I got the lamb combo which was around $11 or $12 and made by reheating a refrigerated curry in the microwave. There were very few pieces of lamb and they were mostly just bone. It was pretty ridiculous. My friend loves this place so I went on her recommendation however she's vegetarian, so maybe the veggie options are better? In any event, you should skip this place.
(2)
Mehdi B.
It's a shame to use microwave to warm food... when you go out to eat you are expecting something different from what you can do at home !!!
(1)
Mike B.
I work nearby and have been to this place several time and have always enjoyed the food. I really like that it isn't strictly vegetarian since I love meat. I usually get a combination platter with a meat dish (typically lamb) and a vegetable dish (typically fennel). The meat is sometimes dry but the sauces are always very flavorful. I also order extra bread which is fantastic and you could get one that has garlic in it. It also comes with a bit of salad and a dessert. I highly recommend the tea with milk, I think they brew it with hot milk instead of water. It's very good. The food is microwaved after you order it, but that's been the case in every place like this one.
(4)
Venkata M.
Do yourself a favor and avoid this place. And here's why: - Biryani tastes like eating oil with rice, where's the effin flavor? - Stale food that sits there for like half a day - Every dish is just reheated - Painfully slow service
(2)
George A.
Just ordered delivery from this place. The food tastes good, but we had major issues with the language barrier. We ordered two chicken tikka masala's and one chicken biryani, two Naan's, one roti, one mango lassi. We tried to ask for white meat on the tikka masala's, but no luck, we got dark meat upon delivery. The mango lassi was warm, which is ridiculous. They also botched the delivery by somehow forgetting the rice for the chicken tikka masala's. Their menu clearly states rice comes with the chicken tikka masala. So we called and after some back and forth, we asked for the rice and ordered a second mango lassi. Took half an hour to get the second order, and then on top of it, they tried to charge us for the rice lol. I said no to the delivery guy, I told him you forgot the rice and he backed off. The mango lassi looked like it was shaken up, it was spilled all over within the plastic wrapping they use to wrap all of their containers. Grrrrrr! As other people have mentioned, there is clearly a language barrier which they need to work on. It's borderline maddening trying to talk to them over the phone. I would recommend avoiding this place, which is unfortunate because the food did taste good.
(2)
Kashaf S.
Absolutely love this place.. on the upper west side this is the only place where one can get a decent home cooked meal.. of course the decor is not good but I've not been to any south Asian restaurant Pakistani or Indian where you'll be like 'wow I wanna hang out here'.. When you go to such restaurants it's all about the food and I can for sure say "wow the food tastes like home"..The good thing is they don't use a zillion spices which later give you indigestion which is my problem with most restaurants in curry hill.. I go there often and have not been disappointed.. good food, cheap and readily available!
(4)
Dods L.
This place is INFURIATING. Their food is very good, so I always reluctantly come back... but they are SO SLOW it's a joke. You are looking at the food on the other side of the glass, so you would think that the process of scooping it on to a plate would be pretty painless, but no... it somehow takes forever. I have never figured out what exactly the complication is, but it always takes forever. And they are also always very confused about what you want or what you are saying, and I get it, I don't speak their language and I don't blame them for not speaking mine, but I have successfully ordered plenty of good in other countries where I don't speak the language and it's usually pretty painless.. Just point. For some reason, that is very difficult here. As I write this review, I am realizing how petty this all sounds, but after 3 years... 3 YEARS of ordering here and always having this infuriating process unfold, I just had to vent. PS Sometimes there is a young guy who works there, one of their kids I think, and he is a winner. He works very quickly and does a great job. If he could run the place, I would rate it 5 stars. Great good AND great service.
(2)
Gina R.
Loved the chicken tikka masala, samosas and nann. I see some negative reviews on here about this place but i'd say if you're considering it, go for it!
(5)
Michael W.
I HAVE NEVER BEEN MORE UPSET AT FOOD! Every bite of the Chicken Biryani I just ate had bones in it. Full bones, partial bones, sharp bones, at some point I spit a seed out! A SEED...REALLY!? Way to ruin my 30min lunch break. I know why I don't try new things now...
(1)
Polly H.
I like my cauliflower and peas in tomato gravy sauce. My hubby came with me on this food adventure. He would claim that the bread was the best part. It comes in this circular shape Iarger than your face. I would recommend getting one at at time before you end up leaving and not able to button up your outerwear. And yes, that has happened to me. I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed my stay here. Every meal comes with a pitcher of cold tap water, a side salad(lettuce, carrots) and a bowl of sticky rice (with many colors). I think I was in a carnivorous mood, so I demanded a meat dish. We decided on the kebabs. It was very juicy and filled with onion, cilantro, and other fun spices. I can say that they have a working bathroom and a television with Hindi shows. The majority of the people here were ready for some authentic Indian homemade meal. Many men were sitting inside with huge platters of vindaloo, curry, bread, and lassi. Okay, in all honesty, the ambience might not be the wine and dine crowd...the food is good and fills an empty belly on an almost wintry/fall afternoon.
(4)
Nasrin A.
