Haandi continues to surprise and delight me. The consistency of food, the tall slim cheery man who helps so many people by giving them a bit extra. The fact that the curries are actually cooked in the gravy properly and marinated. Not five different gravies and pieces of fish, chicken, lamb etc that are then just quickly flash fried. Best to go in the evenings and any day of the week except Tuesday and Wednesday which are the nice mans evenings off. Find the lady there in the day time tense and stressed which then rubs on the back of house team and the larger rotund gentlemen who is the owner doesn't have the same passion for food in the way the usual man does. As referred to in my original review he trained in London. read more

Amazing food. Loved everything on the menu. Super clean and fresh food. I loved it. Must try if you are in Manhattan.

Nice inexpensive lunch buffet. 10.00, no tax or tip. The food here is quite a bit less spiced than Dhaba but it's still OK. The dishes were a mix of OK to good. Nothing extraordinary or notable but it got the job done. read more

Like Affordable food Good portions Seating space Tasty food Don't like No food labels Ordering process is slow read more

Haandi - Meat platter - choice of two meat curries, one veggie curry served with naan and salad - Indian Near Me - New York, New York

Great food. But the cleainess is a concern for sure. But yeah, nothing fancy tastes good. read more

Haandi - Lachha paratha, sesame seeds naan - Indian Near Me - New York, New York

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well lets start of with ambiance 4/10. Food 6/10 Cost 7/10. In a nutshell typical desi joint if you are passing by and have no other choice in the neighborhood you might as well grab a bite. read more

I came here post pandemic and it was bustling as ever. Food is authentic and delicious. I highly recommend

Pros: Hearty Biryani (quite authentic) Good chai Decent Price Cons: Most food is made in bulk and heated up when you order (Fast Food culture?) Customer service is apalling (most South Asians - Indians, Bangladeshis, etc. may be used to this level in a streetside eatery) Packing of to-go orders leaves a lot to be desired. Go if you don't mind a hole in the wall place with good food, especially during lunch hours. If you go later in the day you may get reheated food from the morning hours. read more

Used to be one of my favorite cheap places to eat buffet style Indian food. We often would go there for a date with my husband. As it often happens, over the years, the quality of food started gradually decline. At first, beef and lamb curry disappeared, then cheese curry became a rarity. Remaining dishes are still of very good quality. My favorite is their chickpeas curry. A very big turn off is ungodly dirty rest rooms:( read more

I don't usually give 5 stars for INDIAN restaurant because most of them taste just the same. This place is quite the authentic like you drop off in India or Pakistan. The place is buzzing with the taxi driver and local people. I tried their lamb curry with chicken Chapli combo with rice and some kind of potatoes with chicken crab cakes. I add the ockra and of course Naan included all for $9 cash only. The foods is just like you are one in India very authentic so if you are reading my review now you should be on the way there. Cheers read more

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It's amazing food .. we used to go there, every time the food is so good , so delicious the rice , chicken biryani ,vegetables kebab amazing all the time .. the prices are very good and reasonable , and the guy who is working there is such a nice guy .. i recommend it to you specially if u r very hungry read more

Haandi - Chicken tandoori - Indian Near Me - New York, New York

On the way home on a weeknight, I wanted to try somewhere new and opted for take-out. Haandi appeared clean, open, and accepting credit cards. Plus, I wanted to take a break from ordering from my old stand by, Curry in a Curry. I think that I made a terrible mistake in doing so. It was a sweet deal with three entrees; one meat and two vegetable dishes. This also comes with salad and rice for about $8. Not a problem. But, once I got the food home, it was so bland that I became uninterested within a few bites and put it in the refrigerator, never to be seen again until it goes into the trash can. The shredded chicken in cream curry sauce just tasted like canned chicken soup slop. read more

this is the cabbies hang out spot. You know what they say that cabbies know all the good spots to grab a quick byte Quick Pakistani and true to its flavor, so a Pakistani friend said. I love the Naan and the rice with 2 meats. Cheap and plentiful. Its not a fancy place to eat, its just for a quick meal. Most people eat the traditional way (with their hands) so if that makes you feel uncomfortable, please dont go. Only 2 non Pakistani's there the day we went for lunch and i was one of them. I love the flavors and the amount of food that its served. they also have a buffet for 9.99. read more

