Punjabi Dhaba

I heard from numerous family members and friends this is a very good spot for lunch or dinner. Finally, I got a chance to try out. I reached there around 6.50pm and all the parking in the front of the store were occupied. We drove to the back and they had additional parking. When you get out of the car, my husband said he smelt grease. Hmm… I didn’t pay attention to the smell since I was looking forward for delicious dinner good. Anyways Indian food is full of grease which has butter and ghee. I walked inside the restaurant and waited for someone to sit me. I waited for 5 mins and then I realized there is a cashier towards the back. I told him we’re waiting for someone to sit us. He said wait for ten minutes. I waited patiently for him to sit me while there are several tables empty. After ten minutes, I reminded him we’re still waiting. Then he instantly sat is down. I waited for the waiter to give us the menu. Then I got up and got it. Horrible experience the waiter didn’t come. So I decided to go for the buffet. they didn’t give us water, fork or napkins. I got my food but we had to wait for the utensils. I ordered naan but they gave to other tables. By the time we were almost done eating, they brought us garlic naan. Well we had to ask them three times for it.
We quickly ate and left the place in disappointment. Not happy customers. And time food quality wasn’t great.

Reading my old review, the first thing I have to say is that the naan came out piping hot and delicious. One order of regular and one of garlic were so hot even after sitting on the table for a few.
Also, each curry I tried wasn’t in the least bit watery. Everything had a great (authentic? not sure what that actually is) flavor to it. Stuck with water this time, although the mango lassi’s I saw ordered looked delicious.
$ 13.95 AYCE dinner– well worth it.
And yes, this is that restaurant that appears to be by itself (well, next to the fruit stand) that you can see from the freeway.

Q: What is «Punjabi dhaba?»
A: Punjabi dhaba is a roadside restaurant/​café in either India or Pakistan featuring Punjabi cuisine. These are found on highways and on the outskirts of cities, towns, & villages. Dhabas were initially started by enterprising Punjabis to cater to the needs of truckers, who were also initially mostly Punjabis, for authentic wholesome, clean, and hot Punjabi food at any hour of the day or night. (Typically ²⁴⁄₇ service)
Source: Wikipedia
Punjabi Dhaba has been bookmarked for quite sometime. Finally… ‘The planets have aligned, the AYCE gods have blessed me, and the clouds opened up. (Well, not really, it was raining pretty good @ the time I pulled into the small, non-​descript parking lot.) I was finally able to make it to their diner buffet — $ 13.95 (Fri thru Sun only; 5pm — 9:30pm) Punjabi Dhaba’s lunch buffet is offered seven days/​week.
I’ve always seen this little shop, located just off of the I-​80 FWY, which you can’t miss as you make the drive towards Sacramento. I remember the first time I drove by and this little restaurant caught my eye. «Hmmm, interesting location for a restaurant and an Indian restaurant @ that… ‘Just sitting out here all by itself next to the freeway.» While unbeknownst to me, it was a solid 4 ½ star spot. It wasn’t until Google Maps took me to this particular exit that I started considering «that shop,» was THE SHOP… ‘And it was! After researching the restaurant’s name, «Punjabi Dhabi,» the restaurant’s location is very apropos. (Cool)
It just goes to show you, «If you cook it well, they will come.»
Arrived @ 4:40pm, twenty minutes before the 5pm dinner buffet. Whenever I eat buffet, I try to be there @ the opening. If you’ve arrived late to a family dinner only to witness the aftermath of picked chicken carcasses and empty bowls, many buffets are not much different. There were three groups of people, totaling nine in all, which none of them were here for the AYCE dinner. — «Mine! Mine! Mine… ‘ALL MINE!» (Well, at least for the first 20 – 30 minutes, until other guests started to arrive.)
Punjabi Dhaba looks like it can seat 65 people comfortably, I’m sure more if need be. The restaurant was well lit, clean, and spacious. The restaurant also has a relatively large bar area as well.
As I walked in, I was quickly greeted by Sabi who told me that the dinner buffet will open up shortly. As I waited, I ordered a hot cup of chai tea… ‘And it was delicious, just right for a wet, cold rainy kinda day. Perfect.
I’m currently residing in Fairfield and the small 20 minute drive to Punjabi Dhaba is well worth it. (I believe the next closest AYCE Indian restaurants are in Davis which I plan on visiting and hopefully sooner than later.)
«Ladies & fellahs, the buffet is open.» — Well, actually it was just me @ the time… ‘And I don’t mind if I do, thank you very much.
I looked at the chaffing dishes laid out before me and thought, «I have no idea what I“m looking at BUT I’ll have a little bit of this and a small tad of that.»
I spoke with Gurman and learned that the dinner buffet is pretty constant with the addition of the fish pakora compared to their lunch buffet. He also told me that that lunch offerings do change more than dinner ones and DOES NOT include the fish pakora. BTW — The fish pakora was GREAT! I was hesitant to try the fish but chose a small piece to sample anyway and I went back for a second one.
The Buffet: (I didn’t try everything… ‘Not once did I touch my complimentary glass of water.)
Chicken Tikka Masala — Very good; spicy; creamy & flavorful
Tandoori Chicken — Okay
Goat Curry — Very good; spicy; flavorful; too many small bones
Mixed Vegetable Masala — Very good; flavorful
Veggie Pakora Aloo Tikki — Good; flavorful
Fish Pakora — Very good; flavorful
Shahi Paneer — Very good; spicy; creamy & flavorful
Saag Paneer — Good
Dahl Makhni — Okay
Basmati Rice — Good
Red Onions/​Jalapenos (Slices) — Onions, fresh; jalapeños, withered, not as fresh
Garlic Naan — Very good
Gulab Jamur — Good; VERY, very sweet
Mint/​Mango Chutney — Good
Tamarind Sauce — Good
Yogurt Sauce — Good
Photo —
Overall, Punjabi Dhaba has a very nice relaxed, laid back vibe to it. Like Mediterranean cuisine, I am not well versed in the food & culture but in 2016, that’s going to change. That, along with focusing more on privately owned, family operated businesses versus the corporate conglomerates and their $ 1 value meals. Haven’t you ever wondered how much actual meat is in a $ 1 burger… «You get what you pay for.»
A very nice 4 ½ star rating, rounding up to five… Customer service will always make the difference. I briefly spoke with Sikander G, owner/​operator, very nice guy.
Photo —
‘Make it Great! — Big Aloha!
Food: 4
Ambiance: 4
Service: 5
Value: 5+ ($ 13.95 — AYCE Indian)