This is close to Barnard/Columbia campus and I love the food here. My first experience with Shahi was when our MSA (Muslim Students Association) ordered food for an iftar: biryani and samosas. Their service was great. They were really friendly and ordered on time, even though it was particularly hectic time for them to order (iftar time, prayer time). The event was successful, and there were many non Muslim, non South Asian participants who, despite not being used to spicy food, loved it. The biryani was so delicious (plenty of big, chunky pieces of chicken and well spiced rice), that my mouth still waters when I think about it. My second experience with Shahi was actually at the store. After jummah (Friday prayers), a group of us (7 of us) walked down to the store. It was a small store and not quite meant for a long, languorous, eat-in experience. It is meant more for take-out. However, the 7 of us squeezed into a long table near the window and had a good time. We each ordered different foods, but the waitress kept track of it all. It didn't take long for the food to arrive and when it it, we were all taken aback by the size of the portions. All 7 of us had difficulty finishing our food, but finish we did, except for some pieces of nan that we took back with us. At the end, the waitress served all of us complimentary rice pudding, which we were not expecting at all (or had room in our stomachs for). That was a really nice and sweet ending to our meal. It was also a sweet gesture on the part of the restaurant. Then, when I went to pay (we payed like McDonald's style, going to the front to the cash register), the waitress told me I can pay her a dollar off the menu price. I had no idea why she was being so nice. I insisted that I pay full price because I really enjoyed the service that much. By the way, Shahi isn't very expensive. I don't think any of us spent more than $11 on our orders. My third experience with Shahi was at another MSA event. The MSA had ordered food from a different restaurant, but it ran out, and there were a great number of people (including me) who had not eaten anything but pieces of baklava. So, the MSA leaders actually called Shahi in a emergency request to have them send us food (since they were close and we had worked with them before). Shahi actually managed to send trays of kababs, biryani, haleem, and naan in less than an hour! (There must've been more than 30 people still in the room). I was amazed! And the food still tasted amazing, whether or not it was fresh. I think by that time--it was 10:00 PM--and with that fast service, the food probably wasn't made right then and there, but still, it was delicious! It made me think of home. I think I like their biryani better than my mom's, which is saying a lot, since I don't think anyone cooks food better than my mom's. By the way, everything is halal.
(5)
Josh K.
A new Pakistani joint opened up very close to my apartment, a welcome addition to the restaurants around the Morningside Park area. They specialize in chicken biryani and have various meat and vegetable curries to savor with the rice. They're so new they didn't even have a menu posted yet, but the owner was very accomodating and hooked me up with a heaping plate of biryani with aloo gobi and mutton on top, plus dessert and a coke, for just $8. This is probably not indicative of their final pricing schedule, but the owner told me that $7 should get you a meat plate and $6 should get you a veggie plate -- whatever he determines that to mean. I'm looking forward to seeing Shahi evolve as a small business and delicious Indo/Paki lunch spot in my neck of the woods. I hope they stick around as they appear to be making a quality product for a reasonable price! I'll be back!
(4)
Aries S.
I have been here a few times and so far had some good experience. The foods are great and the price are decent. They also have sweets like gulab jamun.
(4)
Sophia A.
I have come to this restaurant at least 10 times to purchase samosas. Frankly the service sucks and the food is terrible. I do not know about anyone else but when I bite into a samosa, I would like to have more chicken filling then just the pastry shell. They put very little chicken filling in their chicken samosas. Most of the food in the display looks like it has been sitting out for a while. They reheat everything in a microwave. Then to add insult to injury they act like you are bothering them when you have the gall to ask them to serve you. After my last unpleasant experience there with the service and the food. I gave up and no longer go there. I found another place where I get service with a smile and actual chicken in the samosa. If you want good food and friendly service. Do not go there.
(1)
Maressa T.
3.5, rounded up to 4 stars because of its relative quality for the area 1star- both naan and chapati were warm, fresh, and the naan was nice-n-fluffy 1star- chai tea, appreciated that they asked how much sugar (1 for me= sweet, not saccharine ) 1 star- combo plates are a good bang for your buck and the place is open late! 1 star- keema mutter (mince meat curry dish) and the vegetarian lentils!
(4)
Helen C.
The vegetable biryani was so spicy that my mouth was on fire. They should give a more detailed description on the menu of what each dish entails, and give some warnings as to how spicy things are. However, the reason I am giving 4 stars is because the owners here were so nice. After she found out that it was too spicy for me, she made me a new, non-spicy version of the biryani, to take to-go, for free! And we all got delicious pink desserts that made my mouth feel a lot less on fire. I liked my friend's chicken curry - should have gotten that instead.
(4)
Meghan M.
This place isn't awful, but it's a little sketchy, both from a cleanliness and a service perspective. I've been in 3-4 times, and depending on who's working, I've been completely ignored and/or subjected to really slow service. The last time I was in, I was completely skipped in line when another woman (probably a regular) came in a few minutes after me (He had started preparing my order, then stopped until she was served). Regulars probably like that, but I wasn't a fan. Moreover, the staff provides inconsistent information about which of their dishes have dairy, eggs and meat. For those with dietary restrictions, it's something to keep in mind. The food tastes fine- nicely spicy. But all in all, I think I'll probably go elsewhere.
(3)
Jase B.
We ordered from this place for the first time. My partner got Chicken Tikka Masala. It was strangely pink but I thought it tasted okay. The chicken was all dark meat. Then, after a few bites, he found a large cockroach in his food. We threw our order in the garbage and will never eat here again. If you decide to eat here check your food carefully!
