Santosh Dhaba Exclusive — Restaurant in Hyderabad

Santhosh Dhaba: An Honest Take on an "OG" Spot with a Caveat As someone who'd heard whispers of Santhosh Dhaba being an "OG" in the culinary scene, my expectations were certainly set high. Walking in, the ambiance didn't quite hit the mark for me. I was hoping for that quintessential dhaba feel, but it leaned more towards a generic restaurant vibe. Still, I gave it a chance, holding out hope that the food would be the true star. Perusing the menu was a bit of a surprise. Instead of the authentic regional dishes I anticipated, it was a medley of continental, Italian, and other international fare. This wasn't quite the traditional dhaba experience I'd envisioned. Nevertheless, I ordered the Pulao, Paneer Makhanwala and, in a moment of adventurous curiosity, the Mongolian Rice. When the dishes arrived, the taste journey began. Honestly, I wasn't particularly impressed. It wasn't the kind of "finger-licking good" meal I'd hoped for, but it wasn't the worst either. My main concern, though, was the excessive amount of oil (or butter, as the waiter clarified) in the dishes, particularly the rice. It felt heavy and overshadowed the flavors. The Pulao was decent, a fairly standard offering. The Paneer Makhani was sadly "meh" — it just didn't quite deliver. And the Mongolian Rice? A definite miss for me. It simply wasn't palatable. Now, a significant point to consider: It's entirely possible that I simply ordered the "wrong" dishes, perhaps not their signature specialties. However, an experience is an experience, and for me, it still counts towards the overall impression of the place. While I personally wouldn't be recommending Santhosh Dhaba to my closest friends for an authentic dhaba experience, I always believe that culinary experiences are incredibly subjective. What didn't quite resonate with me might just be your next favorite dish! So, if you're feeling adventurous, take a chance and explore their menu for yourself. Perhaps you'll have a luckier (and tastier)...

Crisp: One of best Best vegetarian restaurant in city. Must have Veg Hyderabadi Biryani

Located in lane next to GPO in little less crowded street, Santosh Dhabha is not an easy eye cathcher but a treasure house for a foodie.

Parking is limited but you can park on street. Mostly is full on account of crowd.

Restaurant has 3 sections One as general which is really crowded. AC section which may have waiting esp on weekends and third is family section. Rates go up as the order but kitchen is same. Service also improves as per section.

I have visited this place several times. Frankly to speak they have really tasty food with optimum spice content, reasonable price and in Hyderabad a veggies delight.

Menu generally have today's special listed which gets served quickly. Remaining items you will have to wait for some time. Paneer and Manchurian are awesome do check them out as starters. Garlic naan , Butter Roti, Lacha paratha along with Korma, Panner etc will make your hunger and taste buds satisfied.

Hyderabad Biryani is my favourite here. It frankly comes in lot of colours and really deilcious. Not unlike other Hyderabadi Biryani s this one has its own unique taste. Photos below. You will be left hell high after having it. A yummy meal and perfect end for the dinner.

Do check out buttermilk after such a heavy meal.

Santosh Dhaba has lot of outlets but taste and qwality kept here is not replicated well else where. They require improvement on this front.

All said and done , it one of the best place to go for...

What can I say about Santosh Dhaba that hasn't already been said or talked about?? To sustain its image as a true vegetarian restaurant for so many years and be a top one at it, takes a lot of creativity and tons of consistency to keep the customers interested continously for decades!

The interiors are good, seating is comfortable, service is quick enough, staff is OK ok. The staff could be trained a little more in manners and to be more courteous to match the changing times in the service industry. The restrooms aren't that well maintained. But you can't expect much from a fairly mid level food joint.

Food. The starters are absolute wonders, especially Veg 65 done a little bit crispy! It's marvelous and you could eat only this dish for the rest of your lunch/dinner! Most of the starters are delicious. Rice items are tasty with a special mention of Hundi Biryani. Gravies and curries are good too. You have a considerable option with Rotis and Parathas. Deserts are not an option here coz they don't serve anything other than Ice Cream and Fruit Salad. The bill surely doesn't burn a hole in your pocket as a group of 5 adults can eat to their fill with the bill coming around Rs. 1500/-

To conclude, if you are Vegetarian and are craving tasty fare while not wanting to spend a bomb for the food, DO NOT...