Haandi

Was in Lexington and was craving desi food . .. have gone to haandi a long time ago and went back .. there are some tables inside to sit and dine . When you enter you see all the meat and veggies displayed and it looks inviting :) service is good. Pricing is good too. Atmosphere was average . Platter was about 15-16 $ and priced ok. Food looked fresh . The platter has naan , rice , veggie and a meat (optional)… tastes very good . It tasted like home food . Chole was super awesome . Went well with naan and rice . The meat curry was also super duper good . Right spice level and had perfect flavor … food taste is 5/5 but because of overall atmosphere , I had to give them a 4 star . ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️

I would not recommend this place. The cleanliness was below standard, and it did not meet my expectations. I hope management takes steps to improve hygiene.

Overall the customer service is something they know nothing about. The food was trash. This is something I would not feed my enemies. No hand washing or cleaning was done while I was there for 30 minutes. After I left the store I felt sick for quite a while. I would recommend people to see the place from inside before ordering. Everything is old and apart form the naan nothing is made to order. If I could give 0 stars I would.

A great place to quickly try a bunch of South Asian dishes, as they prepare the items in bulk, and serve by plate. Items include Indian, Bangladeshi, and Pakistani favorite dishes. The taste is pretty legit, the do not compromise on spice or masala. All items smell and taste just like if they were made at home. The restaurant itself looks very old, messy, and unhygienic. Restroom is not up-to the standard. The uninspiring look and feel of the restaurant diminishes it’s quality of product somewhat.

I came in this atmosphere thinking we would eat desi food. The food for the price is not worth it, and honestly feels like it’s not fresh. Rice had a weird smell and the rest of the food was overly trash. Don’t bother spending on this food that could end you up in the hospital because of throwing up. Also the spot looks like a prison type aesthetic and cleanliness is needed. - response from restaurant* “ your a bot 😂”

The food is good (deserve five star for it but giving four star rating overall). However, the inside of the resturent can be improved in terms of decoration, service, and cleanliness. The resturent is in the city so finding parking sometimes can be difficult. Overall, food is really good but atmosphere can be improved.

Yuck!!!! They microwave their food!!!!!!! It's not fresh. The meat was hard like a rock could not eat it... the yogurt taste like water, the salad had frozen vegetables. The place had very poor hygiene. The Naan was the only good thing. I do NOT recommend this place

Haandi is currently a shadow of its former self, offering only a fraction of the great-tasting food and relatively better dining facilities it had back then. I have been coming regularly for years, and the experience last week compelled me to write this note. I ordered 5+ items, including chicken biryani, chicken korma, kebabs, garlic naan, etc., and they all felt tasteless, dry, and rough, the food in open trays and reheating. I was a big fan of this place for almost a decade, but now the hygiene looks super concerning. I wonder how the health department allows it to operate in such a state.

Haandi is my family's go-to spot for authentic Pakistani cuisine! Every dish we tried was a hit. The Nihari was incredibly tender with just the right amount of spice to wake up your taste buds. The garlic naan was perfection -- loaded with garlic and a subtle hint of ginger that took it to the next level. The Seekh Kabab was packed with bold, flavorful spices that left us wanting more. The chai was another standout -- warm, rich, and perfectly brewed. The dining space is cozy with a handful of 4-top tables and a larger communal table in the middle, which creates a nice, lively atmosphere. There's no music playing, but it never felt too quiet thanks to the steady flow of customers coming in and out, placing orders, and chatting. One thing to note: there are some steep stairs leading to the dining area. Navigating it with a stroller was a bit of a challenge, but thankfully my wife and I were able to lift it up together. If you're dining with little ones, it's something to keep in mind. There's also one bathroom available for guests, which was clean during our visit. Overall, Haandi delivers on flavor, authenticity, and ambiance. If you're looking for a true taste of Pakistan, this spot will not disappoint. We'll definitely be back for more!

Been going to this place for a while. They cook only halal here and their meat dishes are amazing. Decent lunch specials. They have a tandoori oven so fresh naan is recommended. It's a dive spot so heads up. Used to be a late night hang but Covid ruined that. Some of my recommendations: goat kadia/biryani, chicken biryani, fresh tandoori naan buttered, seekh kabab chicken or beef. Enjoy!