(1)
Salman K.
I visited Shahi Biryani in August 2012 on the recommendation of my sister-in-law who visits the area quite often. She said the food was excellent. So I visited this place because on the Upper West Side there are not too many Indian or Pakistani restaurants that serve halal food. On my first visit, it was around 6pm and I ordered a few samosas and a couple of nan bread (which I asked to be buttered). The samosas tasted quite fresh and crunchy and the filling was decent. The bread took about 13 minutes (quite long) and when I got home it was not buttered. A week later, I decided to give it another chance and opted to dine-in with my fiance. This time I ordered two samosas ($2.00) and 2 seekh kababs ($3.00). I asked how much the boneless tandoori & behari chicken were and was told that I would get three pieces for two dollars, so I got nine pieces ($6.00) and ordered two nan breads ($2.00). My fiance said the food was decent and I agreed. A week later, on a Sunday, I called up and asked what the minimum was for delivery and was told $10, so I decided to place an order, but when the guy heard that I was not in the immediate neighborhood, he refused delivery saying that it was Sunday and his delivery guy was off today. That got me a bit angry. I'm on Columbus & 97th Street. Yesterday, I went there for take-out and ordered two garlic nans, $6 worth of boneless bihari kababs, 4 seekh kababs and 4 samosas. This was around 10pm. Apparently, within two weeks, they must have changed prices, because now I only got six pieces of boneless chicken for $6.00 (instead of nine pieces). Now here is my problem: If want to to charge higher prices, you may, but at least keep the quality the same. The sizes of the chicken pieces should at least be similar. I actually got 4 pieces because the other two pieces were small and burnt. Another issue with this restaurant is that the food is pre-made sitting inside a refrigerator and all they do is heat it up in a microwave. If you order take-out, they heat it up inside a plastic bowl (the plastic can leech into the food) which is not good. This place may be changing prices on a monthly basis (and it can only go upwards). As a new restaurant in the area, they should be consistent in all areas especially prices. The majority of their customers are taxi drivers which means the bathroom will be a mess. So this is a typical taxi driver hangout restaurant..............nothing special.
(2)
Possofazer P.
This place is gross and I will not be back. First, they ignore you completely. I had gone in a few times before and never ordered, basically because they don't acknowledge you. Today, I went in again and ordered food and it's gross. First, the place seems unhygienic. They place some food on counter level - which basically whenever people on either side of the counter are talking, they are speaking and breathing right over the food. Also, the food has no flavor and my chicken had bones. From now on, I am ordering from the other indian restaurants around here.
(1)
Frank G.
This place serves up some legit indonpak food. First off what really stood out abt this place is that is clean. Way cleaner than ne paki restaurant ive been to. The food is really good. The service was decent. The waiter explained the difference between the dishes and told of some new items that were not in the menu. If im in the neighborhood wud definitely come here again.
(5)
Pria P.
I noticed this place a couple times during my jog to the park, and had it on my list of places to check out. I was really excited because the reviews seemed promising, but the food was average and not so cheap given the location/fact that the food is all premade + microwaved for you (~$8 a plate). My chicken curry was mostly bones; the naan was the chewy non-tandoori oven kind, the raita was watery and sad, and I didn't even want to touch the chicken tikka- it looked overly creamy. On the plus side, my friend enjoyed his goat curry. Of the veg options, the chana was good but the vegetable jalfrezi was a bit bland. The bathroom was surprisingly clean. Will I return? Probably, but only because of the dearth of decent and cheap Indian lunch spots in the area. Doaba deli is next on my list to try; will review soon!
(3)
Amey D.
Awesome place to get authentic North-Indian and Pakistani food at moderate prices!
(5)
Hedan Z.
Best Indian food that I've had in Upper West Side. While this may not beat the restaurants of Curry Hill, they do a fantastic job of adding incredible amounts of flavor to their dishes, and as far as the pricing, so cheap! (Caveat: As a previous reviewer mentioned, this may not be their final pricing, but for now one should take advantage of the cheap and delicious options). I got the Lamb Curry Meat Special Combo (8.99 --tax included!). Their lamb curry and mixed vegetables were both pretty baller. The portions were decent, but the meat-to-rice ratio was a lot less than I expected. But I'm willing to overlook this because of their prices and their food quality. Just make sure to you have everything in your combo if you it because they definitely forgot my soda. Last thing, they have free delivery!
(4)
Tirth P.
I ordered the chicken tikka masala and it was terrible. First off, the meat was such poor quality I couldn't believe they served it. Also, it was heated up in a microwave and in fact, it wasn't even heated up evenly so bits of it were still refrigerator-cold! Never going back.
(1)
Shamus K.
Best Pakistani food in the neighborhood. Far better than the other options. Stick with the traditional stuff. If you want chicken tikka, eat at an Americanized place (like Indus Valley). If you want a decent meal that basically tastes like really great home cooked food from a Pakistani auntie, go. The service is just okay. It's a family place. They don't have waitstaff. And I'd be shocked I they ever waited a table in their lives. But sit back, relax, and just enjoy the food. There may be some bones. But guess what? Animals have bones. Real food does. And that's exactly what this place is. Real food.
(4)
Nadine L.
Great food! Such a nice addition to the neighborhood!!
