Deepak's Dhaba Indian Food & Market — Restaurant in Calgary

First thing I and probably anyone else can say about this business is Deepak is the man. He's the kind of guy you go to an eatery for. The food sure, but it's this guy you really go for. Never actually in my life have I had that kind of care from an owner. I've had pretty close (Namskar, of course another Indian place, was great too), but not quite Deepak level. He's the guy you want to be the best man at your wedding. Second, it's a cool little place. A couple small booths, not much seating, super casual. I can dig that.

The food is what you all want to know about though. It is pretty wonderful. My partner and I had the buttered chicken and beef vindaloo. Butter chicken was fantastic. Creamy, tasty, chicken was amazing. 5 star buttered chicken I think (although I don't usually have butter chicken so it's hard to compare it to others). The beef vindaloo was also good, but not quite as good. I have a feeling because the place is still new (maybe new staff as well not from the market location?) they are struggling a tiny bit with consistency. The vindaloo was a tiny bit watery, and my friend said her previous visit it was not watery. Her tea was also really hot, whereas my tea the other day was not hot enough. Small things like that I think need to get ironed out still. Early days, no judgment here. Onto the naan. It's really good. It's pretty dense and chewy but not in a bad way. I really liked it and dipped in the buttered chicken or vindaloo I could eat it all day. The rice was kind of just rice, which is fine because, its just rice. It served its purpose. He also gave us a free little taste of some chicken bites that were unreal. Really good tandoori chicken bites that are coming to the menu I think?? Chicken had good consistency and great taste. Highly recommend.

Finally, I wanted to make a comment on the food I didn't have which was the samosas. I LOVE samosas but they seemed pretty pricey compared to competitors (I'm looking at samosa factory etc). So I didn't take a gander. At the price Deepak has them at, I can't help think "but are they worth it". I didn't enjoy that thought. I wanna have thought-free samosas. Next time I'll actually try them though and update y'all. I am sure they are unreal and my concerns over value are silly.

Overall, this place is unmissable. Crescent heights really needed another good Indian place and Deepak filled the void. I give it 4 stars only because of my concerns over value with those samosas. The other meals I think are priced right. Taste, atmosphere, and customer care are top notch though, truly. If I could give a 4.5 I would. 5 just means perfection and Deepak's Dhaba is not quite perfect it's just...

Loud skipping music first thing I noticed that put me off a bit. I have a dietary restriction, I check the menu before going to restaurants they have vegetarian and vegan friendly options. Their menu on their website showed a platter dine in special with a variety of items and sauces which really appealed to me but their physical menu in the restaurant did not have those options. I asked the waitress if they have that menu item, I don't know if it was the music or some kind of language barrier but we just ended up ordering Curries instead of the dine-in special(she seemed fluent in English). The service is very quick which is a plus, but it makes me suspect that the food is cooked, frozen then reheated for serving. I cannot confirm but just my instinct based on how fast it came to my table. The chefs/cooks in the open kitchen(plus) were "flambe-ing" like crazy so much so I'm not sure if it was intentional or not. My table ordered lamb tikka, chana masala, rice and nan. I had the chana. The spices were definitely over cooked. All I could taste was capsaicin, there was a miniscule garnish of cilantro but after the first couple bites all I tasted was heat. I did order medium heat level but I feel if it wasn't burnt/chard it wouldn't have been as spicy as the spices wouldn't have been as toasted. The nan bread also had some chard bits which is to be expected when cooking with tandoori, but put off my partner she did however say the lamb was delicious and I assume she was being honest. Forgot to snap any photos of the food. Prices on the menu were cheaper than the nearest competition but the last but most important detail was that the tipping percentages were not reflecting what the tips were actually showing. If see the white square pay terminal as the point of sale I check for that it is very common nowadays. To clarify if it said tip 5% it actually worked out to like 8%. I did not save my receipt otherwise I would post a photo showing this as well. I wasn't really on my review game as I was on a date. Fast, decent value, friendly front end staff. Not...

I recently had the pleasure of dining at @deepaksdhaba , a hidden gem tucked away in the heart of Calgary. From the moment I walked through the door, I knew I was in for a treat. The cozy atmosphere and inviting aromas set the stage for an unforgettable culinary experience.

The menu at Deepak Dhaba is a culinary journey that showcases a fusion of flavors from India. As an adventurous foodie, I couldn’t resist trying a variety of dishes. Each plate was beautifully presented, showcasing the chef’s attention to detail.

For starters, I indulged in the Paneer Tikka, and I must say, it was a perfect choice. The Paneer was cooked to perfection, with a light and crispy exterior that gave way to tender, flavorful bites. The accompanying dipping sauce added a delightful tang that enhanced the overall experience.

Moving on to the main course, I opted for the Daal Makhni, Paneer butter masala and Chana Masala with Garlic Naan and other Indian breads. The Daal and other dishes were impeccably cooked, with a buttery texture that melted in my mouth.

The service at Deepak Dhaba was exceptional. The staff was attentive, knowledgeable, and passionate about the menu. They went above and beyond to ensure that every guest felt welcomed and well taken care of. Special attention is given to each and every guest by owner Mr Deepak Singh Kalsi who is from Firozpur India. He came to Canada in 2014 and started his journey. Paaji it was really nice talking to you during my visit to your restaurant. Will def plan again soon.

Overall, Deepak Dhaba surpassed my expectations in every way. The creativity of the dishes, the impeccable execution, and the warm ambiance all contributed to a dining experience. If you’re in the mood for an extraordinary culinary adventure, I highly recommend visiting Deepak Dhaba in Downtown Calgary. It’s a place where flavors dance, and your taste buds rejoice.

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