Roti Boti

Had naan and chicken tikka. Most of tikka was inedible, swimming in oil and not completely cooked (wtf). The «server» used his bare hands to arrange the «salad» as well. Please walk a little bit more and get something else

Outraged single-​star reviews sometimes tempt me to visit places, especially when there’s no consensus and I can pretentiously offer my thoughts as the «voice of reason.» It wasn’t the most welcoming joint, but I can see how the food and the experience might improve on a third or fourth visit.
I didn’t know what to get. My first choice, chicken achar, was sold out. They were also out of samosas. I opted for goat roti. It had good spices and a better texture than usual. It might have been more enjoyable with some vegetables instead of just meat and rice.

I love Dal Tadka. Went in and ordered it and they said they had 3 kinds. ?? I said give me the spiciest — he said they were all spicy. I think he just gave me a little bit of this and that from the cafeteria-​style line. Didn’t make the debit card minimum so I rounded it out with meatballs and samosas. None of the language barrier weirdness mattered once I got it in my mouth. It was freakin amazing and I’d be there every day if I could work with their debit card minimums.

They’re are flies everywhere. I decided to dine in ordered tandoori chicken, roti, naan, and lamb. Bathrooms are disgusting and cramped don’t bother you will lose your appetite. I saw workers go in and did not wash their hands when they came out…

Roti Boti is an unassuming, workingman’s Pakistani roti joint. Notice the taxicabs outside. Yes, that means the food here is good. Ignore that the cash register is sitting over some sort of microwave.
Chicken tikka masala (a.k.a. non-​Pakistani, pale face Westerner-​type food) here is very good, super flavorful, and we order over rice. The rice is that multicolored goodness that rice should be. The naan is (almost) made before your eyes … just stand on your tippy toes and peek in the window in the wall, and you can see it being made. Chicken tikka masala is what we eat here, with gulab jamun, lassis and other accoutrements. There are other options, certainly, but what we’ve tried, we were not accustomed to, and the options were rather oily, so we stick to CTM.
Raita is always included.
Note: while there are vegetarian options, this is not what I would call a vegetarian’s restaurant.
The prices are good, the takeout portions over rice are enough for two people.
I have been a regular customer here.

Didn’t event get to try the food. Ignored the B rating by the health dept in the window and attempted to give it a shot.
You walk in and all the food is in heating trays. I asked if there was a menu, got a blank stare. I asked if you get 1 meat and 2 sides, got back the response «you order what you want.» Ok but with no menu apparently its point and grunt.
Obviously we have never been here but the counter person did not care to be helpful or friendly. He did however correct my friend when pronouncing an item on the specials of the day which they also happened to be out of already by 1 PM lunch time.
We did the right thing and went to another spot in the area happy to have customers.

I note that a lot of people comment on the cleanliness. Yeah, you’re rigth, it’s on an industrial strip and it looks beat up. They also use ‘artisanal’ approaches – which under the McDonaldization of NYC under Mayor Blomberg and his homogenizign crew came to by stamped «unhygienic» via the letter-​based rating system – and there’s kind of a greasy feel. But I can report in all honesty that I live nearby and have eaten here hundreds of times at all hours of the day and have NEVER gotten sick. I can’t say the same for the gleaming assembly-​line places that rely on their sealed containers to keep junky or rotten ingredients ‘fresh’…So if you wanna go old school, Pakistani truck stop, quick and cheap food in astoria I still recommend this place highly. And people are right, their (Mexican citizen-​made) Naan is some of he better bread I’ve encountered in Queens. Roti Boti Jackson Heights has now closed and it’s been taken over under another name, and its seating area separates men and women. Yikes! I’m not down with that.

Nan gets 4 star but rest of Em curries 2 star n kababs 3 star. If u make good food make sure it is hygienic

I drop by here quite often with my cousins who live in Astoria… the food won’t dissapoint you, but definitely get take out! The place is pretty dirty looking on the inside, and doesn’t seem to be very clean. It’s a hearty joint to just pay a cheap price and take a good tasting meal home. Try the butter chicken… It’s different than most butter chicken dishes at other restaraunts. They’re pretty generous with the size of their meals. The menu is expansive, good for both vegetarians, and meat lovers. Overall: great food, good price, and a sketchy setting that doesn’t seem very clean.