(5)
Elbee M.
The biryani is really good. As are their combos. The give you a huge amount of food for the price. The owners/people that run it are nice.
(4)
Mirren A.
I've been here twice and have yet to be disappointed. The naan is served in generous piping hot portions. I've tried a few selections of the vegetarian options, including saag, aloo matar and a few others I didn't catch the name of. The food is satisfying, tasty, cheap and fast. There are always plenty of seats but I've never eaten in. The staff is quite friendly and has given me free samples of the desserts. Their rice pudding is not rice, but more like a hominy grain, and has toasted coconut. It;s very nice. I will go back whenever I need a quick fix for local pakistani food.
(4)
Christopher M.
Food is great. Delivery is punctual. Prices can't be beaten. Decor is standard for an Asian cafe. Super late hours (4AM each night). Nice service. I'm a white American nad I have problems ordering; yes you have to speak slowly but they will always confirm. If you want rice make sure you state you do and whether you want white or brown. The younger lady that works there is incredibly nice and always has a smile on her face and she'll remember you! I don't know her name, I just realized, and that makes me sad. :/
(5)
Yusuf A.
I've ended a hiatus from writing reviews because people deserve to know about this place. and to know that there is hope for individuals looking for decent, well priced pakistani food near morningside heights/south harlem. Felt like I was eating at a spot in Jackson Heights. This is the closest it gets in manhattan to homecooked south asian cuisine. Biryani? Excellent. Nihari? on point (and actually had a little bit of kick which was nice). Awkward pakistani news anchors and tv mullahs on a spiffy flat screen tv? Check. Friendly Staff? Yepp, albeit potentially awkward if you're not accustomed to the mannerisms and lingua of the subcontinent. The set up is basic and clean. The place is not full service - they'll bring you your food, but don't expect to be waited on. There is plenty of room to sit inside, but it's only a block from morningside park (and two from Central Park) so you can take your food to the park and enjoy it there. Really though. I was thoroughly surprised to have solid desi food that is walking distance from Columbia. Not the best desi food I've had, but pretty damn good. better than the indian and pakistani delis down the street, better than aangan, indian cafe and indus valley (and a fraction of the price to boot!). from what I've sampled, I'd say this beats haandi. Best part? They deliver to most of morningside heights and south harlem. So I can enjoy my biryani from the comfort of my room.
(5)
John T.
Quality and freshness of food here are below par. Everything is premade at one point in time and simply shoved into a microwave and warmed up to order. I've had a few times where I ordered food to go and all I remember was biting into cold chicken. This place could have so much more potential if they would attempt to cook food to order. I'm so completely disappointed that I wouldn't even come here after getting completely trashed from a night out drinking. It's just one of those places you completely regret after you take a bite or two out of their food. Would not recommend this place to anyone. So many more better options in UWS
(1)
James B.
It's a modest place, perfect to get a quick meal on the go. They have a wide selection of vegetarian dishes and meat dishes as well. It's cheap, but the quality is very good. Communication is a bit tricky with some of the staff, who don't speak much English.
(4)
Kerwin E.
ordered take-out from here......NEVER again!!! a hot dog stand would have outshone this $1.50 samosa mess... a sauce would've been nice.. mango chutney? hello? Did I say never again? yes, I did
(1)
Pratyush N.
Food is hit or miss. Will be tasty sometimes and bad otherwise. Depends on your luck!
(3)
Celeste B.
Stopped by this restaurant attempting to have lunch. I had passed this restaurant several times and thought I'd stop in. I looked over the short menu and attempted to ask questions several times but the server behind the counter wasn't very helpful and walked away before I could finish so I walked out.
(1)
Amy J.
I've eaten here twice and I love it! Although I don't have much experience with home-cooked Pakistani food, this is by far the best pan-Indian food on the UWS. I've had the chicken biryani, chicken saag, channa masala, and several desserts, and all were delecious. Service is friendly, prices are reasonable, and portions are big! An easy five stars.
(5)
Abby W.
I love Shahi Biryani! This place is a life saver! I've been here at least four times since it opened. It's my new favorite restaurant near my house, and they're open really late compared to everything else really close to me... I love how cheap it is for your money, I always get the vegetable special combo and for $6.99 they literally STUFF an entire one of those foil takeout containers with rice and your choice of two vegetable curries which are always delicious (like the "I can't believe I just watched them microwave this in front of me before I ate it, because it's better than most of the freshly made Indian/Pakistani food I've ever tasted" kind of delicious). I especially enjoy the squash whenever they have it, and one time they had black chana, which was great. PLUS you get an entire round nan, and a little salad. It's basically enough food for me to eat for dinner and then have the leftovers for lunch the next day... I also dig their deserts that sit so pretty in the glass case at the front that I usually can't resist...they are $1 a piece. The pakistani hot tea is also great. Service is slooooow, but it's totally worth it because it seems like a family run joint and everyone is really nice.
(4)
L C.
I was so excited to see this place come to the neighborhood. My excitement quickly died after I ordered my meal and saw that it was heated up in a microwave. The food was very mediocre. Never going back again.
(1)
Nathaniel H.
It's really, really good. The chicken karahi, the samosas, the naan, the chai. The veggies, the lamb. Everything is spot on. Part of a great trend of South Asian places in the area. I can't help but go back once a week or more since I first saw it.
