Fantastic place with very clean ambiance and quick service. The Dahi puri was really tasty. Got a…read moreAalo Rikki chat to go. Will be back again for more .

We're allium-free vegetarians and had been meaning to try more Indian restaurants but the sheer…read moreamount of "pure veg" Indian restaurants within the same square mile was both awesome and daunting. We're still looking around for our go-to Indian restaurant in the area as our kids love saag/palak paneer and we used to go at least once a month where we moved from. But we finally made it! We came here on a Monday that also fell on a holiday so they had a steady amount of customers. We were the only non-Indian customers, which appears to be normal. They're located in a small strip along with 2 or 3 other businesses. Shared parking is behind the building so most people entered through the back door. It was about half full when we got there so I can see it filling up fast during crowded times. Walk through because no one is at the back but there is a small clothing rack to hang coats; the counter is at the front by the front door. We made ourselves known and were promptly seated. They serve vegetarian food and many are Swaminarayan-friendly (allium-free, which appears to be their default mode), certain can be made Jain as well! They do use alliums but overall, they seem to be able to make most of the dishes without alliums. We ordered the following, Swaminarayan-style and mild because one of my kids can do but mild food: DAHI PURI: I usually get pani puri but decided to try it out since it's been a while since I had this. It came out first as the appetizer, was a thing of beauty, and there are A LOT of flavors in there. The sweet-leaning yogurt, sev with its textural differences, the freshness of the cilantro, the spiced potatoes, the tart pomegranate seeds... My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed it. PALAK PANEER: This was ordered for my kids. Green gravy with tender paneer. They liked it! The curry got a little too spicy but it didn't hit them until later. My kid with the food allergies ate all the paneer when the gravy grew too spicy for him. MALAI KOFTA: This is different from the malai kofta I've had before but not in a bad way. I definitely think they use cashew "cream" in this. It's lightly sweet in a way that reminds me of cashews. The kofta are soft and I'm pretty sure are paneer based. This is probably the most mild curry we ordered, both in terms of spice and spices. This was my pick because I usually can't order malai kofta at Indian restaurants so I was pleased I could hear. MATAR METHI MALAI: I love how Indian curries are so straightforward when it comes to names. I'm not sure what to expect with this but my husband didn't know what to get so I nudged him towards this. He wanted MATAR PANEER but it's not on the menu. This is essentially fenugreek pea curry in a milky gravy. It has very interesting spices and flavor. A little more bland than the others, yet not at the same time. Must be that fenugreek! For some odd reason, it reminded me of coconut chutney I've had before. We also got ROTI for one of my kids who prefers bread over rice. All curries come with white basmati. For drinks, we got MANGO LASSI, SPRITE, and CHAAS (buttermilk). The buttermilk was different! Much more spiced than I expected. I also swear at one point I tasted a raw onion bit but it only happened once so who knows if it was mistaken blended in or it was all in my head. I do remember it was STRONG though. Overall, we were pleasantly surprised at the sheer amount of choices we had. Our bill totaled to around $90 (curries are around $20, Dahi puri was $12) and we brought home some leftovers. They seem to be family run and are fairly nice and helpful. We would likely go back again to try more things, but the palak paneer isn't completely up our kids' alley to become their favorite. If you have food allergies, let them know. My youngest has multiple food allergies including to nuts and wheat. Most of their curries contains nuts EXCEPT for the palak paneer and their bhindi (okra) dish. Luckily for my kid. Despite how nuts are a common ingredient in the kitchen, my kid was completely fine during and after eating. Note: their menu says they charge gratuity for parties of 4 people or more. My husband says he didn't see it on the bill when it was time to pay. Not sure if that statement is now outdated or it only counts if there are 4+ ADULTS.

Food is astronomical I promise you this is a vegan heaven low-key service was quick with two great…read morebartenders and super fast delivery food was amazing must try. The ambiance was cool a quiet setting the darkness sets the mood of thriller effects and hand crafted sculptures almost a Gothic type of look seats were comfy most tables for four people but room for more. Great for a date night or with friends Bar on deck.

