Called for takeout and asked for lamb daal. They said they were out of lamb until tomorrow, so I opted for chicken daal. Though I was disappointed that I couldn't get lamb, I was not disappointed with the dish. I was asked if I wanted it mild, medium or spicy, and I chose medium. It was just the right amount of spice, so I could still taste the ingredients. The daal was not soupy (yeah!) and was just the right amount of thickness to stick to the chicken. Great flavor and large portion. Friendly and quick service. If I'm ever back in Hallowell, I certainly go back to try the lamb daal. read more

Terribly over cooked & dry chicken Terribly over priced. The town was mobbed, busy and everywhere packed EXCEPT this place. It should have been my sign. Dont eat here !! Bread was badly under cooked also. The portion sizes are great for kids, terrible for a grown adult . Worst Indian food I've ever eaten in my entire life ! read more

I've been driving past this place for a year telling myself I'd go next time, we'll I decided to go today. Looking up the menu online I found it had a great selection of Pakistani/Indian food. And the real treat was this place was affordable! As someone who eats alone fairly often this was great, especially since Indian restaurants tend to be pricier for individuals. Online the menus averaged between $11-$13 per entree ($2.50 for the likes of naan). I was sold. When I got to the place I excitedly walked up and ordered chicken kahari and garlic naan before being told my total was $26. I was expecting a total about $10 less than that. I went ahead and completed the order but I was a bit put off. I found a paper menu taped to a fridge nearby with updated pricing. Items were greatly upped, some even doubling. If consider you going here please use this photo for reference. The food took about 30 minutes to receive, came out piping hot. Overall it was pretty good. Not the best I've had but definitely hit the spot. I didn't finish it all, they give you a decent amount. This place was ok, but I definitely got a "to-go" vibe from the inside. It's just a bummer the prices aren't "to-go" prices. If I'm paying $30 for dinner I'd like to sit down in a decent restaurant. read more

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Definitely one of those "hole-in-the-wall" places that may feel sus at first, but has delicious food. I was worried when I read some of the reviews, but I needn't be. As someone who's eaten a lot of Indian food(mom is Hindu and a chef) I can confidently say that Desi's was some of the best I've had. We got the Butter Chicken, Chicken Tikka Masala, Veggie Samosas, and Garlic Naan. Everything was incredible and packed with flavor. No ingredient skimping here. Does the guy at the front seem somewhat ornery? A bit, as do most in the service industry right now. Is it basically take-out only? Yes. They do have tables to choose from, but everything is given to you in a bag with only paper/plastic eat-ware provided. Does the decor need updating? Depends on who you ask. If you're looking for table service or fine dining, you won't get it here. But if you desire authentic Indian cuisine that tastes like it was made with care, take a chance on this place. Side note: I'm not sure if the owner is the only one who works there, but he was super kind as we left and made sure to ask us how we enjoyed our meal. I will definitely be back. read more

Went a while ago, Fresh, delicious, and happy to see they don't dumb down options to appease bland taste! Will be going again! read more

Me and my girlfriend wanted to try this place out. Walked in at 5:00 Pm we didn't get our food until 6:30. So if you would like to wait in your food forever I highly recommend calling in your food addy before you get there. Super slow never going again. read more

The food was sort of "meh". It was ok but not great. The chicken tikka masala had an odd sweetness to it that I'm not accustom to with other versions. Portions are small for the price. The inside of the restaurant was very dirty, like a bunch of workers came in for lunch and smacked their boots off on the floor. Besides that, the decor and condition of the seating area is not good and needs to be redone. read more

Haven't tried this place since it opened. Made a large takeout order yesterday and was pleasantly surprised. They were out of a few things but here's my take on it. -Samosas were tasty but way too greasy. 2 stars -chicken tikka masala was delicious and chicken very tender. Medium spice was spicy but manageable. 3 stars -chicken Karachi very spicy but delicious. 3 stars -chicken palak was ok. On the bitter side (could use more onion or an acid to lighten/sweeten it a bit) and chicken was very tough. 2 stars -paneer Tikka was great. Slightly on sweet side with low spice but delicious. 4 stars -garlic naan was spot on 4 stars -plain naan was also good. 4 stars read more

Very rude guy at counter and food is disgusting. Better off getting a jar of grocery store curry sauce and dumping it on plain rice.