Logan R.
I got the lamb combo which was around $11 or $12 and made by reheating a refrigerated curry in the microwave. There were very few pieces of lamb and they were mostly just bone. It was pretty ridiculous. My friend loves this place so I went on her recommendation however she's vegetarian, so maybe the veggie options are better? In any event, you should skip this place.
(2)Mehdi B.
It's a shame to use microwave to warm food... when you go out to eat you are expecting something different from what you can do at home !!!
(1)Mike B.
I work nearby and have been to this place several time and have always enjoyed the food. I really like that it isn't strictly vegetarian since I love meat. I usually get a combination platter with a meat dish (typically lamb) and a vegetable dish (typically fennel). The meat is sometimes dry but the sauces are always very flavorful. I also order extra bread which is fantastic and you could get one that has garlic in it. It also comes with a bit of salad and a dessert. I highly recommend the tea with milk, I think they brew it with hot milk instead of water. It's very good. The food is microwaved after you order it, but that's been the case in every place like this one.
(4)Venkata M.
Do yourself a favor and avoid this place. And here's why: - Biryani tastes like eating oil with rice, where's the effin flavor? - Stale food that sits there for like half a day - Every dish is just reheated - Painfully slow service
(2)George A.
Just ordered delivery from this place. The food tastes good, but we had major issues with the language barrier. We ordered two chicken tikka masala's and one chicken biryani, two Naan's, one roti, one mango lassi. We tried to ask for white meat on the tikka masala's, but no luck, we got dark meat upon delivery. The mango lassi was warm, which is ridiculous. They also botched the delivery by somehow forgetting the rice for the chicken tikka masala's. Their menu clearly states rice comes with the chicken tikka masala. So we called and after some back and forth, we asked for the rice and ordered a second mango lassi. Took half an hour to get the second order, and then on top of it, they tried to charge us for the rice lol. I said no to the delivery guy, I told him you forgot the rice and he backed off. The mango lassi looked like it was shaken up, it was spilled all over within the plastic wrapping they use to wrap all of their containers. Grrrrrr! As other people have mentioned, there is clearly a language barrier which they need to work on. It's borderline maddening trying to talk to them over the phone. I would recommend avoiding this place, which is unfortunate because the food did taste good.
(2)Kashaf S.
Absolutely love this place.. on the upper west side this is the only place where one can get a decent home cooked meal.. of course the decor is not good but I've not been to any south Asian restaurant Pakistani or Indian where you'll be like 'wow I wanna hang out here'.. When you go to such restaurants it's all about the food and I can for sure say "wow the food tastes like home"..The good thing is they don't use a zillion spices which later give you indigestion which is my problem with most restaurants in curry hill.. I go there often and have not been disappointed.. good food, cheap and readily available!
(4)Dods L.
This place is INFURIATING. Their food is very good, so I always reluctantly come back... but they are SO SLOW it's a joke. You are looking at the food on the other side of the glass, so you would think that the process of scooping it on to a plate would be pretty painless, but no... it somehow takes forever. I have never figured out what exactly the complication is, but it always takes forever. And they are also always very confused about what you want or what you are saying, and I get it, I don't speak their language and I don't blame them for not speaking mine, but I have successfully ordered plenty of good in other countries where I don't speak the language and it's usually pretty painless.. Just point. For some reason, that is very difficult here. As I write this review, I am realizing how petty this all sounds, but after 3 years... 3 YEARS of ordering here and always having this infuriating process unfold, I just had to vent. PS Sometimes there is a young guy who works there, one of their kids I think, and he is a winner. He works very quickly and does a great job. If he could run the place, I would rate it 5 stars. Great good AND great service.
(2)Gina R.
Loved the chicken tikka masala, samosas and nann. I see some negative reviews on here about this place but i'd say if you're considering it, go for it!
(5)Michael W.
I HAVE NEVER BEEN MORE UPSET AT FOOD! Every bite of the Chicken Biryani I just ate had bones in it. Full bones, partial bones, sharp bones, at some point I spit a seed out! A SEED...REALLY!? Way to ruin my 30min lunch break. I know why I don't try new things now...
(1)Polly H.
I like my cauliflower and peas in tomato gravy sauce. My hubby came with me on this food adventure. He would claim that the bread was the best part. It comes in this circular shape Iarger than your face. I would recommend getting one at at time before you end up leaving and not able to button up your outerwear. And yes, that has happened to me. I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed my stay here. Every meal comes with a pitcher of cold tap water, a side salad(lettuce, carrots) and a bowl of sticky rice (with many colors). I think I was in a carnivorous mood, so I demanded a meat dish. We decided on the kebabs. It was very juicy and filled with onion, cilantro, and other fun spices. I can say that they have a working bathroom and a television with Hindi shows. The majority of the people here were ready for some authentic Indian homemade meal. Many men were sitting inside with huge platters of vindaloo, curry, bread, and lassi. Okay, in all honesty, the ambience might not be the wine and dine crowd...the food is good and fills an empty belly on an almost wintry/fall afternoon.
(4)Nasrin A.
