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Dakshin Restaurant
Category: Restaurants Indian Indian [Edit]
1713 1st Ave(between 88th St & 89th St)
New York, NY 10128
Neighborhoods: Yorkville, Upper East Side
(212) 987-9839
- Nearest Transit:
-
86 St (4, 5, 6, 6X)
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
About This Business:
Papadam brings the ultimate, authentic tastes of India to the heart of the New York City. Located close to prime business locations of New York, Papadam… read more »
37 reviews for Dakshin Restaurant
Review Highlights
"Chicken Tikka Masala is my favorite dish."
(in 7 reviews)
"I highly recommend the yellow daal and the saag paneer."
(in 4 reviews)
"I've only ever ordered delivery from this place."
(in 4 reviews)
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37 reviews in English
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Review from Lorrie K.
New York, NY
9/6/2011
I usually get delivery chicken tikka masala and garlic naan. Ask for a little heat and it goes from great to fantastic.
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Review from Gina K.
Our regular local Indian place was closed for renovations when an Indian food craving hit, so my friend and I quickly searched for other nearby options and found Dakshin on Yelp.
We looked through the delivery menu and opted for the chicken tikka masala and lamb vindaloo. We noticed on the menu that the entrees don't come with rice, so we ordered a side of rice and naan. We also requested extra red onion chutney and the customary hot peppers and onions.
Our food arrived more quickly than we expected, which was a pleasant surprise. We noticed right away the very generous portion sizes and were pleased. We ended up eating the leftovers for a full meal. I thought the food was pretty decent. I liked the chicken tikka masala and they added big chunks/portions of meat to both the dishes, though the meat MIGHT have been on the very slightly (hardly noticeable) dry side. The naan was huge and really good. The only "complaint" I had was that the "hot" peppers were not hot at all.
Overall, I liked the food and wouldn't mind ordering here again. -
Review from Cyrus L.
New York, NY
1/6/2012
Food used to be great at tuis place, but of late it has become just ordinary. From my order today, the dal makhani (black lentils) were completely under cooked and we're chewy. Some dishes are quite good so on the whole can be hit or miss.
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Review from Matt M.
Manhattan, NY
8/19/2011
This restaurant is CLOSED. However, if you order on http://Seamless.com under the Dakshin name, Chennai prepares the food and you pick it up there. I ordered online not knowing this, but a sign at the Dakshin entrance said they had now "moved into" Chennai - so, if you do see this online - you can order on Seamless, but you actually pick it up elsewhere!
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Review from Jeannie H.
Manhattan, NY
4/27/2011
Possibly the worst delivery experience I have ever encountered. Via Seamless, I ordered a chicken korma with my roommate, and to my surprise when I received the order I got a mysterious beef dish with peas in it instead-- I'm sure its a lovely meal, but it's not what I wanted (nor was I able to eat something that spicy!)
When I called to confront this order, I received a rude phone call where they insisted that 1) they replaced the order of chicken korma because they ran out and that 2) there was no way of refunding me the money or changing my order. I understand running out of ingredients, but they could have called to tell me this, instead of arbitrarily replacing my meal with something I didn't ask for! They kept trying to tell me that they would give me a chicken korma on the house the next time I ordered, but on the condition that I bought something else too.
Maybe its because its through online ordering, but it was overall a really rude and awkward experience (and this is just over the phone.) Hopefully people have a better experience either ordering via phone or in person. -
Review from Jenn K.
7/23/2010
We received delivery from here through Seamless Web, as it was late and we were craving Indian food!
The chicken korma and tikka masala were both decent, although the chicken was a little dry and the sauces could have used a little more "umph". Definitely decent though, and wouldn't hesitate to order again when the craving strikes.
Delivery time was on the longer side of their estimate, but still within reason. Basically, this was an all-around 3-star, A-OK experience. -
Review from Adam H.
New York, NY
1/2/2011
Well, as a disclosure, I know nothing about authentic Indian food. But to my American palate, this is some damn good food.
