Unapologetic Indian w/ fiery, rustic flavors. Explore forgotten sides of India, from smoky goat belly to slow-cooked mutton. Not for the faint of heart!
Amber Sutherland-Namako reviews Dhamaka, an "unapologetic Indian" restaurant in Essex Market, highlighting its unique dishes and exciting atmosphere.
Dhamaka, meaning "explosion" in Hindi, lives up to its name with an unapologetic approach to rustic Indian cuisine. This lively restaurant in Essex Market is celebrated for its complex spice blends, fiery heat levels, and unique preparations of less common dishes, many inspired by the owner's childhood. Expect bold flavors and memorable experiences, with dishes like smoky cedar wood-wrapped goat belly and mutton slow-cooked in a clay pot.
Dhamaka offers a bold and authentic exploration of rustic Indian cuisine, focusing on unique and lesser-known dishes with intense spice levels. While many rave about the complex flavors and dishes like the lamb biryani, goat belly, and crab garlic butter rice, a recurring theme is the high heat, which some find excessive or even inedible. Some diners also report greasiness and saltiness in certain dishes. Vegetarian options are noted as limited by some.
"Standout dishes frequently recommended include the Biryani (especially lamb and goat neck), Paneer Methi, Beef Pepper Fry, and the Crab Garlic Butter Rice. The Champaran Meat and a special rabbit dish are also highlighted, though the latter requires advance notice."
Customers generally have a very positive sentiment towards Dhamaka, praising its authentic and bold flavors, with many highlighting specific dishes as exceptional. However, some find the spice levels to be extremely high, and a few note that the food can be greasy or too salty.
Important Note
The restaurant is located within Essex Market, which some find detracts from the ambiance. Reservations can be difficult to secure, and some dishes, like the rabbit, need to be ordered in advance. Several reviews mention the food being excessively spicy, and some found it to be greasy or too salty.
"The user expressed that Dhamaka might not be worth visiting based on its menu, as it appears to have limited vegetarian options and the most talked-about dishes are meat-based."
Negative"This user questioned the suitability of Dhamaka for the group, noting that it has few vegetarian items and popular dishes are meat-focused like Biryani and crab."
Negative"Dhamaka is recommended as an alternative to Semma if a reservation cannot be secured there."
Positive"This user notes that Dhamaka is located in a food court, questioning if adequate space would be available."
Neutral"Dhamaka is recommended for Indian food."
Positive"Dhamaka is presented as a sister restaurant to Semma, excelling at North Indian cuisine, particularly goat meat dishes. It's suggested as an alternative if Semma reservations are unavailable."
Positive"The user questioned if restaurants like Dhamaka are truly American, given their ethnic influences and techniques, suggesting a need to promote dishes specifically conceived in the US using American farms and techniques."
Neutral"This user responded dismissively to the OP's question about "ethnic" restaurants, stating that places like Dhamaka are "American" in the way NYC conceives of America and that their popularity stems from being excellent high-end new restaurants, contrasting NYC's scene favorably with Chicago's."
Positive"Dhamaka is recommended and is conveniently located near the Delancey Essex M train stop."
Neutral"This user found Dhamaka's vibe less desirable due to its location within Essex Food Hall, mentioning the outdoor area can be loud and chaotic, thus not recommending it based on the user's preference for a nice ambiance."
Negative"Responding to a query about vibe, this commenter clarifies that Dhamaka, despite being near Essex Market, has a main dining room that doesn't feel like part of the market and an enclosed outdoor area. However, they acknowledge it's casual and might be less charming than Bungalow."
Neutral"This commenter states they love Dhamaka and consider it better than Bungalow."
Positive"Dhamaka is listed as one of the Unapologetic Foods restaurants that the commenter has enjoyed in Manhattan."
Positive"Dhamaka is presented as a leading fine dining Indian restaurant that is contributing to the elevation of Indian cuisine in the culinary scene."
Positive"The original post mentioned Dhamaka as a potential starting point for a late-evening Indian food crawl in NYC."
Positive"This Indian restaurant is recommended as a place that likely has vegan options. The commenter enjoys the Unapologetic group restaurants, including Dhamaka, though they haven't tried their specific vegan dishes."
Neutral"The user recommends Dhamaka as a good Indian restaurant."
Positive"Dhamaka was recommended for its amazing Indian food."
Positive"This user advises skipping Dhamaka if noise is a concern, as they found the restaurant to be excessively loud."
Negative"Dhamaka is listed as a recommendation for date-worthy food that is not stuffy or fine dining."
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