This is close to Barnard/Columbia campus and I love the food here. My first experience with Shahi was when our MSA (Muslim Students Association) ordered food for an iftar: biryani and samosas. Their service was great. They were really friendly and ordered on time, even though it was particularly hectic time for them to order (iftar time, prayer time). The event was successful, and there were many non Muslim, non South Asian participants who, despite not being used to spicy food, loved it. The biryani was so delicious (plenty of big, chunky pieces of chicken and well spiced rice), that my mouth still waters when I think about it. My second experience with Shahi was actually at the store. After jummah (Friday prayers), a group of us (7 of us) walked down to the store. It was a small store and not quite meant for a long, languorous, eat-in experience. It is meant more for take-out. However, the 7 of us squeezed into a long table near the window and had a good time. We each ordered different foods, but the waitress kept track of it all. It didn't take long for the food to arrive and when it it, we were all taken aback by the size of the portions. All 7 of us had difficulty finishing our food, but finish we did, except for some pieces of nan that we took back with us. At the end, the waitress served all of us complimentary rice pudding, which we were not expecting at all (or had room in our stomachs for). That was a really nice and sweet ending to our meal. It was also a sweet gesture on the part of the restaurant. Then, when I went to pay (we payed like McDonald's style, going to the front to the cash register), the waitress told me I can pay her a dollar off the menu price. I had no idea why she was being so nice. I insisted that I pay full price because I really enjoyed the service that much. By the way, Shahi isn't very expensive. I don't think any of us spent more than $11 on our orders. My third experience with Shahi was at another MSA event. The MSA had ordered food from a different restaurant, but it ran out, and there were a great number of people (including me) who had not eaten anything but pieces of baklava. So, the MSA leaders actually called Shahi in a emergency request to have them send us food (since they were close and we had worked with them before). Shahi actually managed to send trays of kababs, biryani, haleem, and naan in less than an hour! (There must've been more than 30 people still in the room). I was amazed! And the food still tasted amazing, whether or not it was fresh. I think by that time--it was 10:00 PM--and with that fast service, the food probably wasn't made right then and there, but still, it was delicious! It made me think of home. I think I like their biryani better than my mom's, which is saying a lot, since I don't think anyone cooks food better than my mom's. By the way, everything is halal.
(5)Josh K.
A new Pakistani joint opened up very close to my apartment, a welcome addition to the restaurants around the Morningside Park area. They specialize in chicken biryani and have various meat and vegetable curries to savor with the rice. They're so new they didn't even have a menu posted yet, but the owner was very accomodating and hooked me up with a heaping plate of biryani with aloo gobi and mutton on top, plus dessert and a coke, for just $8. This is probably not indicative of their final pricing schedule, but the owner told me that $7 should get you a meat plate and $6 should get you a veggie plate -- whatever he determines that to mean. I'm looking forward to seeing Shahi evolve as a small business and delicious Indo/Paki lunch spot in my neck of the woods. I hope they stick around as they appear to be making a quality product for a reasonable price! I'll be back!
(4)Aries S.
I have been here a few times and so far had some good experience. The foods are great and the price are decent. They also have sweets like gulab jamun.
(4)Sophia A.
I have come to this restaurant at least 10 times to purchase samosas. Frankly the service sucks and the food is terrible. I do not know about anyone else but when I bite into a samosa, I would like to have more chicken filling then just the pastry shell. They put very little chicken filling in their chicken samosas. Most of the food in the display looks like it has been sitting out for a while. They reheat everything in a microwave. Then to add insult to injury they act like you are bothering them when you have the gall to ask them to serve you. After my last unpleasant experience there with the service and the food. I gave up and no longer go there. I found another place where I get service with a smile and actual chicken in the samosa. If you want good food and friendly service. Do not go there.
(1)Maressa T.
3.5, rounded up to 4 stars because of its relative quality for the area 1star- both naan and chapati were warm, fresh, and the naan was nice-n-fluffy 1star- chai tea, appreciated that they asked how much sugar (1 for me= sweet, not saccharine ) 1 star- combo plates are a good bang for your buck and the place is open late! 1 star- keema mutter (mince meat curry dish) and the vegetarian lentils!
(4)Helen C.
The vegetable biryani was so spicy that my mouth was on fire. They should give a more detailed description on the menu of what each dish entails, and give some warnings as to how spicy things are. However, the reason I am giving 4 stars is because the owners here were so nice. After she found out that it was too spicy for me, she made me a new, non-spicy version of the biryani, to take to-go, for free! And we all got delicious pink desserts that made my mouth feel a lot less on fire. I liked my friend's chicken curry - should have gotten that instead.
(4)Meghan M.
This place isn't awful, but it's a little sketchy, both from a cleanliness and a service perspective. I've been in 3-4 times, and depending on who's working, I've been completely ignored and/or subjected to really slow service. The last time I was in, I was completely skipped in line when another woman (probably a regular) came in a few minutes after me (He had started preparing my order, then stopped until she was served). Regulars probably like that, but I wasn't a fan. Moreover, the staff provides inconsistent information about which of their dishes have dairy, eggs and meat. For those with dietary restrictions, it's something to keep in mind. The food tastes fine- nicely spicy. But all in all, I think I'll probably go elsewhere.
(3)Jase B.
We ordered from this place for the first time. My partner got Chicken Tikka Masala. It was strangely pink but I thought it tasted okay. The chicken was all dark meat. Then, after a few bites, he found a large cockroach in his food. We threw our order in the garbage and will never eat here again. If you decide to eat here check your food carefully!
