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- Nearest Transit:
-
Beverley Rd (Q)
- Hours:
Mon-Sun. 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 a.m.
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good for:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- None
13 reviews for Madina Restaurant and Sweets
Walking into Madina is a fairly quick experience: Open door, take two steps, stare at steam table. This heating apparatus separates the cooks from the patrons with too many options to safely choose from. Asking for recommendations in such a place is sometimes a dangerous proposition as many times the employees will steer you towards what needs to be dumped, but here at Madina it led us to a couple options that seemed to be fresh from the kitchen.
Although the outside awning reads "Indian, Pakistani, and Bangladeshi cuisine," I wanted to try something particularly Bangladeshi, since all the names on the menu and items in front of me appeared much like Indian food. "It's all Bangladeshi!" was the answer, alleviating any problems we might have with limitations. Possibly unconvinced, we ordered anyways and later learned that our server and all the other people working here are Pakistani.
The aloo tikki ($0.99) is best as a receptor for chutneys and other sauces, a potato cake that is mild enough despite its peppers and cilantro that it could take to any spices added. The nice firm texture is great for dipping or scooping, and gets you prepared nicely for anything else to come.
While waiting, Bollywood videos play on an English-language Indian channel in the mustard-walled dining room, and all lunching customers' eyes are fixed screenward.
The special of the day was a ground chicken mixed with black eyed peas ($4.99) for which I could not get a real name out of our server. It was mildly spicy but full of intense flavors and a real treat to eat with the delicious, fresh naan ($0.99), which is made to order, with the sweet voice of the lady calling "one more naan please" each time we went back to ask for another.
Also naan-worthy was the lamb and potato curry ($4.99) which we probably could have upped to a large size for more of the delicate morsels of my favorite meat. The subtle hotness of the dish creeps up with each bite and creates a lovely tingle by the bottom of the bowl.
To cleanse the palate, you are offered free coffee with every order over $5, but it also is nice to try the ras malai ($2.49 for two pieces), a homemade cheese with condensed milk conglomerate that has almonds mixed in. It's less sweet than it sounds and satisfies very promptly any dessert cravings you might have been having.
I wanted some Indian food. And since I live in Bensenhurst it was either this or Taj Mahal (both about equal distance but in opposite directions in terms of being the closest Indian food). I chose this place because it was cheaper and I've had really good Indian food from cheap hole-in-the-wall joints in Manhattan. So I figured it'd be pretty good and authentic and since I was getting takeout I didn't care what the seating was like.
Upon walking into Madina I started to have doubts. All of the food is displayed up front behind glass, much like a school cafeteria. And honestly it didn't look that great. It didn't look bad, but some of the items looked pretty oily and nothing really screamed -eat me!-.
Regardless I thought to give it a shot since I already drove there and the prices were indeed good. I got the chicken tikka marsala, a new favorite of mine, a naan, and one of the sweets from the counter (something with coconut). It all came out to exactly $9.00.
The food was eh. The chicken... well...I wouldn't say it was horrible at all, but I'll mirror what several others had mentioned about it being oily. Some of the peices were fatty too and kind of gross, though only a few. The naan was actually really good, one of the better naans. The coconut dessert was pretty bad, almost completely oily (though the aftertaste was nice).
Next time I'll pass and head on to Taj Mahal instead or try one of the other places further one.
But if you're craving some naan and happen to be nearby then I'd say that, at least, is worth it.
I ordered delivery, it took over an hour.
The woman on the phone was rude and kept trying to pester me into ordering meat when I kept explaining it was a vegetarian order.
the portions were good but I found my dish bland (I ordered Palak Paneer) and my friends dish (I don't remember the name but it was mixed vegetables) was significantly better than mine but really, really oily.
Maybe I am just spoiled because I work near "curry hill" in Manhattan, but I have had way better before and I couldn't believe how rude everyone was, even the delivery guy wasn't nice and was incredibly strange!
There is a slight chance I will give it another go, simply because I don't know of any other Indian restaurants near my apartment and sometimes I get desperate for Indian on the weekend.
Really fast delivery, probably because they have all of their food sitting out behind the counter. I didn't mind because it was a nice change from the usual Carribbean/Chinese/Spanish fare in my neighborhood. Ordered delivery twice - the first time my boyfriend really liked his dish (rice with chicken and lamb) but I found the lamb saagwala to be bland, watery and oily. Their mango lassi was really good; thick, creamy and not watered down. Also their garlic naan was pretty tasty, hence the 1 star. Unfortunately on our second delivery, they failed to include our Coke, my dish was totally not what was written on their menu (I basically ended up with another lamb saagwala), and this time an order of garlic naan was only 1 piece per order (last time I asked it was 2 pieces per order), all of which was written on our receipt. We called them up, I was willing to overlook my dish and just wanted the Coke and ask about the naan. The guy was rude and wouldn't give us a direct answer, an argument ensued over the naan, and and they decided to keep my roommate's $1 Coke. Hey times are hard, a dollar goes far, and we all need our Coke once in a while, so as far as I'm concerned we were robbed.
