definitely recommend going on the spicier side if you can handle it. More spice means more flavor. Yum Oh. And don't skimp on the garlic naan. Always a mandatory add on. Their naan is very yummy and goes well with any entree. They ask if you would like the side of veggies that come with the entrees, and I always say yes. They're good for you and taste great in all of their sauces. The folks running the place and working there regularly are very kind. The restaurant is nice and clean inside. They play very enjoyable Indian music which helps set a pleasant vibe. It's a great place to spend some time with friends. And they're quick with to-go orders meaning you can easily enjoy their delicious food on the run as well. There is usually ample parking as it is the only restaurant in a lot full of medical offices. A true oasis of flavor. read more

Good food, friendly services. I got busy after my backpacking trip and didn't have time to write up a review. Now, I don't remember the details. What I remembered was that the Butter Chicken was really good. Buttery and flavorful. The eggplant, dal, and saag were also good. After a few days of backpacking, it's wonderful to have well-seasoned hot food. The garlic naan was just like any other naan out there. I would come back. The owner was just buglarized that morning. I hope the police find his belongings. read more

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Delicious. Set a ways away from the highway so if you're passing thru (like we were), it's a bit of a drive to get there). Order at the counter, and pick up your food when the buzzer goes off. No frills, cafeteria-style setting, come with a small shop with some goods. I wish they had paneer tikka masala (they don't, they just have chicken) - but we got the saag paneer and the makhani. Both were delicious. And service is friendly - definitely family run and has that vibe. read more

Punjabi Dhaba - Dal Makhni and saag paneer - Indian Near Me - Bakersfield, California

Food is authentic Indian flavoured full of spices. Went there yesterday looking for the old dhaba along the 237 highway and later discovered the owner had a new branch here. Tried butter chicken and kadhai paneer and the food really delivered!! Yummy scrumptious curry and buttered tandoori roti were an amazing combination. Though heavy hand on fats/oils cannot go unnoticed but hey good food comes at a cost! The owner is nice and friendly and it was a self serving restaurant. read more

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Top tier Indian food in the area! great costumer service, affordable, quick, and reliable. Picky kids give it a 9/10 read more

Punjabi Dhaba - 3. Chicken Tikka Masala - Indian Near Me - Bakersfield, California

We came here for dinner as a family of four and had a great experience. The food was excellent and everything tasted fresh. We ordered chole bhature, shahi paneer, butter naan, pani poori, and samosa chaat. The bhature were incredibly soft, almost like a pillow. The butter naan was amazing, dripping with rich butter that tasted almost homemade. The shahi paneer was flavorful and paired perfectly with the naan. The drinks were just as good. The mango lassi tasted fresh and natural, without that artificial pulp flavor you sometimes get. The chaas was also refreshing and balanced. The staff were very friendly and helpful. If you are not familiar with the menu, they are happy to guide you and suggest dishes. Overall, we loved the place and will definitely be back for more. Highly recommend. read more

Tried this place out while I was in Bakersfield and food is amazing! Very authentic and tasty. I ordered cholle kulche, saag, kadhi, dahi bhalle. Each dish had its own unique flavor and was spot on. Def give it a try if you are passing through bakersfield. read more

SO good my husband and I absolutely love this place, definitely one of the best Indian restaurants in town. The flavor is ALWAYS on point. They are also very helpful! read more

Punjabi Dhaba - Chole Masala, Chicken Tikka Masala, Basmati Rice, garlic naan - Indian Near Me - Bakersfield, California

Friendly service. Good area. The rice and garlic naan were good but the butter chicken just tasted salty & didn't have too much flavor. I did ask for mild but there wasn't any spice at all. It was just hard eating the garlic naan when the sauce to dip it in was already so salty so the combination of it both didn't go well together. read more

Punjabi Dhaba - 1. Butter Chicken 2. Jeera Basmati Rice 3.Garlic Naan - Indian Near Me - Bakersfield, California

This place is amazing! The food was fresh, and absolutely delicious. Spoke with the owner and he mentioned how they take time and great care to develop the flavors of the dishes. We ordered samosas, chicken curry, garlic naan, Dahl and everything was cooked to perfection! You can tell when the food was made with love! Thank you so much :) read more