(1)Salman K.
I visited Shahi Biryani in August 2012 on the recommendation of my sister-in-law who visits the area quite often. She said the food was excellent. So I visited this place because on the Upper West Side there are not too many Indian or Pakistani restaurants that serve halal food. On my first visit, it was around 6pm and I ordered a few samosas and a couple of nan bread (which I asked to be buttered). The samosas tasted quite fresh and crunchy and the filling was decent. The bread took about 13 minutes (quite long) and when I got home it was not buttered. A week later, I decided to give it another chance and opted to dine-in with my fiance. This time I ordered two samosas ($2.00) and 2 seekh kababs ($3.00). I asked how much the boneless tandoori & behari chicken were and was told that I would get three pieces for two dollars, so I got nine pieces ($6.00) and ordered two nan breads ($2.00). My fiance said the food was decent and I agreed. A week later, on a Sunday, I called up and asked what the minimum was for delivery and was told $10, so I decided to place an order, but when the guy heard that I was not in the immediate neighborhood, he refused delivery saying that it was Sunday and his delivery guy was off today. That got me a bit angry. I'm on Columbus & 97th Street. Yesterday, I went there for take-out and ordered two garlic nans, $6 worth of boneless bihari kababs, 4 seekh kababs and 4 samosas. This was around 10pm. Apparently, within two weeks, they must have changed prices, because now I only got six pieces of boneless chicken for $6.00 (instead of nine pieces). Now here is my problem: If want to to charge higher prices, you may, but at least keep the quality the same. The sizes of the chicken pieces should at least be similar. I actually got 4 pieces because the other two pieces were small and burnt. Another issue with this restaurant is that the food is pre-made sitting inside a refrigerator and all they do is heat it up in a microwave. If you order take-out, they heat it up inside a plastic bowl (the plastic can leech into the food) which is not good. This place may be changing prices on a monthly basis (and it can only go upwards). As a new restaurant in the area, they should be consistent in all areas especially prices. The majority of their customers are taxi drivers which means the bathroom will be a mess. So this is a typical taxi driver hangout restaurant..............nothing special.
(2)Possofazer P.
This place is gross and I will not be back. First, they ignore you completely. I had gone in a few times before and never ordered, basically because they don't acknowledge you. Today, I went in again and ordered food and it's gross. First, the place seems unhygienic. They place some food on counter level - which basically whenever people on either side of the counter are talking, they are speaking and breathing right over the food. Also, the food has no flavor and my chicken had bones. From now on, I am ordering from the other indian restaurants around here.
(1)Frank G.
This place serves up some legit indonpak food. First off what really stood out abt this place is that is clean. Way cleaner than ne paki restaurant ive been to. The food is really good. The service was decent. The waiter explained the difference between the dishes and told of some new items that were not in the menu. If im in the neighborhood wud definitely come here again.
(5)Pria P.
I noticed this place a couple times during my jog to the park, and had it on my list of places to check out. I was really excited because the reviews seemed promising, but the food was average and not so cheap given the location/fact that the food is all premade + microwaved for you (~$8 a plate). My chicken curry was mostly bones; the naan was the chewy non-tandoori oven kind, the raita was watery and sad, and I didn't even want to touch the chicken tikka- it looked overly creamy. On the plus side, my friend enjoyed his goat curry. Of the veg options, the chana was good but the vegetable jalfrezi was a bit bland. The bathroom was surprisingly clean. Will I return? Probably, but only because of the dearth of decent and cheap Indian lunch spots in the area. Doaba deli is next on my list to try; will review soon!
(3)Amey D.
Awesome place to get authentic North-Indian and Pakistani food at moderate prices!
(5)Hedan Z.
Best Indian food that I've had in Upper West Side. While this may not beat the restaurants of Curry Hill, they do a fantastic job of adding incredible amounts of flavor to their dishes, and as far as the pricing, so cheap! (Caveat: As a previous reviewer mentioned, this may not be their final pricing, but for now one should take advantage of the cheap and delicious options). I got the Lamb Curry Meat Special Combo (8.99 --tax included!). Their lamb curry and mixed vegetables were both pretty baller. The portions were decent, but the meat-to-rice ratio was a lot less than I expected. But I'm willing to overlook this because of their prices and their food quality. Just make sure to you have everything in your combo if you it because they definitely forgot my soda. Last thing, they have free delivery!
(4)Tirth P.
I ordered the chicken tikka masala and it was terrible. First off, the meat was such poor quality I couldn't believe they served it. Also, it was heated up in a microwave and in fact, it wasn't even heated up evenly so bits of it were still refrigerator-cold! Never going back.
(1)Shamus K.
Best Pakistani food in the neighborhood. Far better than the other options. Stick with the traditional stuff. If you want chicken tikka, eat at an Americanized place (like Indus Valley). If you want a decent meal that basically tastes like really great home cooked food from a Pakistani auntie, go. The service is just okay. It's a family place. They don't have waitstaff. And I'd be shocked I they ever waited a table in their lives. But sit back, relax, and just enjoy the food. There may be some bones. But guess what? Animals have bones. Real food does. And that's exactly what this place is. Real food.
(4)Nadine L.
Great food! Such a nice addition to the neighborhood!!