Went to Haandi almost after 2 years to get some lunch for takeout. Seemed like the place has changed management, it appeared much cleaner, tidy and dishes were much more diverse. I got the meat platter with butter chicken, lamb curry, cabbage and rice. Butter chicken was really delicious. Cabbage and lamb were also good. The portion was fulfilling. We also got shami kabab and pakoras, which were average. Gulab jamun were little hard but Ras malai was amazing. It was a good experience to eat out from Haandi again.

Was in Lexington and was craving desi food . .. have gone to haandi a long time ago and went back .. there are some tables inside to sit and dine . When you enter you see all the meat and veggies displayed and it looks inviting :) service is good. Pricing is good too. Atmosphere was average . Platter was about 15-16 $ and priced ok. Food looked fresh . The platter has naan , rice , veggie and a meat (optional)... tastes very good . It tasted like home food . Chole was super awesome . Went well with naan and rice . The meat curry was also super duper good . Right spice level and had perfect flavor ... food taste is 5/5 but because of overall atmosphere , I had to give them a 4 star .

The food is always good. I get a veggie plate and a chicken plate to go with a couple of extra naan. (I love the naan, sometimes just as a snack) I get it to go cold and heat it up at home.

Wont lie-i go there when am craving for some Lahori street food. Food is on the spicier side. So watch out when you order. Their Halwa puri and Dahi bhalai are really good. Combos are good for money too. Its a casual take out place-you can dine in too but nothing fancy. Friendly staff.

Good food, Nihari had great taste, seekh kabob's were good , chicken Tikkah was ok...overall great place ...it's a small Dhabba style so not much seating or service

Casual indian spot with precooked dishes and sides. Decent valued platter combos for veg and non veg. Tried a serving of chicken Tikka masala and karahi gosht. Chicken Tikka masala was borderline inedible.. the boneless was very overcooked chicken breast and had no sauce (thought only UK did Tikka with no sauce). Saw the server spray some water before reheating, but it did not help. The yogurt sauce that accompanied the dishes was decent. The lamb was surprisingly tender, no gaminess and not all of the fat was rendered. Very small portion sizes when order the dishes standalone, would probably recommend platters.

he food is not bad at all. Service has been terrible since this guy came on board, I haven't been back for a while since I've noticed his nasty attitude. I went back today and was excited to see the lady who's been working there forever who has the most welcoming vibe in the world, but he interrupted her and wanted to make my food the way his way. After objecting to what I truly wanted to get, he told me to leave if I didn't want it that way. I will never go back there as long as he works there. We don't bully women in this country, and hospitality is about what the client wants if it's available to be served.

We had breakfast here and FOR THE PRICE it was actually pretty good. Like for a $15 nihari it wasn't bad, and the naan was perfect. The halwa was pink and looked like pureed strawberries so I wouldn't order it again.

Yum !!! It's all about the food No luxury none needed Great value on the food price

One of the true dives of Curry Hill (#1), Haandi has been one of the neighborhood's longest standing Pakistani restaurants. It is also one of the best deals in the city with a true lunch buffet that has both the variety and the local support to make a worthy destination for anyone in the area. I was introduced to Haandi as the late night spot for all the cab drivers looking for a quality meal. Despite being a two level establishment, the interior is very cramped. The upper floor is mainly a la carte and takeout, which is what remains open throughout most of the day and night. I somehow stumbled across their basement level lunch buffet, which was $9 when I first came and has transitioned into a $12 current day feast. The bathrooms should be avoided and the sanitary / hygiene is legitimately questionable, but that's also part of the charm. The food is not earth shattering, but the variety is appreciated. I appreciate the fact they serve some type of biryani (typically chicken or lamb) often, the seekh kabab is tasty, and the chana masala goes well with just about everything. I also like their hockey puck sized aloo tikki and I most definitely can eat a few of the meatballs. I've found much of the food to be a bit on the oily side and their breads / samosas are abundant but not particularly memorable. I'm also not terribly fond of their salads either and haven't found many sweet / dessert like items I can get behind. What I most definitely appreciate is the no frills / keep your pretension at the door mantra of the place. Despite being open all the hours, they don't normally have a lot of staff on hand. This essentially means to serve yourself and pay (in cash, even though they accept credit), and get out. I never manage to leave here without being completely stuffed and both my wallet and tummy are happy. Just the way it should be. _____________ (#1) i.e. Murray Hill

This place deserves more than 5 stars. Their food is beyond flavorful, like everything! I ordered the achar chicken and meat lunch special which came with rice and naan. I also got a masala chai. Everything was super delicious - the naan lovely and fluffy, the rice was so flavorful not your average white basmati rice, the achar chicken was amazing, and the meat dish too! I love masala chai and this one hit the spot! I think my lunch was only $17 with tip! Forget all the other wannabes, just go here. It's definitely a hole in the wall no frills place but the service is fast, and the food delectable!