I get the 3 veggies/​beans for $ 7 and usually have a second meal left, amazing portion (at night, lunch ends up being smaller for some reason). The only choice when I’m driving late night (they are open to like at least 2 am). Only complaint is a few times they let other people cut in front on me just because I don’t speak arabic, I boycotted for like ½ a year but still come here because it’s the only good game in town.

Food is horrible. They have no sanitation! Checked the health department rates the restaurant was violated for having flies in the food also roaches and mice. I will never eat here again

I give them one star for importing Rohu Fish all the way from Pakistan and that is all.

Love the food here. Big portions and always flavorful! Chicken tika masala over rice with nan is my favorite thing to get here.

I am not sure what people see in this place, but the food was terrible. We ordered nehari, behari kabob and chicken tikka and not a single thing met the taste standard. The behari kabab were hard and dry (they were supposed to be soft and juicy) and literally shredded as you broke them and it had fat in it. The chicken was hard, and extremely dry. It felt like they used really cheap meat for both chicken and beef. Oh did I forget to mention that they microwave the BBQ and serve it to you? Yeah, it’s not fresh at all and the meat felt really old and tasteless.
The lamb nehari was tasteless as well. Like it was made from pre-​packed masalas by inexperienced cooks.
Definitely a big disappointment. I wish I could say «A» for authenticity, but it’s far from what you call authentic Pakistani food. «F» for fail. You can make better tasting food at home.
The only thing that was good was the «naan». Oh and the food prices are quite high, the nehari was $ 12.

Ordered way too much food at 2AM… and consumed ALL of it!

My husband and I have been here a few times and I seriously crave it every day! Their food, is so good! Everything I’ve tried, which is a large variety being hubby likes to explore and orders a bit much for just us two. It’s so good! I’m from michigan and had a good place in Hamtramck called Ghandi, but this place tops all charts! Friendly staff too!

Nom, the perfect place to grab quick, take-​home grubbin’
My buddy and I proposed to eat at the first restaurant at the end of our street on a weekend lunch run. Great call. The dishes weren’t labeled, but we took a chance on just ordering all the mystery vegetarian options over rice. Portions are generous for $ 7 bowl– I had to finish it in two meals. That aside, it was delicious with just the right amount of spice and grease. I’ll definitely be back soon

I’ve been dying to try this place, as it is is the closest Indian hot plate establishment in my area and boy am I upset.
$ 12 for a marginal meal this is totally unacceptable. Never going back. Place is a mess.

Sure this place looks a bit dingy inside, and they started off with a «B» rating that has now become an «A» but I can’t help but come here when i’m drunk or simply craving some boneless chicken and naan! It taste mighty good and its very cheap!
Throw in a Mango Lassi for a sweet yogurt-​like drink. I’ve never had anything beyond the boneless chicken, rice and naan because I’m a bit iffy about branching out because I really don’t know how good this place actually is!
So i’ll stick with what I know and remain happy with it!
Check it out if you’re in the ‘hood!
NOW GO!

I have always said that the best way to judge ethnic eateries is by observing the clientele. Do people of that race/​nationality eat there? If so, then it’s legit. I was staying with a friend of mine in Astoria and as we walked towards the restaurant in our long flowing Arab thobes and jeans, I felt very comfortable (and I wasn’t even in the Arab locale of Steinway, just a few streets over).
Walking into the restaurant, giving salaams to the folks seated around, I knew I was home again. As the other reviewers put it, this is no-​frills, South Asian Muslim dining. Hot food, great kababs, minimal acoutrements and eating with your hands. My friend and I ordered the Chicken tikka masala, naan, biriyani and tandoori-​esque chicken. I have lived in India and thought I had eaten good biriyani … man, their stuff was awesome! With a little of the chicken masala and their version of raita, the biriyani was almost magical!
No need to go to Jackson Heights for good «desi» food; just try this awesome spot in Astoria. Make sure to bring cash because they only cards for bills over $ 25. I noticed quite a diverse array of customers and everyone enjoyed their food.
As we say in Arabic, Alhamdulillah!