Apna-Dhaba

Excellent food. Every dish we ordered was great. The lassis are awesome and deserve a special mention. 4 stars only because of a slightly limited menu, but I hope there will be more choice in the future.
I love this place!

Awesome food… Especially the galauti lamb boti, chicken tikka masala chicken pakodas…

We have been here twice for dinner and we really liked the place because of the ambience. This place is not for vegetarians, they hardly have any vegetarian dish. First time we just ordered Mix Dal Makhani, hara bhara kabab and some drinks including mango lassi and everything was decent in taste. But when we visited again last week, we ordered a tandoor dish of paneer and it was not at all good, for $ 11 — 8 cubes of paneer and 4 pieces of capsicum, its very expensive. The paneer was not even marinated and was so dry that I cud not eat without water. Though the Rice dish we ordered — some pulao was a savior.
Customer service was also not very great, the owner did came to ask twice how is everything, and we ordered more raita so he sent that but after finishing our food we wanted to take paan and for that we were calling the server and he didn’t even come to check us infact he brought the check and when we said, we wanted to order paan that’s why we were calling you, he just said ohhh and left. After sometime he came to take the money and when I asked you are getting the paan right? he is like no paan is over. And I was like why didn’t you tell before if that was the case when u just said ohhh and left I thought you are gonna bring the paan.
Could be a nice place for non-​veg food but for us its a no go now though I really like the ambience. Thanks.

We were gang of 12 folks (adults/​kids) and after watching a movie from UnionCity cinemark we were looking for nearby desi food and though first time but glad we got here, the ambience was pretty awesome, especially summer evenings with warm burners next to tables, various seating setup options like roadside dhaba, food is made to order so hot/​hot fresh-​n-​yummy and not to mention commendable service. At the end we also had the delicious/​fresh sweet paan.
Cons: Serving portions were just right or at least little shy from other places, vegetarian options were limited but really good whatever available though, I wish they also had authentic serving bowls, katiya type seating too like hole-​in-​a-​wall dhaba’s back in India…

We just moved down the street. And saw this as we were passing by one day, and both looked at each other and said we need to go there soon.
A week or so later we check out the Unilocal reviews and looked at the menu.
Everything was beyond amazing. The food was fantastic.
And I like the outdoor seating.
Edit:
We went back a second time, everything else was amazing, I can’t believe how good everything is.
Nothing here is bad. It’s ridiculous.
Did an ancient monk come by and bless this place? Because no joke. Everything tastes like it was delivered by angels fresh from
Heaven.
Get the garlic naan. It’s ridiculous.
The veg Biryani it’s the most amazing thing I have probobly ever put in my mouth.
What kind of superhuman works in that kitchen?
Do yourself a favor. eat here often. Keep them in business the customer service is superb.

My new favorite Indian in Hayward! This place has everything going for it — great food, friendly service, wonderful ambiance. We decided to give the place a try based on some Unilocal reviews, and then found somewhere we’ll return to again and again!
The place has more outdoor seating than indoor, which is their thing. The patio seating has a combination of café style seating, picnic tables, and patio furniture, surrounded by quirky lighting, heat lamps, and ever-​present Bollywood tunes. Most of it is also covered by a sturdy wooden awning so even the rain cannot dampen the mood.
The food was amazing. The menu is somewhat limited compared to some other Indian restaurants, but everything we tried was special. We started with a pepper crab, which was packed full of flavors such that every bite was different! We then ordered a goat curry, saag paneer, and dhal, with naan. Each dish was spectacular in its own right. Even the dhal, normally an afterthought, was an awesome combination of sweet and savory! We took the leftovers home, but made time for dessert, for which we ordered a bread pudding and rice cakes. Again, home runs both, and we were easily talked into adding pistachio ice cream to the bread pudding which made an excellent balance!
The place also has an assortment of Indian beers, and the staff were eager to help us in every way. Overall, fantastic experience!

