Makhanwala Restaurant - Modern Indian Dhaba

Makhanwala Restaurant - Modern Indian Dhaba

Al Wasl

Indian restaurant Closed 0 525 729 891

Makhanwala is a small modern Indian dhaba in Al Wasl serving Punjabi-style comfort food alongside Indian-Chinese favourites. Reviews point to the butter chicken with naan and freshly made chapati as particularly worthwhile, with generous portions and generally approachable pricing.

Reputation Score
4.7
★★★★★
1,269 ratings
5★
87%
4★
6%
3★
3%
2★
1%
1★
3%

Source: Google Maps

The Good Stuff

Showing 2 of 5
01

Fresh Breads

Chapati and tandoori roti are made fresh, with one reviewer describing chapatis served straight from the oven.

02

Generous Portions

Portions are often large enough to share or leave unfinished, making the restaurant especially good value for groups.

Let's go!

What to Eat at Makhanwala Restaurant - Modern Indian Dhaba

Foods and drinks mentioned in reviews of Makhanwala Restaurant - Modern Indian Dhaba, ranked by positive reviews minus negative reviews. Zero-score items have no net positive feedback; their labels distinguish neutral-only from mixed feedback.

Food 9

  1. Chicken lollipop Net +4
    “Best chicken lollipop I've had in a while.”
  2. Chiken tikka massala Net +3
    “My husband tried the lentil soup and chiken tikka massala, both were very tasty.”
  3. Pani puri Net +3
    “Pani puri - 5/5”
  4. Butter chicken Net +2
    “The food was very tasty,took butter chicken with two types of nan. The nice person told me,I can take rice later if I want. Luckily I didnt take,had enough. Tasted really well.”
  5. Chicken hakka noodle Net +2
    “Must try items: Butter chicken with Naan and Chicken Hakka Noodle.”
  6. Chicken tikka Net +2
    “The Veg Grill Platter was a savory assortment of perfectly grilled vegetables, while the Chicken Tikka was tender, juicy, and bursting with flavors.”
  7. Garlic naan Net +2
    “Their Dal Makhni is spectacular and a great pairing with their garlic naan.”
  8. Naan Net +2
    “I had the chicken tikke and Naan and both were a delight because they were fresh, hot, authentic and delicious.”
  9. Raj kachori Net +2
    “The raj kachori was excellent.”
Honorable mentions (41)
  1. Aam ras Net +1
    “I tried their chaat, momos, chicken lollipop, prawns fry, chicken curry, dal tadka, aam ras and Indian breads. They tasted so good and flavorful.”
  2. Bhindi masala Net +1
    “We ordered Paneer Paratha, Paneer Kolhapuri, and Bhindi Masala with roti. They adjusted the spice levels as per our request and the flavours were very authentic and an exact dhaba style preparation. :)”
  3. Biryani rice Net +1
    “Must have it with the biryani rice and butter naan”
  4. Butter naan Net +1
    “Must have it with the biryani rice and butter naan”
  5. Chapatis Net +1
    “The chapatis were the highlight of the food - soft, warm and total comfort food!”
  6. Cheese garlic naan Net +1
    “We love the cheese garlic naan here with the schezwan sauce..overall good is very tasty and prices are perfect.”
  7. Cheese naan Net +1
    “Always amazing food especially the cheese naan and chicken hakka noodles all-time favorites 💯”
  8. Chicken curry Net +1
    “I tried their chaat, momos, chicken lollipop, prawns fry, chicken curry, dal tadka, aam ras and Indian breads. They tasted so good and flavorful.”
  9. Chicken kebab platter Net +1
    “We had the chicken kebab platter, garlic naan and veg Manchurian and the food was served hot and fresh and yummy for the tummy.”
  10. Chicken lollipop with schezwan sauce Net +1
    “For the main course, we had the chicken lollipop with Schezwan sauce and noodles with veg Manchurian. Both dishes delivered that classic Indian taste we were looking for.”
  11. Chicken masala Net +1
    “But the butter chicken and chicken masala were sumptuous.”
  12. Dal tadka Net +1
    “I tried their chaat, momos, chicken lollipop, prawns fry, chicken curry, dal tadka, aam ras and Indian breads. They tasted so good and flavorful.”
  13. Desi chinese noodles Net +1