I've been going here for a decade. I genuinely am sad to say this place is no longer what it used…read moreto be. Service has declined tremendously - we were practically forgotten about when dining here last night (it was a Saturday night with only two groups of people in the restaurant and 3 servers, so don't understand why we'd be neglected). Prices have almost doubled and portions seem to be getting smaller. The burger used to be $18 and is now up to $25. I understand inflation is a real thing but damn. Apps are now $17 and used to be $12 and service is now the worst it's ever been? What am I paying for? Maybe they're under new management or something but wow I don't see myself going back anymore after a decade of dining here. It was a fun run while it lasted.

Not pictured: the naan here was probably some of the best naan I've ever had, it was super fresh…read moretasting and I could have eaten it by itself! We got palak paneer and masala roast chicken. We got both medium spicy but the chicken definitely had a kick where the paneer did not. They were both delicious though. It was my dad's birthday and we ordered two desserts and they were kind enough to bring us a third one with a candle in it for him. One thing I didn't like was the ras malai tres leches dessert, I've had a similar dessert to this at many different places and this one had a lot of different fruits mixed into it (grapes, apples) and that wasn't mentioned on the menu description. I would suggest some more clarity on the menu with descriptions of items. But overall, great food!

We went to BHOG on a Saturday afternoon for lunch. The ambiance looked good and the staff were…read morewelcoming. We ordered veg thali. Everything on the thali was delicious and unlimited. They had uttapam and manchow soup to begin with. For the main course, they had 3-4 curries, sambar, dal, rice, pulao, puri, raita, and papad. For dessert, they had gulab jamun pudding which was delicious. The food was great too. Would love to visit again soon.

The food here is so good…read more It is hard to find good, spicy dishes. This is my second time here. When I come back, it is because the food and service is good for the value. Today is the Spicy fish with Fatty Beef. Definitely a bookmark on my Google Maps. Can't go wrong. So many good options.

Nice cozy place for cold days . The soup is good, the…read moredumpling great and the service is attentive. I'll be back soon

When we were toddlers, it was natural to eat with our hands…read more But as soon as we managed to hold a fork and spoon, we were expected to use utensils. As children and adults, using your hands to eat was frowned upon. Fried chicken and a few other dishes were exceptions. Although, to be honest, I'm one of the few people in the world who grew up eating fried chicken with a knife and fork. Let me introduce you to Ethiopian food, where utensils aren't usually used. I guess you could call it a hands on experience. The best way to experience it in central New Jersey is at Dashen Ethiopian Cuisine in New Brunswick. https://www.dashenethiopiannj.com/ Dashen, managed by a husband and wife team - Alemayehu Hailu and Tsigereda Lemlemayehu, also offers a full bar and a big screen TV for sports events. It is a delightful place for a special meal. They also do catering. The meal starts with injera - a spongy, fermented flatbread that is spread over a large serving plate. The other foods are placed on top of this sort of sour dough bread. All of the dishes - meats and vegetables - are well cooked with fragrant sauces. They are served with a pile of folded injera. How do you eat it? You rip off a piece of injera and use it to grab some meats or vegetables or scoop them up. Then you pop it into your mouth. The sourly fermented bread and other dishes make a great combination. Whether you go for meat or vegetables, the keys here are the spices. There's a chicken dish called Doro Wot. It is simmered in a special spice sauce with onions, garlic and ginger. And served with a hard boiled egg. There are dishes of cubed beef and ground beef, and lamb. There's a lamb stew called Yebeg Alicha with onions, garlic, ginger, peppers, turmeric and other spices. The same spices can be applied to a fish fillet, salmon or shrimp. But my favorites are the vegetables. There's Misir Wot, split lentils simmered with special spices, onions, garlic, tomatoes and ginger. Gomen is collard greens with onions, spices, garlic, ginger, tomatoes and jalapenos. Tikal Gomen is cabbage with the same spice combination. Kik Wot is yellow split peas cooked with garlic, ginger, tomatoes and special spices. Dinich Alicha looks like a mixed vegetable plate with potatoes, carrots, string beans, garlic, ginger, tomatoes and spices. The food can be very spicy or quite mild. Talk to your server so you order the dishes that are to your taste. The best way to eat Ethiopian food is on a combination plate. Go with a small group of friends. Have a combination plate of meat dishes. Order another combination plate of vegetarian dishes. That will give you eight to 10 different dishes to sample. Different beans and meats and vegetables. There's a variety of textures and flavors. And eat it slowly. In fact, don't just eat it. Savor it. Really enjoy each delicious taste. Eating Ethiopian food at Dashen is not just a meal. It's an experience. You can get takeout or delivery. But it is so much better in the restaurant. I urge you to get out of your culinary rut and visit Dashen. Dashen Ethiopian Restaurant & Bar 88 Albany Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08901 732-249-0494 They are closed Mondays.