Love, love, love Desi's Kitchen. They are not shy with the spice. This is a must try place if you're looking for a taste of the Punjab.

Desi Kitchen is a great addition to downtown Hallowell and we're all very excited that they're finally open! That being said, they're still figuring things out, so we should be patient with them in these first few weeks. I was disappointed that they were out of vegetable samosas but they suggested a plain samosa, which was... interesting. It was basically one potato samosa cut open and squished onto a plate of chickpeas, with some yogurt based dressing on it. I'd never had anything like it and it sort of tasted like potato salad. Not bad... but... not what I was expecting. We liked their garlic naan. The Lamb Daal was not my favorite but my son wanted to try it and it was pretty good. My friends ordered Chicken Tikka Masala and Chicken Palak and those dishes were both admittedly better than mine, they both tasted amazing! The rice was somewhat bland compared to typical basmati which in my experience is usually more aromatic and flavorful. The mango lassi was good but I hope they eventually transition from plastic cup to glass for people who are eating in the restaurant. I was impressed, however, that the water was served in wine glasses, which felt classy! The server was very attentive considering how insanely busy the tiny restaurant was. She was clearly swamped but she kept her cool and we were very impressed. We knew it wasn't her fault that it took over an hour to get our food. Thankfully, the long wait was worth it. Not only that, we ended up with leftovers... And they don't use styrofoam!!! They have those black and clear plastic reusable containers. Much better in my opinion because they're reusable and recyclable as well. Great choice! Overall I'm very happy with this place and their food and I really can't wait to go back. I recommend you try this tiny new addition to the downtown Hallowell restaurant scene! read more

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The food wasn't great and when we ordered lamb they didn't have it. The didn't have half of the menu, their fountain machine wasn't working, and the food took an hour to come. When it came, the butter chicken was too sweet and the tikka masala had too much tomato paste. Wouldn't recommend. read more

The worst place I have ever been to, brought me expired soda, the service was terrible, not recommending to anyone

Love the butter chicken and the garlic Naan. Great service, too! Definitely recommend.

Happy to find this place. Ordered sag paneer, which had some sweet flavor to it I'm not used to but was fine when I added some hot pepper. Would not recommend the garlic naan...it is smothered in spices instead of just a nice garlicky butter topping. For me it was too much and I couldn't taste the garlic. There seemed to be one person handling everything and he let me know it would be about 20 minutes which gave me time to stop and have a drink in beautiful Hallowell. read more

Alright Indian restaurant in Hallowell. Lots of indoor seating, but take-out only and eat inside, no outdoor seating. Friendly and nice owners. Palak paneer was good, medium spice, which had a decent amount of heat. Lots of cheese and fresh spinach, good portion. Garlic Naan was excellent, lots of garlic on a buttery Naan bread. Pakoras were good, a tad greasy. But hot and delicious. Samosas were also a bit greasy, but hot and delicious. The chicken Tika Masala was sweet and tasted like honey. Way too sweet and very greasy. Mango Lassi was very good, perfect blend of mango and sweetness. The atmosphere was nonexistent, only people in restaurant or ordering was us. The interior was very old chain restaurant looking with token Indian flags etc. They could have used some Indian music or something. All you could hear was the owner on the phone speaking Indian. Prices were the same as a fancy Indian restaurant, just expect the same interior and service. They had a self service soda machine, which was not in use, it just makes the place less fancy and more togo at sit down prices. If the review was soley based on the majority of food quality, it would be 4 stars, but overall 3 stars, maybe 3 1/2. read more

Ordered take out yesterday. We had a variety of veg and meat based food- butter chicken, lamb Kadai, saag paneer. Please save your money and eat elsewhere. Food was quite disappointing. Chicken was very sweet and the lamb very tough and extremely sour. The kadai sauce was not developed in the flavor at all. Loaded with tomatoes and skimped on the masalas. Naan was the worst. They didn't even prepare it but rather served a miserable excuse of some store made bread. People who haven't had decent Indian/Pakistani food might find them ok but please, dear central Mainah, don't think that this restaurant represents how the desi cuisine is! read more

The food is pretty good. However the prices on the website are $2-$3 lower than the price that they charge you for each entrée. Also, the owner is not very friendly read more

I've been to Desi Kitchen many times now, and the food I've had has been delicious. The serving sizes are generous, the pricing is fair, and I'll be back often. read more

