Dhaba

If you’re familiar with Indian food then you’ll understand why only 1 star. The food is terrible and the service is meh. Not worth your time or money.

Shrimp tikka masala — was pretty ok. But if I’m being honest I was wishing I had just gone to Ritter’s for the pan roast because it was a similar and inferior flavor with fewer shrimp. However, as a review for what it was I will say ⁴⁄₅.
Chicken tikka masala — I have ordered this from Dhaba a few times before but it isn’t as good as other restaurants in the area. Just not as creamy and fulfilling. But still, it’s CTM– hard to mess it up. ⁴⁄₅
Mixed lentil — I wish they offered an exclusively red lentil dish like a yellow dal– this just didn’t have that same warm savoriness that you get with a yellow. I dunno the flavor was kinda blah and if I’m being honest I had to force myself to eat the leftovers, which sat in my fridge as I slowly picked at them over the subsequent week. ²⁄₅
This is the place door dash is promoting I guess bc they don’t charge extra for the delivery service but to me it’s not worth it to save five bucks when I could be eating much more succulent foodstuffs from other options in the area. As a lover of Indian cuisine however, I will still give it the three star «A-​ok» because it was still infinitely better than anything I had in my fridge :)

Really good every day! I eat here almost every day. They do a great job. Very flavorful and good portions. Quality!
I like the lunch special with kabobs and a bit of tikka misala sauce. Rice is really good with veggies mixed in.
Friendly staff with smiles!

The food was terrible, no flavor in the saag or daal. It almost seems like they don’t prepare the food at the restaurant, it is bought
frozen and reheated and served. I would highly recommend trying another restaurant for authentic indian food. This place is a waste of money.

I’ve been here a few times and over all the experiences werent bad. Food tasted good and they had friendly employees. However today is the last time I’ll ever eat here. I ordered the chicken tikka masala and half way through my meal I found a metal lid of some sort stuck in my chicken.

The food is really good here and they have great lunch specials. For lunch you can pick and choose a few items and they will put it in a box for you for a really decent price… Kind of like Panda Express.
The naan is delicious I love the garlic one but even the plain one is really good.
The only downside is that this place takes forever to prepare your food but that’s because they make it fresh! So call ahead!:)

A good option for lunch if you work or go to school nearby. Free drink or dessert with USC ID. I grabbed dinner to go last night– paneer tikka masala with basmati rice. Quite a good amount of food for just over $ 10 (chicken and beef dishes will be more expensive), though the lunch option is a much better deal ’cause you get rice and naan with 3 items for the same price (and cheaper with less items). Paneer was comparable to others I’ve had.
They take all major credit cards except AMEX.

Probably the best food in this cluster of shops. The outdoor tables are nice. Open in the middle of the afternoon when my favorite Korean restaurants near John Wayne airport are closed.

I visited this place on a Monday afternoon and was amazed to see how full the place was, which only means good food.
I was very pleased with both the food and the excellent customer service. The owner works there and was friendly and made sure everything was perfect.
Some of the must have dishes:
— Nihari (the best I have ever had)
— Lamb Curry (again way above my expectations)
— pretty good chicken tikka masala.
— Must have cheesy naan

My first time having Pakistani style Indian food…
Fantastic Chana Masala, best I’ve had. Maybe it was the Pakistani style that did it — $ 11
Great Mango Lassi, strong mango flavor — $ 3
Really good Naan bread, though I would request it extra soft next time.
Downside is that they do not use the air conditioner. Boiling hot inside. That plus hot Indian food + summer = uncomfortable
The masala that I ordered was made to order, not from the buffet style bins.

I found this little gem by accident, driving home after work and looking for a place open kinda late (for office people). While I’m not Halal-​observant, I definitely can appreciate the middle eastern (Pakistani to be precise) spices and tastes that Dhaba serves up in their chicken, veggie and rice dishes. Mmmmmmm good!
So good in fact, that I came back for more during lunch with a friend. We each ordered the 3-​combo plate so we could sample as much as possible. I didn’t care for everything, but I can appreciate the different types of dishes and the flavors of each.
Preference will vary from person to person. I liked their food and their service and will go back. (It also helps that the front counter woman has the best eyes)