Punjabi Dhaba - Garlic Naan, 1. Mango Lassi 3. Chicken Tikka Masala 1. Samosa Chaat Jasmine 2. Jeera Basmati Rice 2. Dal Makhni - Indian Near Me - Bakersfield, California

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Excellent Indian Punjabi food ! We tried the Shahi matar paneer, chicken curry and chole masala everything was delicious . Naan and tandoori roti were fresh and thin. Service was friendly, counter serve Would definitely stop by again for delicious Punjabi Indian food. Not sure if their food is halal . read more

Amazing food, service, and ambiance. Enjoyed every bite. Loved the decor. Very clean and so many options to choose from. Will come back again read more

Punjabi Dhaba - Indian Near Me - Bakersfield, California

Food was good. But very disappointed that aloo paratha is ONLY available in morning. Service was slow- and everything is on foam plates and bowls. Ambiance is mid- nothing special. Overall food is good. But I've been to bwttwr dabbas read more

Punjabi Dhaba - The entrance - Indian Near Me - Bakersfield, California

The food here is amazing! The staff was the absolute nicest. They were also knowledgeable about allergies and so very helpful and thoughtful. The prices were reasonable as well. I highly recommend a trip here. Good people and good food! read more

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Rating: 5/5 Heard a ton of hype from friends about Punjabi Dhaba being a must-stop on the drive between the Bay Area and LA--so we finally decided to check it out. First surprise: it's no longer a food truck. It's now located inside a strip mall (or maybe part of a medical plaza?), and while the ambience is nothing to write home about, one bite of the food and it all makes sense. We ordered two daily combos that came with rice, naan, cucumber & onion salad, and a choice of two curries. I went with the Saag Chicken and Chicken Tikka Masala. My wife chose the Butter Paneer and Bhindi Masala (Okra). Every single curry was bursting with flavor--but the Saag Chicken was on another level. Easily the best I've had in the U.S. The portions were massive--in hindsight, one combo would've been enough for the both of us. Amazing value for money. Totally worth the slight detour. Can't wait to make this a regular pit stop on future road trips. read more

Punjabi Dhaba - Daily Combo with Shahi Matar Paneer and Bhindi Masala - Indian Near Me - Bakersfield, California

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This restaurant is tucked inside a building in a medical plaza, close to CSU Bakersfield. The food items were limited on the day we went and they ran out of aloo paratha that day. We went there for lunch, given it was new year's eve, they had a limited menu. Food quality was ok, tasted like home-cooked food. Service was decent. They had a long queue at the restroom, as there was just one, and given it was a day of travel, and this sits right between bay area and LA, it got a bit too busy to handle. Food service was quick, not much about the ambiance, it's a decent restaurant in a campus town, probably better suited for college kids. We ordered the chicken tikka, dal makhani and samosa chaat. The samosas were definitely very good and had good potato masala. read more

We actually went out of our way on the drive back from Palm Springs back to the Bay Area and stopped at this place rather than the 'taste of India" at Buttonwillow. It was a big mistake and we wasted our time because the food was average, I have to say the sarson ka saag was very good but the kadhi was just average and I've had much better, more flavorful free kadhi at the gurdwara in San Jose. The Chole Bhature was way better at Madras Cafe if you can believe it or not So the South Indian restaurant is giving you a better experience of Punjabi food!! But the one Star is for that male manager or owner of the restaurant who was so stingy that he wouldn't give me a box to carry the Bhatura and Chole home. I also have to add that the Chole was literally a 2 tablespoon serving, but it wasn't that great so I decided to take it home and not waste it. Finally, he reluctantly gave me a piece of foil. These are the kinds of Indians who give our whole community a bad name. Stingy, miserly, petty and without any grace. The girls at the counter were actually decent and respectful and helpful. Unlike the horrendous man running the place. I feel sorry for them. read more

Fresh and flavorful food! Exceptional service . This will always be our stop if we are driving thru Bakersfield . Highly recommend read more