*** 3.5 stars *** Can't really complain too much about an $11 dinner plate (2 chicken items, 1 vegetable, rice and naan), but the food was just a bit better than okay. You pick from a case of what they have available and they heat it up for you in the microwave. I had the butter chicken, tandoori chicken and a side of eggplant. The naan they gave me was huge but not very good (a bit too crispy / stale). A fast, convenient option with very nice service/staff, but I would have liked the food to be a bit more flavorful.

It's definitely a no frills, hole in the wall place - but we walked out so full and happy with our choice. All the food feels like it's cooked at home. The food is served piping hot, with deep flavors. For the price, it's great. The naan is so fluffy. You get a good variety of things when you order a platter. I'd recommend this spot!

This place is a steal and the haleem is absolute fire. I probably eat it twice a month. They keep things spicy so if you're shy with that, you probably won't like it.

Casual Indian/ Pakistani/ Bengali food. Mostly for take out. ppl eat in too. Self service. They heat up the food for u in the microwave. Im not the one to judge if the food is authentic or not but the flavor is pretty good. Yet too spicy for me. Couldn't really enjoy it when the tongue and lips were numb. Friendly staff. Quick service.

I'm so sad. I have gone to this restaurant for many years and although it changed ownership once or twice, the recipes - particularly the chicken biryani - remained the same in spectacular flavor and design. Unfortunately it is clear that it has changed hands yet again and this time the recipes did not stay. I bought a couple of orders of biryani and sadly will never do so again. It is dry,dry and there is NO flavor except that added by an excess of cloves. The chicken also has no flavor at all. In a city, in an area, with many many Desi restaurants this used to be one of the absolute best late night places for delicious food in Manhattan. Sadly no more. Time to find a new place on Lexington Avenue.

I would give 0 stars if I could. Me and my wife ordered takeout from this place a couple of days ago when they were doing a 2 for 1 special. We ordered quite a bit of food including biryani, chicken Patties, and some sweets. Long story short, my wife bit into a chicken patty and found a live roach in there. We were beyond disgusted when discovering this. We immediately threw out all the food we had ordered. They definitely have some health code violations going on. Stay away!

Authentic, spicy, hits the spot as always. I have never ate in person but I always order on DoorDash and they package everything neatly. The foods are ALWAYS great. Never disappointed, by far one of my favorite Pakistani/Indian food.

The food here feels like a home-cooked delight--delicious, affordable, and satisfyingly indulgent. Whether you've had a night of revelry or just find yourself ravenously hungry on a tight budget, this spot is the perfect go-to for a greasy and utterly satisfying culinary experience.

Y'all. They're open and serving up dank platters. Get in on it and support them. The selection is more limited due to the pandemic but I promise you that everything they have is still as delicious as before.

I will get right to the point: This place is pretty good and well, cheap! For $10 and change, I got the Meat platter that came with Naan, raita, and a salad. I ordered the Chicken tikka masala with rice and a lamb kebab. There is a water jug in each table along with disposable plastic cups if you want water. Elsewhere, you'll spend $18+ on this item. Definitely my new "Go to" spot when I want cheap fast Indian food if you don't mind the buffet style and microwave reheated food! Overall, great taste, fast service, but definitely not your fine dining experience, more of a local takeout or order first, and get your food on a tray and sit anywhere kind of eatery!

This place is a gem, something like you would find out in Queens. It is very divey and at night it is packed with cab drivers. However, the food is great in my opinion. I split a bunch of stuff with a friend, lots of chicken biryani, rice, salad and naan, and some other stuff I can't remember. It was not the best food I have ever had, but it was all very good and very cheap. The people were nice enough and they served the food quickly. I got a ton of good food and it was a nice break from the usual Manhattan (sushi/thai/mex/burgers, etc.) dining scene.