Visited Haandi twice; once for their lunch buffet and another for dinner. The foods were good & cheap ($9.99), but it was not the best Indian food I have ever eaten. Their lunch buffet (downstairs) offers a variety of foods, such as chicken biryani, basmati rice, chicken tikka masala, chicken tandoori, other chicken dishes, daal, salad, spinach dish, some other vegetable dishes, samosas, naan bread, etc. The restaurant was not at the best state (did not look that clean), but for $9.99 it was good enough to forgo that part and come here to satisfy one's hunger and cravings. Nothing special to mention about the dinner part. Some of the things served during their lunch buffets were also served for dinner. read more

I've eaten here for both lunch buffet and dinner. Its a good quick fix if you're in neighborhood and need to rush. Lunch is $10 buffet downstairs while upstairs have platters between $6-$8. The taste is just above par but some times its not even that. The quality of food varies from day to day so its pretty hit or miss. It's great if you need to rush in and out, otherwise there are plenty of better choices a few feet away. read more

The food here is so good and flavored so well with spices! But it is definitely no high-end restaurant. It feels like a messy cafeteria, full of delicious indian food that will be heated up for you on a platter. Unfortunately, my platter wasn't heated for too long because the line was crazy in front of me. Despite that, the food was still very good! I really enjoyed the rice and all the meats were very well marinated and flavored. This place is definitely not the cleanest. Nor is the there any existing service because it really is like being served at a cafeteria. However, the food is good and super super cheap. You'll definitely get full and receive a lot more food than you can finish! read more

Haandi - Tons of food for the meat platter!! - Indian Near Me - New York, New York

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Went there today for the Lunch buffet and only 2 people ahead of me online. I placed my order from the buffet counter and the employee placed my dish in a microwave then walked away. I waited a good 5-10 minutes by the sign that says "Pick up here and Pay here". The employee never came back to pull the dish from the microwave and immediately started serving other customers. Then a couple arrived behind me and immediately got there food serve to them before I even got my dish which was waiting. I just told the employee nevemind and walked out. Never again will I visit this place read more

Was craving spicy Pakistani food so I just ate there two days ago. The place had a ton of people in it and there were people waiting on line. Service was decent with a runner to deliver your food and of course the main person behind the counter taking the orders and heating everything up. The quality of the naan and the rice and vegetable dishes were great. The lamb or beef whichever one it was that I had was stale, hard, and way overcooked, and I left most of it on the plate. Like almost all Pakistani and Bangladeshi places most of the dishes are brimming with oil. In the end when I tried to pay, he said the credit card machine was broken although they had no notice whatsoever and they ran out of two deserts that I wanted, again without any notice whatsoever. I would go back to this place if I was in the area but ONLY if I was in the area and really craving Pakistani food. I would stick with the vegetable choices next time. read more

I CANNOT BELIEVE I ATE HERE. *C grade for sanitation. I CANNOT BELIEVE I ATE HERE. Ok now that I got that out of my system, here's the deal. Despite not wanting to go because ewww I'm so happy I ate here. My friend and I were searching for a Bengali place as it was Eid and we work in midtown so couldn't go far for lunch. She wanted to try food that heralded her memories of her Bengali grandmother and childhood memories of Eid. I wanted sawaine (a cold milky noodle raisin thing we have in my native country at Eid). So we opted for Hanndi as it is homey and there were taxi drivers there and it was the only bengal-ish place open. I the ambience is awesome. You line up and try to place your order with the Spanish speaking guy who doesn't know a lot of the words so gets help from what may be the owner? The line is long but moves slowly and that's part of the charm. Several pot bellied taxi drivers eat cafeteria style and the food on their plate looks awesome and homey. According to my friend, it feels like Bangladesh which is awesome. And I didn't see any roaches which is also awesome (decided not to check out the bathroom) So we got a platter of something for $8.99, haleem (a stew that's curried lentils with chicken), whole wheat paratha, samosas, sawaine, and aloo paratha. And yum. I didn't touch the platter as I don't like goat meat but my friend said it was meh but comforting. The haleem was the yummiest thing there. The chicken was basically melted into the curried lentils and there was a mildly spicy afterkick. The whole wheat nan was buttery but somehow managed to be a bit dry throughout but made for good dipping in the haleem. The sawaine was perfection- cold, fresh, mildly sweet and flavorful. We had water and that was plentiful- you basically fill a pitcher yourself and use the small plastic cups that are on each table. Ugh I just remembered that if you take your food to stay they heat it up in plastic containers in a microwave. it's a bit strange that they don't keep the food hot. But meh. When in Rome and all that. read more