This is a very good Indian truck food place stop while the location is kind of interesting. The food that they serve is quite delicious and very authentic. It feels like little grannies back in India making the food for us. It's enjoyable. It's sweet. It's spicy if you are a fan of spice this is the place to go if you were food For Indian food this is the place to eat. read more

I am so happy Indian food is finally being given its due credit. I have had this place bookmarked since I read that one of my favorite chefs, the Italian wizard, Lydia, had come to Bakersfield to consume and marvel about Punjabi Dhaba. Located inside a medical plaza (near my general practitioner yippee) and seemingly unassuming, this place packs monster flavors of Northern India, princely, its state of Punjab. The interior is well-lit and clean with booth and table seating. My order was to-go but others have said there is no waitstaff so it's more or less cafeteria style. The ladies behind the counter--Mansi and Manpreet were very personable and informative. The staff takes a lot of pride in their food quality, flavor and presentation. I really wanted to order a phulka (tawa roti) but Mansi apologetically told me they were not available today. However, she suggested a tandoori roti--on the house! It was delicious--not lumpy and heavy at all. I ordered chicken tikka masala, zeeray (cumin) rice, and a pakoda (fritter) kadi (yogurt based curry). Everything was phenomenal. The portions are a bit on the smaller side (maybe different because it was a to-go order?) and prices are slightly above-average. I have read from other reviews that people love the lunch combos available from 11 am-2pm and those are very reasonably priced. Additionally, along with cash, they are ACCEPTING CARD PAYMENTS. Overall, I will be a returning customer. read more

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Punjabi dhaba in Bakersfield is a family owned sit down restaurant. Serves authentic, flavorful and piping hot freshly cooked Indian food. I enjoyed the food so much that I forgot my backpack with my wallet with cards/cash, AirPods and a bunch of chargers. I realized it after 3 hrs drive. Called them and they asked me to verify myself and safeguarded it for me till the next day and everything was intact. read more

Best Indian food I had in long time...... in terms quality and taste. This would my got place when travel to and from LA I highly recommend this place. read more

Wonderful food . Had a very nice time with family with finally getting very good Indian food. Definitely recommended. The service is very fast and the folks are very decent. Garlic Naan, butter chicken, Kadai Paneer are very good. Masala lassi definitely worth trying. The ambience is also very good. read more

Great food made with spices from India. Friendly staff cares about customer experience and offered us spicy onions that made the meal more flavorful. The walls are adorned with fairy lights and tasteful art featuring Indian spices and Netflix nature documentaries on the TV. read more

Punjabi Dhaba - Saag paneer, butter chicken, jeera basmati rice - Indian Near Me - Bakersfield, California

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was recommended this restaurant as the most authentic indian food in town and i mightve just had the most heavenly chicken tikka masala in bakersfield wow this is it... read more

I have been to Punjabi Dhaba a few times and have always greatly enjoyed the chaat and the staffs' friendliness. Today I ordered a lunch combo, and it was great. I highly recommend this restaurant. The staff members will help you order if you are not familiar with Indian food. You can also choose the spice level. I'll continue coming back to Punjabi Dhaba. read more

Punjabi Dhaba - Indian Near Me - Bakersfield, California

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Chicken Tikka Masala 2. Jeera Basmati Rice 10/10 sooooo gooodddd! And the sweet gentlemen on the register was the sweetest!! Definitely a hidden gem read more

Punjabi Dhaba - 3. Chicken Tikka Masala - Indian Near Me - Bakersfield, California

Good food with quick service inspite of a busy lunch time. We ordered sarso ka saag, malai kofta, paneer masala, lachha paratha( they were same as tandoori roti - no layers). read more

We stumbled upon the new location and couldn't be happier. We ordered the butter chicken, rice and roti. It was amazing. It melted in my mouth making me forget about the spice. The owner took the time to talk with us and the ladies behind tthe counter were so friendly and answered all my foodie questions. It was clean and inviting. We will definitely visit again soon. read more

Punjabi Dhaba - Butter chicken - Indian Near Me - Bakersfield, California

Worth the drive!! This place will remind you what really good Indian food tastes like. It's the kind of food that will inspire spontaneous dancing and snaps after each bite. The girl at the counter was very friendly and helpful, and her recommendations were fire read more