My favorite dish was an almond chicken that was fantastic both as eat-in and take-out. The texture and flavor of their naan is very pleasing. Their samosas are about standard.
I've had better in Curry Hill, but if you're looking for Indian and don't want to leave the UES, this is the place to go. -
Review from Allyson R.
Alpharetta, GA
11/2/2009
I actually came here one day thinking I was going somewhere else, but it was a pleasant mistake. They had an awesome lunch buffet for $9 on the weekends. The food was pretty fresh (Although they could have been refilling it a little more), but the naan they kept putting out was burnt and I didn't like that. They had a variety of meat dishes, as well as a few vegetarian options.
The restaurant itself is pretty small and probably not very good for a large group. The waiters are on top of everything and constantly refilling water, which I appreciate greatly (hate when you have to request more!).
Onto the food....I don't venture too far into Indian Cuisine, but I really love Chicken Tika Masala. Their sauce is flavored well and the meat is super tender and delicious (no fatty gross meat here!). I kept going back for more and more, and then paid for it later when I couldn't move in my food coma.
I hadn't returned to Dakshin since the lunch buffet, but I was craving Indian last night so I decided on some take out. The portions were large and everything was fresh and hot. They even sent naan with the meal and those little hard tortilla things you get in the beginning of the meal (with the sauces too!). Delivery took about 40 minutes, and the guy couldn't find my apartment in the building, but luckily after he called me we figured it out.
Highly recommend!Listed in: My 'hood
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Review from Megan C.
6/21/2006
Tiny hole in the wall Indian Restaurant that is easy to pass by if you're not looking for it. If you're in the neighborhood this is a great place to eat but I wouldn't suggest coming all the way up from down town just to eat here.
Very tasty Samosas (could have a little more flavor, but for the most part crispy, and packed with good lamb or chickpeas) excellent Aloo Gobi, and the other dishes that the surrounding people were eating seemed to smell wonderful too.
Romance Factor: 7
Hobnob Potential: 1
Destination Rating: 1
Strong Suggestions Suggestions: Tikka Masala looked wonderful, very fresh, good place for delivery or dropping in for a quick bite. Very quick and good service with medium portion size. -
Review from Rich B.
FOREST HILLS, NY
12/18/2011
I eat out often and I can't remember the last time I sent something back and said to take it off the bill. The place was horrible in so many ways. Let's start with someone (possibly the rabbi, since he said his job was to check on the Kosher) picking food off of plates and licking his fingers as he helped package and close up take out orders. The eggplant tamarind appetizer that was some well cooked eggplant covered in a sauce that tasted like it came from a high school cafeteria if they served tamarind. The lack of attention from the wait staff and the begging to have glasses refilled. Though the waiter did apologize at the end about being too busy with take-out orders. But the best part was a tiki masala that had the vegetable so undercooked that I struggled to cut a potato with a knife. I complained to the waiter who told the manager/owner. When I said to him that the vegetables are raw, he looked at me like I was an idiot and said "vegetables can't be raw, chicken can be raw, but not vegetables" In the end he took it off the bill, the attitude, the guy eating food, licking his fingers, and wiping his nose in the prep area, and the slow service with sub-par food is a reason to never go back, and hope others do the same.
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Review from The M.
New York, NY
1/25/2010
I really do not like giving sub-par reviews but here goes:
I have tried Dakshin twice..a few short years back and today.
I do not think that with all the high ratings that folks on the UES like spicy food. That is why there is NO Indian food place in the entire area that will put any BAM into their sauces.
I can see why Dakshin got such high reviews.
Well, I have been enjoying Indian Cuisine for many years. Everything from Chicken Vindaloo made extra spicy to basic Chicken Tikka Masala.
Both times, this restaurant has made Chicken Tikka Masala in a very bland tomato sauce.It tasted more like Ragu then Indian food.
Yes, they were fast. Yes they were complete with the order. I am sure they are nice people.
