Punjabi Dhaba - Berkeley — Restaurant in Berkeley

Too expensive for the food quality and service. It is run like a fast food joint but took 25mts to get my takeout. Dal Makhani was taken from the freezer and heated and packed. Packed hot in a plastic container. Garlic naan was so under cooked. Not cooked the traditional way or close to it. it was so soft and chewy. waste if time and money. Bad location too.

Responding to the owner response:

Your excuse is so lame. Just because you think I'm Indian you expect me to accept the mediocre service and quality you provide. The information I provided was my experience. That is for other customers not for you. Instead of trying to insult an honest review try to make your customer experience better. No Indian restaurant I've been in asks me if I want my naan well cooked. I don't know what you are trying to run there but if that was a choice it should be informed ahead. I was served undercooked naan. And the 25mts wait was what I experienced, no one is making it up. It's information for other customers so they can decide if it is worth visiting the place. Other places around there had faster service, and yes the establishment is like a fast food joint to me. It is not the first time for me. Definitely not worth my time and money for such bad service and...

Visited on: October 4, 2025

I visited Punjabi Dhaba – Berkeley recently. The place is neat and clean, and overall it gives a good impression when you walk in.

Before ordering, I asked the cashier whether the biryani or roti and curry were better. He said both are good, so I ordered the goat biryani. Unfortunately, it was terrible — it had carrots and green peas in it, which really don’t belong in goat biryani. It tasted like mixed goat curry and rice rather than real biryani.

However, the garlic naan and malai kofta curry were excellent, and the pav bhaji was also very tasty. Those dishes definitely made up for the disappointment with the biryani.

My suggestion to the staff: please be honest when recommending dishes. Customers come in wanting to enjoy good food — it’s better to guide them toward your best and most popular items rather than saying everything is great. Selling one bad dish can lose a returning customer.

Overall, it’s a good place for rotis, naans, and curries — but avoid the biryani, it’s not authentic at all (just curry...

I came across their website and was instantly drawn in by how amazing the food looked. I drove all the way from Fremont to Berkeley just to try it—and let me tell you, it was so worth the trip. This place is hands-down my favorite for Indian food.

Everything I ordered was mouthwatering. The food smelled incredible, tasted fresh, and was packed with rich, flavorful goodness. I tried the burritos, fries, and even the pasta—each dish was better than the last. I don’t usually drink mango lassi, but theirs completely won me over. So good!

I’ve had Indian food from many places, but this spot had something special—it felt like a touch of home, with bold and comforting flavors. Must be that amazing sauce!

Huge shoutout to the whole team, family owned! thank you for the great food and service. I’ll...