Think Ray Charles’ «Georgia, Georgia» song…
Tiki, Masala
«The whole day through (the whole day through)»
Just the aroma
Keeps Tiki Masala on my mind (Tiki Masala on my mind)
With everyone craving Tiki Masala, we ventured to a new spot during lunch break. Dhaba had a blend of Indian, Halal and Pakistani selections. Cafeteria style set up. Located in a business area near John Wayne airport. Very casual w/​no waiter service. There were a few small tables; slightly cramped.
LUNCH SPECIALS: $ 7.95 (1 item), $ 8.95 (2 items), $ 9.95 (3 items). Includes rice, plain Naan, salad and raita
It’s no mystery that we all ordered TIKI MASALA. The chicken was grilled with a nice smokiness to it. Leaned more on the tangy/​tomato side rather than the creamy/​hearty side. It was good, but unanimously, we were all hoping for a heartier dish. For the next item, I was drawn to the ALOO GOBI; cauliflower florets cooked w/​onions, tomatoes, ginger, garlic and potatoes. The cauliflowers tasted a bit pickled with a kick to them. I will stick to the spinach dish next time.
3^rd item was the FRIED FISH. Yes, I’m a sucker for fried food! Sad to say, the cook was a bit heavy handed on the salt. However, when paired with the cilantro tangy salad dressing and plain white rice (leftovers), it was good. We felt the surprising STAR of the day was the CHICKEN BIRYANI; a Pakistani style chicken with spicy blend of onion, garlic, ginger, turmeric, cumin, tomatoes, spices, herbs married perfectly together. WOW, with one bite, the ingredients just popped! Yum!
Rice: loaded with spice and flavor. Birthday girl didn’t like it. We thought it was pretty good.
Garlic Naan: the garlic naan trumps the plain naan any day. It comes straight from the kitchen, warm and loaded with garlic. Totally worth the $ 0.50 upgrade!
SAMOSAS were delicious. We tried the vegetarian ($ 3.95 for 3 pieces: potatoes, peas, carrots) and chicken ($ 4.95 for 3 pieces; spicy ground chicken). They were light and crispy. Wrapping was closer to lumpia. Thin, not thick texture.
SERVICE: The gal was friendly and full of smiles. Only one line, so be patient since some people take a long time deciding on their order. Portions are rather generous too. Leftovers… yeh!
If in the area, will be back for some Chicken Biryani!

The Lassi rules; it gives me life.
The Chicken Tikka Masala and Garlic Naan take my breath away. I’ve never smiled so much before and after a restaurant. I love you, Dhaba. I would marry this restaurant. Twice.

God help me I’m addicted to Dhaba’s Cuisine! Having the opportunity to travel the world and taste the best of the best, Dhaba’s brings me back to those wonderful trips. Let me start by saying I have not tasted any entrees which would cause me to ponder. I do have a favorite though. The Chicken Tikka Marsala is awesome with rice. And you can’t leave there without allowing your mouth to taste the buttered spinach! I hated spinach until now… One of my favorites.
For me, it comes down to the quality and balance of tastes and this quaint restaurant, tucked in the corner of an outdoor shopping mall, grants my mouth the permission to enjoy it’s spectacular dishes and special Naan bread.
For those who want fast service during rush hour, this is your new home! And best of all the price for the amount of food is outstanding.
Bottom line: Trust me when I say you won’t go wrong. I give it 5 stars for a great lunch adventure! Enjoy!

FANTASTIC !! I’ve been a regular @ Dhaba for a long time and finally got to Unilocaling about it. Dhaba has some of the best Indo/​Pak dishes in OC.
5 Stars for the quality of food !
5 Stars for the excellent service from all the people who work there !
For those who like spicy curry don’t miss the Chicken Korma & Malai Chicken w/​rice. Chicken /​Shrimp tikka masala is for those who prefer a more milder curry.
I also like the Friday special Biriyani and the Saturday special brunch (Halwa /​Puri). This place has been a big hit with my family too.

First time I had Dhaba I didn’t particularly like it. I had the chicken with the rice and I thought both were pretty dry. Today I was bored of the usual stuff I normally ate so I decided to go to Dhaba again. This time I got the chicken and rice drenched with their curry sauce. The verdict came out a lot better than the prior incident.
The curry sauce really enhances the flavor. Before when I had just the chicken and rice I thought what am I eating. When the curry sauce was added on it just took the chicken to a whole new level, even the rice too (and I’m not really a fan of their rice). The chicken was tender and juicy. The rice today tasted soft and delicious.
The customer service was just eh. It was ok, not overly nice but not rude in anyway. The meal total was about 8 bucks but didn’t come with a drink :(
I wasn’t expecting much but it was actually a pretty good lunch. I might come back for that chicken with the curry sauce again.

This was my first time eating Dhaba and Pakistani food in general. I had the Chicken Tikka Masala to go. First off, I appreciate the Masala wasn’t served in a styrofoam container; it was a plastic microwave safe dish. (Not that I needed it, I did everything but lick it clean.) The chicken was cooked perfectly, and the chicken to sauce ratio was pretty good. The flavors were bold and unusual. My only reference is Indian Chicken Tikka Masala; so this had a much heavier tomato and rose water (I think that’s what made it sweet) flavor. Rice was also flavored well.
I needed my meal quick and the server said it would take about 10 minutes. She was even surprised when it was ready in about 5 minutes. Server welcomed me and was very friendly. (I say server, but I would’ve guessed she was the owner.)
For a strip mall location: décor was tasteful and not overdone, inside was clean, and the music and television was subtle and enjoyable. However, I was disappointed at the serving size (reference my picture), again for a strip mall location, but the flavor (and the mild heartburn; I can’t eat something that tomato heavy) was worth it.
I’ll be back in a few months when I attend another training. Cheers.

