Desi Dhaba Menu (Update 2025)
Desi Dhaba, an Indian restaurant located in Cambridge, MA, offers a diverse menu catering to both vegan and meat lovers. With options for delivery, takeout, and catering, Desi Dhaba is a convenient choice for any occasion. The restaurant's highlight dishes include the spinach and potato vegan dish, saag, goat curry, bhel poori, lamb madras, garlic naan, and mango lassi. Customers appreciate the flavorful and varied selections, with the option to choose their preferred spice levels. The lunch buffet is praised for its value and variety, making it a popular choice for those looking to sample a bit of everything. Overall, Desi Dhaba stands out for its authentic Indian flavors, attentive service, and cozy atmosphere, making it a must-visit for anyone craving a taste of India in Cambridge.
Appetizers
Dhaba Platter
A great combination of vegetable and non-vegetable appetizers.
Meat Samosa ()
Spicy turnover stuffed with ground lamb, green peas and spices.
Punjabi Tikka ()
Spicy potato patties served with tamarind sauce.
Fish Pakora ()
Sliced fish marinated in a mixture of yogurt, spices, lime juice and chickpea batter, deep-fried.
Chicken Tikka
Tender boneless chicken beast chunks marinated in yogurt and special spices and barbecued to perfection.
Madras Fried Shrimp
Large shrimp marinated in spices, tomato puree, bell peppers and onions, then fried. Served with poori.
Vegetable Samosa ()
Homemade turnover stuffed with diced potatoes, green peas and special spices.
Vegetable Pakora ()
Freshly marinated vegetables, deep-fried with chickpea batter.
Paneer Pakora ()
Homemade cottage cheese marinated in chickpea batter and deep fried.
Chicken Pakora ()
Five pieces. Chicken drumsticks delicately spiced and marinated in chickpea batter and fried to take least amount of oil.
Vegetable Platter
Samosa, pakora, cheese pakora, aloo tikki.
Non-Vegetable Platter
Lamb samosa (), chicken pakora (), fish pakora ().
Chicken Soup
Boneless chicken soup with Indian spices and herbs.
Vegetable Soup
Spicy hot lentil soup with vegetables and spices.
Dhaba Salad
Finely chopped cucumber, tomatoes, green chili, and coriander leaves tossed in raita.
Fresh Tomato Soup
Fresh tomato soup with exotic Indian herbs and spices.
Coconut Soup
Shredded coconut with milk and nuts.
Desi Salad
Fresh cucumber, tomatoes and chopped onions.
Soup & Salads
Chaat Bhandar
Wada Sambar
A savory doughnut, deep-fried with spices and soaked in sambar.
Aloo Chaat
Spicy chaat of potatoes, chickpeas and lemon, topped with tamarind sauce and fresh mint.
Dahi Sev Poori
Lentil crisps and cubes of potatoes covered with fresh whipped yogurt and tamarind sauce.
Paani Poori ()
Bite size puffy poories served with spicy mint water diced potatoes, beans and tamarind sauce.
Dahi Bhalia
Soft lentil patties, soaked in spicy yogurt, garnished with roasted cumin and tamarind sauce.
Bhel Poori
A mix of crisp noodles and rice puffs dotted with minced potatoes and onion and infused with tamarind and mint sauce.
Papri Chaat
Spiced potatoes with fried wheat wafers garnished with yogurt and tamarind sauce.
Idli Sambar
Two pieces Idli with Sambar.
Plain Dosa
A very thin crispy crepe of rice and lentils.
Mysore Masala Dosa
A very thin crepe of rice and lentils with layer of hot chutney filled with spiced potatoes and onions.
Uttapam Vegetable
Rice and lentils pancake topped with tomatoes, onions, green peas, green peppers, and cilantro.
Masala Dosa
A thin crispy crepe of rice and lentils stuffed with potatoes and onions.
Chicken Dosa
A very thin crispy crepe of rice and lentils stuffed with chicken, potatoes, and onions.
Lamb Dosa
A very thin crispy crepe of rice and lentils stuffed with minced lamb, potatoes, and onions.