Finally on the west side of the Kennebec there is a Pakistani/Indian joint! I spent years in west philly, an Indian food haven back then, so I have always been a bit critical of Indian food in Maine and have often been disappointed. This place is spartan but clean. The friendly owner made an appearance to say hello and see if we had questions. He said the chef had restaurants in NYC and outside Philly before moving here. The owner and chef are originally from the same hood in Lahore. The menu looked interesting with mostly lamb, chicken and a nice vegetarian selection, of course, and I believe it is halal. I only had time to sample the chicken curry and choley masala and it really was the best curry I've had in Maine. The service was a bit slow and not too helpful but pleasant. Being in Maine I naturally asked for extra spicy and it was a nice heat. Garlic naan was a bit dry. There was no papadum or chapati and they were out of pakora. Otherwise for the day after opening it is a good start and much needed for some international spice in the capital area. read more

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Tried it last night for the first time. So stoked to have Indian/Pakistani joint in town. We ordered takeout. It took a long time, but food was worth the wait. Everything is cooked to order in a tiny kitchen. We had chicken tika masala and vegetarian daal (lentils). Both medium spiced. Just the right amount of heat for me, but a bit much for my wife. Both come with huge portions of rice. We ordered a side of plain naan, which was excellent. A bit heavier style of naan than I've had, but it had great flavor and texture. Maybe it's more a Pakistani-style? Menu is very intriguing and I believe they plan to add more items and also offer a buffet shortly. Exciting to another great food option in the area. I predict they will do well here and may need to expand soon. There are only five or six tables and a small bar area next to the window. Tip: If you order takeout, be prepared to wait an hour if it's busy. It's a brand new restaurant. When I was there, a lot of customers who were waiting for to-go orders, left their phone #s with the manager and went to grab a beer at one of Hallowell's many watering holes. They apparently had the manager call them when their order was ready. Good option if you don't want to wait on site. read more

The menu is small. However they did a good job on my chicken curry and my husband's butter chicken meals. They were timely on getting the order ready. Garlic naan was delicious! It is worth giving it a try! read more

been coming to desi kitchen since they opened and had to write a review when I saw some of the haters on here. this is good Pakistani food. the owner is a good man but he doesn't go above and beyond on customer service. i wish that their soda machine was fixed and that they had a better dine in experience but were in central Maine and I will take what I can get. I've lived in many different places and the palak paneer from desi kitchen is perhaps the best that I've ever had- at least it is my favorite that I've ever had. do yourself a favor and try it read more

One of our favorite restaurants in the area. My boyfriend wants to go every other day practically. The chicken curry is excellent. I love the rice too, it's delicious on its own! You can't go wrong. read more

It pains me to write a negative review of a new restaurant. Every place has growing pains and off-nights. But Desi Kitchen was not even trying, or didn't know how to, and it showed. There was one other couple eating when we got there. The waitress, a local woman who didn't know much about the menu, greeted us promptly. My partner asked for decaf tea. The waitress asked one of the two men who were sitting at a table, probably the owner and a cook. She brought a pouch with a teabag in it and a cup of hot water. We ordered garlic naan, onion pakoras, a rice and chicken dish and chicken with spinach. The two men went into the kitchen to cook our supper. The naan had been tortured in a hot pan while being run under a broiler. The poor thing came to us burnt and tasted of...well, not of garlic. We ate some and sent the rest back. Two vegetable samosas appeared instead of the pakoras. I told the waitress that wasn't what I had ordered. She was nonplussed, but she brought them back. Pakoras were off tonight, she said when she returned from the kitchen. My partner's biryani chicken tasted fine, and there was a lot of it. She enjoyed it. My chicken palak came smothered in spinach. I ordered it medium spicy which is how it came. It was very, VERY salty, and the meat was dry. The rice was fine. We agreed that the water was delicious. To give the place its due, it was clean, as clean as the lunch room in an insurance office, and with the same bright lighting. Paki-Bollywood played loudly on a TV that was placed so high that it strained the neck to watch it. The overall impression: better you order takeout from some other Indo-Pak restaurant and eat it at home. read more

Nicely Done ! Great new place on the downtown of Hallowell. The place is small. Two booths and 3 tables, with some counter space over looking the sidewalk. The service was attentive and friendly. The food was really great. I had the Chicken Biryani (medium spiced) and my friend had the Chicken Tikka Masala ( mild spiced). We also had the Samasa Chatt and the Vegtanle Samosa. They were both very, very good. Every bite was seasoned and fragrant. We also had the garlic Naan which was garlic abundant! Yuuumm. Keep it up and cant wait for the Buffett! I enjoyed my food so much I forgot to take pictures...( Next time of which will happen soon). read more