I went here with a friend on a Sunday and I loved my meal. I had the shrimp wot and it was very…read moreflavorful and delicious. The portions were generous and the waitress was very friendly and attentive. The spiced tea was good. I enjoyed the atmosphere which was dark and cozy but classy. We went for lunch and didn't have to wait for a table. My friend had the special kitfo and loved the collard greens but felt the cheese and meat were a bit bland but she loved my entree and said she's going to get that next time.

I was visiting from Boston and stopped here for dinner before my drive back--and wow, I am so glad…read moreI did! I ordered the chicken kebab, butter chicken, mango lassi, and chili garlic naan. I asked for the kebab to be extra spicy, and they made it perfectly. Every single dish was absolutely amazing and full of flavor. I was so impressed that I ended up ordering a goat bucket biryani and chicken 65 to go just to take back to Boston with me! The restaurant has a smaller, cozy dining setup (holds about 30+ people). The food is incredible, and the prices are noticeably cheaper than other Indian spots around. High-quality food at a great price. The service was great and waiters are friendly! Highly recommend!

We tried the goat biryani, boneless chicken biryani, and garlic naan. The garlic naan was okay, the…read morebiryanis were so underwhelming and lacking of any spices or flavor. It was just a giant bowl of rice with 5 pieces of meat, and 1 thin onion ring on top. Which I know is what it is, but the rice didn't even taste seasoned. There are plenty of Indian food places in the area. We have given this place a try twice and both times it was just completely meh.

This is honestly one of the best vegetarian spots for our family and has become our go-to weekend…read moreplace. You'll find us here almost every weekend, and most of the time it's actually our 4.5-year-old daughter asking us to go. That alone says a lot about how much we enjoy this place. My daughter has her favorites -- Hakka noodles, paper dosa, paneer butter masala with garlic naan, and mango lassi. She already knows what she wants before we even get there. I love their medhu vada and filter coffee. Last week we tried the paneer khurchan with mirchi garlic naan, and now that's my new favorite combo. The paneer khurchan was really flavorful and went perfectly with the mirchi garlic naan. My husband's favorites are the rava onion dosa and chickoo shake. What we really like is that every time we come here, we try something new from the menu and keep exploring. There are so many vegetarian options that even though we visit regularly, we still have plenty left to try. For us, this is definitely one of the best vegetarian spots around and a place that has become part of our weekend routine. When your 4.5-year-old is the one asking to go back, you know they're doing something right. Easy 5 stars from our family.

