Late night chai at this place is the bomb.com ! This had to be an octane rating of 93 because I walked 7 miles thereafter with my friend and still couldn't go straight to bed ! Classic hole in the wall spot so you know they're gonna have amazing food. Will be trying their food this week. read more

Great atmosphere and hospitality. They also have a masjid so you don't miss prayers if you stop there. Food is affordable and tasty.

Food is okay if you are in serious need of Halal food ,they will warm it for you in microwave at your arrival since it is sitting in a food display. They need a serious cleaning specialy in their restroom which is abosultely messy and egregious main floor is also dirty ,ambiance of this place is really bad. Only good thing is the person serving on the counter is very kind and friendly and trying to help customers. read more

I ordered delivery from this place (Mutton Curry and Vegetable Samosas). Sorry to say that it was terrible and inedible. The samosa is basically a fritter with nothing but batter. The mutton curry is a stew of fat pieces of lamb. It all went to garbage after one bite. And I vomited what I ingested. read more

The staff were super hospitable and the food was absolutely delicious. Goat curry was a highlight, and naan and rice are served in generous portions. Come to Tabaq and they will take care of you like their own. Very homey space, it seems like there are plenty of regulars! Some of the best curry in Chicago read more

This is definitely a no frills kind of place, but almost too much for my liking. I was a bit unsettled when I saw the staff prepare my food on a plate and then walk directly to the microwave to heat it up. I ordered the tilapia and my friend ordered the chicken curry. We both didn't finish our food. There was some flavor to the meal but not much. However, Tabaq is in a good location in Near North/Cabrini area not far from the Target. read more

Tabaq Restaurant - Pakistani Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Food not freshly cooked, on complaint front desk staff rudely advised speak Urdu name Khalid

Excellent food and customer service. This restaurant has a desi dhaba vibe and I wouldn't go here with my 'upscale' friends. Nevertheless, you can always carry out - they have large portions. The best part is ample parking in the adjacent parking lot. read more

We called tabaq restaurant at 9.20pm ,40 mins before the restaurant closes to place our order from our Uber.The manager told us they have only few options and sit down was closed already so only Togo was an option.We agreed to chicken biryani,dal,naan and chicken Tikka but everything to our surprise was frozen and cooked long back once we picked it.The food was stale and upset our tummy,would not recommend to anyone.There was no salan or yogurt with biryani and chicken breast was frozen,cold and made long back.He only gave us one naan for the order of $40 bucks.Overall half hearted attempt to satisfy customers and poor services. read more

Super casual/cabbie spot open 24/7 in Lincoln park serving pretty decent desi food. This is not a place you come to for a date or a proper dinner but if you're craving Indian food after a night out/clubbing in DT or especially for a take out..come right over. Some dishes are made in a buffet style so you can order straightaway, otherwise there's a whole menu like the norm. It's easier to get it off the buffet and I believe it is freshly prepared because its quite a busy place. Chicken curry tastes just like home, mango lassi is alright, paranthas are amazing and piping hot, kulfi is great. My go to is their anda parantha (omlette attached to the bread) and Chai. I don't understand why take out dishes are like a dollar or so more expensive than to dine in..that's a little weird but not the biggest issue. The staff has always been super friendly to me, I've been here so many times that I've made friends with the Uncle behind the counter, sometimes we share our Punjab stories...My Indian Punjab & his Pakistan Punjab. Overall, neat, solid, inexpensive spot! read more