But,they do have to cater to the locals, and these locals do not like any BAM! or spice in their food. Spice to them is what pepper is on my eggs!
I gave Dakshin a few chances and I am afraid I have to give up on Indian food on the UES.
The naan was decent, and again...the sauce is terrible. I hate to put it that way but it was.
If you are into very Americanized , bland sauces then order from here.
As for me, I will go where the Indian folk dine-and I will stay away from Indian on the UES.
I learned my lesson this time. -
Review from Chip S.
New York, NY
2/10/2010
Very nice AYCE buffet for lunch, it is not a huge selection, but the food is good. There is good seasoning behind it, and cooked well. The prices are very modest and very worth it.
Service is fine, this place is tiny, and easy to miss!
Small private bathroom, a bit rundown, but the whole place sort of is, so it makes sense. 3 Flushes -
Review from Nadia F.
New York, NY
2/16/2009
So far, this is the best place for Indian food in the city.
This cute little place located in the middle of nowhere on 1st Ave. is actually quite spectacular. The lunch buffet always seems to hit the spot - kinda reminds me of home cooked meals. And the dinner foods are also always reliably tasty. The service is excellent, the owner is very friendly and always remembers his clients. The chicken and lamb are well-spiced and quite authentic (I know what authentic is - since I am Indian)... and the paneer is also well-made. The best part of this place is the price - it costs next to nothing to have a great meal here!
Screw fusion - I like my real Indian spices without an overload of ghee (ahem, baluchi's)- this place has the right combination! A+++ -
Review from Michael W.
New York, NY
11/24/2009
Mixed emotions. First time, I ordered delivery. It took an hour and 15 minutes and three phone calls to finally get our (thankfully hot) food. Apparently the delivery guy popped a tire and decided to let the food get cold while trying to fix it to no avail. But such is life.
Since the food was decent and there aren't too many Indian food options up near 90, I decided to order again. But this time takeout. They told me 25 minutes but it took more like 35, 40 but got my food home and it definitely filled my craving for Indian food. Friend's Chicken Korma was pretty decent, the Naan was a little dry, and my Bhindi Masala was pretty good (albeit a little metalic tasting... tomatoes leaching from aluminum pan?). Oh, and the samosa was a LOT of potato, but tasty.
3 stars for, being anywhere between meh and hmm
Revisit? Probably -
Review from Nana A.
Brooklyn, NY
6/1/2009
I ike the lunch-time buffet at this place. I think they offer a good variety, the cooking is very clean and it translates into the final taste. The atmosphere is very casual and the space is a bit small (appears bigger, since renovation), and the service typically good. I have never had a bad experience here.
It's actually nice to go there, when it's a bit emptier (during the weekday evenings), you get a lot of attention, and sometimes the chef will bring you some things to try. Super, place. -
Review from J M.
Manhattan, NY
11/3/2009
Let me start off by saying I don't really know all that much about good Indian food. My girlfriend loves it, but the few times she's taken me to Indian places, or ordered in, I've been less than impressed.
Until now. We've lived in this neighborhood for only a few days and have ordered delivery from Dakshin twice.
The Chicken Chettinad might be one of the best chicken dishes I've ever had. When I read the description, the term "semi-dry chicken" stuck out as having real potential. I like chicken to be fairly well done. The semi-dry chicken consists of high quality chucks of white meat chicken that are, well, semi-dry and cooked in a sauce that is SUPER spicy with pepper and curry. The combination of semi-dry chicken and the sauce results in a perfect texture and amazing flavour.
But there is more to love than one dish. The samosas are great and even the naan arrives at your door in perfect condition.
The food arrived each time hot and fresh, though on the weekend it took about an hour (half-hour on a Tuesday).
Another great feature was the online ordering. Finally, a fool-proof way to order dishes with hard to pronounce names without messing up. No having to repeat yourself, and everything you order is there in front of you to verify before you hit submit. Awesome.