I've been here twice now - both Saturday lunch - which automatically makes this place my family's…read morego-to for Indian food because we haven't gone a second time to the other Indian restaurants we've eaten at so far. The entire restaurant is vegetarian and there are a number of vegan options. What makes this place stand out is that that they have nut-free and gluten-free options. AND they have Jain options too. This is all a concern for my family because (1) we follow a Jain-like vegetarian diet (we avoid alliums) and (2) my youngest kid has multiple food allergies to wheat, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, avocado, kiwi, and pineapple. They are clearly popular. Both times I've gone, it doesn't seem like there's people but within 10 minutes of opening, it starts to get packed and by the time we leave, people are waiting for tables. A vast majority of the diners are Indian which gives me the impression that the food's authentic! They do close between lunch and dinner services so be aware of that. We probably would have gone here more if they opened during the odd in-between hours because that's how we roll on the weekends. You're greeted by a hostess who leads you to your table and a waiter will come by within 5 minutes. We got the same waiter both times - shout out to Vivek! There are tablets on every table with the menu and you can filter out allergens or for special diets which is quite handy. You do not order on the device; you order with the waiter but it does cut down on questions. We still go through the whole allergy spiel and that we don't eat alliums in an attempt to make sure the order is put in correctly. As a side note, they have an extensive menu which is quite impressive that encompasses dosa, steamed items, curries, even a thali set, dishes I haven't heard of... all the way to desserts and even sweets (burfi, etc). Their falooda looks epic! I haven't ordered any of their sweets. Most all of them are things my youngest can't have. However, once I filter out for Jain, gluten-free, nut-free options, our menu shrinks. It makes it easier to order, but is sad if you have your eye on something. For instance, I love malai kofta. I cannot have the one here. Nor can I have the Bhel Puri or the thali or any of their meal sets for that matter. We've ordered: COCKTAIL SAMBAR IDLI - little steamed (GF) cakes dunked in sambar. I got this for fun. I did not expect it to be my youngest's favorite dish. Hands down his favorite. He asks for it every so often. If you avoid alliums, make sure you double check. The second visit, the kitchen accidentally prepared it with the regular sambar and not the Jain one... There was an onion floating in the sambar. PALAK PANEER - this is my kids' favorite curry. It's quite good. If you forget to specify the level of spice, it will come with little chunks of spicy green chilies that pack a little punch. Depending on which side of my mouth chewed on it, that ear with ring and burn. PLAIN DOSA - this comes as a HUGE dosa with a small bowl of sambar. It was excellent. My kids even ate some; one prefers the crispy bits, the other the softer bits. An oldie, but goodie. DAHI VADAI - GF donuts (I think it's a lentil/chickpea batter) in a pool of yogurt that's both tangy and very slightly sweet and spiced. I loved this. It comes with 2 3-inch donuts. BREAD - flatbreads are extra and only comes with one piece. My daughter always insists on it. She had parotta the first time and then roti the second. No complaints from the picky eater so that's a win! RICE - we ordered PANEER PULAO-turned-VEG FRIED RICE before. All their rice dishes are well seasoned and tender... likely with ghee. You could probably eat them alone. A note: Even though we used the filters and the Paneer Pulao popped up, it came out with cashews. The cook said it always comes with cashews. It was changed to a vegetable fried rice. Luckily, we looked through it before we gave some to our kid. I played it safe the second time with Jeera (cumin) Rice. Overall, good experiences. Aside from the cashews in the rice the first time and the non-Jain cocktail sambar idlies the second time. My youngest hasn't had any allergy reactions so at least cross contamination isn't happening. Service is pretty good, the place clean, and the food is delicious. If they can get the food right consistently, then that would push this to 5 stars. So far, it hasn't happened yet.

Had a really great experience at this Mediterranean restaurant! The food was fresh, flavorful, and…read morenicely prepared. Everything we ordered had a great balance of herbs, spices, and fresh ingredients, and the portions were generous without feeling overwhelming. I especially enjoyed the grilled dishes, which were tender, juicy, and full of flavor. The service was also friendly and attentive without being intrusive. The atmosphere was comfortable and welcoming, making it a great place for both a casual meal and a dinner with friends or family. Definitely a place I would come back to and recommend to others looking for good Mediterranean food!