Tabaq Restaurant - Pakistani Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We came here for a late dinner after a comedy show at Second City and it was a VERY good decision. Ample helpings, flavorful dishes, and lots of options. I love lamb in general, especially in South Asian cuisine so the mutton curry was naturally my order. The friendly mustachioed man behind the counter scooped a heaping pile of rice on my plate. With the rice almost pouring over the sides, he jokingly asked, "more?" and I seriously replied "yes absolutely." After the mile-high plateful of rice from a huge vat, the gentleman popped it in the microwave. Since Tabaq is open 24/7, I imagine they only cook one vat of rice per day and heat it up for customers as the day goes on. Instead of rice, you can also choose chapatti with your dish, but I wanted something able to soak up all of the sauce. When you approach the counter, you will see all the dishes du jour. My friends ordered the chicken kabob and the spicy frontier chicken. With my mutton curry, I requested a sample of dal which was given for free. You will also get a side salad, which from Yelp pictures can range anywhere from green lettuce and tomatoes, to lettuce/onion/jalapeños (what I had). We had a larger group, so the man behind the counter told us we can close out after we finished eating. I made sure to grab a yogurt drink from the fridge (do it) and my dining companions also grabbed a mango yogurt drink. When you step inside, it's almost like a different world. Male cabbies, college students, men discussing business or individuals taking a break for a quick meal. My friends compared this, endearingly, to a spot you'd easily find in New York. As a bonus: If you need air freshener for your car, a phone charger or perhaps a SIM card, you can also purchase these items from a glass case by their front window. I wouldn't mind eating here again, and I would most likely get take-out next time so I could heat up the food even more. Heating the curry or dal over the stove and served piping hot is my ideal, so having the food barely warm is the only reason for the 4 stars. Otherwise, my highlights here are the mutton curry and the yogurt drink. read more

Tabaq Restaurant - mutton curry with rice and a side of dal. - Pakistani Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Pretty straight forward simple food place. It's cafeteria style in that you go up to the counter and see what they are featuring already made and select from there. Goat biryani was really good and naans made the chicken curry taste really good. Economical meal basically with no frills. read more

Great restaurants for authentic Indian Pako food. Great for iftar and they have a masjid inside for prayers. read more

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Best Home Made Food in Chicago Downtown area .. Love there BBQ and Goat Palou .. Very Friendly Stuff

The real deal! Frontier chicken is the best! We'll be ordering again and again! Delicious

Just bought a nihari, chicken Karahi and goat biryani. To say the Nihari was weird is an understatement. It was a coagulated, flavorless, inedible mess. The 2 beef morsels were edible, but the gravy was a WTF moment. Chicken karahi was not bad - edible. The biryani was badd. Looked like a few weeks old dry rice was hastily mixed with some goat pieces. This was NOT a biryani. Terrible terrible terrible. The owner should be ashamed for putting such food out. Embarrassing. read more

Huge let-down. I ordered a delivery it arrived 20 mins late, so I ended up waiting more than an hour. I got mutton biryani. The portion was huge but the taste was terrible. Can easily tell that there weren't a lot of spices used, the meat tasted bland. Will never order biryani from here again read more

Tabaq Restaurant - Pakistani Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

"Hole in the wall" are my kind as there is no need to follow dress codes or make reservations,only just showing up when u feel like eating.Simple n Quick. Went around 12.30 am and not too many people. Straight to counter but Mutton Biryani was not available hence ordered Biryani rice and mutton curry that came along with rice.Naan was so fresh and mutton curry was decent and not too spicy.Biryani rice was ok but not great.Friend ordered Gulab Jamun which was hard as it was not fresh.For me Chai is a must when visiting these kind of places.Order at counter and serve yourself.As most places,the quantity is huge.Nothing to talk much on the decor. If you crave for Indian style Food after a pub crawl,this is one nearby option to downtown but if you think you can travel a bit then definitely Devon is the place. Go check out yourself read more

Tabaq Restaurant - Biryani rice with Mutton curry.Salad n Mint chutney - Pakistani Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We used to order from tabaq all the time few years ago, it is not the same anymore, they got our deliveryborder wrong, sent us a day old fish and when we try to call telling them they sent the wrong order no one answers read more

Ugh. I became fond of frontier chicken years ago when I was introduced to the dish at Sabri Nehari on Devon. What Tabaq asks you to accept bears no resemblance to that. Tabaq's was dry and with spicing that was all heat and no flavor. Served with an unappetizing pile of shredded iceberg lettuce and onion and a so-so nan but no rice. With a tolerable lassi -- over twenty bucks. I could have done better with a grocery store dumpster. read more

