Aabha Indian Cuisine — Restaurant in Monterey

We drove 2 hours just to come to this place. And all I can say is: it was worth the drive!

We made a reservation since there was 6 of us. When we arrived, our table was ready. From the beginning, everyone was great and this place truly worked together to help serve us.

Our waiter Sagar was truly one of the best waiters I have encountered. He was personable, funny, and very helpful if we had any questions. He was on top of everything. The Aabha restaurant is truly lucky to have him. I also noticed him serving at another table and he was giving them the same great service he was giving us. Truly a gem! And it made our experience there even more enjoyable.

Now for the wonderful food! They started us out with Papadum and 3 different sauces to dip in. Very light but full of flavor. For appetizers, we ordered Lamb and Goat Cheese Kebab and Turmeric-Garlic Scallops. Both were wonderful flavor combinations and everyone enjoyed them.

For the entrees: I ordered the Rogan Josh which is a traditional lamb curry dish. I ordered it spicy which kicked in after about 3 bites. Lamb was tender and I enjoyed it with the rice it comes with. BF asked the waiter to bring out one of the best dishes they had and he brought out the Fornetire Lamb Chops which was not on the menu. The other entrees ordered were Coconut Prawn Curry, Lamb Biryani, Prawn Pineapple Tikka, and Lamb Seekh Kebab (which is like the lamb kebab appetizer without the goat cheese). Everyone seemed to enjoy their meal. We also ordered Garlic-Rosemary Naan to go with the meal which was just the right amount of fluffiness and oozing with garlic and just the right amount of hint of rosemary.

At the end, the chef even came out to see how everything was.

I can say if you are in the area, this should be a must stop. We will be going back whenever we make the drive up to...

My friend and I have heard about this Indian Restaurant but never tried it until last Friday when we were in the area looking for a descent place to eat at. And I remembered that there is a new Indian restaurant that I had googled earlier but couldn't remember its name. At first, we both were hesitant to commit to get in--knowing what we know about typical Indian dishes where the food itself comes secondary to the overwhelming amount of spices in it. Long story short, we got in and after browsing through the menu, I ordered Lamb Shank and my friend ordered Lamb Chops. After about half an hour wait, the waiter brought our orders, and boy, was it delicious!!! I must mention, both my friend and I are extremely picky about foods and we cook foods from a wide variety of cuisines--Middle eastern to Mediterranean to Italian and French, and everything in between on a regular basis, yet we couldn't find one thing to complain about. We tasted each other's foods and both agreed that the Lamb shank and the Lamb chops were one of the best we've had. The complex layers of flavor were revealed with every single bite. Later on, the chef/owner himself came and greeted us warmly and told us that he makes even the spices from scratch every day. Of course, such flavor and aroma cannot come out of any kind of over-the shelf spices. The overall ambient of the restaurant is very cozy and welcoming. The service staff are very friendly, responsive and knowledgeable about the menu. The service is not shy of that of any five star restaurant. By far, that was the best experience we had with any restaurant on the Peninsula. Great job Chef/Owner Bhupender, keep up the creativity and the great work!!! I unhesitatingly give this restaurant my highest...

Aabha Indian Cuisine: A Pleasant Surprise Along the Big Sur

During our scenic drive along the breathtaking Big Sur coast, we stumbled upon Aabha Indian Cuisine, an unexpected gem that made our journey even more memorable. With our final destination being LA, we decided to take a dinner break a bit early, aiming to reach LA by midnight. The restaurant's location was perfect—nestled in a serene spot with a positive ambiance that instantly made us feel at ease. A significant plus is ample parking space available, which is appreciated after a long drive.

As we entered, it was encouraging to see a mix of patrons, including many Americans, clearly there to savor the rich flavors of Indian cuisine. We started our meal with the Chicken Lentil Soup. However, it turned out to be more like a traditional daal with chunks of tandoori chicken. While it was hearty, it didn't quite meet our expectations as we were hoping for something more distinctive.

For the main course, we opted for the Mint Salmon Tikka and Lamb Biryani. Both dishes were well-prepared, arriving with just the right spice levels, and the portions were generous enough for our family of three (two adults and a 7-year-old). The Mint Salmon Tikka was particularly delightful, with the mint adding a fresh twist to the succulent salmon. The Lamb Biryani, though flavorful, had a slightly tangy undertone that was unexpected but enjoyable.

Overall, our dinner at Aabha Indian Cuisine was a satisfying end to a long day of taking in nature's beauty. If you find yourself near Big Sur and craving some Indian food, this restaurant is definitely...