    “The gorgeous butter flowing down the soft, fresh naans, and the crumbling of the delicious paneer tikka in your mouth (with a tinge of that amazing charred taste and smell), or the chicken lollipops truly poppin', or going down memory lane with those spicy desi chinese noodles, this restaurant is a must visit!”
  14. Egg hakka noodles Net +1
    “As I don’t like too spicy foods I picked the egg hakka noodles and it was perfect for me.”
  15. Fish tikka Net +1
    “I ordered fish tikka and chicken malai tikka. Honestly, the fish had a nice preparation and fresh flavour, I felt it could be even better.”
  16. Hara bhara kebab Net +1
    “Their hara bhara kebab was super moist and flavorful 🤤”
  17. Honey chicken Net +1
    “I loved the honey chicken and the indian bread….🥰”
  18. Honey crispy Net +1
    “Best indian restaurant i have ever tried so far🫶 what i liked the most that it is a quite place and they have fast service, you must try honey crispy”
  19. Lamb rogan josh Net +1
    “We had chicken tikka masala and lamb Rogan Josh, also amazing.”
  20. Lentil soup Net +1
    “My husband tried the lentil soup and chiken tikka massala, both were very tasty.”
  21. Momos with schezwan sauce Net +1
    “I’d recommend their chicken lollipop and momos with schezwan sauce.”
  22. Naan butter Net +1
    “One of the best Naan butter and Tika Massala Fish we ate. Highly recommended!”
  23. Noodles with veg manchurian Net +1
    “For the main course, we had the chicken lollipop with Schezwan sauce and noodles with veg Manchurian. Both dishes delivered that classic Indian taste we were looking for.”
  24. Palak paneer Net +1
    “The Palak Paneer was a creamy, comforting dish, and the Rajma was seasoned to perfection, providing a homely feel.”
  25. Paneer kolhapuri Net +1
    “We ordered Paneer Paratha, Paneer Kolhapuri, and Bhindi Masala with roti. They adjusted the spice levels as per our request and the flavours were very authentic and an exact dhaba style preparation. :)”
  26. Paneer lababdar Net +1
    “Paneer lababdar - 4/5(a little bit in sweet side, not too sweet but a bit of sweetness)”
  27. Paneer paratha Net +1
    “We ordered Paneer Paratha, Paneer Kolhapuri, and Bhindi Masala with roti. They adjusted the spice levels as per our request and the flavours were very authentic and an exact dhaba style preparation. :)”
  28. Paneer tikka Net +1
    “The gorgeous butter flowing down the soft, fresh naans, and the crumbling of the delicious paneer tikka in your mouth (with a tinge of that amazing charred taste and smell), or the chicken lollipops truly poppin', or going down memory lane with those spicy desi chinese noodles, this restaurant is a must visit!”
  29. Prawns fry Net +1
    “I tried their chaat, momos, chicken lollipop, prawns fry, chicken curry, dal tadka, aam ras and Indian breads. They tasted so good and flavorful.”
  30. Pure wheat chapati Net +1
    “Pure wheat chapati - 5/5 (freshly made)”
  31. Pure wheat tandoori roti Net +1
    “Pure wheat tandoori roti - 5/5(freshly made)”
  32. Rajma Net +1
    “The Palak Paneer was a creamy, comforting dish, and the Rajma was seasoned to perfection, providing a homely feel.”
  33. Roti Net +1
    “We ordered Paneer Paratha, Paneer Kolhapuri, and Bhindi Masala with roti. They adjusted the spice levels as per our request and the flavours were very authentic and an exact dhaba style preparation. :)”
  34. Special fried rice Net +1
    “book launch several times a week. tasty, cheap. Special fried rice.”
  35. Tandoori chicken Net +1
    “Didn’t try all the menu so can’t comment much but the dal makhni was just too sweet and tandoori chicken was good .”
  36. Tandoori roti Net +1
    “The Tandoori Roti was freshly made and served piping hot, a fantastic accompaniment to the meal.”
  37. Tika massala fish Net +1
    “One of the best Naan butter and Tika Massala Fish we ate. Highly recommended!”
  38. Veg grill platter Net +1
    “The Veg Grill Platter was a savory assortment of perfectly grilled vegetables, while the Chicken Tikka was tender, juicy, and bursting with flavors.”
  39. Veg manchurian Net +1
    “We had the chicken kebab platter, garlic naan and veg Manchurian and the food was served hot and fresh and yummy for the tummy.”
  40. Dal makhni Net 0