UPDATE: Decided to eat there rather than get delivery and we were no disappointed. It's a great little place. Clean, friendly, and quiet. And the food is obviously still amazing. We'll definitely go back.
The experience did, however, reenforce our appreciation of online ordering. The language barrier made ordering a little tedious, and we could hear the women taking phone orders repeating things over and over, clearly not understanding the callers very well. -
Review from Melissa B.
New York, NY
11/5/2008
I would have given five stars except the delivery took 45 mins, however it was a yucky rainy night and the food was still hot.
With that exception the food was great, we had naan, chicken tiki masala and the lamb korma which were both very well spiced and nicely portioned. I was a little under-whelmed by the samosas, a little too much fried crunch and not enough filling but still tasty. FYI rice is not included with the entrees but the side order is generous.
I will be calling again! -
Review from Peter D.
New York, NY
10/24/2009
Well, on a rainy night, I didn't feel much like venturing outside, so I called Dakshin. I hadn't tried them before, but after reading the positive reviews on yelp, I felt like i'd try it out. I have to say, I am so glad I did. The food arrived about 40 minutes after I ordered, and it was absolutely delicious. I love Indian, and few places have such great flavors and styles. I had a Chicken Chettinad which was great, and even the Rasmali was delish....overall, a 10, and I recommend this to all...
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Review from Suma K.
Seattle, WA
6/11/2009
I live a few blocks from this place and found them on Seamlessweb. Unfortunately ordering through Seamless didn't work and I ended up calling them directly. It's now become my go-to place for Indian takeout; it's relatively cheap and delivery is pretty fast. So far I've had their Malai Kofta (personal fav), Saag Paneer (not as oily as other restaurants tend to do it, so very good), and Mango Lassi (classic. you can't go wrong with this). This place isn't spectacular or mind-blowing, but definitely hits the spot when you're craving some desi food.
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Review from S H.
New York, NY
5/13/2009
Dakshin is by far my favorite Indian restaurant on the UES. The food is wonderful and not nearly as oily as some other places. I like it because it is a little on the spicy side and not as sweet as other places. The delivery is pretty fast. So if you are looking for a quick meal that is full of flavor but isn't greasy, full of unnecessary cream or super sweet then this is your place. I highly recommend the yellow daal and the saag paneer.
Suggestion: If you are calling for delivery ask how busy they are. Delivery is either really fast (like 15 min) or really slow (like an hour and a half). It's sort of hit or miss. -
Review from Junkfoodie Q.
NY
11/4/2007
3.25 stars.
Came here for the $6.95 lunch buffet.
The saag paneer was pretty tasty, the tandoori chicken a little dry (and the chicken pieces were somewhat on the small side), the naan was cut into triangular pieces and was soft and tasty (naan never disappoints! hehehe). I liked their rice a lot. The other dishes were also pretty good, but not great.
I feel other Indian lunch buffets have a slightly larger selection of food. For example, they didn't offer samosas or chicken tikka masala(!!) =(
But I guess I can't complain since it's only a $7 lunch buffet. Overall, still a good deal. I'd come again.
Tiny, hole-in-the-wall place I would've overlooked had I not been trying to find it. -
Review from Tussy A.
New York, NY
10/30/2008
While looking for good Indian places on the UES, I found the reviews for Dakshin and I am here to confirm them. I thought the food here was great, well priced, and pretty authentic. I loved the lamb korma I had here, and the appetizers - oh, they taste like my mom's! The service is very attentive and very nice, even if the place isn't all that fancy. This is going to be my go-to for Indian on the UES. My one criticism is that the food was a little bit salty, but goodness knows I love me some salt, so it didn't detract from my dining experience. Yum!
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Review from Julia C.
New York, NY
3/31/2008
With curry being our national dish, we Scots take our Indian food extremely seriously, and I'd recommend Dakshin to all ex-Pats looking for a taste of "home". It is the best Indian food I've had in the city - far better than anything in Curry Hill.