Heard about this place and decided to try it on a whim . Finding a restaurant in New Brunswick area…read morewith parking is a big deal. But what's beyond that is the core of the visit . Walked in to a nice coffe bar area which did not seem functional .it well decorated with some antique accents keys if different shapes n sizes We were seated and a waiter took our order immediately. The place was a bit busy for a weekday. Complementary wam pita bread n ezme , sun dried tomatoes n spicy jalapeños were not bad . A paper form being warm there was nothing more to it. Got the mixed grill for two which was served with a side of soup and salad . Both sides were delicious. The grilled chicken kebabs and chops were passable though not juicy . All Lamb kebab choices were tough and chewy . This is a mediocre spot as I age v had better Kebabs in the same area . Not my kind of food.

Wanted to try this restaurant for a long time.. one of my friends suggested and at last was able to…read morego and eat here.. actually a good location very close to a lot of places in Central New Jersey.. parking could get tricky on peak times.. interiors were good and the tables are slightly far away and not too crowded.. service was really good.. alwyn and the other manager were really welcoming . Great ambience inside . Nalla kaara podi thattu idly was super good . Very very nice taste and flavor. The breakfast combo was also good. Chutneys were like home made but Sambar was average . Sweet and could have more flavor. Vada was crispy from outside but not soft inside . Machine Vada always has this issue . Hand made Vada is generally very good and soft from inside too. Thali was awesome . Just loved the mango pappu, rasam, ghee rice , pulusu , gulab jamun etc .had a very good meal. Pls don't keep tiffen sambar in thali. It will be too thin if someone mixes that with rice.. apart from that everything was super good.. Gulab jamun was extra special . Fantastic. .. I'll surely come back to try more ! Good experience overall. 4 stars

Dosas got me spinnin' like dosey doe. Lol. I am ashamed to call myself a hardcore foodie; I can't…read morebelieve it took me this long to try dosas. Sure I have eaten at many Indian restaurants but you have to go to one that only specializes in dosas. Shoutout to my Yelper, Johanna B., she said it is one of her most favorite things to eat. I did a search on Yelp and it lead me to Brundhavan, formally known as Indian House of Dosas. Looking at the menu, I have to admit that I was completely clueless. I had to look up quite a few of the descriptions for the different fillings. We opted to get the Masala with potatoes, onions, and carrots. The presentation had me so intrigued. Dosas are made of rice. Just eat with your hands and dip away. My favorite was the coconut one. It was so delicious. With every bite I kept saying, OMG, I LOVEEEE IT!!! YUM!!! We also ordered the Medu Vada, a savory South Indian fried doughnut made with black lentils served with chutney and sambhar. Crispy exterior and soft inside. Probably the healthiest doughnut I have ever eaten. Get it!! Please order their Masala or Irani Chai. I wanted 3 cups of it. Lol. Service was a 10/10. Super friendly and helpful. I appreciate them explaining all the different sauces and how to eat it. My son's favorite cuisine is Indian, I can't wait to bring him here. Note: their new location is a couple of shops down the strip from their old one. The new space is clean and modern.

I've ordered from this location several times and it's one of those places that's been consistently…read moregood every time for a quick balanced meal. Whether I'm ordering takeout or picking it up, the food is always been fresh and flavorful. There are plenty of options to build your meal exactly how you like it. Food has been ready on time whenever I've picked it up. Even during busy hours, everything has been accurate.

Tacoria is one of those consistent comfort food type of places. You want to go out for a quick bite…read moreover lunch hour? My mind always gravitates to tacoria. The built it yourself burrito, bowls, and tacos are a treat and can be customized to your liking. The house made salsas and drinks and great accompaniments, especially alongside some nachos to go with the meal. It's rare for a place to give you the right amount of nachos, but Tacoria does it. It's consistently good tacos I can count on, though my go-to is usually a burrito bowl. When you only get an hour for lunch, this is where you'll find me.