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Dera Restaurant

3.2 (321 reviews)
Open • 10:00 am - 1:00 AM (Next day)

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DERA RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Casual
Good for kids
Good for groups

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Recommended Reviews - Dera Restaurant

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chicken biryani
Liana L.

This was on the NYT best 100 list, and I checked it out since it was across the street from my apartment. It always looked busy, but I thought it was just a regular diner. The food here was excellent - cheap, plentiful, and flavorful. We thought the chicken tikka would be butter chicken, but it was actually just grilled chicken. That's definitely our fault, and it was excellent. I loved the samosa chaat, the garlic naan, the spinach dish, and the okra dish we got - basically everything. Definitely worth checking out.

Sign
Camille R.

I've posted so many photos and checked in here way before Yelp became popular and I just realized I have not even reviewed this place! LOL. I just want to keep this place to myself and don't want others to know about it! It's our go to Indian and Pakistani food. I've ordered to go, dined in, and even got trays for my baby shower over a decade ago! Food tasted good then and is still good now (the only difference is it costs more now - same as all the pricing in NYC). They used to be open 24hours but now close at midnight. Still a good place to go to esp. for late night dining.

Hurriyat G.

So I had the chance to eat here last weekend. I was sooooo surprised by how economical it was!! Everything seemed to cost half or even one-third versus what we have to pay here for pretty mediocre food in KY. Anyway, what we ordered and how it tasted is below: Papri Chaat.... 5/5, ample quantity Chicken Seekh Kebab... 4/5 Bihari Boti... 4/5 Chicken Boti.... 4/5 Beef Nihari... 3/5 .. found it bland n tasteless Naan... 5/5 Lassi... 5/5 Highly recommended!!!!! Tea... 5/5 The accompanying raita n salad were fresh and tasty too. The only thing I'd have preferred was if they'd focused a lil on presentation and at least cleaned the rims or serving dishes before serving. But that's a small thing and I guess, easily ignored coz the food was fabulous!!!!!

Fresh delicious Pakistani food
Saira K.

The food is really excellent here. Top quality, very fresh. Spices are perfect. It's really popular and the staff and service is great. Very convenient with subways. Highly recommend!

Betty L.

This was my first time here. My sister heard about Dera Restaurant from a couple of friends. Since we were in the area, we decided to try this place (my regular place was closed). It was a very large space with plenty of tables, sort of like a cafeteria. We walked up to the open counter display to look at all the food that was available. I didn't know what I was looking at, but the staff here was very friendly and I asked a lot of questions they helped me understand what I was look at. Normally at other Indian restaurants in the area their staff does not speak English and its a challenge trying to order anything. There were a few rice trays different chicken, beef and goat choices, plus more. Once we decided what we wanted we ordered a few things to take home. We ordered their samosa (potato and peas), Aloo Paratha, Chicken Biryani. Everything was good, since most of the food was already cooked and in the display case everything needed to be heated up except for the Aloo Paratha that was cooked to order. I looked around to see what everyone else was eating and their Tandoori Roti and Sesame naan seemed very popular. Almost everyone had a some at their table. Next time, I am going to try their butter chicken plus definitely get a few fresh baked breads.

Faluda
Kashif K.

You can love Dera, you can hate Dera, or you can be indifferent to Dera. But you simply cannot deny the significance of Dera as a Jackson Heights institution for the Pakistani diaspora in and around New York City. This restaurant has been around longer than I have been alive, and I am as old as the hills (don't ask me which hills, I am geographically and geologically challenged). When I talk to the Pakistani aunties and uncles who left their homeland during the previous century in search of bigger and better opportunities in this wondrous concrete jungle that dreams are made of, they often speak fondly of Dera (including when it was operating under a different name - Shaheen - I believe). Dera is a spacious restaurant that occupies prime real estate at the corner of Broadway and 72nd St in the middle of the incredibly diverse neighborhood of Jackson Heights. The food is consistently tasty, albeit a tad heavy on the use of oil. The culinary style leans towards the cuisine from the Punjab region. Service is adequate; not particularly convivial (or even very attentive), but they get the job done. I will continue to undertake the trek out to Queens to enjoy the food from the Motherland.

Fake goat korma... made with lamb meat
Ahmad F.