Their curry sauces are really rich and flavorful. I especially like their Korma, which is buttery and a little tangier than the usual watery yellow coconut slop, and the Rogan Josh, which is deeply infused with cumin and black pepper. Definitely order the Jhinga Jaitoori as an appetizer - a lovely medley of shrimp and sauce on a pillowy naan.
My husband and I have ordered delivery from here consistently since we moved to town, but only recently went for our first sit-in meal. They have an affordable wine and beer list, and our waitress was great, offering good recommendations and letting us know they plan to add an appetizer sampler to the menu soon. Next time we're trying the thali!Listed in: My Neighborhood, Top Restaurants
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Review from Bonnie H.
New York, NY
8/16/2010
+ $2 for a $25 gift certificate on http://restaurant.com
+ within 3 blocks of my apartment
+ delicious when Indian is what you're craving
+ complimentary dessert (does everyone get this?!)
+ cute decor (considering how ugly its sister restaurant chennai was)
- they don't believe me when i say spicy! -
Review from Phil M.
4/1/2010
Wife and I went to this place the other day since we were in the area. I was quite impressed. Even though there are much cheaper place to go to in Jackson Heights for this food, this place was more comfortable and really not that expensive for Indian food. Since this was the first time I was here I decided to get the mixed grill which is an array of Tandoori dishes so I can try everything. It was a perfect amount of food with kebabs, shrimp and plenty of Tandoori chicken. We also ordered the Bombay Calamari to start which is fried Masala squid sauteed with bell pepper & red onion. The Mango and Sweet Lassi also were perfect beverages to compliment this food as well.
Listed in: Manhattan
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Review from D B.
New York, NY
11/8/2009
PLEASE BE SURE TO READ UPDATE BELOW...
I am so happy to finally live within delivery distance of a good Indian restaurant!
Dakshin has an delivery website that makes ordering hard to pronounce dishes a breeze, and ensures that you get exactly what you order. The speed of delivery is a little random, as it can take an hour on a busy night or 20 minutes on a Tuesday.
Dining in is a very peaceful experience. The staff is very nice and accommodating, and they do serve complimentary pappadum if you dine-in (it's 2.00 if you want it with delivery.)
The only thing that was slightly annoying about our very peaceful dining experience was the loud talkers that were sitting a few tables away from us. I'm not sure how, but I wish the staff could have asked them to lower their voices. I wasn't really interested in hearing about Loudgirl's experience on the MetroNorth.
The entree's are a really great deal, but they DO charge you for rice, which I think is slightly annoying, but I'd rather pay for rice than have a good restaurant close because of the economy. One serving of Plain Pulav is enough for 2 to share, though, just as a FYI.
I've has the Saag Paneer, Makhani Paneer, and Malai Kofta at Dakshin. Malai Kofta is usually my favourite dish, but I don't love it here--the texture isn't very exciting, and the raisins and nuts seem to only be in the sauce, instead of the actual balls. Both of the Paneer dishes were excellent, and the sauces are seasoned perfectly--very flavorful and not bland at all.
All in all, Dakshin is very quickly becoming my favorite local restaurant! I would definitely recommend!
UPDATE: After ordering from Dakshin weekly for over 6 months, I am very disappointed to say that they have shuttered their location, and are taking orders from their sister restaurant, Chennai. We ordered takeout without knowing this, and after waiting for over 90 minutes for our food and calling 3 times, we received the WORST Indian food that I have ever tried. I can't believe the difference in the Dakshin location and the Chennai location. I would definitely NOT recommend ordering from Dakshin if they are going to continue to send food from Chennai. Very disappointing to see a great restaurant go away like this. If anyone has an Upper East Side rec for Indian food, please let me know because this is NOT the one anymore! -
Review from Lily H.
11/18/2008
Indian buffet, lunch for eight bucks if you're really hungry + craving curry
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Review from Mike H.
