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    Rowdy Rooster

    4.3 (281 reviews)
    ModerateIndian, Chicken Shop

    Rowdy Rooster Photos

    Business Info

    ROWDY ROOSTER ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Trendy
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Rowdy Rooster

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    Big Rowdy
    Helen C.

    Swung by for a bit of a late lunch on a Sunday afternoon and the restaurant was fairly empty. This location is pretty small with only 4-ish tables and you order before seating yourself. Menu is pretty small (chicken sandwiches and tenders with limited sides) and I don't even think they have a bathroom. Big Rowdy (4/5): I thoroughly enjoyed the flavor profile at medium spice and the chicken itself had a nice crunch. The chicken was moist, but not super juicy and the bun was proportionally a little big, so the sandwich ate a little dry. Really liked the brightness of the yogurt sauce, but I wanted more acidity and textural contrast overall. Overall, I think it's a great concept and a solid stop for a quick meal.

    Ghost Chili Tenders and Hakka Chili Tenders
    Andrew L.

    Came here for dinner on a Monday evening. Was able to order right away and it didn't take much more than 5m for me to be served. It's a pretty small space and they seem to mostly do to go business, but I was able to eat in without issue I found out about this spot from the heat seekers YouTube show, so I had to try the ghost chili. I also had an order of the Hakka chili. I tried both the dark and white meat. First off the ghost chili does not mess around. I am very comfortable with spice and this pushed me to my limit as to whether or not I'd be able to finish. Mango lassi is a must with this one Happy to say the ghost chili isn't just heat, but also quite tasty. Though it does taste much more like Nashville hot chicken than I expected, the Indian aspects were very subtle. The Hakka chili was much closer to what I was expecting, still quite peppery but had a flavor profile that wouldn't be out of place at a more traditional Indian restaurant Chicken quality was quite good, very nice crisp from the breading with deliciously juicy chicken. Given the baseline quality and pretty reasonable pricing I'd make this a go to fried chicken place even if it didn't have the uniqueness factor going for it. Overall I highly recommend!

    Original French Fries
    Bruce H.

    I had a delivery order of the Big Rowdy Combo. This comes with a chicken sandwich, fries and a drink. The sandwich consisted of dark meat fried chicken with pickled onions, garlic sauce, and mint mayo on a potato bun. I ordered mild spicy which was just fine, but some might want more kick. I enjoyed the juicy, very tasty, and uniquely flavored fried chicken sandwich. The "original fries" were great, as crispy as I've ever seen on a delivery order, which usually arrives wilted and sad. It came with a spicy green dipping sauce, not really necessary. I chose the mango lassi as my drink, which was very tasty though I added a few ice cubes to make it colder. This is a very interesting Indian spiced fast casual chicken restaurant that works very well. Packing was good and delivery time was excellent. Highly recommended.

    Mango lassi
    Annie W.

    Rowdy Rooster is a fast casual spot serving chicken with a twist of Indian spice flavors. We ordered two combo meals ($13 each) which came with tenders, fries, coleslaw and a drink. They have extremely limited seating inside, maybe enough room for 6 people total, so we ordered our food to-go. Unfortunately, after getting our food and walking down a couple of blocks, we realized that they had not given us our drinks - would have let it go, but I had ordered a mango lassi (+$2) so we walked back to the restaurant to pick it up. Unfortunately, we didn't realize until we had left on the subway that the extra dipping sauces we got (+$0.75 each) didn't make it into our bag either. The chicken tenders come with your choice of flavor - we tried the tomato aioli and medium dry rub. -The tomato aioli had a mild spice kick, was slightly sweet and had hints of Indian spices. Not quite as strong as I was hoping for but still definitely my favorite of the two flavors. -The medium dry rub was not spicy at all (surprising given other reviews that have said how spicy the food here can be) and the meat tasted a bit dry without any sauce. Was a moment when I wished we had one of the dipping sauces to pair! For the fries you can choose between original and spicy. We got one of each and I honestly couldn't tell the difference between the two - both were well seasoned and not spicy. The coleslaw was solid and the mango lassi was delicious. Overall, portions were good for the price and satisfying for a late night craving. However, the food was average and the Indian spices did not come through in the flavors as I was hoping for. The missing items from our order were disappointing as well.