I have found this cooked rubber band from lamb curry. I don't know why don't careful specially in pandemic time. All the food trays are open and people walking around and server reaching other food over one food tray That is gross should keep food covered

Used to come here for the lunch special when I worked in the area. This place hasn't changed at all! Fantastic little hole in the wall no frills Indian food. There is indoor dining but only three tables and usually packed so I got my meal to go. Chicken biryani, spinach/potato, and chicken tikka masala. Finished my chai too fast :( didn't get a pic. They gave me a lot which will last me the rest of the week! This is just what I portioned out for dinner

Lots of food but the staff on the counter didn't seem interested in giving me food, while everyone else at the store got their order and I was completely ignored for 10 minutes. I might have enjoyed the food as they looked good but be ready for the possibility you will be ignored if you are not a regular.

Casual Indian and Pakistani place in Murray hill, offering cheap options. You order at the counter, pick up and find a seat. The food options are cheap, and of pretty good quality. We had the chicken biryani, tikka masala, and naan. Everything came out really quickly and tasted good. We also tried the Lassi $2.99, which was also really tasty.

The photos don't do it justice. This is my favorite place for Indian/Pakistani in the city. No frills, just delicious flavors. I always get the haleem, and it has never disappointed. Honestly, if they didn't serve anything else, I would be fine with it. Haha. The kabobs, rice, naan, and lassis are also consistently great. This time, the saag was not as on point as usual, but I'll give them a pass. I've been coming here for years, and like I said, the haleem is all I need.

Home style Pakistani food - delicious. I didn't get the platters that everyone is taking about. I got the chicken biriyani- so much better than the Indian biriyanis. Spinach potato curry - tasted a bit stale. Lamb curry - very good. Naan - fresh, delicate and delicious. Would have given 5 stars if the food was less oily. Delicious nonetheless. Kababs looked great - will be back. No frills, no decor kinda place.

Really wanted to have tikka masala chicken and naan. Tried their's and can honestly say it was the most flavorless I've had. Food was microwaved and then served. I have never been to a Pakistani place that didn't have good tikka masala or naan. The reason for the 2 stars is that on the other end of the spectrum, the samosa I had was delicious.

Walked into here around 4PM CRAVING SAAG LIKE NOBODY'S BUSINESS. It was not on the menu, but I was promptly told by a nice lady that if I called in a formal order they could cook it up for me Punjabi style. Haandi is by no means a fine dining establishment. If you want to do a Haandi date, order in and literally watch Netflix. If you want booze, there is a liquor store next store, downstairs. However, to keep it Halal, maybe skip the drinks and DIVE into an unbeatable lunch special. Looking forward to my "last meal" dinner here!

Haandi is a great place to sample legit Pakistani Cuisine without breaking the bank. I had a giant lamb biryani which came with a side of salad & white sauce for under $10. At this price point, expect your food to be precooked & microwaved before serving. Still, it's flavorful & will satiate your cravings for spice. Get line, read the menu while waiting, order what you want, sit, food will be brought to your table, eat, stay as long as you want, & approach the counter to pay. They trust you not to run away after eating. Lol!

Great place to get a myriad of curries from vegetarian to meats. Decently priced in the area. Naan was awesome! Chicken is a bit dry but still very tasty. The place is a bit dirty and dingy feeling from time to time but that's expected due to the amount of people coming in.

Put aside concepts like glamour, decor and personal space, and Haandi is one of the city's best. The combos (under $10) are spicy, flavorful and huge. I got achari chicken, some kind of pakora item in sauce and a tandoori-type chicken dish. On one of my earlier visits I got an impressive vegetarian combo. You order at the counter and hey bring it you a few minutes later. You'll be crowded but glad you stopped by.