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Guys don't believe the ratings of non desi or ABCDs here, they don't know anything about the taste of actual desi food. I have been to desi restaurants in east and west coast, this is hands down the best Pakistani food you could find which is actually comparable to restaurants back home. I live in California and there is not a single restaurant which serves even decent desi food. I had my stay in NY for 3 days and I ate here several times with my Pakistani friend, who approved of this place like me. All the food we ordered was really good - karahi gosht, kababs, nihari paye, chikkar chole etc. My first priority to visit NY next time would be this place and not times square or some other tourist destination. PS - If you are looking for healthy food don't come here. Desi food is not healthy. read more

*****WARNING PLEASE READ THIS**** This is hands down the dirtiest and filthiest restaurant in all of NYC. I knew walking in that it was all going to go downhill but my fat stomach did the decision making and the meat platter made it tempting. That sign is the devil in disguise and it lured me in......I'm doing a confessional first thing in the AM. Let me first start with the table which pretty much all of them had dirt and left over food from the previous diners. When I requested the guy for a wipe down, his first response was " I already cleaned" and then had to personally show him pieces of lettuce, carrots, rice.....once again the devil said it will be ok just try the food. So we got the meat platter and boneless chicken bihari......now the platter was so so, just a bunch of cold food warmed in the microwave. Nothing is freshly made here except the Nan, but one day I think they'll throw that in the wave as well. When it came to the boneless chicken it was a matter of utter sickness. The chicken had a very very foul odor, like spoiled and undercooked, knowing that is a no no when it comes to the bird I went to the counter and asked to return or get something else....Holy shit I was told "once you order no returns....but the food smells and is spoiled...."doesn't matter you already ordered"....seriously where is NYC dept of Health when you need them. It was a loss of money but I'm glad I can warn future consumers to be very very very very careful of this place. read more

On this visit I ordered the Nihari, which is a beef stew, with big chunks of tender beef and a spicy yet in this case oily sauce. We had the Nihari with tandoori roti and naan, and finished off our meal with Kashmiri tea. This place is a hole in the wall, so expect a crowd of taxi drivers and dirty cramped tables. There's one bust boy who wipes down the tables and brings out your food and that's about it for service. You order at the counter, pay and look for a table to sit at. It's definitely not the most comfortable place to eat. The Nihari, I was told was made fresh, it was served with ginger, chili peppers, and onions. Unfortunately they had no lemon or limes. Overall I thought the Nihari was okay, it wasn't fragrant and the meat wasn't melting of the bone but it was good, I found the sauce to be more oily than I prefer but the taste was also okay. With all the indian/Pakistani places to explore I wouldn't come here again for nihari, but I will come back to try other dishes. The Kashmiri tea was nice, pink, milky and sweet. It tasted like kheer a bit. It totally killed my sweet tooth. read more

Haandi - Busy Sunday evening - Indian Near Me - New York, New York

Worst! Got chicken biryani yesterday, and ended up puking the entire night and woke up extremely sick. Might even be a case of food poisioning. Please avoid! read more

This is my favorite go to place after drinks and I felt imperative to write a review and support this legendary spot. Best spinach is served here ... Period. Beef nihari is tender and succulent.. read more