Astoria, NY
5/25/2010
I live in the neighborhood so I decided to hit-up some Indian food for the first time in a long time. This place is right around corner so I thought I would give it a try. The reviews looks pretty good so I went in and ordered some chicken tiki masala and Lamb Sasg. The wait time wasn't too bad the service was pretty friendly although the prices were a little more than I was expecting $15 for Lamb Saag. When I got home I found that the rice was not that good, and is very clumpy and that the lamb was not as good as I was expecting (7 chunks of lamb for $15 is ridiculous), and the chicken meal that I had gotten wasn't very good either. Now it wasn't a bad meal but it reasserts what I believe the UES delivers: mediocrity at best.
So hard to find good food in a neighborhood of apparent laziness?
This is not the case, but sometimes I really believe it is... Why do such mediocre places stay open?? I don't get it! -
Review from Rhonda W.
10/27/2008
Very tasty Indian food! I've never been a fan of Indian food but this place changed my mind,big time. This is where I learned that there is more to Indian food than curry. I'm a big fan of the okra and chick pea dishes. Prices are very reasonable and service has always been very friendly at the least. It's a very small place, but part of it's charm (for me at least) is that it's never been crowded.
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Review from Solomon W.
Austin, TX
5/24/2009
No bueno. I expected a lot more out of a NY Indian buffet. Too bad I was received with a mere 6 chafing dishes containing a little bit of mediocrity served with a side of blandness finished off with some untenderness. Sure $8 is a bargain for an Indian brunch buffet, but there are definitely some better ones around. Got filled up, which is good. And I guess another positive is they have the ridiculously creamy, rich, nonoily spinach that I enjoy so much.
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Review from Toby G.
New York, NY
2/12/2008
I think Dakshin is one of the best Indian restaurants in the UES. The place is pretty small, but the service is always good. The exposed brick wall helps create a homey feel. It may not be one of the fanciest Indian restaurants, but the staff is always helpful and attentive. I can always count on good food when I go to Dakshin.
We ordered Tandoori Namoone for an appetizer, Chicken Tikka Masala and Lamb Vindaloo which were all delicious. -
Review from Stephanie S.
New York, NY
3/4/2009
Really delicious and well-priced Indian food. Very speedy delivery and nothing gets cold en route, which is crucial. Not the largest menu, but everything they offer is crazy tasty, so it doesn't really matter.
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Review from Melissa B.
New York, NY
4/23/2010
My husband and I order from here at least once a week. Dakshin is consistently good, delivery is always fast and really big portions. We share the Chicken Tikka Masala and rice. I dined in once when my mom was in town visiting and she is still talking about it!
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Review from M C.
New York, NY
3/1/2010
This is my go-place for Indian delivery. Be warned though, they really do take 40+ mintues to deliver your food - I have probably ordered from them a dozen times and never has the food come before 40 minutes. But the good news is that the food comes piping hot so you know it just took them a while to cook it as opposed to it being the fault of the deliverymen.
Rice is not included with any dish which is annoying since it's an extra expense. The portions are also not as big as some other UES Indian restaurants but I think taste-wise this is the best. -
Review from Kathy L.
La Place, LA
9/6/2008
Just introduced to Indian food. This was my 2nd time eating it and the first time at Dakshin. The food was so good! The chicken tiki masala was really delicious. The tandori chicken was good too - all dark meat 3 legs, 3 thighs with broccoli and onions on the grll plate. The naan was so good we ordered another order of it.
The restaurant is very small and unassuming. The service was friendly and we really enjoyed our time there. -
Review from Eric S.
Montclair, NJ
1/11/2010
I've gotten delivery from here a few times. Favorite Indian food in the area. Chicken Tikka Masala is my favorite dish. They only give 2 pieces of Naan per delivery order which is disappointing since its so good. Portions are big and usually can feed two people. Looking forward to trying their buffet sometime.
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Review from Jeanine M.
New York, NY
5/11/2008
I've only ever ordered delivery from this place. But their food is SPICY. It was so spicy..I had to take a break. That being said it was still very tasty...