    Haley F.

    Delicious chicken and fries! It was ready just in time for our pickup order. We ordered the first three levels of spice to try on the tenders. All were very good and flavorful! Fries were fresh and crispy, so was the chicken. The breading on level one had a fun flavor on its own and the other two levels had an enjoyable heat flavor. It was nice to be able to select white or dark meat when picking the tenders. The lemon lime soda was also fun and enjoyable. It was convenient and delicious. Would definitely go back when in the city. Lots of sauce options and all of them were good.

    Nicole N.

    Loved the fusion flavors!! You also get to pick between dry rub vs sauce, white vs dark meat, and dipping sauce for certain orders. The burger featured delicious flavors - blend of spices and heat from the chicken, well-seasoned herbaceous chutney and creamy yogurt, and acidity from the pickled onions. The dark chicken meat was a little on the dry side for me but my partner felt like it was fine. Loved the crunch of the chicken but wished the bun was either toasted or chewier. The bun made it more dry for me so I had abandon a good chunk of it. The tenders (white meat, dry rub, medium spicy) were yummy. Again with a great crunch and went really well with the roasted garlic sauce. The fries were delicious. Each fry was super crispy and generously covered with their spices. The mango lassi was refreshing with a good icy consistency! It was sweet as expected but not too tangy. Staff was patient in explaining the menu/customization options. There are only about 4 tables inside. I love the colorful decorations! Would be interested in checking out different chicken and sauce combinations in the future!

    Big Rowdy Sandwich
    Rahil H.

    If you're looking for bold and delicious flavors, this is the place. They serve up Indian inspired fried chicken that packs flavor and spice. I got the fried chicken sandwich with masala fries and it was AMAZING. The chicken was juicy and flavorful, the topics and chutney paired well with the chicken, and the fries were cooked to perfection. Every bite was fantastic. The vibe is cute and colorful and very clean. Definitely give it a try!

    Masala Fries , Big Rowdy Sandwich
    Jon W.

    Rowdy Rooster! . This Rowdy Rooster just smacked this white boy with a whole lot of spice and flavor. After seeing this spot all over insta and seeing a line all the time. I happened to pass by today with only 1 person in line so I decided to go in. . It's a small fast casual spot with 3 tables. Mostly geared towards take out. The have a few sandwich and bowl options for a small menu. . The food here surpassed my expectations. The flavor profile and combination of flavors is so good. I got the big rowdy sandwich and Marsala fries. Sand which kicks I also got the middle spicy option and wow I was seating prob pretty mild for those who can handle spice. The fries are made like cottage fries so they are round. I also got the hot tomato sauce on the side which was really good! . In short: - Small fast casual spot only 3 tables - Really good food, gotta get those fries! - I'll be back

    Chilli Chicken Sandwich
    Dipali G.

    Food: If you come here - just get the Big Rowdy Sandwich. I got the chili chicken sandwich and it's really small, whereas for just $3 more you can get a filling meal. The masala fries felt kind of hard and flavorless. I didn't think anything was super special but it is a relatively cheap option for nyc Ambience: The space is small but I appreciate that it has some seating. Service: The service was fast and I could tell that this is an easy village staple

    Big Rowdy with medium spice
    Ricky Z.

    Tried the Big Rowdy with medium spice, which was the perfect level for me. Flavors on the chicken and sauces were delicious! Freshly fried chicken too. Only knocking a star for the bun, which tasted kind of stale. If they get a better bun for the sandwich, I think it would be pretty perfect! Good, fair price too at $12.

    Dining room
    Simon W.