I've spent a substantial amount of time in one of NY's brown communities (Castle Hill) and the shish-kebabs here are somehow cheaper. Haandi's the open secret to every frugal foodie's South Asian fix. Last time I was here, I ordered the shish kebab (the size of my best friend's big black dick), a vegetable samosa, tea, and some potato disc thingy that I'll ask my friend for the name later. All that for, guess how much... go on, guess. FIVE DOLLARS! The shish kebab is not only girthy but sported that sweet charcoal taste I constantly crave. You can get better samosas anywhere else though. Like, probably in a dumpster. Also, when they say "vegetable" samosa, they mean potato. Is potato a vegetable? It's certainly a disappointment. The potato disc thingies were great though. Dense and flavorful enough, not to be over saturated with carbs. I've also had the meat platter. The meat platter's what you come here for. The meat platter's what the cabbies come here for. The students at the neighboring college, the underpaid TAs, the brown parents who subletting their dreams to their kids. You get the picture. The meat platter's the best deal: 2 meats, 2 apps, a side salad, a yogurt sauce, and the peace of mind that you saved some money for your daughter's college tuition (or your gambling addiction (I don't judge)). I can't tell you what the meats are because the language barrier simply breaks it down to chicken and other chicken but that's fine by me. It's your general flavored Indian food. But what I can tell you is: don't get the lentils. It's just so one dimensional and then you try to mix it with the yogurt sauce thinking it'd balance itself out and now you've lost your yogurt sauce to your shit creation. This must be what parents feel like when they've raised shit children.

Is the healthiest? No. Is it super clean? Not really. Is the food fast, delicious, cheap, and greasy and perfect after a night of drinking or just when you're really hungry on a tight budget .Hell yes. I love haandi for all those reasons and more. Plus the chai. Oh the chai. I've been there more times than I can remember.

Consider going elsewhere. We found them from the Halal restaurant week listing 20% off from March 6-20, 2023. They refused to honor the discount. It was not clean. Bismillah. Very disappointing.

I've always been in the Curry Hill area, but never really explored many establishments other than a handful of the buffet lunch spots. It always seemed intimidating to go at dinner time because the restaurants are always filled with regulars. But I took a leap of faith and decided to finally check one out that my chef cousin and his chef friends highly recommended. Hence, that is how I found Haandi! This will be my neighborhood go to now! It is a fast casual, order at the counter and take to go or eat in kind of place. There is a buffet of food that you can chose from and the man behind the counter helps you. I chose the meat platter, which included (1) rice, (2) two meats, (3) one veggie, (4) salad, and (5) naan. All that for only $8.99! There was a good variety of curries and grilled entrees. I was so stuffed and had enough food for another meal. The price is definitely worth it and the taste is on point! Everything is so flavorful and well seasoned. The establishment attracts a very diverse crowd, so many people seem to know about the good food they serve. If you're in the area, I highly recommend Haandi! You can get good food at a great price!

Nihari was chunkier than I've had before and the naan was ok. Delivery was on time and received in decent shape.

We got some naan kabab for takeout and found a huge, sharp piece of plastic in the kabab as we were chewing on it. Pretty dangerous and gross. Not something that could have been ingested without causing problems. I am all for gritty, worn-in places with good food, but this was a bit much.

It's edible, but not good. Especially considering you have fifty other better options within the surrounding few blocks. I tried a little bit of everything at their lunch buffet and am pretty disappointed. The inside looks dirty, but at least the actual buffet area is cleanish. I won't be returning here. Spend a few extra bucks and go across the street to Dha Ba.

So my last review of this place was about 3 years ago, wow. Back then, they were pretty shitty and I think they got closed down by the DOH even for a time. I didn't know they were open again and because I parked a block away one late night after hanging out with friends and really hungry, I weighed my options of food in the area or on the way home and will always decide on Indian if given the option. Curry in a Hurry was nearby, but that place was trash last time I went (see my review of them on their page), and Haandi actually this time seemed like the only beckoning light from within that looked decent. Figured I'd stop in and if the food didn't look good I'd unapologetically leave. Here's what I liked and didn't like. And maybe this was because it was on a lonely Saturday night the weekend of Thanksgiving when the MidWesterners went home for the holiday weekend, so they had some more fresh or extra food hanging out, but I got lamb curry, chicken tikka masala spicy rice chick peas & eggplant and naan and it was actually very good. 3 stars (and not 4 or 5) because they did scoop from the pre-made tray and microwave it. I was concerned for my toilet bowl the next day after seeing that but by the grace of God I did not have any of those issues. The sauce was pretty hearty, the chicken slightly dry although passable, and the lamb was actually meaty, not cheap and full of cartilage like usual from these types of places. Also value- all of that for $9. Two meats, a vegetable, salad and naan. Not bad. So I suppose my advice is this- stop in, but check out the food before ordering. Maybe I was there on a good night when the "good" chef was working the stove. But this is a step in the right direction. If I come back again and get a similar experience they may even make it to 4 stars.