    Mixed feedback

    “Their Dal Makhni is spectacular and a great pairing with their garlic naan.”
  41. Thali Net 0

    Only neutral feedback

    “The only reason I knocked off a star was because we I had a thali and that wasn't hot and the chicken served wasn't awesome (it was good but not awesome). The thali was generous and even had a huge side salad which is a bit of a rarity these days.”
What to Avoid (9)

Food 9

  1. Bhel puri Net −1
    “Pani puri was good, bhel puri was salty but they were very sweet and replaced it.”
  2. Chhole bhature Net −1
    “I had ordered Masala Maggi, fish fingers, and chhole bhature, but none of the dishes tasted good or enjoyable.”
  3. Chicken biryani Net −1
    “The Chicken Biryani tastes like Kadhai chicken gravy mixed in boiled rice.”
  4. Cornsouo Net −1
    “The cornsouo could be better but all the other dishes I tried where perfect.”
  5. Fish fingers Net −1
    “I had ordered Masala Maggi, fish fingers, and chhole bhature, but none of the dishes tasted good or enjoyable.”
  6. Kadai chicken Net −1
    “Other dishes like Butter Chicken and Kadai Chicken were also below average in taste and quality.”
  7. Masala maggi Net −1
    “I had ordered Masala Maggi, fish fingers, and chhole bhature, but none of the dishes tasted good or enjoyable.”
  8. Masala papad Net −1
    “Masala papad - didn’t like much as it was too oily so you can avoid it.”
  9. Chicken momos Net −2
    “The chicken momos were the worst.”

Tips for a Better Visit

Showing 2 of 5
1

Adjust Spice. Ask the staff to adjust the spice level; one reviewer says they accommodated that request for a dhaba-style meal.

2

Share Portions. Consider sharing dishes, since one review found a single dish sufficient for two people and several mention very large portions.

Plan the visit

Practical details

Sheikh Zayed Rd - inside Al Wadi Building
Al Wasl, Dubai
0 525 729 891
Mon10:00 AM – 2:00 AM
Tue10:00 AM – 2:00 AM
Wed10:00 AM – 2:00 AM
Thu10:00 AM – 2:00 AM
Fri11:00 AM – 3:00 AM
Sat11:00 AM – 3:00 AM
Sun10:00 AM – 2:00 AM
Get directions

Common Concerns

Showing 2 of 4

Freshness Issues

A few recent reviews reported stale-smelling chicken momos and chicken that was cold inside, so consistency may vary.

Slow Service

Service has been fast for some guests but noticeably slow for others, including orders brought out all at once.

Customer-reported prices

These are customer-reported mentions, not a current price list. Prices may have changed.

around AED 300

meal for 6 people

“We paid around AED 300 for 6 people!”
Google review · October 2025
DXB
LOCAL

The Bottom Line

Makhanwala is a compact modern Indian dhaba in Al Wasl, aimed at diners craving Punjabi and North Indian comfort food without a formal, expansive dining room. Butter chicken with naan, chicken tikka masala, fresh chapati and tandoori roti are among the dishes that repeatedly stand out. Its Indian-Chinese side is also useful: chicken Hakka noodles, momos and Manchurian dishes get plenty of attention.

The food is generally described as authentic, spicy and generous. Several reviewers found portions large enough to share, and one group reported paying around AED 300 for six people. Bread is a strong order, especially if you like hot chapati or roti made fresh.

Spice levels can be adjusted when requested. Set expectations around the room. It is a small operation with limited tables; one older review says diners ended up eating on the outside walkway, so takeaway or delivery may be more comfortable.

Parking is reported nearby, and service has ranged from fast and efficient to quite slow. Most reviews are warmly positive, but a few recent diners raised concerns about freshness, particularly chicken momos and chicken served cold inside. Dish consistency is worth keeping in mind, as are occasional complaints about sweetness and bill or VAT confusion.

It is a better fit for casual eating, sharing and takeaway than a spacious family meal.

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