Desi Dhaaba image

Desi Dhaaba

Restaurant β€’ Indian restaurant

πŸ‘πŸ‘ Great food in a minimalist setting. It may not be a destination but try it out for the food at least once and you will be back. Next door to an Indian/Pakistani grocery store, it fulfills the promise of roadside dhaabas all over northern India where weary travelers can get a hearty meal in a no fuss... People often mention Indian, chicken, butter, store, grocery, restaurant, good, rice,


Address

ξƒˆ3900 Washington St, Gurnee, IL 60031

Contact

ξ‚°(224) 637-3233

Price rating

$$ $$

Rating on Google Maps

4.20 (304 reviews)

Open on Google Maps

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: Indian (12) chicken (12) butter (11) store (10) grocery (9) restaurant (9) good (8) rice (6)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 5/5 Theodore M. 5 years ago on Google
    Great food in a minimalist setting. It may not be a destination but try it out for the food at least once and you will be back. Next door to an Indian/Pakistani grocery store, it fulfills the promise of roadside dhaabas all over northern India where weary travelers can get a hearty meal in a no fuss setting with an obligatory serving of tea. By design, they serve only a few dishes but what you get there tastes great. Add to it the visions of snacks sold off a cart in every major city in India and you have a winner. Want a bit more? Try their biryani, curries and vegetarian dishes for a fuller experience with an authentic taste. While they are preparing your food order, browse the grocery store next door and you just might be tempted to take home the supplies to create your own master dishes. Popular with the lunch crowd from nearby offices, the Dhaaba offers catering and dishes prepared in bulk, as well.
    6 people found this review helpful πŸ‘

  • 1/5 HEATHER N. 2 years ago on Google
    I called in 2 orders of butter chicken and naan bread. I went to check out and questioned if rice came with the dish? It did not, you have to pay separately for rice which is odd to me because you are selling a dish that is served with rice. I got home and saw the amount of oil just pooled up on the butter chicken. I called the restaurant and spoke with one of the girls and she informed me that butter chicken uses a lot of butter and that’s what I’m seeing, and overuse of butter. That is true, you do use butter in the recipe but it should never be so much that you have pools of oil floating on top of the dish. From my perspective, it looks like overuse of actual oil. She said that I could come back in 30 minutes for a new batch that she’s making but I have already made it home and the drive is 30 minutes in each direction for me. I think to charge $32 for greasy tasteless butter chicken and to charge extra for rice, not to mention the amount of naan bread is an actual joke! The naan was cut really odd as well and it was tasteless. I would have loved to leave a great review! P.S. we are still in a pandemic, not one person had a mask on and the women in the kitchen cooking didn’t wear them either. This business is lacking standards.
    4 people found this review helpful πŸ‘

  • 5/5 Julie H. 2 years ago on Google
    My son picked up some delicious takeout for us! Tried vegetable and chicken samosas, vegetable pakora, butter chicken, naan bread and chutneys. It was some of the best Indian food I ever had! Our bill was about $28 and made two large meals. Well worth it. Spiced and cooked perfectly! Will definitely be back! There is also an Indian grocery store as well.
    2 people found this review helpful πŸ‘

  • 2/5 James R. 1 year ago on Google
    To me, two stars means that I'm not actively shouting for people to avoid a place, but that I will recommend against going there if asked. Starting with presentation, they bring you your food in plastic or styrofoam to-go containers, even if you are dining in. The butter chicken, which should be finished with a ring of heavy cream, is just a hue of red on top. As for flavor: * The mango lassi tastes like "Dannon Fruit on the Bottom" yogurt, put through a blender. It tastes first of sugar, with a backdrop of mango. A good lassi should taste first of the distinctive fruit, then of the tangy yogurt, and finally have a light sweetness. * The goat biryani tastes heavily of cloves, almost to the point of numbing your tongue (if you have ever bitten into a whole clove, you know what I mean). * The butter chicken sauce is sooooo salty. While the chicken is nicely charred, it is also overcooked and dry. Eating it with rice (instead of naan) does help cut some of the saltiness, but even then the flavor is unimpressive. Having had a lot of very good Indian food, I was hoping to find Desi Dhaaba to be a little gem, but I was sorely disappointed. We are still on the lookout for a good Indian restaurant in the Lake County area.
    2 people found this review helpful πŸ‘

  • 4/5 The K. 1 year ago on Google
    Desi Dhaaba is food as well as grocery store #Desi-Needs I have to say that the grocery store is the best organized #desi store I have ever seen. Very organized with all products having price tags. A huge variety of #Pakistani sweets like Habshi Halwa, and mix sweets from #Rehmat-e-Shireen and #Karachi-sweets. #Desi-Dhaaba has very friendly staff, big serving with very reasonable prices. All the food is #halaal. The spices are more from #Hyderabad #India. #Biryani was medium hot. #Dahi-puri was excellent! I ordered it while waiting for my Biryani … right decision!😊 #Waukegan #desi-food #Indian #Pakistani #food
    1 person found this review helpful πŸ‘