Salams all I am going to keep it short and simple Place is clean Variety of curries, biryanis and all sort of BBQ I loved this place and used to visit it religiously But whats with lying on face about dishes !!!! They proclaim that there curry ya salan is made of goat and biryani is also made of goat. Now lets be honest.. someone who grew up eating goat ya goat ka salan which we call it... how is possible that u tell me that i dont know the difference between them.... Are you serious You are lying straight out loud.... I never expected this from Dera i swear i used to priase this place. Check the pictures. Most of there stuff which they say is goat is actually L Keep it real...

Chicken haleem, goat feet stew, and goat karahi
Stacy L.

This place is a very casual, no frills, and affordable establishment. It's a nice restaurant to bring friends or family as they have a lot of seating and can accommodate large groups. They serve larger portions of food at the restaurant than via takeout or delivery, so make sure to eat at the restaurant if you want to get your money's worth. They give you a small salad with yogurt dressing on the side without additional charge - but you have to ask for it. The naan is thick and soft, and the goat dishes are full of meat and bone marrow. The service is also fair and the food comes quickly.

Biryani and Palak (Spinach) Chicken

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8 years ago

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5 years ago

I had been longing for haleem and Dera delivered! It was amazing--not as good as my mom's but just splendid.

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3 years ago

First ever been to this restaurant and I will never recommend anyone bad service food taste not good .

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8 years ago

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3 years ago

Amazing food, freshly made, service amazing, ambiance good. Butter chicken was amazing and authentic.

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11 years ago

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Red Chilli

Red Chilli

4.7(121 reviews)
0.2 mi•Jackson Heights
Women-owned & operated
Luxury

The food was delicious. Service was excellent as well. The chili garlic naan was very good and the…read moreshrimp balchao was outstanding.

The Food Was TOO DIE FOR! This my first time having real authentic Indian Food with my girlfriend…read morewe absolutely loved it! Was so much food we couldn't even finish it. Butter chicken 1000/10 garlic naan 10/10 lychee drink 20/10 very flavorful Chili Garlic Fried Shrimp 1000/10 Dani Puri 9/10 mango mojito 10/10. Overall everything was 100/10 I will definitely come back and is open minded to try more food off the menu. Dominic was absolutely amazing 1000/10, I believe he knew it was my first time he was very patient with my girlfriend and myself. With an amazing smile and was just happy to help. He helped me pronounce the food items I couldn't get correct. Overall he gave me choices and options that were great that I really enjoyed. I don't remember the bartender names but he was great as well. His drinks were perfectly blended I felt like I was on vacation on a beach having them. But when I come back I definitely want to choose them! Ambiance was LUXURIOUS. Very clean, utensils were very clean as if it the a grand opening. I love the aesthetics and the color coordination and to the plates and silverware. Overall I recommend anyone especially if it's your first time. The people hear are amazing food is even better. 100/10 HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

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Red Chilli
Red Chilli
Red Chilli

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Seva Indian Cuisine - Aloo Chana

Seva Indian Cuisine

4.4(1.6k reviews)
1.8 mi•Astoria
•$$

SO good! I'm North Indian, but sometimes we crave something different and I was really curious…read moreabout their South Indian menu. The Malabar chicken was calling my name because of the black pepper, and OMG it did not disappoint!!! It was SO tasty!! It's a dry chicken dish instead of the usual curry/gravy. Super flavorful, peppery, crispy, and not oily or heavy at all! It wasn't particularly spicy to me either, but layered with different aromatics, a complete flavor explosion! I was actually a little confused because I saw the Malabar chicken on Seamless but couldn't find it on ChowNow/Toast, so I wasn't even sure if it was available. I'm SO glad I got it and really hope they keep it on the menu because I would 100% order it again! I also tried the dal with green mango and the tamarind rice from the South Indian menu, and both were delicious. The tamarind rice especially has so many different flavors going on and is so good! If you like bold, layered Indian flavors and want to venture beyond the usual butter chicken-type dishes, TRY THE SOUTH INDIAN MENU!

The heat in here is thick, pressing down. Seva Indian Cuisine. It not old inside but it looks just…read moreolder, further down the line. I've had beers, before I got here tyat is, I was floating. Now, waiting, I need another. They bring water, with mint in it. Green leaves in a glass carafe, floating like drowned hopes of suds. ​Then the food. Garlic naan with beautifully burnt in spots, glistening with grease, I rip it apart aggressively. Samosas, two fat pyramids standing in a sea of green and brown sludge. The girlfriend is watching pictures of Maine on a televisionbehindme and kerps saying"look at the lighthouse, look at the beach, look at the foredt". She's thinking of the road, I've been on that road. I told her about the long lines of pine trees, the crisp cool air, only now is it registering. Bangor, Maine I've been there a few times and it's not just another place to be, n its beautifulbut it gets cold fast, probablyright about now snow might fall somewhereup there. But the samosas are hot, the spices biting my cheeks. They fight the beer fog. It's better than the Indianfood in my neighborhood. The Butter Chicken and Batsami rice was a great dish, with tip and a diet Coke, i was in for about forty dollars, and then we leave, back into the night, looking for the next drink.