Really shocked at the reviews that say the food is bland. Most restaurants are hesitant to make their dishes truly spicy, for fear of offending American palettes. But not Madina. Even the rice (with peas, not white) is fragrant and spicy. I got a samosa, a potato cake, the Aloo Gobi (cauliflower) and Saada Bhindi (okra). Yes, they are a bit oily, but no more than other similar fare. I am a vegetarian too and was never given any crap about not ordering meat. Though they did push me to order bread. No big deal. This was my third Madina experience and have never been disappointed. On the phone, they are a bit surly, but when I went to pick up, they were pleasant. And the price can't be beat. Got 2 meals worth of food for $15.
Best Indian food on the planet. I've been going here since they opened, and the owners know my order by heart. Everything on the menu is great. You can get a combination platter and two nan for $12 and that's enough for 2 people with leftovers. The new girl behind the counter is super nice. Don't be shy to ask what's new and to taste something before you order. I also go in to order takeout and sometimes eat in. I don't recommend delivery. Also try the sweets and mango lassi - it's all super yuummy.
Madina is the most solid of all the South Asian cheapies on Coney Island Ave or in Kensington. It's really good. The kabobs are awesome, the curries and rice are great. See what's the freshest and go for it. Also - the parathas are home-made, fresh and delicious. They deliver for a $10 minimum, too. Give the guy a decent tip, they're really nice and quick.
I'm another picky Indian food eater. This restaurant wsa great. We ordered a bunch of different things and it was all really good and spicy! I'll definitely visit again when in Brooklyn. I also randomly had a great cup of tea. Always a win.
I LOVE THIS PLACE! I kept going to Men-hattan for Indian, and this, ladies and germs, was a waste of my metrocard. I don't like paying for crappy decor from Pier One and dudes with manicured facial hair pestering me every 3,5 minutes to know if I want to see the desert menu. NO! I want to see my food, order it, carry my own damn tray to a table, and eat without all the extraneous bullshit.
Madina caters to Pakistani, Indian, and Bangla cabbies who want to sit down with a hot tandoori chicken leg and whatever curry . In that respect, they cater to me as well. Expect huge portions on styrafoam plates. This is not dumbed-down Amer-Ind. Spicy, flavorful, and fresh. Well, there's the steam table where you pick your fare, but it's homemade and not from the Subcontinental version of Sysco,
I get the Mix and Match - three curries on rice with salad for $5. This place is extremely vegetarian friendly, although you can get lamb, chicken, and fish.
Indian Mtv and old ladies making the freshest naan around make for an entertaining evening.
I remember when Coney Island Avenue was one giant car wash and oil change joint after another, much like 4th avenue. While 4th avenue now has the rip-off condos for the foolish people looking to buy in "Park Slope," it appears that Coney Island Ave. gets the awesome Pakistani food. And I feel like I won the foodie lottery.
In search of somewhere to eat tonight, my girlfriend and I decided to try "one of those Pakistani restaurants" with nothing particularly in mind. Madina was the first one we saw. I looked at the menu, and saw the "mix n match." 3 curries over a bountiful plate of basmati rice for...$4.99? Huh? I thought something was wrong. Alas I was not. I got delicious, tender, and perfectly spiced lamb, chicken curry, and chickpeas. I also took out for the road 3 samosas for a total of $2. Wow.
Pakistani, foodie heaven...right here in Brooklyn. What a find! Six stars!
Places keep popping up! I had no idea! In my first 10 seconds at Medina, I was pleased. It was a terribly windy and cold day. My face was red and I shivered. The man behind the counter said, "How's the weather?" You are great! I didn't look at the menu, I just pointed to things. I paid $30, fed 4 people and had leftovers that could have fed 2 more. The food was delicious and spicy. I fanned my mouth twice. It went well with the 24 oz. Becks I picked up across the street. Oh, it was takeout.
Why only 4 stars? Some things were a little oily.
I am picky when it comes to my Indian food. I used to live right on E. 6th Street and have sampled the best Indian food Manhattan has to offer. What I can tell you, is this place is the real deal. If you are looking for fancy go elsewhere. However, if you are looking for good food and friendly service this is the place to be. I had the Lamb Saagwala and was blown away by the dish. I have had Lamb Saag at dozens of Indian Restaurants and none were as good as this.
what a horrible oily mistake. this is gonna be a three-swig pepto night.