As long as you know coming in that you are walking into a legit dive (as in--take your parents somewhere else), Tabaq is a solid cheap eats entry in the Near North/Cabrini Green area that is clearly favored by cops and cab drivers from all over the 'hood. I tried the mutton biryani with nan last week, and for $12 it was definitely enough food for two adults. The rice was amazingly flavorful and the mutton was very tender...although, a lot like a run to the Goose Island Shrimp House, be ready to dig out some bones with your mutton or chicken since these guys get meats on the cheap. The space is totally fine if you dive often; but, this isn't the best place to take the friend that usually prefers his/her space as squeaky-clean as the local Corner Bakery. For the price, I'm totally fine with that! read more

The food was very good. Butter Chicken and Chicken Masala. Both were good. However, HIGH prices!!! $13 for a small bowl of chicken. No rice or vegetables. Just a small bowl of chicken. WAY TOO EXPENSIVE No menu. Just go up to the counter and point. Why not have a regular menu where customers can choose and get freshly prepared food? No table service. read more

The typical hold in the wall in the hEart of Chicago... "you like lamb"" it's his speech. Sold since I'm a sucker for lamb. Very gentle and raw place to eat, don't take your mother in law, well if she is a down the earth person she will love it. Well donee!! read more

Tabaq Restaurant - Pakistani Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This is the quintessential halal south asian dive spot NOT located on Devon st. Food is consistently good here. This trip I had the beef nihari, a freshly made naan twice the size of my face, some mixed salad, and one piece of tandoori chicken. Everything tasted amazing, especially the fresh naan with the beef nihari. I highly recommend it. The nihari is swimming in oil, but it hits the spot so well you'll be sleeping like a baby that same night. No regrets! One NEGATIVE, their mango lassi sucks. It's so subpar. I was not happy about it. The mango part tasted fake. Aside from that, food was solid and I would most definitely come back here! Cheers! read more

Don't you just love hole in the wall spots? I'm so glad I found Tabaq on Yelp. The atmosphere is casual, a lot of families were dining when I came in. Everyone was very friendly and the service was speedy. I ordered chicken tikka which was generously portioned ( I couldn't finish my meal in one sitting). Very great spot, can't wait to return! read more

Tabaq Restaurant - The menu! - Pakistani Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Phenomenal flavors!! Not the greatest ambiance but tried multiple dishes and everything tasted great.

Thrill of uncertainty. Dive. Change. 24/7. Mutton! Perfect CURRY MUTTON tenderness, taste and oh-so delicious sauce for the basmati rice. Forget-about the petrified salad. MANGO YOGURT was a great dessert and satisfactory. Check the fridge. Be mindful of religious holidays as no one or no food may be cooked especially RAMADAN. If food is prepared, and venue is open, SERVICE may be delayed. It seems like PRAYER is observed downstairs in the basement. TIPS TO ENJOY YOUR MEAL: - choose from menu, NOT the order counter - AVOID looking at order Counter or food display - food, NOT venue - for TO GO, BRING your own container to avoid $3 container upcharge - share dishes as cost easily adds up An amazingly trusting venue where you order at Counter, you get food, then you pay. read more