It’s nice to have a local Indian food place, it is great that it is great food, awesome service and priced right. I highly recommend the goat curry, samosas, and garlic naan. Will definitely frequent this place.

Dinner on the weekend. More dishes to choose from. Mango lasse and some gulab jamun to calm the spicy fire in your mouth.
Bam! Another notch!

During a road trip to Tahoe, this place hit the spot!
Wholesome Punjabi food, freshly prepared.
Very helpful staff — they were able to make preparations dairy free and w/​o onions too!
Our large group ordered a mix of a la carte and buffet and both were excellent.
Nan (soft thick bread made from finely milled and refined wheat flour) — Excellent
Tandoori roti (whole wheat bread cooked in clay oven) — Excellent
Baigan Bharta (eggplant with spices, onion, garlic) made w/​o yogurt per request) — Wow!
Bhindi masala (okra with onion/​garlic) — yummy
Dal «curry» (no onion garlic) — tasty
Vegetarian buffet items — Saag Paneer, Paneer Makhni, Dal Makhni, Pakoras, Mix Veg — unlimited tasty food.
Deserts included Kheer (sweet milk and rice) and Gajar halwa (sugar + butter + carrot) were really good too.

We had a great experience here driving back from Lake Tahoe.
The buffet had good selection of Punjabi food. We had saag paneer, kadhi, daal makhni, garlic naan. Also ordered some paranthas.
I personally liked the choice of using potatoes in kadhi instead of pakora but that may not appeal to everyone.
Highly recommended this place.

The best Punjabi cuisine I’ve had in 8 years in USA and that too without poking a hole in the pocket. Very reasonably priced menu. Super delicious clay oven paranthas. My friends had buffet and every item was so delicious, from appetizer samosa, pakora, tandoori chicken to the gulab jamun for the dessert. Kadhi was exceptional. Naan n chai were made fresh for each customer. Great experience. Definitely my permanent pit stop on our way to Tahoe.