Haandi - Vegeterian platter! - Indian Near Me - New York, New York

Amazing amazing Pakistani food!!!! Casual spot but 10/10 food. Chicken Biryani is a must try

The canned coke was the only highlight of the meal. This is ridiculous. Pakistani food this is not. It's a watered down tasteless hot mess parading as the food I grew up on. Nihari looked and tasted like boring pieces of beef in a tasteless oily soup, the kababs were half cooked, the naan were terrible, the plate that had the ersatz chicken karahi smelled of whatever was served in it before, the chicken tikke most likely never even saw the inside of an actual tandoor oven. All this was served with old and curdling raita, and a pathetic looking salad. The awful hospital lighting and greasy tables weren't charming either. If you want even halfway decent Pakistani food you must have it in peoples' houses. Avoid this embarrassingly sad excuse for a restaurant. read more

If you like Pakistani grilled meats, then you simply can't beat the $9.99 special here which gets you two kinds of meats, a veggie option, rice, salad and a naan bread. Get the keema kebab (minced meat kebab) in particular, spicy and moist. The mango lassi is also very good. I was craving a taste of home and the curries here have that home-style cooking flavor down-pat. Filled with Pakistani and Bangladeshi cab drivers, I could understand some of the Bengali and Urdu being spoken which was cool. Most people come here for pick up and take out since there really isn't a lot of tables here and what spots there are, are filled with the cab drivers. For sweets, go downstairs. There's a whole display of Indian sweetmeats like Ras Malai, Gulab Jamun, Jalebi, Laddu and Rasgulla. I didn't try the Kashmiri tea but having had it before in Bangladesh and India, I imagine, it's pretty good here. Also they have Indian breakfast options like Paratha Bread (stuffed bread, which could be stuffed with minced meat, potatoes, sweets or cheese). read more

The platters (combos) here are probably the best deals you can get in the city quantity wise. Highlights are the cabbage curry and the palak. The Samosas are legit. Only gripe is that one of the guys at the counter (he's not Indian) won't let you pay when you get your food, even when you're the only person at the counter. Thus by the time you're ready to leave, you have to wait in another line. Last thing you want to do when you're done eating. The Indian guy who works the counter is always 1st class though and speeds you on your way without a problem. Also expect to see empty tables not cleared of waste. Flies will congregate in warmer months (Not the place to go for ambiance) All that said, I've eaten here over 30 times so for me the upside has been worth the down. read more

I would have stuck with 3 stars for their food variety and decent staff that is nice and attentive to their customers. Yes, their food options are plenty and their buffet is a great deal but the cleanliness leaves a lot to be desired. While my friend came for the buffet and he sat down for his meal, I was not hungry much and opted to get some dessert. I chose the ras malai and after taking 2 bites, realized a hair strand coming out of the dessert. Instantly, lost my appetite and went back to the counter. Even though it was only $3 or so, it wasn't about the money. the hispanic server saw it and called over 3 of his friends working in the kitchen to confirm that yes it was a hair stuck inside the ras malai. They offered me an alternative, 2-3 pieces of mithai for this, but when I tried to eat that, it was rock hard cold. Had to leave that at their counter, and gave up on them for the day. I do like their shammi kababs, rest leaves a lot to be desired. read more

Up a flight of stairs to a few low-key tables and an ordering counter. There was some indecisive guy ahead of me, speaking to the worker in Indian (I think) about the various current offerings. I was just looking to get a couple Samosas to go...they were fairly good. BUT, they were room temperature. That was a disappointment. Guy could have warned me & suggested that he could put them in the oven for a couple minutes. As others noted, you might catch food that has been sitting around for a long time, so be forewarned. Nice people though. read more

Got sick with severe food poisoning, stomach pressure pains, and runny stool for most of the night from my meal at Haandi Buffet, and will not patronize again. Something was either not cooked right, was stored or refrigerated incorrectly, or maybe sat too long. Also very concerned about unsanitary practices at Haandi, as I saw at least 4 different customers re-use their existing food plates when they went up for seconds or thirds. So the communal serving utensils came in direct contact with the already consumed food and eaten-off plates of these and who knows how many other patrons, posing a serious health risk. I thought I would take a break from Curry in a Hurry across the street. But I've never gotten sick from anything I've eaten at Curry in a Hurry, which was not the case here. I'm highly dissatisfied! read more

