Dhaba Cuisine Of India - Santa Monica

I mourn the last 25 years of driving past this place and somehow never stopping in. I finally did tonight and i plan to do so many many more times in the future. The Northen Indian cuisine served her is done so with a delicate hand. The farmers market vegetable specials are so well proportioned as to be a form of art. Even the naan has a character difficult to find (it is rivaled only by the naan at Al Watan). The waitstaff is friendly and patient and will explain any item on the menu. The outdoor dining area is a perfect setting on a warm or cool night. Eat here.

My girlfriend and I have lived in Santa Monica, CA pretty much all our lives and have enjoyed the amenities of this city, but have never experienced it as we do now as a couple. That being said, our realization of Dhaba was always there, but simply as this little old Indian restaurant on the corner. One recent evening we FINALLY decided to brave it and walk through the doors of Dhaba with the highest of hopes that this little corner spot was as good as we hoped it'd be...and it was, it truly was. Not only was the food some of the best Indian food I ever had, the service was exceptionally sound. Our waiter was so helpful and so polite and the decor was quaint and very welcoming. We also had a chance to meet one of the owners So genuine. If anyone is big on Indian food or would like to give it a try, than Dhaba is THE SPOT for sure. Worth the commute if your coming from afar and worth the time spent if you live nearby. Santa Monica is beautiful (as many know), so for those who don't, I recommend a walk on the beach with your loved one(s) or friend(s) after a highly authentic traditional Indian dinner. Thank you Dhaba!!! We'll be back soon enough!!!

I ordered delivery and unfortunately the food was disappointing both in flavor and presentation. We ordered several curries and a few grilled items. There was a general lack of flavor and depth. I have heard that the food is usually pretty good at the location so I'm hoping that there's better luck trying it in person.

I loved this place! I have passed by this spot many times in Santa Monica, so when my family and I were craving Indian food we decided to venture out. We ordered a variety of different appetizers and did family style ordering for dinner. Some of the standout dishes we ordered were: Appetizers: aloo tikki chaat tandoori paneer Dinner: saag paneer tandoori shrimp chicken tikka masala Desert: strawberry/mango ice cream The items were all pretty delicious. Our service was AMAZING Himanshu was our waiter, and he deserves a round of applause for his kind demeanor and hospitable service. The reason I would give this place one less star is that there are certain items that I feel are a non negotiable that should be at every indian restaurant. Like no gulab jamun?! That's a monstrocity.

4/5 food 2/5 service (took my plate away as I was chewing with food left on plate WHY? It appears consistently in Santa Monica, that the quality of service is measured in terms of how quickly the table can be cleared regardless of whether the diners have actually finished eating...how did this happen? Please join me in a revolt and stand against the premature clearing of tables. F.U. (Friends Unite)