Tonight I was craving Indian food and wanted to go outside my normal geographic bubble, so we ended up driving down from San Leandro to the south edge of Hayward to Apna-​Dhaba. In a day full of good decisions, this ended up being the best one.
We beat the dinner rush in and were given our choice of seating, so we opted for outside. The staff, who were genuinely friendly, turned on one of the patio heaters to take the chill off. The atmosphere was comfortable and inviting, and although the restaurant is located directly next to a busy road, there are trees & bushes that block the view and create a cozy courtyard.
We ordered Samosas, Channa Masala, & Lamb Curry. The Samosas were perfectly seasoned and delightfully flaky; the Channa Masala was delicious; the Lamb Curry was stunning.
We don’t go out frequently, and when we do I have a high bar — few things frustrate me more than deciding to spend money on a meal that is ultimately disappointing. This time I could not have been more pleased.
In summary: step aside, Steph. There’s a new Curry in town.

We’ve been here twice now. I’m shocked I didn’t write a review after the first time. Please don’t strip me of my Elite status!
We came to Apna-​Dhaba in March for dinner. We started with Hara Bhara Kebab, which I had to order because of the description — Interestingly made with the humble spinach bound together by mashed chana dal, green peas, served with chutney. Six came on the plate, which was perfect for three to share. I’m afraid I don’t remember the taste well enough to describe it. I can only say I remember them being delicious. I would absolutely order them again and recommend them.
For dinner I had my go to, Saag Paneer. Since I had the same thing yesterday, I can describe the flavor. I order it mild because I’m not a big fan of spicy. It is wonderfully mild, with big chucks of cheese. The serving was perfectly sized. The spinach was fresh. The spices were a perfect compliment. I’ve had my fair share of saag paneer. The saag paneer at Apna-​Dhaba is about the best I’ve had.
My friend got the homestyle chicken curry, spicy. Again, I’m not a fan of spicy, but this dish was outstanding. So very flavorful and the heat wasn’t just for the sake of hot… it was a delicious, thoughtful and tasty heat. This is another dish I highly recommend.
My other friend go the Junoon Daal Makhini — Delicious preparation of black lentils simmered and cooked with onions, turmeric, ginger, garlic, cloves, cinnamon, asafetida & seasoned with cumin seeds & red chilies. He loved it. I had a taste and it was very good.
Yesterday we ordered the Irani Pakroa — An assortment of vegetables coated with chick peas flour and fried. The serving is huge and can easily satisfy four people. The green sauce is perfect. I suggest asking for two! The brown sauce was sweet and wasn’t really my cup of tea.
We also sat outside yesterday. There is one table with four comfy, rocking-​type chairs. We were the first ones there for lunch and that’s the table we picked. It was perfect. I don’t know if it can be reserved, but I would ask. If you have a party of four or less, this is the perfect place to enjoy some of the best Indian food in the East Bay.

We arrived 1:15PM excitedly to try this place which had good reviews. I must say I was not expecting the poor level or service that was provided. The amount of customers were okay when we arrived. As we had to find out the hard way, the place was severely understaffed to meet the demand for the time we went. It was only 2 of us that went. We waited sometime for them to cleanup a small table to sit outside, then it took sometime for them to come wait on us. Then it took another 40 mins to receive our food. Our food upon receiving it was okay. We ordered a saag paneer, channa, and garlic naan. There are plenty of places that could serve on time around this area and much better quality. We finally left the place around 3:00PM, when we finally finished paying for our food because it took 25 mins for us to get a bill and pay.
The pluses that this place has going for it.
–Seating outside with some decent ambiance.
–Decent food
The bad
–highly understaffed, high wait times

We came here for dinner on a weekday around 7:30 pm. We were greeted by a gentlemen and seated right away. The interior is clean with an appealing décor. They also have an outside seating with patio heaters, which will be great for accommodating large parties. I wanted to try the outside seating, but it was a little chilly so I decided to stay in. We ordered goat curry and chicken biryani along with garlic naan. The naan was soft and tasty, goat curry was ok and the biryani was way too spicy for me. We ordered mild, but it was still spicy for me. The service was great. We had multiple waiters checking on us multiple times. Overall good location, ample parking and great customer service. I will try this place again.

