Desi Dhaba

Best Known For

Whistling Cooker Meat: Desi goat cooked in the pressure cooker, served with sides of saffron rice, butter naan and chutney.

Home is where the Indian heart is at Desi Dhaba on Flinders Street in Melbourne’s CBD. Born from a desire to recreate the dhabas of the homeland, sit kerbside in balmy weather and people watch or dine indoors and watch the cricket and Bollywood movies on a big screen, among memorabilia and an eclectic mix of wall posters. Think authentic, tasty food from the street eateries of Indian highways as seen in starters like Amritsari fish – marinated rockling fried in spiced chickpea batter, served hot with special chutney; or tandoori chicken, with onion and lettuce salad. For the main, delve into hot and spicy goat vindaloo, basmati rice and garlic naan, or Kashmir’s popular fragrant lamb curry, with star anise and fennel; cool things down with a divine dessert of mango kulfi and gulab jamun.