For an authentic experience

Think dhaba and the first thing that crosses your mind is an eatery on the highway, complete with old rickety chairs, charpoys and posters of Bollywood steamy potboilers — with delicious food.

But it looks like dhabas have now started moving into the heart of the City. The rustic, shoddy and unkempt feel of a dhaba has been recreated by Manjit, through Manjit Ka Dhaba, a small eating joint that was started sometime ago in Cox Town, near the ITC Flyover.

The dhaba is actually a house that has been refurbished and converted into an eating joint. Enter the dhaba and what strikes you first are the small chairs and tables, huge steel glasses and plates. The food is typical north Indian fare and the prices dirt cheap.

Manjit has always been interested in cooking and confesses that he is more of an experimental cook. “I throw in whatever I think would make a good dish. We don’t use any artificial masala — not even garam masala.

We only use dhanya power, chilli powder, cumin and salt to taste. Onion and curry leaves are used rather generously to add to the taste,” explains Manjit, who runs the eatery with his wife, an architect by profession. “My wife cooks only at home, but she comes and oversees the work here,” he adds.  

The quantity serves two people perfectly and the prices are easy on the pocket. “I am not concentrating on making profits at the moment. The emphasis is on ghar ka khana and I want people to like what they eat and come back for more. Offering people good food at affordable prices is priority,” he observes.

The paranthas are all priced at Rs 10 and Rs 12. The varieties include aloo, paneer, gobi, onion, methi, mooli and there are kulchas as well. There are also various types of daal to choose from. There’s daal makhani, daal fry, yellow daal, rajmah masala and channa masala. “We use garlic and jeera powder lavishly in all the daal dishes. This avoids gastric trouble,” says Manjit.
 
The sabjis are no less tempting. For the bengan ka bhartha, the bengan is first fried and later sauteed in onions, green chilli and curry leaves.
The paneer for the paneer burji is made at home. The dishes are priced between Rs 20 and Rs 50.

The most popular drink is the Punjabi lassi, that is served in a tall tumbler.
“It’s not only filling but refreshing as well. In Punjab, this lassi is served in every household,” informs Manjit.

The joint has its regulars who swear by the taste.
Rohit Jadav, a technical assistant, says the food served is similar to what one gets at home. “You don’t get authentic north Indian food anywhere in the City. The dhaba feel adds to the charm of the place. I come here for the lassi, paneer dishes and the daal,” says Rohit.

Another regular, Ranjit, who is from Maharashtra, comes all the way from R T Nagar to Cox Town just to eat the daal and parantha.

“The quantity is good and it is great value for money. The food is made only when an order is placed. Nothing is served cold and the oil is never reused,” he says.
Manjit Ka Dhaba is located at No. 107, 2nd Floor, Wheeler Road, near Railway Crossing, Cox Town. For details, call 9590084707.