Considered by many to be the crown jewel of curry hill, I had to make a special trip to Haandi in order to see what the big deal what this place is about. I discovered that it is indeed something special: a great indian/pakistani buffet for $10 including tax and tips. While this place technically opens at 10:00 AM, the buffet does not begin until 12:00 PM. They are quite specific about this, so I wouldn't bother showing up any earlier than 12, since they may not have fully set up the buffet table before then. However, keep in mind that as soon as you hit 12, the floodgates will open and tons of people will swarm in, so really do try to get here as close to 12 as possible without being too early. You may get confused by the upstairs/downstairs thing, but it's all the same restaurant. While you're allowed to sit anywhere, but the buffet is served downstairs, while the cooked foods to order, drinks, and everything else is served upstairs. It's pretty informal here. Just go in, take a seat, and as soon as the buffet opens downstairs, go to get your food. Not one comes here or serves you or anything, and it's kind of strange how they keep a tab on what you're eating, but I'm pretty sure someone is watching/taking notice, so just go for it. The buffet, which is the claim to fame here, is quite good. As shown by some of my photos, this is where a lot of taxi drivers come to eat. I imagine because taxi drivers have to work long shifts, buffets make sense for them, and because this place has a super reputation, especially among Indian people, this is the right choice. The buffet is $10.00, POST TAX POST TIP, which is really just a mind boggling deal, considered so many of the other places offer at $11.99, $12.99 kind of deal. Not only is this impressive because the food here is so good, but also because it's been $10 for quite a few years now- judging by previous reviews left by other yelpers, it's been at this price point for around 2 years now. As alluded to, the food is quite good. It's not the best food in the world, or even the best Indian/pakistani food you can get in curry hill, but for what it is, it's damn good. They have rice, meat curries, vegetable curries, naan, a salad bar, a rice dessert... the selection actually isn't huge, but they have everything that you'd expect of a typical south asian place. THere isn't any tandori chicken included in the buffet (you may be able to get it at the counter), but it's not a huge constraining factor, since the chicken in the other dishes are very good. The biggest downside here is that it's not super clean. Even when I came in, where I was ostensibly the first buffet customer of the day, the table was still not very clean. Still, worth it. Also the mango lassi wasn't great, kind sour, and costs $2.99, which isn't much cheaper than any other mango lassis in the area. Next time I'll probably try the plain lassi. CC minimum of $15

I had food here twice and both the times I did not like it. The second time is my worst experience. I'm not going there and I will not recommend this place to anyone else. I usually look for few things while exploring and my review is based on them. Quality - poor Service - good Price - cheap (if this is your only criteria then you can visit this place) Authenticity - not even close Ambience - poor

We had the meat platter and the chicken platter. Everything was delicious. The naan was so fluffy. And the food was perfectly spiced. The space is low-key. I definitely recommend coming here.

Ordered a bunch of food from here to go. The stuff is absolutely disgusting, I'm sure if it was fresh it would be great but there was a nasty stench coming from the food like it has been sitting out all day or held on to for over a week. I will never order at the end of the day. The price does not make up for skimpy amount and lack of freshness. The packing was insanely oily, my white counter turned yellow trying to unpack from the grease spilling out and stuck to the bottom of their containers. Perhaps their cheap buffet might be a better option.

I came here post pandemic and it was bustling as ever. Food is authentic and delicious. I highly recommend

This is a popular food place for people from South East Asia. I had the chicken seekh kabab, Dal gosht (mutton with lentils) and chai (South East Asian tea with milk). I was particularly let down by the tea as many people regard it as one of the best $1 tea in nyc. It did not have the creamy texture which is a staple of the traditional chai. The Dal gosht was okay in that the gravy had a lot of depth and the mutton was particularly tender. The only downside was that it did not have proper seasoning. The chicken seekh was really good and given the one dollar difference between 1 or 2 Kababs, I opted for the latter. It was packed with spices and had the perfect bit of seasoning that one can hope for. Easily, the best thing that I had that day.