I think this might be the first Indian restaurant for which I’m giving 5 stars. Everything was great! The food, the ambiance, the service. I came here with a friend and we ordered 2 naans, a goat curry, and the chicken tikka masala. The goat was really tender, and the sauce was delicious. The chicken was marinated first (so it had flavor itself), and the tikka masala sauce was deliciously creamy and flavorful. Both curries were very flavorful and delicious. The naan was chewy and fluffy as well, and all the food came out piping hot. Delicious! The prices are pretty average for the dishes we orderd: $ 1.49 for naan, $ 8.99 for chicken tikka masala, and I think around $ 13 for the goat. Highly recommend! Plenty of parking too, and it’s in a random place but definitely worth it to come!

Apna-​Dhaba is a new restaurant that recently opened up on Mission. It replaced a Kono Grill which served Korean-​American infusion food. I was a little sad when Kono Grill went away because it was a great local spot to get some cheap food but Apna-​Dhba is a great replacement. They serve delicious food and offer a great outdoor dining experience.
I highly recommend you dine outside. The décor is great and they have very comfortable seats. The patio area is lit by warm lights and there are plenty of outdoor heater things to keep you warm if its cold. They have a variety of table sizes so they can accommodate large parties.
When I arrived to Apna-​Dhaba, we were the only customers there on a Friday night around 7PM. I was concerned at first, but it is a new restaurant.
There was mutiple waiters/​waitresses greeting us and they were a little too attentive, but it’s not totally a bad thing. Multiple people asked us the same questions though, slightly bothersome.
Food:
Home Style Chicken Curry: My favorite dish we ordered. The chicken was so tender and juicy. It was amazing. The chef put just the right amount of kick to it. If you want it more spicy be sure to tell the waitress/​waiter.
Saag Paneer: Delicious as well, and you can really taste the spinach.
Naan: The naan was average size and quite fluffy. It was extremely fresh and hot so be careful.
The food was really good and the prices aren’t bad either. I will definitely be back again to try some more dishes.

I kind of like that the menu is a little more limited than I’m used to. Everything sounded great and it was hard to narrow down our options. Although one entrée would have been sufficient for the two of us, we got an appetizer and two entrees in order to try more things and have leftovers.
Pepper crab appetizer: Very good, with a generous portion of lump crab meat. However, it was too spicy for both of us to eat very much of it.
Paneer Tikka Masala: Slightly sweet, I really enjoyed this dish. Mr. M felt it was a little too sweet for him, but eating it with our other dishes balanced it nicely.
Home Style Chicken Curry: I liked this dish, and Mr. M liked it even more than I did. It also had some heat, but it was at a level we could both enjoy.
Nan: Excellent.
Service was a bit slow, but our server seemed to genuinely care that we were pleased with our meal.
One point: One of our entrees was served with a slotted spoon, and the other with a fork. With such delicious sauces, it would be better to use a spoon as a serving utensil, so we can get it on our plate. I looked like such a dummy trying to get tikka masala sauce on my plate with the slotted spoon. However, we did have spoons in our place settings, so I figured it out eventually.

This place was just great! I went on a Sunday evening and it felt magical to be sitting outside amongst the green hills and the outdoor string lights! The food was amazing as well, and I’m not just saying that because I’m blinded by the scenery… the mutter paneer was sooooo good! I was not a huge fan of the lentils but it was good too. And the naans were quite huge and 1 was more than enough for me. The mango lassi was good too. There wasn’t a huge crowd but that was good because I felt like we got great service! :)
Also, fun fact: this is owned by the same owners as Lotus Express! I was pretty surprised because I wasn’t a huge fan of Lotus Express food: P