    This fried chicken is mad angry! This has to be the spiciest fried chicken I've ever had. Rowdy Rooster definitely has the trophy on spicy fried chicken. Definitely a couple notches above and beyond that big chain that starts with a P. I wasn't bold enough to order beyond mid tier but dam, even that is pretty spicy ridiculous. I wasn't prepared the first time I had this and suffered quite a bit! The second time I had my milk ready after each bite and that did the trick! Make sure you have the wipes ready before you get your hands dirty too! Get the Bad to the Bone fried chicken on the bone and be prepared for a most unique bite of fried chicken you won't find anywhere else outside of India.

    Summer Special $18: Big Rowdy Sandwich, Masala Fries, Mango Lassi
    Jenn C.

    Food: If you like Indian spices and flavors, you will enjoy this sandwich! The chicken is thick and juicy. The pickled onions and chutney add great flavor to the sandwich. Overall, the sandwich was excellent, and I would definitely go back to this place. The masala fries are not your typical fries; they are thin slices of potato fried with Indian spices. Fries were also very good. The mango lassi was not bad but also nothing special. Summer special for the sandwich, fries, and chicken is $18. Service: Service was quick and efficient. You order at the register, and they will bring your food to your table. Ambiance: Small place with four tables with benches and chairs. Perfect for eating a quick meal.

    Olivia N.

    Overall rating: 4.9 Absolutely underrated. HIGHLY RECOMMEND. Indian x fried chicken?! C'mon. I went small and only got a lil rowdy sandwich & mango lassi. The Lassi was delightful and I will be coming back just for that. The service was really good and the ambiance was more of a takeout spot than sitting. The sandwich was soo and I'm very excited to go back and try other items.

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    Ask the Community - Rowdy Rooster

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    Bengal Tiger

    4.5(2.5k reviews)
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    Great service and good …read more Love the poppadums are more UK style than usual US papads . I opted for Chicken Tikka Masala with plain naan and rice . Rice comes with the meal . Overall great entrees. Meat was great and sauce was perfectly spiced per my medium request . Service was prompt and overall definitely a go to place for a well priced Indian meal .

    Cuisine: 6 Service: 5…read moreDecor: 7 Value: 4 Overall: 6 I tend not to trust ethic food Yelp reviews in touristy areas because they tend to be skewed by tourists, and not locals. However, sometimes you just take a chance and pray it lives up to the hype. Having a short period of time before our show at Radio City Music Hall, two of us shared a quick bite here after a few snacks on the nearby street fair. Just one order of Chicken Tikka Marsala, Garlic Naan, and a Mango Lassi. I'm actually not a big fan of Chicken Tikka Marsala because it's often too sweet and creamy for me. Though the chicken was overcooked, I did find this version quite differernt, in a good way. It had depth, and definitely a lot of heat, even on the medium level, the spiciness was very noticeable. My dining partner would have died without that Mango Lassi, which was yummy. Lmao On the other hand, the Garlic Naan was horrible. Instead of being a pillowy soft bread with some chew, it was stiff and cardboard-ish. This is one of the worst versions I had in NYC. Not sure how this major blunder can be overlooked. Naan is such an important part of Indian food culture, I can't believe they haven't realize that they need to fix this matter. Btw, service was efficient, almost too efficient that it felt rushed. One minute after we were seated, we were asked if ready to order. Again, we were asked literally one minute later. Then, just as we were finishing our meal, and while I'm still chewing my final bite of food, the bus boy cane to take our plates away. I was technically done, but would have like to have had a minute. Finally, without asking about desserts, another server came by with our check as if to say, "Please pay and make room for the next guests." I know we wanted a quick meal, but never thought we would be in and out of a situation down restaurant in less than 30 minutes. Hahaha Anyway, I live in Queens where we have same quality Indian restaurants at a much lower price point. Portions are bigger too. For me, this is an attempt at finding a gem that everyone seems to suggest. Unfortunately, it's hard for me to return to an Indian restaurant knowing they can't properly make naan.