Well the food is mostly Pakistani food/Afghan food. There really isn't much of a difference. The Indian food is ok at best. I can't in good faith rate the food above a 2. The restaurant itself is even lower rated in my opinion it's at best a 1.5. read more

I have been eating Indian/Pakistani food pretty much whole my life (58+ years) in Japan, Singapore, UK, and many other places in the US. Curry is a very popular dish in Asia and each Asian countries have their own versions of curry. As you know, India and Pakistan used to be a same country under British rule, and there are many variations of curry for each regions of India. The Indian cuisine seems to be largely different between north and south in India, and I can definitely tell that the food served here is northern India/Pakistani style. I have tried several Indian restaurants in Augusta/Waterville area and it is very obvious that this place is the winner. I can tell all the curries are made from scratch and to me very tasty and addictive. My wife and I have to eat their curry at least once a week now. I am so glad that this place opened in walking distance from my place. I understand that they are having hard time finding reliable wait staffs and some people got turned off from that, but hey the food is great! That is most important thing to me when I go out to eat. I also agree that their naan was dry and not so great, so we have been just ordering curries! All the curries we tried were GREAT! Also we tried both Masala Chai and Mango Lassie for drinks and both were great! I hope they get more help and keep going so that my wife and I can continue to enjoy this great curry they make! read more

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I really wanted to like this place, as I live in Hallowell and was excited to see them open up. Unfortunately, there seems to be no way to actually get food from Desi Kitchen. The last three times I have called they have been entirely out of food or out of everything I wanted to order. This is confusing given their already very limited menu. I have given up and will stick with Mughal Palace across the river. read more

By far one of the best Indian/Pakistani places around. Friendly staff and a beautiful restaurant. The prices are more than fair for the amount of food you get. I would recommend this restaurant. Eating here brought back some good memories of the delicious foods I've eaten in the Middle East. read more

Desi Kitchen - Indian Near Me - Hallowell, Maine

I am giving 5 stars based on my 1st entree-Lamb Daal-& experience. Wonderful meal, the naan is a bit different yet really good, only thicker & more doughy than I have experienced overseas but then again, expecting all America's burgers to taste the same would be a terrible thing. The experience was pleasant, I was not rushed to eat or to close my tab & the service was spaced out adequately. read more

Since they opened a couple years ago, Desi Kitchen has made consistently good Pakistani/Indian food. I think it is basically one guy, who obviously cares very much about the food. The spicing is very well done and the ingredients high quality. His paneer might be the best I've ever had, soft and tender, and very flavorful. Unlike the dense stuff you get at some Indian restaurants. The only reason I gave the restaurant 4 stars Vs 5 is that he is quite slow. Plan on at least an hour and best to order ahead, especially for take out. read more

Finally a great Indian restaurant near us! We stopped for a yummy hot chai tea, Chole Masala, fresh hot naan and the only thing that would make this experience better is if more people were there! Desi Kitchen is terrific, please go, support ethnic foods in central Maine and enjoy! read more

My husband and I ate there for dinner and will definitely go back. The restaurant is spotless, price is reasonable, staff is friendly, and the chef even came to our table to make sure we liked our food, which was delicious. read more

Excellent curry. I would recommend for take out. The service, waitress was so horrible. I will never return to sit in again.

Outstanding! Possibly the best Indian food we've had in years -- and we eat at many Indian restaurants. Flavorsome and spiced with delicate nuances. The lamb actually tasted like lamb and not some anonymous meat. Okra dish was unusual and scrumptious. And, if such things matter to you, the bathroom was immaculate. Worth a trip to Hallowell read more

Love this new place! Really reasonable in pricing We like the chicken sheesh kebab, gyro and shwrna. The food is great but they are really understaffed and it takes awhile to get food. I gave them a 5 because it's authentic read more

This was wonderful. Authentic menu offerings, polite and attentive staff, flavorful food and clean.

The chicken shawarma was amazing and the flavors were unreal. You can tell the cooking comes from the heart.

Super slow service. Overwhelmed clueless staff. Food was a mess, not what we ordered, and not good either.