Dhaba is a general name given to roadside restaurants in India. Traditionally, dhabas cater to tired truck drivers on the highways. They offer cheap food, music, an open-​air television and a charpoy — a bed with a wooden structure knitted with jute strings — which is a tad uncomfortable but has the best ventilation given the summer temperatures and erratic power situation in India. The seating is usually in the open where you can eat in a very relaxed atmosphere.
Given this brief etymology, I was impressed how Apna-​Dhaba (Our-​Dhaba) came very close to its literal meaning (except there were no truck drivers! :D) I had bookmarked this place for a few weeks now and been wanting to try it ever since and finally made the push to try it yesterday.
The place is located on Mission Boulevard with the gorgeous mountains on one side. Its hard to miss the place while driving in the night because of the bright and pretty lights. We came in here by 7:30 PM and we were pretty much the only people but that was not the case in about 15 minutes; the place was totally packed.
The outdoor seating looked gorgeous with the pretty lights and chairs and tables of various sizes giving it a very lively and a homely atmosphere. They also have heaters outside. But unfortunately, we couldn’t sit outside since there was a baby in the group. The indoor seating is as good as the outdoor. We had comfy pillows at our table and the walls were adorned with some nice art work.
We noticed that there was a pani puri cart outside and were told that they were available on the weekends. It was very similar to the golgappa stalls in India, where you stand around the pani puri guy (in our case, a very friendly girl) and you get served one puri at a time. Each plate had 5 puris with onions, channa masala and the spicy pani. They did not have the sweet sauce (which I love).
No one in the history of pani puris/​golgappas has ever stopped with one plate. We did not want to break the tradition and we ending up having 7 plates! And it did taste great to a hungry lot of 5.
After the pani puri session, we got seated at our table and were promptly given the menus and water. Like any dhaba, the menu is limited. Surprisingly, they did have a good amount of vegetarian dishes.
We started by ordering the Chicken pakora and Hara bhara kebab (spinach patties). Both were served with mint chutney. I found the Hara bhara kebab a little salty. But everyone else liked it. (Probably, I was high on the pani-​puris)
For the main course, we ordered the murgh biriyani (chicken biriyani), paneer tikka masala, goat curry, garlic naan and chapati.
I loved the garlic naan. It was hot and aromatic and went really well with the paneer tikka masala. The tikka masala as such was great. The sauce was creamy and had the right amount of sourness. But the paneer pieces tasted a little bland. I cannot comment on the chicken/​goat dishes (still one week of Lent). But my hubby and friends did enjoy them.
I will definitely recommend the garlic naan over the chapathis.
For desserts, it was Double ka Meetha (fried bread soaked in creamy milk) and mango lassi. No regrets with both.
This place accepts reservation. So do make a reservation if you are in a large group and want the nice outdoor seating. I definitely want to try this place again for lunch given that the view of the mountains are just gorgeous. Also, will try their tandoori dishes since it looks very tempting from the photos.
I am knocking off one star since they can really improve on their service. We felt it was a little too slow at times.
To sum it up, a great place with great food and lively atmosphere!

Came here for my friend’s birthday dinner. The place was spacious and I think it’s a great spot for groups.
Coming in, no lie… the place is dead just like the place before it Kona Grill (hawaiian fast food). But the ambience of the place is very chill and comfortable. Easily to spot on Mission Boulevard at night because it is very bright.
We ordered the Chicken Tikki Masala spicy ($ 9) with the regular and garlic naan. This was hella bomb. The chicken had the taste of tandoori and lemon with that crispy edges and the sauce was just so buttery and delicious. The naan ($ 2) was fresh and goes well with the dish.
We had the tandoori champ kandahari or lamb chops. This I have to saw was most expensive at $ 17 bucks and less tasty food on the table — wouldn’t get this again or recommend it.
There was only one waiter but he was friendly. Even though you are full, they still try to pressure you to buy other foods.

The first time I saw this place was through my friend’s snapchat story. I fell in love with the venue and knew I had to dine here some time!
Then lo and behold a groupon deal popped up for Apna-​Dhaba, but this place is worth it with or without the deal! My two friends and I came on a Wednesday evening at around 7:45pm. You get the option of indoor or outdoor seating. Of course we chose the outdoors, because the patio is absolutely gorgeous! The pretty lights and toasty heat lamps gives the place a festive and intimate, yet homey feel. It’s like our server knew exactly where I wanted to sit because he sat us smack dab in the middle, where the most comfortable chairs I’ve ever sat on in a restaurant were, perfect for food coma-​ing in afterwards ;)
We ordered and our food came out in a very timely manner; I’d say 15 minutes or so. For starters, we split the samosas ($ 5.99). It was perfect because there were 3 pieces for the 3 of us. Samosas is basically fried batter with potatoes, peas, and other veggies inside. It comes with two sauces, a cilantro sauce and a sweet sauce.
For our main dishes, we split 2 orders of chicken tikka masala ($ 9.99 ea), 1 order of Tandoori murgh/​chicken ($ 8.99), and 2 orders of garlic naan ($ 1.99 ea). The chicken tikka masala was creamy and delicious. It’s so good with the naan. The Tandoori murgh was a bit overcooked, but still enjoyable and full of flavor. I wish they used purple onions instead of white onions though. I think it complements the chicken better.
At the end of our meal, we were stuffed! I even took some of the chicken tikka masala and naan home. I’m no Indian food connoisseur but food was tasty, ambiance was wonderful, and service was great!
Random question for funsies: Why is that all my girlfriends absolutely love Indian food but our boyfriends don’t care for it at all?