Onion & Green Chilli Uttapam
Rice and lentils pancake topped with green Thai chilies, onions, and fresh cilantro.
Dosa Specialties
Tandoori Delights
Chicken Tandoori
Spring chicken with bone marinated overnight in yogurt and spices. Served with saffron flavored basmati rice.
Seekh Kabab
Finely slices lamb seasoned with chopped onions, herbs, and spices. Served with saffron flavored basmati rice.
Tandoori Salmon
Chunk of salmon marinated in yogurt and spices. Served with saffron flavored basmati rice.
Tandoori Mixed Grill
A combination platter consisting of chicken tandoori, chicken tikka, lamb tikka kabab, seekh kabab, and tandoori shrimp. Served with saffron flavored basmati rice.
Chicken Tikka Kabab
Boneless tender chicken pieces, marinated in yogurt with spices. Served with saffron flavored basmati rice.
Boti Tikka Kabab
Lean cubes of boneless lamb marinated in special blend of homemade herbs and spices. Served with saffron flavored basmati rice.
Tandoori Shrimp
Fresh jumbo shrimp marinated in delicately spiced yogurt. Served with saffron flavored basmati rice.
Paneer Tikka
Homemade cottage cheese marinated with spices, skewered and barbecued with onion, tomato, and capsicum in tandoori. Served with saffron flavored basmati rice.
Daal Makhani
Black lentils cooked on slow heat, sauteed with fresh ginger, garlic, onions, tomatoes, and spices.
Mattar Paneer
Homemade cottage cheese gently cooked with tender garden peas, tomatoes, and fresh spices.
Baingan Bharta
Fresh eggplant roasted over an open flame and sauteed with fresh ginger, garlic, onions, and aromatic spices.
Shahi Paneer
Homemade cottage cheese sauteed with fresh ginger, garlic and cooked in tomato based creamy sauce, garnished with nuts and raisins.
Chili Paneer
Homemade cheese sauteed with ginger, garlic, and green chillies in soya sauce.
Tarka Daal
Puree yellow lentil gently tempered with fresh herbs and seasonings.
Chana Masala
Whole chickpeas cooked with authentic spices.
Navrattan Makhani
A traditional merging of nine fresh vegetables sauteed with ginger, garlic, onion, and spices.
Aloo Palak
Potatoes cooked with chopped spinach, spices, and herbs.
Palak Paneer
Homemade cottage cheese cooked with chopped spinach, onions, tomatoes, and a variety of herbs and spices.
Aloo Gobhi
Fresh cauliflower cooked with potatoes, onions, herbs, and spices.
Mushroom Saag
Chopped spinach cooked with fresh mushrooms, cream, herbs, and spices.
Malai Kofta
A true mughlai delight dish; vegetable balls simmered in a creamy sauce with nuts and raisins.
Vegetable Jalfrazi
Fresh vegetables cooked with paneer, super hot tomato, onion, and sauce.
Bhindi Masala
Okra cooked with sauteed onions, tomatoes, fresh herbs and spices.
Vegetarian Delights
Seafood Specialties
Fish Vindaloo
A traditional spicy recipe of salmon fish cooked with potatoes in a tomato sauce and vinegar. Served with saffron flavored basmati rice.
Shrimp Masala
Marinated shrimp cooked with tandoori spices.
Shrimp Vindaloo
Shrimp cooked with potatoes in a hot curry sauce.
Goa Shrimp Curry
Shrimp cooked in traditional Goa curry sauce. Served with saffron flavored basmati rice.
Fish Masala
Salmon cooked in a creamy tomato sauce with herbs.
Shrimp Curry
Shrimp cooked with an array of masterfully blended herbs and spices.
Shrimp Saag
Shrimp cooked with fresh spinach and spices.
Shrimp Bhuna
Roasted shrimp with ginger, garlic, and spices. Served with saffron flavored basmati rice.
Shrimp Mushroom
Shrimp cooked with mushroom in mildly spiced cream sauce.
Chicken Curry
Boneless chicken cooked in traditional curry sauce. Served with saffron flavored basmati rice.