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Seva Indian Cuisine - Dining room

Dining room

Seva Indian Cuisine - Gobi Manchurian Appetizer

Gobi Manchurian Appetizer

Seva Indian Cuisine - Gulab Jamoon

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Gulab Jamoon

Angel Indian Restaurant - 10. Rajma Masala

Angel Indian Restaurant

4.5(85 reviews)
0.2 mi•Jackson Heights

Ambiance (5/5): The inside is very pristine with an elevated feel. The staff wear suits!…read moreService (5/5): To circumvent the Friday night wait time without a reservation, we chose to sit at the bar top seating. It was uncomfortable since our knees bumped into the table. However, we did not have to wait! We had immediate service any time we wanted it because someone was always behind the bar. Food (5/5): This is the best Indian food I've had in Queens!! Every since dish is packed with flavor, depth in the sauce and meats, and reasonably priced!! I liked how much sauce was in every dish. Samosa was perfect. The Goat Mandras was my favorite with a sauce that has spice but not super spicy considering the red chili symbol. Chicken Tikka was also very good. My garlic naan was SO good, has a crunch on one side but airy soft to bite. Unlimited little rice bowls?! This will be our go-to Indian after our first experience.

They've moved to a nicer place since the last time I was here. They start you off with some free…read moresnacks, and then we ordered the paneer tikka masala and the chicken dum biryani along with garlic naan. The food was good but I don't know that I'd make a special trip out of it. The paneer is homemade but I've had creamier paneer elsewhere. I was impressed by the tender chicken in the biryani but could have used with a bit more of it. The curry also comes with plain rice so we had plenty of carbs.

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Angel Indian Restaurant - Great ambiance

Great ambiance

Angel Indian Restaurant - 10. Rajma Masala

10. Rajma Masala

Angel Indian Restaurant - 8. Pani Puri

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8. Pani Puri

Yaar Indian Restaurant - Chicken Tandoori (Bone-In)

Yaar Indian Restaurant

4.5(482 reviews)
2.1 mi•Astoria
•$$

First time coming to Yaar but it will most likely not be our last! We came in around 4:00pm for a…read morelate lunch. The food was delicious and the only thing better than our butter chicken, chicken tikka masala and shrimp biryani was the people! I highly recommend Yaar if you want delicious Indian cuisine. Conveniently located right by a train station w/ a municipal parking lot directly behind the restaurant. Inside there many tables where the ambience in warm and inviting and very friendly staff. We are from the north shore of Long Island and our favorite Indian restaurants are located in Hicksville but no more. We now have Yaar in Astoria to go to. Run don't walk to Yaar. You can thank me later. We ordered the butter chicken, chicken tikka masala and shrimp biryani for the 3 of us. Everything came out piping hot and delicious. The portions were very generous and the wait staff was very attentive and friendly. I highly recommend Yaar Indian Restaurant. I forgot to mention come in at 12:00pm and enjoy their all you can eat lunch buffet. I believe the buffet is offered weekdays ftom 12:00pm to 3:00pm.

Yaar is conveniently located right by the Ditmars Boulevard subway station. We went on an early…read moreSaturday evening. The staff is very friendly and we were seated right away. We happened to be dining there during a World Cup game so there was a TV on in the back (not sure if that's their usual setup). I ordered the chicken tandoori (bone-in), my SO got the chicken tikka masala, and we shared a garlic naan. I got a masala chai to drink and my SO just stuck to water. We did not have to wait too long for the food. My chicken tandoori came out on a sizzling plate with a side of rice. The chicken was so tender, juicy, and flavorful. I ate the slices of onion on the sizzling plate with the chicken and rice. The garlic naan was nice and hot, crisp on the outside, studded with plenty of garlic, and soft and chewy on the inside. It was good for sopping up the chicken tikka masala sauce. My SO felt that my bone-in chicken tasted better than the chicken that came with the tikka masala, so he would consider ordering one of the other bone-in options next time (butter chicken (bone-in) or chef's special chicken (bone-in) biryani). Service was attentive. The servers refilled our water several times and checked on how we liked our dishes. We didn't have dessert this time, but we might next time we come because there will definitely be a next time.