Delicious food! I've been to Masalawa and Lahore for Indian food, and Haandi is better IMO. There's two levels of seating, you order with one of the guys behind the buffet, and the waiter brings you the food. They go by the honor system so you pay at the end of your meal. We ordered the lamb biryani, meat platter, chai tea, and gulab jaman for dessert, and everything was authentic and delicious! The spicy yogurt white sauce was the perfect amount of spicy for someone who doesn't eat spicy foods often...and the lamb was well seasoned! They give you heaping portions for less than $10! Service was fast and friendly, great food, extremely affordable prices, will definitely be back to try everything else on their menu! read more

Hits the spot every single time!!!! Been going to this hole in the wall Pakistani restaurant for 20+ years. Every time I'm back in the city, I make a special trip to Haandi for the amazing experience. Food turnover is high, so everything is fresh. You don't go here for the service...just the food. Highly recommended! read more

Went by one day as I saw their meat platter offer for only $8.99 and thought I would give it a try. Included in the meal was 2 meat dishes, 1 veggie, naan and also salad. The service here is excellent, but the food isn't likewise. The naan was dry, the salad not crisp and the dishes not as tasty as they could be. I guess you get what you pay for! read more

Haandi - Meat platter deal - Indian Near Me - New York, New York

This place looks super unhygienic. Biryani was horrible. Chicken karahi was still acceptable.

The food is 3 but the staff at the counter are 1 star max. Very unfriendly and inflexible with new customers. I asked politely several times to give the curry that comes with the platter in a separate small container (to take away) rather than mixing everything in one container with rice as my dad likes to eat curry with naan and not rice. But the guy refused everytime. Have no idea why it's such a big deal for them. The food isn't much better than others in the area so won't be returning. read more

Great buffet and good selection for the price. Ordered to go sheesh kabob and naan and really enjoyed having the kabob rolls while driving back to DC from NY. I will always visit this place without doubt. read more

Great food at a most affordable price. Service is great, as I went with no expectations. Very flavorful curries. Mango lassi, not cold but very tasty. Fantastic place for after hour food. I will be back. read more

Haandi - Indian Near Me - New York, New York

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guys...this place is disgusting... come on. Really? I mean its one thing for food to be cheap. But a.) kinda terrifying to look at. the meat looks like its been hanging out there for days. I would feel more confident eating pani puri off the street in India. b.) they advertise Kashmiri tea. I dont know why they do. its not Kashmiri tea, its pink hot milk with a spoon of pistachios c.) they microwave it infront of you...take the risk on the veg dishes fine... but it proves my point as to question how long your meat has been sitting out there. no idea why there is a line here. Was I there on a bad night? Maybe I have to be drunk? read more

Good value-for-money! There is a concept in economics "to leave money on the table", well the consumer surplus is well evident here. This is simply because their target audience is the cabdriver community. The management thus price their food to fit the wallets of the cabbies and thus anyone else can get a great deal here. I would suggest to stick with the Tandoor items - the Tikkas, Kebabs are very good. The curry dishes are oily and no match for those at a good Indian restaurant. But the Tandoor items and the warm Naans (bread) rock! Don't expect the meat to be rare or pink. It is inevitably "Very" well done, not just medium well The decor would match that of a roadside restaurant in Pakistan, which means nothing but a few chairs and even a long communal table. A good alternative would be to pick up the food and microwave at home. Service is rushed particularly at peak hours, but it always amuses me that the cashier inevitably rounds 'down' the already meager bill by a buck or so at the time of payment. As the food is really spicy, I recommend ending the meal with Kheer, the rice pudding that usually trumps all other (South Asian) rice puddings in the city. Update (06/04): Downgraded Haandi for inconsistent quality, lately. read more