DELICIOUS!!! One of my favorite restaurants in the whole wide world. I love that it’s in my hometown. The food is consistently wonderful. The staff is very attentive and friendly. They make you feel very welcome. Literally everything I have eaten (which is a lot!) is really really good.
The inside is always perfectly clean and immaculate with lovely décor.
If you live in Dixon and haven’t tried… you must!

We really enjoy this place when looking for great Indian food. Not an easy task to find real good Indian food.

We ordered Dahl soup and Tandoori Chicken salad. It was so so. I think when you sit in a restaurants the server should be attentive enough not to keep his back to you while he sits and watches TV.

Tasted like any other Indian lunch buffet. Nothing too special other than it’s in a small town and crazy cheap ($ 8.99 for lunch). The na’an is made fresh but that’s nothing spectacular because it was just ok. The na’an does come in many flavors so that’s good but other than that. Meh.
Would go again only if convient.

Dinner buffet is $ 12.95, food is very tasty. The décor on the other hand needs to be updated. I guess it used to be a Mexican restaurant because the old chairs are still being used and says Bienvenidos lol. The service is just ok. Refills are slim coming and naan is as well. Worth the visit for sure especially the location is great.

I had to go food from here. Got home and found some food missing. Online statement showed they charged me extra, I waited a few days as that might be the case with pre authorization. I was passing by so I stopped same attendant attended me he was quite humble and promised me that he will fix the problem. Transaction showed a refund but again same amount was charged. I called and wanted to talk to owner, old lady came in phone «very rude» her language was very vulgar she told me she is mother of the owner and can shove her finger up my ass, her son is a gangster. At this point I hung up the phone. When ever I pass by this place I fear for my life and when I get home I check my statements if they have charged me for passing by their gangster business.

We came here after a rafting trip and we were completely exhausted and super hungry.
We had the dinner buffet. The food was good and seemed fresh.
Gulab jamoon was excellent.
I am giving one less star because the variety was very less. If they add more starters to the buffet, it’ll be great.

3 Stars for the Food and +1 Star for the brilliant location of this establishment right-​off I-​80. It is a perfect spot for a stopover if you are headed north on I-​80 towards Sacramento, Tahoe or Oregon from the Bay Area and vice-​versa.
AMBIENCE :From the exterior it actually looks like a Dhaba akin to the Freeway side eateries you see in North India which cater to truckers and are famous for wallet-​friendly food which is served family style. The Interior is pretty much like any other Indian restaurant.
FOOD: We always order a la-​carte when we are here. They also have a buffet which is $ 9 weekdays and $ 15 on weekends. I would strongly recommend you order the Vegetarian items from the menu while you are here. The Non-​Veg items did not cut it for us on more than one occasion.
Items I have tried and liked
— Chai and Lassis (Plain & Mango)
— Veg Pakoras and Samosas
— Entrees: Chana Masala, Eggplant Bharta, Paneer Tikka Masala, Daal Makhani, Saag Paneer
— Breads: Aloo Paratha, Garlic Naan, Onion Kulcha
Items which did not hit the spot
— Chicken Biryani
— Achari Chicken
SERVICE: Can be hit or miss depending on what time of the day you visit. EXCELLENT during off hours and SLOW during peak hrs.
OVERALL: Punjabi Dhaba is definitely the best stop-​over restaurant
— If you are looking for DECENT Indian food
— While on the road and are looking to get some respite from the gruelling I-​80 traffic.

I’m not a big fan of Indian food, but the buffet deal was too hard to pass! The food tasted mediocre and didn’t make me lick my fingers. It was nice that you can get as much naan as you want though!

Review in prose:
I went for the $ 14 dinner buffet
I ate more than $ 14 of buffet
The servers were very nice
And the food was great with its spice

I’m happy that left Davis to try this indian buffet.
TIP: it’s kinda tricky to find at first because you have to go on the beginning part of the on ramp towards the highway but then make a left and then you’ll see a colorful restaurant.
I think this buffet is more authentic than most indian buffets since you could tell he dish had more spices. Also the restaurant wasn’t just filled with a bunch of white people.
I enjoy everything from the buffet except the goat curry. It tastes odd and I would definitely avoid it. I wish the buffet had unlimited naan and samosas because then it would be perfect. Oh but there chai tea on the side is really good!

The best lamb achari and garlic Naan combination you can have around here. I discovered while passing by the I 50 to sacramento. This place has amazing food. Best is you can customize the food per your tast.
I did ask them to keep is non spicy to begin with. The food was bang on.