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    Annapurna Bhavan - Restaurant

    Annapurna Bhavan

    4.5(45 reviews)
    2.2 miMidtown West, Hell's Kitchen, Theater District

    4 and 1/2 * Excellent onion rava masala dosa- crispy and not…read moregreasy.. also onion in batter - just the way I like it. Sambhar and coconut chutney -A+ The red chutney needs some improvement IMO. Service was a little chaotic with orders getting mixed up as there was only one server. Clean and bright decor. Yummy badam halva.. This will be on repeat whenever I'm in NYC

    Annapurna Bhavan doesn't need to be more popular. There always seems to be a line, even at dinner…read moreon a weekday, despite being in one of the least lovely parts of Manhattan. There is a reason for the line: Annapurna Bhavan is good. It's not amazing good, but it's better than any of the Saravanaas locations in NYC. The food here is commendably non-greasy, like what amma might make at home. And the decor, AC, and clean bathroom also make the overall experienced far more civilized than the competition. The masala dosa is crisp and light, filled with a basic, but well made aloo masala, mostly just turmeric-tinged potato and black mustard seed. No nuts, peas, dal or even alliums, I don't think. (Please double check on the alliums if you follow a Jain diet.) The accompanying sambar is thick with dal. I personally enjoy a slightly soupier consistency, with more vegetables and more tamarind -- but of course that's completely a stylistic preference. The FIL loved it. I missed the tomato chutney that often comes with dosa. (It's summer for goodness sakes! I want my tomatoes!) There was standard issue coconut chutney on the side. Sambar vada was well made, a generous portion made with the same thick sambar that comes with dosa. We also tried the bhindi masala, which was so-so. Flavors were balanced, but a good portion of the okra in the dish was burnt and rubbery, unfortunately. Not sure what happened there. Drinks: Rose milk was VERY sweet. (I wish I'd thought to ask for another glass of plain milk to dilute it.) They have a brief, but decent wine list including whatever crisp white wine the Pardner ordered (guessing it was a sauvignon blanc). I frankly don't love alcoholic beverages with Indian vegetarian food -- maybe I feel too sacrilegious -- but if you do, Annapurna Bhavan appears to have a full bar.

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    Dhamaka - Paneer Methi

    Dhamaka

    4.1(847 reviews)
    0.7 miLower East Side
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    Gola Party @dhamakanyc…read more Squinty smiles reserved for fun cocktails and delicious dishes at my all time favorite spot. If you don't like Indian food, you're not hitting up the right ones. Also, I meant to photograph the Paneer Tikka before biting into it but I was just too excited and forgot. - Dhungar Gosht - Short Rib Pulao - Butter Pepper Garlic Crab - Kashmiri Gosht Chaamp - Paneer Tikka - Rabdi NYC

    Dhamaka is a modern yet upscale Indian restaraunt tucked away in the back of Essex market on the…read moreLower East Side. Because of its location, it may appear unassuming and underrated, but the food is bold, spicy, flavorful, and packed full of rich cultural elegance. On my first visit, I was able to try a few different dishes, both veg and non-veg, as well as one of their signature cocktails. We ordered to start the Kale Pakora Chaat (fried kale, tamarind chutney, with a sweet yogurt) and it was perfectly crispy, flaky, and delicious. Next, for main dish we ordered the Paneer Methi (fried paneer in a fenugreek and tomato blend) and I honestly can never complain when it comes to any paneer dish and I have to say this one was absolutely no exception. The paneer was so soft and tasty with the sauce and other spices that I couldn't help but feel like I was eating a home cooked meal. Lastly, I ordered the Shami kebab because I wanted to try a non veg dish. This item consists of lamb, minced and blackened, paired with a green chili sauce with mint. I have to say this was a complete miss for me; the lamb was so dry and mealy I couldn't finish it at all, on top of that it had too many spices and was a bit salty in my opinion so I needed a lot of water. I would seriously consider altering this dish before keeping it on the menu in its current state or removing it completely. If you're thinking of ordering this, I wouldn't recommend it as I'm sure they have other protein dishes on their menu that are far better. I'm looking forward to trying some of the others the next time I go. Lastly for cocktails, we ordered the Monsoon wedding (Indian gin, lychee, curry leaf, and lime). I thought the cocktail was alright, it didn't stand out too much to me as it was a fairly decent lychee drink that had a slightly muted flavor. I've noticed that Indian restaraunts often struggle to make good cocktails because too often they rely on mixing things that shouldn't really be mixed and adding unnecessary ingredients. Overall though, the time spent there was worth it and I appreciate that it's relatively easier to get a reservation here than at some of the other Indian spots in New York currently. Based on my experience, Dhamaka should be considered highly rated on that list.