ALWAYS OPEN I have been dying to eat here for years. I always drive by & there is not a single parking spot outside on the street. All of those spots are always occupied by taxis. I even got an incredible recommendation from Dr. Nishan, a fellow Yelper, whose review about Tabaq is quite humorous. Nishan calls it his favorite and now I know why. We were driving down the street when I saw a cab pulling out of a parking spot. We were hungry & decided today was the day we try Tabaq. We walked in & were greeted by the owner. He was so friendly and we loved talking to him. He went through all of the dishes and pointed out his favorites. We were so excited and couldn't decide. He even gave us a sample. After our sample we were sold & placed our order. We ordered a Haleem which is ground dal (lentil) with shredded beef. It came with a salad, fresh baked naan & a mint-cilantro sauce called raita. The haleem was so good and spicy. It was perfect food for a cold chilly day in Chicago. The spice warmed up every inch of my body. The dish would not win any awards for looks but it is a perfect 5 stars based on taste. If you don't believe me then go & check my photo but it's an ugly dish. Ha! I can hardly wait to come back & have this again. We read several reviews about the Chicken Biriyani being the best item on the menu. We couldn't deny all of those comments & we went for it. The plate was huge. It was stacked so high it almost touched the ceiling & I must admit it was everything everyone was is it would be. I would definitely order this item again on a return trip. It came with a side salad &!three chunks of chicken on the bone. I really had to work the chicken because it was not the user friendly chicken we all get at an American restaurant. This was meat chunks with tiny little bones everywhere. If you're looking for easy then this place is not for you. I love authentic and in my heart I feel like this place delivered. Our two dishes were a ton of food and we had a feast on our table. The owner came over to check on us & we were so excited about the food. He even brought over a ground chicken kabob patty with grilled onions & jalapeños. The patty was dry but full of fantastic flavors. It was the best chicken burger I've ever had. I'm so glad the owner brought this over because I was curious about how it tasted. It was a new way of serving chicken kabobs and much more easier to eat. The owner even brought over Kheer which is a rice pudding with hints of cinnamon. He told us to eat it after we finished our food. It was really cute. He didn't want us to eat dessert before we cleaned our plates off. This was a perfect way to end our late lunch. It wasn't too sweet but had the right amount of flavor. We made our way back to the counter to pay for our meal. Yes they are very trusting here and you pay after you are done eating. All dishes are $8 except for the grilled fish which is $10. It makes it totally easy to order and pay. Of course we started talking to the owner and he talked about the special Halal meat. He also informed us that it was much more expensive the normal meat from Jewel. I knew most of this but it's great to hear a restaurant owner talk with pride about the quality of his food. He also told me to come back any time because he never closes. I wish I was still in my younger years because this place would be my new 3am burrito joint. It's funny how time changes and lifestyles change. The owner asked me to come back this Friday after 2pm because he is making chicken kabobs that will impress me. I told him I couldn't make this Friday but I would defiantly come back on an upcoming Friday. I just thought he was such a nice person and is everything you want in a restaurant owner. His friendliness & kindness towards us makes us want to come back again & again. If you do decide to come here then don't be afraid. There is a good chance you will be the only person here who doesn't drive for a living. Not once will you feel out of place. Eating here reminds me of my culinary adventures around the world but I'm in my own backyard of Chicago. This is why I love this city. You can drive from neighborhood to neighborhood to get the most authentic traditional food ever. This makes Chicago a culinary treat for me. We also met a doctor who comes in here every day for a green tea chai with milk. He recommended we get one, while we were talking to the owner. Next thing we knew the owner had poured two for us to take. This place rocks. I had never had this drink but it was unique and good. Honestly this place is the best. In closing, thanks to the owner for caring about newbie customers. You invited us in & treated us to a grand experience. We can not wait to come back & eat here again. We also learned that the food changes daily at the back counter, so we could have a different food adventure every day of the week and at any hour. We're ready for that challenge. read more

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This is the Cab Hotspot in Uptown Chicago. The street looked like a fruit basket filled with different colored Cabs. Which means, you probably don't want to come here with your significant other or family. If you're coming with a bunch of guy friends you'll be just fine... or you can take it for carry out. This restaurant is different then the norm. All the food is ready-made and presented right in front of you. Whatever is on display are your only options. If for some reason the food you want is not there or it ran out, then they would NOT be able to make it on the spot. The man behind the counter doesn't have the best english. It may seem like he is getting inpatient or angry, but really he's not. It's just the way he talks/stands. Trust me, I'm desi. Anyways, you tell him what you want and he will make you plate and warm it up for you. Also on the menu, it says $8 or $11 options. Just disregard that, everything is $8 no matter what you get. I guess it makes it easy. Chicken Biryani and Haleem is what you have to get from here. Usually I go during ramadan, but for the first time, I decided to come during the winter and my experience could have been better. They didn't have haleem or chicken biryani that day. So we had settle for whatever they had on display. I forgot the names of some of the dishes but some were super delicious and some were okay. The BBQ chicken was not that great though, I thought it was too dry and not enough flavor. Overall, I'd rather drive out here to get Chicken Biryani or Haleem. From now on, I'm going to call ahead to see if they have it. read more