Just ordered chicken curry and liver jalfrezi so I can talk only about these.
We ordered a pick up and when we went there it was speck and clean, and very neatly arranged. Great outdoor space to go with a big group and drink and eat like it’s in India! :)
The liver dish was okay, and I liked the chicken curry better. But, they were a little on the spicy side, inspite of us asking for a ‘M’ level spice.
Anyways, I want to go back and try the biryani and other dishes here.

We arrived just as they opened for dinner service at 5pm and we got to choose any table outside. Ooo which one, comfy low seater or wicker high rise? There’s a mis-​mash of different types of seats and tables which makes for a unique family style environment. After choosing the surprisingly comfy wicker chairs we were offered menus and glasses of water.
Peppered crab was the appetizer we chose for 10.99 and I think we will skip it next time. It was all pepper and a small proportion. The flavor seemed to be missing something. Our Mango Lassi was thick and giggly like jello (leave jokes at the door, it’s too soon) but delicious, not overly sweet.
Dinner was served quickly, thankfully cause we were hungry people! I ordered Chicken Tikka Masala because we’ll, I’m a white girl. My boyfriend ordered chicken curry. For sides I got naan and he got a chapati. The naan was fluffy and not over buttered. The chapati was a let down, made with oil and a rubbery texture. My tikka masala was almost sweet (hint of coconut?) with mildly spicey chicken, perfect and one of the best I’ve had. I couldn’t stop eating! Yummy in the tummy. The proportions were large. Parcel please!
As for service, this place sets the standard for how it should be! Fast, friendly and they cared like we were guests in their home. It was great to be taken care of without begging for water refills from a server.
Outside seating had 6 heaters in case it got cold. Inside, the bathroom was posh and clean. The booth inside had throw pillows. It’s a great place for a date or even families! I would recommend this place to anyone trying Indian food for their first time and those who are looking for some authentic Indian food.

Apna dhaba (meaning «our place» according to the owner) replaces Kona Grill, the Korean fast food joint here previously. Though small inside, it has a nice homey atmosphere with plenty of outside seating.
We had the Irani pakora as our appetizer. I found it to have a touch of spice compared to most pakora I usually eat, and it comes in small pieces as opposed to big vegetable chunks. It was quite crispy and tasty. I added it to my tikka masala sauce later for a really nice taste combo.
I had the paneer tikka masala with garlic naan instead of rice, and my friend had the chicken wrap. When the naan arrived, the smell was soooo overwhelmingly gorgeous! I kept sniffing it throughout the meal… hopefully no one noticed haha. The sauce was smooth and creamy. The paneer itself was not only cooked/​seared on the outside, but the texture was perfect too. It was probably one of the best paneers I’ve ever had… I was just totally in heaven.
We were alone when we started eating, and the service was great. Our waiter was very kind, and the owner kept checking in to see if we liked everything. Our waiter jokingly made fun of us because we’re so bad at eating spicy food that he had to keep refilling our water, lol.
We found the value good as well — they accepted the Unilocal 10% check-​in coupon with no issues.
The reasons I knocked a star:
I’ve only been once, so I can’t comment on consistency. After I have more good experiences I’ll probably change my rating because my food was definitely 5 star this time.
My friend really didn’t like her wrap. I tried a bite of it and I wasn’t really into it either. They use a different type of bread and I think it would be better off if they used naan… my two cents.
They don’t have mango chutney! :(The tamarind and mint were nice, but… :(
I’ll definitely return here and try more things on the menu! I’m really interested in trying the tandoor lobster, which requires 24 hour notice to prepare. Sounds legit!