(5)Elbee M.
The biryani is really good. As are their combos. The give you a huge amount of food for the price. The owners/people that run it are nice.
(4)Mirren A.
I've been here twice and have yet to be disappointed. The naan is served in generous piping hot portions. I've tried a few selections of the vegetarian options, including saag, aloo matar and a few others I didn't catch the name of. The food is satisfying, tasty, cheap and fast. There are always plenty of seats but I've never eaten in. The staff is quite friendly and has given me free samples of the desserts. Their rice pudding is not rice, but more like a hominy grain, and has toasted coconut. It;s very nice. I will go back whenever I need a quick fix for local pakistani food.
(4)Christopher M.
Food is great. Delivery is punctual. Prices can't be beaten. Decor is standard for an Asian cafe. Super late hours (4AM each night). Nice service. I'm a white American nad I have problems ordering; yes you have to speak slowly but they will always confirm. If you want rice make sure you state you do and whether you want white or brown. The younger lady that works there is incredibly nice and always has a smile on her face and she'll remember you! I don't know her name, I just realized, and that makes me sad. :/
(5)Yusuf A.
I've ended a hiatus from writing reviews because people deserve to know about this place. and to know that there is hope for individuals looking for decent, well priced pakistani food near morningside heights/south harlem. Felt like I was eating at a spot in Jackson Heights. This is the closest it gets in manhattan to homecooked south asian cuisine. Biryani? Excellent. Nihari? on point (and actually had a little bit of kick which was nice). Awkward pakistani news anchors and tv mullahs on a spiffy flat screen tv? Check. Friendly Staff? Yepp, albeit potentially awkward if you're not accustomed to the mannerisms and lingua of the subcontinent. The set up is basic and clean. The place is not full service - they'll bring you your food, but don't expect to be waited on. There is plenty of room to sit inside, but it's only a block from morningside park (and two from Central Park) so you can take your food to the park and enjoy it there. Really though. I was thoroughly surprised to have solid desi food that is walking distance from Columbia. Not the best desi food I've had, but pretty damn good. better than the indian and pakistani delis down the street, better than aangan, indian cafe and indus valley (and a fraction of the price to boot!). from what I've sampled, I'd say this beats haandi. Best part? They deliver to most of morningside heights and south harlem. So I can enjoy my biryani from the comfort of my room.
(5)John T.
Quality and freshness of food here are below par. Everything is premade at one point in time and simply shoved into a microwave and warmed up to order. I've had a few times where I ordered food to go and all I remember was biting into cold chicken. This place could have so much more potential if they would attempt to cook food to order. I'm so completely disappointed that I wouldn't even come here after getting completely trashed from a night out drinking. It's just one of those places you completely regret after you take a bite or two out of their food. Would not recommend this place to anyone. So many more better options in UWS
(1)James B.
It's a modest place, perfect to get a quick meal on the go. They have a wide selection of vegetarian dishes and meat dishes as well. It's cheap, but the quality is very good. Communication is a bit tricky with some of the staff, who don't speak much English.
(4)Kerwin E.
ordered take-out from here......NEVER again!!! a hot dog stand would have outshone this $1.50 samosa mess... a sauce would've been nice.. mango chutney? hello? Did I say never again? yes, I did
(1)Pratyush N.
Food is hit or miss. Will be tasty sometimes and bad otherwise. Depends on your luck!
(3)Celeste B.
Stopped by this restaurant attempting to have lunch. I had passed this restaurant several times and thought I'd stop in. I looked over the short menu and attempted to ask questions several times but the server behind the counter wasn't very helpful and walked away before I could finish so I walked out.
(1)Amy J.
I've eaten here twice and I love it! Although I don't have much experience with home-cooked Pakistani food, this is by far the best pan-Indian food on the UWS. I've had the chicken biryani, chicken saag, channa masala, and several desserts, and all were delecious. Service is friendly, prices are reasonable, and portions are big! An easy five stars.
(5)Abby W.
I love Shahi Biryani! This place is a life saver! I've been here at least four times since it opened. It's my new favorite restaurant near my house, and they're open really late compared to everything else really close to me... I love how cheap it is for your money, I always get the vegetable special combo and for $6.99 they literally STUFF an entire one of those foil takeout containers with rice and your choice of two vegetable curries which are always delicious (like the "I can't believe I just watched them microwave this in front of me before I ate it, because it's better than most of the freshly made Indian/Pakistani food I've ever tasted" kind of delicious). I especially enjoy the squash whenever they have it, and one time they had black chana, which was great. PLUS you get an entire round nan, and a little salad. It's basically enough food for me to eat for dinner and then have the leftovers for lunch the next day... I also dig their deserts that sit so pretty in the glass case at the front that I usually can't resist...they are $1 a piece. The pakistani hot tea is also great. Service is slooooow, but it's totally worth it because it seems like a family run joint and everyone is really nice.
(4)L C.
I was so excited to see this place come to the neighborhood. My excitement quickly died after I ordered my meal and saw that it was heated up in a microwave. The food was very mediocre. Never going back again.
(1)Nathaniel H.
It's really, really good. The chicken karahi, the samosas, the naan, the chai. The veggies, the lamb. Everything is spot on. Part of a great trend of South Asian places in the area. I can't help but go back once a week or more since I first saw it.
(4)