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Ever wonder where cab drivers go when they're not working? Well...here is a popular spot. I was the only person eating inside that hadn't rolled up in a yellow and black and I think that's a pretty good sign if you're looking for authentic Pakistani food. I was a first timer, but this cuisine is really cheap, served in huge portions, and incredibly flavorful. Served cafeteria style at Tabaq there were options of chicken, lamb, veggie, and talapia. You will RARELY hear me say this, but after my meal here I'd recommend going vegetarian with your order. Not that the meat wasn't any good, but the squash dish was awesome and the lamb was a bit boney. Overall the service was friendly, the food was very affordable, and they'll even let you sample stuff if you've a new to Pakistani food so it's totally worth a stop in. read more

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Going to Tabaq is like being magically transported to the Middle East....but ignore the fact that it's located in a questionable area on Clybourn next to the shadyass Dominick's. I had always wanted to try Tabaq out ever since my Indian cabbie recommended their biryani. Went on an early Friday evening and noted how busy it was and filled with all male cabbies! (I was the only girl.....felt kinda awkward) The food is cafeteria style and we chose a large lamb biryani, side of lamb stew, veggies, and naan. Each order also comes with a small salad and spicy or non spicy yogurt sauce. All of our food tasted GREAT and was seasoned so well, like if i I had a Pakistani mom. The lamb was really tender and the biryani was super flavorful. I would definitely come back to Tabaq, I highly recommend it as not only a great food adventure, but a cultural experience as well!! read more

Tabaq Restaurant - Biryani, lamb, veggies, yumm - Pakistani Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Mind blown!!! 24/7 cabbie Pakistani food. The most authentic Pakistani food I have tasted in the United States hitherto. Everything I tasted from the daal, squash, lamb (which I think was goat), chicken, naan, chappati, mint chutney to the gulab jaman and doodh pati tasted amazing and transported me back to Pakistan. It wasn't just good it was something I'd rate a 5/5 on yelp if I was back home in Pakistan! Food like my grandma made it. I admit I haven't tried the other Pakistani food spots in Chicago yet and I am a little desi food deprived living in Rochester NY but I have tried them in other big cities. No comparison. Just a delicious bliss. Oh and it's as cheap as it gets. Probably cheaper than ordering pizza. Excellent helpful friendly staff. Prayer area in the basement. Seating and restroom like what you'd expect from a cabbie place but very clean (seating not the restroom). I think I might have to move to Chicago. Thank you Tabaq for making me miss home a little bit less.... or maybe more? read more

Tabaq Restaurant - I had lots. Picture of half eaten stuff because I just couldn't wait to dig in. - Pakistani Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Not only was this the best briyani (I had the mutton) I've had in the city, the naan was extremely affordable and the service honest and prompt. I ordered take out. I could not tell if I had paid or not (online order) and they assured me I had while I made repeated attempts to pay because I did not see a charge on my card. They of course were right and the online ordering system was just slow processing my payment. Great food and service. Will be back this again this week. read more

A solid 3.5 stars if it was possible. Cabbie fare. Dive. Curries & naan with decent biryani. It was a random Monday night and I thought I was headed into the city to meet a friend for a few drinks. Unbeknownst to me, he needed to feed as well. Frontier was closed as were so many other spots I wanted to go to, since we were driving past, my buddy suggested here. My buddy is a fan of cabbie joints, I can't say that I'm much of one. The place is open 24 hours and there's a Middle Eastern kabobs and shawarma joint next door that is also open the same hours. This place gets cabbie traffic often and you can see a few parked in front. The distinct smell of bathroom disinfectant was detected as we entered, though it was heavily masked with the smells of curries. That one detail was enough to send me running but my buddy persisted that we try. See, cabbie joints, much of the time are not that great. It's substandard food, always available and the cost to me is typically paid with discomfort and a lot of gas. Moving on. There was a language barrier that dude was trying to sell me. Probably horse shit, since I specified I was ordering for my buddy and I WAS NOT EATING. I told this dude three times what the order was and that I wasn't eating. It's cafeteria style, so you place your order and when its ready, pay upon pick up. They might fill the plate off the line and serve it up immediately, depending on the options chosen. My buddy got his stuff and paid. Then indicated to me that the counter guy was calling for me. This dude prepared a combination platter of curry, naan and a plate of biryani! He's motioning like I ordered it. I didn't. After some back and forth, I took the damn plate and paid twice as much as my friend did. Good thing he paid and once I looked over the food, a part of me was cuisine curious. I want to tell you that I hated it. But I didn't. It had taste and a nice level of spicy to it. The mutton curry could have had more meat and less bones but in a cabbie joint, this is expected. Between the curries, Mutton curry was best. We also had some chicken curry which was a standard good. The naan was prepared fresh and hot. The biryani was that tri-colored bullshit but it had a good flavor to it and was moist, although it had too many bones. Often times tri-colored biryani sucks balls because it lacks moisture, enough paste that gives it flavor and meat. Restauranteurs think that a customer would be wowed with its color. Which is why biryani is best ordered at a 4 or 5 star restaurant or at someones home, its seldom tri-color then. Despite what any Indian person tells you, (because we all think we know better) in my experience the best biryani is made by some Muslims, some Vellore Tamilians and if you like it hella spicy, peeps from Andhra. This is a Muslim joint and I'm telling you, this one time I tried it, it was pretty good. Earlier I mentioned cabbies galore and what else? Well within the restaurant is a stairway leading downstairs to a prayer room. It happened to be Ramadan when we dined. During Muslim holiday / fast, their eating times are observed and food is served accordingly. A home made sign was made and posted in the window. I mention this factoid mainly because I realize that some people may choose to avoid a place due to the practice of religion. I say, if you are willing to try, say a prayer and dig in. While we ate we could hear their prayers recited as well as echos from the satellite television news speaking of current affairs happening abroad. At the front of the restaurant is an odd placement of a counter with an attendant selling what looks like aftermarket cell phone supplies. Their attempt to "catch-all" business. read more