  • 4/5 Ramya K. 4 months ago on Google
    Good stuff, our go to place after they have expanded. Their food is also good. Samosas and chat are our personal favorites.
    1 person found this review helpful πŸ‘

  • 3/5 Sharita E. 1 year ago on Google
    We had samosa’s, butter chicken, curry goat, nan & mango lassi. Overall everything was really good. We have it 8/10. First Indian food try.
    1 person found this review helpful πŸ‘

  • 4/5 Nyla U. 1 year ago on Google
    Pretty good food and nice grocery store. Prices and menu aren't the same as online.
    1 person found this review helpful πŸ‘

  • 5/5 Mohammed Ismail A. 1 year ago on Google
    This place sits near the top (or probably the top) on my list of best places to have Indian food. Today, I just had the best Tandoori Chicken I've ever had, including the food I had in India.
    1 person found this review helpful πŸ‘

  • 5/5 Ashley D. 1 year ago on Google
    It's a restaurant inside of a little Indian grocery store. The food was delicious. The prices online are not the same as they are in the restaurant so expect to pay a bit more- example chicken 65 was 11 not 9. Still worth it for the flavor- my partner who is picky with Indian food enjoyed it.
    1 person found this review helpful πŸ‘

  • 5/5 Shlok K. 1 year ago on Google
    Delicious Chats, amazing gravies, love the taste. I love to eat here every once in a while. Their Indian Store prices are cheaper than others so that's a plus. Great customer service at the restaurant, must visit.
    1 person found this review helpful πŸ‘

  • 5/5 Aleena T. 1 year ago on Google
    I am such a huge fan of the Aloo tikki chaat. It is a must!!! The restaurant is right next to this grocery store. Will be coming back again!
    1 person found this review helpful πŸ‘

  • 5/5 Jazmine A. 1 year ago on Google
    This is my first time trying out their food and it was absolutely delicious ! I ordered Aalo tikki, Chicken Biryani, Kadi, samosa chaat, aalo chaat , and Lassi ! Omg the Lassi was so good ! I couldn't wait so I ate up the Aalo Tikki in my car. Kadi was my absolute favorite ! The prices are beyond reasonable. I paid $42 for everything that I would've paid over $65-70 ! A must try ! Will definitely be back.
    1 person found this review helpful πŸ‘

  • 4/5 Syed Muhammad F. 1 year ago on Google
    Shami Kabab are the best followed by Chiken Biryani when good. Sometimes, its really off. Also, the samosa and papri chat are very yummy

  • 1/5 Ven P. 8 months ago on Google
    If you want to eat Vegetarian, don't even think about this restaurant as they will heat something from the refrigerator and give it. This time when I went they didn't heat it well. When asked them the paneer is super cold she saw me as if I'm was begging some food from her. For the frozen palak paneer, 3 super mini rotis and cup of rice they charged $20 which absolutely waste. This restaurant is not worth it anymore.

  • 1/5 Akash C. 8 months ago on Google
    Go to this place if it’s your only or last choice. Most things in coolers expired and always ALWAYS check the expiration if you buy anything from their grocery store.

  • 5/5 Nynah P. 8 months ago on Google
    Had the best tandoori chicken at this place after I placed a catering order please try it out

  • 5/5 Charles J. 6 months ago on Google
    They deserve 10 starts. The food is excellent! The service is great. The Indian lady taking your order at the counter is beautiful. She makes you want to visit the restaurant nursery to see her.


Call ξ‚°(224) 637-3233 Open on Google Maps

Amenities


  • Parking
    • βœ“οΈ Free parking lot
    • βœ“οΈ Plenty of parking
  • Payments
    • βœ“οΈ Checks
    • βœ“οΈ Debit cards
    • βœ“οΈ Credit cards
    • βœ“οΈ NFC mobile payments
  • Offerings
    • βœ“οΈ Coffee
    • βœ“οΈ Halal food
    • βœ“οΈ Quick bite
    • βœ“οΈ Comfort food
    • βœ“οΈ Small plates
    • βœ“οΈ Vegan options
    • βœ“οΈ Healthy options
    • βœ“οΈ Vegetarian options
  • Popular for
    • βœ“οΈ Lunch
    • βœ“οΈ Dinner
    • βœ“οΈ Solo dining
  • Accessibility
    • βœ“οΈ Wheelchair accessible seating
    • βœ“οΈ Wheelchair accessible parking lot
  • Dining options
    • βœ“οΈ Lunch
    • βœ“οΈ Brunch
    • βœ“οΈ Dinner
    • βœ“οΈ Dessert
    • βœ“οΈ Seating
    • βœ“οΈ Catering
  • Service options
    • βœ“οΈ Dine-in
    • βœ“οΈ Takeout
    • βœ“οΈ Delivery

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