Photos
Yaar Indian Restaurant - Interior

Interior

Yaar Indian Restaurant - Chicken Tikka Masala, lamb spicy something..

Chicken Tikka Masala, lamb spicy something..

Yaar Indian Restaurant - Outside

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Outside

Himalayan Yak

Himalayan Yak

3.8(762 reviews)
0.1 mi•Elmhurst
•$$

Another stop on my first Jackson Heights food tour. This Nepalese spot offers Nepali foot,…read moreBhutanese food, Tibetan food, and Indian food. The food types are similar but offer different spice/flavor profiles. They have a large section of noodles, soup, and rice. A veggie section with various combos of cauliflower, potatoes, onion, bamboo, blackened peas, mustard greens, and spices. Some of the Indian dishes: paneer butter masala, palak paneer, chicken tikka masala. Some of the appetizers include crispy tofu, fried soybeans, a Nepali snack platter with marinated meat, goat, beef tripe, sliced beef tongue, fried jerky, duck. They also have a momo section. We had their famous chicken lollipops (essentially fried chicken) and it was crispy and spicy (in a good way). We also had sadeko (marinated or tossed) bacon, which was rich and tender. I had one of their Nepali cocktails, which was pleasantly spicy (the chatpata aam, made with tequila, spicy chatpatey syrup, and mango puree). Service was attentive. Inside is cozy, lots of dark wood and colorful flags. They also often have entertainment in the evening, so I would love to return to hear some live music while trying more Nepali cuisine.

A bit overrated and overshadowed by the nice ambiance…read more I may be biased since I've been to Nepal twice and my palate consisted of dal bhat every single day I was there (momos were a luxury on the trek)--which in no way makes me an expert, but the taste and portions were pretty consistently similar among most places. The first time that I came here was about 3 years ago with a few friends and we liked the food - the beef tongue was different and super memorable and the jhol momos were just swimming in flavorful curry. Made me want to come back again. Fast-forward three years later, I feel like things have changed significantly. Or maybe I didn't catch them at their best, but I came with another group of friends and I just felt overall disappointed with the food, as did my friends who were excited to try Himalayan food for the first time. I had the goat dhat bhat and the small amount of meat served in aesthetically pleasing bowls to mask the portion was disappointing--and this was not a lunch special or anything. I mainly got a big bone and realistically got about 2-3 small bites of actual meat, while there was an overwhelming amount of rice and veggies. The momos also tasted like they were pre-made and heated or steamed up again because the dough was definitely a little rough. Overall, this experience was a meh for me. I think it is a social staple for many Nepalese and Tibetans in the area, and just for that.

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Himalayan Yak
Himalayan Yak - Sap thak

Sap thak

Himalayan Yak

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Gaia Masala & Burger

Gaia Masala & Burger

4.7(31 reviews)
1.8 mi•Astoria

The best burger in Astoria! My go to when I need something delicious late at night. No matter when…read moreyou order the burger will be delicious, the fries will be perfectly crispy, and it will be ready in 20 minutes or less. I've never dined in but every interaction I've had with the staff picking up my food has been lovely! Can't recommend this place highly enough.

I came across this spot from other reviews. Sp of course I had to check it out. I actually didn't…read morerealize this if the first Gaia location in NYC. They have other spots in different states like Colorado, San Francisco and Missouri. They seem to do a ton of takeout and delivery. I have to give them credit because the service was reallh great. They accidentally got one of our items wrong, but they handled it really well and gave us free desserts as an apology. Great customer service goes a long way. There was so much on the menu that it took a bit to decide what to order. Everything sounded so good so we ended up getting a few different things to try. The cheese samosa was good and the beef and lamb gyro canzone. Had to try the beef tikka masala burger since that's what they are known for. We got the sauces on the side, which I actually recommend so you can control how much sauce you want. The restaurant was really nice about the mistake and gave us Gulab Jamun for free. Overall, great service and food. I recommend it!

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Gaia Masala & Burger - Inside

Inside

Gaia Masala & Burger - Paneer Tikka Masala Pizza

Paneer Tikka Masala Pizza

Gaia Masala & Burger - Jumbo Philly Cheesesteak

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Jumbo Philly Cheesesteak

Dera Restaurant - indpak - Updated October 2026

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