For those of you who live in Delhi, Rajinder Da Dhaba is no new name. It is situated in Safdarjung Enclave Market and is considered to be a legendary dhaba-cum-restaurant in Delhi.
Rajinder Da Dhaba started as a small roadside stall over five decades ago. Since then, it has developed as the perfect success story of ‘rags to riches’. Now, the entire front façade of Safdarjung Enclave Market is covered with Rajinder da Dhaba’s three separate restaurants. And unlike most places who go down in quality after success, this dhaba has never downgraded in terms of food and a testification of the same can be seen once you visit the place and see the swarming crowd of people!
I visited this place with my family some time back. And if you’re a non-vegetarian like me, this place is paradise on Earth for you! With the most exquisite non-vegetarian menu, it will definitely keep you wanting for more and more!
The first thing which I ordered was the Spl. Mutton Galauti Kebab with Roomali Roti. The kebabs were literally melting in the mouth and were cooked to perfection. The Roomali roti was so thin and light, and tasted amazing with the kebabs. Along with the side of laccha onion and mint chutney, this combination was my favourite one!
The next thing I opted for was the Galauti Roll. It would’ve been a disgrace if I left without trying the famous rolls of Rajinder da Dhaba, so I absolutely had to get one! The filling inside was super tender and juicy, and the spices and aromatics used provided the perfect taste to the meat. It was so good, that I couldn’t resist myself from ordering another one!
For main course I ordered my staple meal – Butter Chicken with Butter Naan and Roomali Roti. The chicken was juicy and succulent, and the gravy was rich, smooth and creamy. The naan was super crispy, buttery and flaky, with the smokiness from the tandoor. The Roomali roti was, again, super thin and chewy in the correct manner. Absolutely loved it!
All in all, Rajinder Da Dhaba was an absolute treat to the taste buds! The food was super delicious and up to the mark! The essence of flavour is something they’ve managed to retain over the years, and that is something which acts as their USP, according to me. And not just non – vegetarian, Rajinder Da Dhaba also provides vegetarian meals including Shahi Paneer, Tawa Chaap, Tawa Mushroom, Achari Tikka, Paneer Tikka Roll and lots more which is equally delicious and keeps you salivating until the very last bite!
And like I already mentioned before, Rajinder da Dhaba is divided into three broad restaurants now – the first being the original Rajinder Da Dhaba, the second being a small air-conditioned area for beating the heat (Rajinder Xpress), and the third being a restaurant with fine dining (RDX).
The original Rajinder da Dhaba has no seating space as such, it’s more of a takeaway service. People generally order and pick up their meals and eat in their respective vehicles or on the steps in the market. Rajinder Xpress is a mini restaurant, and serves the same menu as the dhaba, but with an air-conditioned seating. RDX serves the same dishes too, but in an elegant and refined manner of fine dining. That’s the broad difference between all three.
My visit to Rajinder Da Dhaba was a fruitful one and I thoroughly enjoyed the food! It instantly transported me to the streets of Lucknow, which is famous for its kebabs and I could feel a similar taste tingling my taste buds, and wanted more of it! Rajinder Da Dhaba is street food at its best and is definitely worth a visit, if you’re a kebab lover like me!
Price - ₹800/- for two (approx.)
Cuisine –North Indian, Chinese, Mughlai
Our Rating:
Ambience: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Hospitality: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Food: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
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