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I ordered takeout from Tabaq - lamb curry and plain naan. The lamb curry was way too greasy for my taste but I have a hard time judging an authentic dish that traditionally has a ton of oil on "healthy standards." The flavor of the curry was absolutely delicious and well balanced. The naan was also cooked to perfection. They also provide an accompaniment of onions/raw veggies that helps to cut the grease and add a nice balance to the heaviness of the curry. The rice was also excellent. Note on lamb - I am usually weary of ordering lamb out of fear that it will not be fresh, but this lamb was definitely fresh. Excellent cuts of meat. read more

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I guess my trip here was uneventful as I don't remember anything good or bad, so I'll split the difference on my ratings.

There are a bunch of Pakistani cafeteria places on the near north side that primarily cater to cabbies. I've tried several, and this is the one to choose if you're not part of this culture and you just like ethnic foods. They are very welcoming and friendly to randoms like me. We enjoyed the spicy biryani and a vegetarian combination (dal and mixed veggie curry) with naan. Despite the steam table, everything tasted fresh, and the portions were gigantic. I had plenty to take home for lunch the next day. Don't come here expecting a gracious dining experience. It's just a clean, home-style, no-frills place to try new foods and eat with some Chicagoans from around the world. read more

I order delivery from this place a lot if I'm looking to eat some Pakistani food without making the trek to Rogers Park. This place isn't meant for sit-down type fine dining at all, so I've never actually seen the venue. It is more prominent for being a cab driver joint. The food fulfill the cravings for me though! However, I wish you could order different types of dishes and wish some dishes were available all days of the week and not just the weekend. For example, the nihari is only available on the weekend. The mutton biryani is only available certain days of the week too. The nihari is quite oily so I always need to spoon out heaps of oil to finally feel like I can eat it. I get that nihari is meant to be oily but this is next level oily. The biryani is pretty good - no complaints! The grilled items like frontier chicken is the best item here. If you live downtown and don't know where to order desi food, I give this place my stamp of approval! You'll be satisfied. read more

I had really high hopes for this place as it looked so authentic. Unfortunately no one in the restaurant was able to explain the items for me. I ended up getting charged so much for such little food. As for the food it self, it was just okay. Most of the curries tasted the same. The food was sitting out and they had a microwave where they warmed up the food.. it was really odd. I will not be coming back. read more

100% unapologetic, heartburn causing, artery blocking "dhaba" cabbie food. 24 hours a day, you can find immigrant men slamming some seriously traditional halal indo-pak cuisine. I would venture to say, this is more authentic than any place of Devon street. However, this is not somewhere to bring a family, or a date. This is a straight up cabbie joint. And the best. Period. The.best. read more