Chicken Vindaloo
A traditional spicy recipe of boneless chicken cooked with potatoes, tomatoes, and vinegar. Served with saffron flavored basmati rice.
Chicken Jalfrezi
Boneless chicken pieces cooked with tomatoes, peas, peppers, onions, and exotic Indian spices. Served with saffron flavored basmati rice.
Chicken Makhani
Tandoori chicken cooked in a delightfully delicate cream, tomato, and fresh herb sauce.
Chicken Tikki Masala
Tandoori baked boneless chicken breast pieces, cooked with light creamy tomato sauce. Served with saffron flavored basmati rice.
Chicken Chilli
Boneless chicken sauteed with tomatoes and exotic spices. Served with saffron flavored basmati rice.
Chicken Coconut Korma
Chicken cooked with cream of coconut and traditional Goan spices.
Chicken Korma
Chicken cooked with exotic spices and nuts in mild sauce creamy sauce. Served with saffron flavored basmati rice.
Chicken Tikka Saag
Tandoor baked boneless chicken breast pieces, cooked with spinach and light cream.
Chicken Mango
Boneless chicken cooked with mango sauce and broccoli. Served with saffron flavored basmati rice.
Chicken Mushroom
Boneless chicken cooked with mushrooms, exotic herbs, and spices. Served with saffron flavored basmati rice.
Chicken Do-Piaza
White meat marinated in a special sauce, sauteed with onion in red curry sauce. Served with saffron flavored basmati rice.
Chicken Specialties
Lamb Specialties
Lamb Curry
Tender lamb cubes cooked in a traditional curry sauce. Served with saffron flavored basmati rice.
Lamb Vindaloo
A traditional spicy recipe of lamb cooked with potatoes in a tomato sauce and vinegar. Served with saffron flavored basmati rice.
Keema Mutter
Ground lamb and peas cooked with spices. Served with saffron flavored basmati rice.
Lamb Karhai
Tender lamb cubes sauteed with fresh ginger, onions, peppers, tomatoes, and a unique combination of spices. Served with saffron flavored basmati rice.
Lamb Korma
Pieces of boneless lamb cooked in a light creamy sauce with mild spices, herbs and nuts. Served with saffron flavored basmati rice.
Lamb Rogan Josh
Juicy tender pieces of lamb cooked in traditional spice with saffron and yogurt. Served with saffron flavored basmati rice.
Lamb Saag
Delicately spiced tender lamb pieces cooked with spinach. Served with saffron flavored basmati rice.
Lamb Boti Kabab Masala
Tender juicy cubes of tandoori kabab sauteed in special spices and herbs. Served with saffron flavored basmati rice.
Goat Curry
Tender goat meat cooked with vegetables, fresh herbs, and spices. Served with saffron flavored basmati rice.
Goat Jalfrazi
Tender goat meat cooked with vegetables, fresh herbs, and spices. Served with saffron flavored basmati rice.
Goat Korma
Goat meat cooked in a mild rich almond and cream sauce. Served with saffron flavored basmati rice.
Goat Rogan Josh
Juicy tender pieces of goat meat cooked in traditional spice with saffron and yogurt. Served with saffron flavored basmati rice.
Goat Meat Specialties
Rice Specialties
Vegetable Biryani
Aromatic Indian rice cooked with fresh vegetables, nuts, raisins, herbs, and exotic spices.
Shrimp Biryani
Jumbo shrimp cooked with basmati rice, nuts, raisins, and spices.
Dhaba Special Biryani
Chicken, lamb, and shrimp cooked with aromatic basmati rice, nuts, raisins, and spices.
Basmati Rice
Plain basmati steamed rice.
Chicken Biryani
Chicken chunks cooked with basmati rice, nuts, raisins, and spices.
Lamb Biryani
Juicy lamb pieces cooked with rice and spices and garnished with nuts.
Goat Biryani
Goat meat cooked with basmati rice and traditional spices, garnished with nuts and raisins.
Heer-Ranjha Biryani
For . Basmati rice cooked with chicken, lamb, beef, shrimp, vegetables, herbs, and spices.