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    Nalli Biryani

    Sathi - The mouth watering FOUR COURSE MEAL for $19.95. The feeling portion with an authentic taste.

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    4.6(380 reviews)
    0.5 miGramercy
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    Vegan friendly
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    Best Indian food I've had in a long time and I go to London and Hyderabad frequently…read more The samosa was literally the best samosa I've had in my life. The chicken tikka masala was very good and the lamb vindaloo was fire. Spicy as heck but not insanely so. The naan was a bit thick. We ordered way too much rice because the DoorDash menu didn't make it clear that our mains came with rice.

    Sunday evening 8/23/2026 Place was pretty empty except for 2…read moreother tables...but, the place filled up quock and the table turnover was amazing. There was a lot of take out and delivery orders but, that kitchen kept up with everything. Friend ordered a lime iced tea which they made and sweeten perfectly. We started with the chicken samosa and steamed lamb momos. The samosas are huge, tasty, and filled to the capacity of shell. The lamb momos were delicious alone but use the spicy dip it comes with and the dish is a flavor bomb. Entrees were Tandoori chicken which comes with a huge bowl of rice. The chicken was fine by itself but put the yogurt sauce on it and it is like a totally different dish. So tasty and delicious. Lamb biryani...Plenty of lamb throughout this dish the spices and flavors blended well and were spot on with just that hint of heat to break a sweat. Garlic Naan... when you first bite into it you get a hint of garlic then you get a nice pop of garlic. They start you with a courtesy flat thin bread with 2 dips...very nice. Staff is very friendly courteous and attentive. We never felt rushed or in the way. Very cool spot to chat chew and catch up.

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    Red Onion - Stir fry cauliflower peas, turmeric, Indian spices.

    Red Onion

    4.6(177 reviews)
    0.1 miEast Village, Alphabet City
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    The best Indian food I've ever had. The very best. I considered shedding a tear at the lamb…read morerajasthini. The lamb was perfect. The food was perfect. The interior might not be up to HGTV standards but we can't all be the property brothers. Some of us need to just go with the flow and that's exactly what the owners did here. The furniture is cute, inoffensive, and nothing special. The service? Immaculate. Mostly because they gave our table a free mango lassi. That's how FREAKING kind and friendly the staff are!! They are tremendous. Best place ever.

    Most abysmal service I have experienced in NYC. There's long waits, wrong dishes, or slow service,…read moreand then there's the racist owner who straight up lies to you. After an hour of waiting for our food, the three tables around us who arrived after us already got their food and were nearly done with their meal. We ask about this twice, and each time the owner says all three tables "pre-ordered" their food. I was confused and asked every table if this was true and obviously it was not. Before leaving, we confront the owner about the inconsistencies in his story, but he just double downs on his lie, alleging that we don't understand how a restaurant is run. For some reason, he even started to yell at the busgirl who was trying to get him to apologize? In addition to holding us hostage for an hour and continued lying, he tries to make the racist point that Indian food is more sophisticated and takes longer to prepare than other types of Asian food. I feel there are certain standards in the NYC service industry given the competition, and this was a confusing and unacceptable experience. The food was admittedly good, but not good enough for them to have the attitude they had.

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    Fresh spinach and spices ground and cooked with cubed homemade cheese

    Rowdy Rooster - indpak - Updated August 2026

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