This review is mainly for the food I ordered
I know that this establishment specializes in Pakistani cuisine but I had major cravings for chicken tikka masala that I usually get at an Indian restaurant. I was coming from a certain direction and this place was just on my way home. I order chicken tikka masala which came with rice, vegetable samosas, and garlic naan to go.
Vegetable samosas: these are really tiny and flat, not something I’m used to. Taste wise, it was okay.
Garlic naan: Tasted more like plain naan. I could barely taste the garlic.
Chicken tikka masala: I was really upset with this dish. I had to google whether there was a difference in Pakistani and Indian version of chicken tikka masala, but the way recipe were described, both are relatively comparable. The chicken tikka masala I got here tasted EXACTLY like spaghetti sauce with chicken pieces!!! There are no hint of butter or cream. I even scooped the bottom to make sure it wasn’t hidden in the bottom, but nope, just plain tomato sauce with chicken…
Chicken tikka masala cravings not satisfied.

Dhaba specializes in Punjabi cuisine. The Punjab province of Pakistan is a distinct area from the Punjab state in India, but the food eaten in these two regions are nearly interchangeable due to their proximity to the India-​Pakistan border.
I came during dinner and ordered a beef nihari and naan because the owner advised against the vegetarian options (I guess they’re not good here). Alternatively, she recommended the beef nihari, a royal breakfast delicacy, since it is not commonly found in South OC.
I have never eaten nihari before but had heard about it from Anthony Bourdain’s TV show. Compared to other Indian food, nihari was one of the most rich and complex curries I’ve encountered. The depth of flavor was amazing. The curry started with a heavy ginger taste. Then, I took a few bites of the tender beef shank chunks soaked in a creamy gravy. I noticed the fat from the beef had been trimmed. The beef was not quite melt in mouth, but soft enough to be convinced that the meat had been slow cooked and simmered in spices for hours. The «burning hot» spicy sensation did not actually hit until a couple minutes later. The spiciness was not just from chili content, but also from a mix of other spices from the Indian subcontinent, because there was a pleasant herbal and persistent tangy after-​taste.
Dhaba’s nihari is an ideal dish for customers who seek satisfaction from rich food made with extensive use of spices. Dhaba does not add fried cow brain in the nihari like how some Pakistani restaurants in Artesia do, perhaps this variation of nihari may be too exotic for Irvine, but I hope the chef can someday cook it for me to try. I thought that the gravy was best paired with naan, a relatively flavorless dipping medium, to balance out the sweetness and spiciness.
The naan at Dhaba was a bit different from the Indian variations I’m used to seeing, it’s puffy and mold into a round shape. My piece was relatively thick and very aggressively coated with ghee.
Due to the fact that nihari is loaded with spices and the accompanying Pakistan naan is brushed with butter, I got an expected food coma after consumption. This combination was very heavy. Although nihari may be eaten daily for breakfast in Pakistan, it is probably not recommended here in the US, where most people cannot afford to sleep off a meal before going to work. Maybe that’s why delicacies such as haleem and nihari are only available during weekends here at Pakistani restaurants.

I didn’t love it but I also didn’t hate it! I honestly have had better! Manfriend liked it!
Majority of the dishes we tried were okay. Portions were pretty generous! We got the three item combo which comes with salad, naan, rice & three dishes of your choice for $ 10! Good deal!
I did not like their palak paneer (spinach) at all! I never had paneer like that. It was tasteless and the texture was softer than most paneers!
Chicken tikka masala wasn’t bad but it was a bit bland! I can’t believe I’m saying that cuz I prefer bland foods! It wasn’t was I was used to! I never had the chicken Karahi and I thought it was delicious and had the perfect spiciness to it! Definitely gave this dish a kick! Chicken was very tender and flavorful due to all the spices added! Manfriend and I loved the bhindi masala! It’s delicious because it’s fried okra in their delicious garlic sauce and spices! Anything fried is always yummers!
Naan was pretty good! Salad was ehh, but I came here for the Indian/​Pakistani food! I believe this is the healthier version and it’s growing on me! :)
Anyways, I would come back again to give it another go! I want to try their mango lassi! Oh I also has a sample of their daal and it was tasty! Not a big lentil kid, but i actually liked it! Staff was friendly and laid back!
Enjoy! :)