Peas Pulao
Aromatic Indian rice cooked with fresh green peas, fresh herbs, and spices.
Vegetarian Thali
A tradilicnal vegetarian dinner served in a thali with palak paneer ladka daal, alco chole and poori,basmatl rice and dessert of the day.
Dhaba Special Meat Thali
A traditional non-vegetarian dinner served in a thali with samosa, tandoori chicken, chicken tikka masala, lamb curry, basmati rice and dessert of the day.
Non-Vegetarian Thali
A traditional non-vegetarian dinner served in a Thali with tandoori chicken,seekh kabab, lamb curry,deal,basmali rice,naan,raita and dessert of the day.
Dhaba Special Dinner
Indian Bread
Naan
Unleavened white wheat bread baked in tandoor.
Garlic Naan
Unleavened bread topped with garlic and fresh cilantro baked in tandoor.
Aloo Naan
Unleavened bread stuffed with spicy mashed potatoes, baked in tandoor.
Keema Naan
Unleavened white bread stuffed with minced lamb and green peas.
Aloo Paratha
Wheat bread stuffed with spicy potatoes and cooked on a griddle with butter.
Mix Paratha
Whole wheat bread stuffed with mixed vegetables and grilled with ghee.
Poori ()
Two pieces. Crispy, deep-fried puffy whole wheat bread.
Tandoori Roti
Whole wheat leavened bread baked in tandoor.
Onion Naan
Naan bread stuffed with minced onions and spices, baked in tandoor.
Peshawari Naan
Unleavened bread stuffed with almonds, cashews, raisins, coconuts, and honey, baked in tandoor.
Chapati
Whole wheat dried bread baked on the grill.
Keem Paratha
Stuffed with spiced ground lamb and cooked on the grill.
Mint Paratha
Wheat bread topped with dry mint and spices and grilled with butter.
Bhatoora
Soft deep-fried puffy bread.
Small Bread Basket
A tasty assortment of breads-aloo naan and garlic naan.
Large Bread Basket
Aloo naan, garlic naan and peshawari naan.
Chicken Naan
Unleavened white bread stuffed with chicken pieces, fresh herbs, and spices.
Chicken Karahi
Boneless chicken sauteed with fresh ginger onion, peppers, tomato sauce, and unique combination of spices.
Shrimp Chili
Fresh shrimp cooked with ginger, garlic, and julienne of green chilies in soy sauce.
Mix Vegetable Tandoori
A combination of homemade cheese and various fresh vegetable barbecued with capsicum in tandoori oven.
Chana Bhatura
Whole chickpeas cooked with onions, tomatoes and authentic spices with bhatura.
Lamb Madras
A traditional spicy recipe of lamb cooked with tomato sauce, fresh ginger, and masterfully blended spices.
Goat Curry Punjabi
Whole wheat bread cooked in tandoori oven and tawa roti. chapati and tandoori.
Diet Bread Basket
Whole wheat bread tandoori roti and tawa chapati
Tabahi Naan
Bread stuffed with vegetables and spices.
Desi Dhaba Special
Desserts
Gulab Jamun ()
Deep-fried cheese balls dipped in sugar syrup flavored with rose water.
Badami Kulfi
Homemade ice cream with almonds and raisins.
Vanilla Ice Cream
Kheer
Rice pudding with raisins and almonds, flavored with cardamom.
Mango Kulfi
Homemade ice cream garnished with alfaso mango pulp.
Sweet Lassi
Sweet, refreshing and delicious rose flavored yogurt drink.
Mango Lassi
A refreshing yogurt drink mixed with mango pulp.
Orange Juice
Soda
Spring Water
Hot Tea
Salty Lassi
Salty, refreshing and delicious yogurt drink with roasted cumin seeds and mint.
Mango Juice
Milk Shake
mango
Iced Tea
Dhaba Masala Chai
Beverages
Side Orders
Condiments Tray
Onion, mango and mint chutney, mixed pickle, and raita.
Raita
Yogurt mixed with cucumber and fresh mint.