Please note that part of the meal was complimentary. However, the opinions expressed in my blog are 100% my own!

I have known Badshah for quite some time, the first time I discovered this Hell’s Kitchen place being mid-2017 that seems to be an eternity. We went there a month ago for a light dinner, having indulged all day in the city and then were invited to try some of the dishes. You don’t need to ask me twice: I love this place! The decor is colorful, showcasing not just the mustache that that is a characteristic of the logo of the restaurant, but also a big drawing of Chef Sharma in the back wall.

Each time we went, there were people who just stopped by for a cocktail, chilling out while the listening to the Indian music in the background. I of course got my go to drink, a mango lassi that you can also get with rum (the sassy lassi), as well as the “I am Badshah” that is their take on an old fashioned, made with Bulleit bourbon, cardamon syrup and bitters. Good, but I admit that I would have liked an Indian whisky considering where we were.

The menu has classic as well as interesting dishes, some spicy, others not. Here is what we tried the few times we went there:

For appetizers, one of the dishes I discovered few years ago is the Manchurian cauliflower, an Indo-Chinese dish where the cauliflower is deep fried and then sautéed in a sweet sauce made with soy. At Badshah, it would be their King of Cauliflower, that is made with cauliflower florets fried and tossed in an aromatic chili and garlic sauce. Sweet and spicy, this is the king of the dish where, although your mouth is on fire, you continue to go for it.

Another one with the same effect is their chicken Momo dumplings called “Chelsea to Katmandu”. These crispy dumplings were smothered with a spicy tomato glaze and topped with bell peppers, onions and scallions. Boy was it spicy. But good. But spicy. Remember: I had my mango lassi to try to extinguish the fire in my mouth.

Still in the appetizer section, a dish that was superb is their corn and okra masala chaat. I love the texture of this dish with the crispy okra mixed with fresh corn kernels and chopped onions, tossed in a zesty base of ghee and tajin, an Indian seasoning made with mild chili peppers, lime and sea salt, and topped with yogurt to counteract the spices.

Corn and Okra Masala chaat at Badshah in Hell's Kitchen

The classic chana masala and dal makhni are not to be missed and delicious with their charred and puffed up naan. I truly appreciated that they were not spicy. The dal was my favorite, being creamy like I like it.

Before I talk about the meat dishes, let me get to the last vegetarian dish we had: the paneer tikka masala. Served in a buttery tomato sauce made with fenugreek, this dish is very creamy and comforting. It came with rice, but I admit that I prefer eating it with some naan.

So, now, the plat de resistance: their tandoor. There are few things that are definitely must have at Badshah: the first one is their Chettinad chops that is one of their specialties. It is lamb chops marinated in ginger, garlic and their signature blend of spices that are served with a smooth black pepper and coconut dip. Spicy and with a nice char, these lamb chops were succulent.

A decadent option is their Shahi tasting board that is composed of salmon, shrimp, lamb kebab, chicken malai kebab, chicken tikka and served with fruit and a goat cheese, spinach and truffle naan, as well as mint chutney, tamarind sauce, raita and mango chutney. What a dish! Beautifully presented, it reminds me of the meat boards you get in Italian restaurants. It is definitely a complete meal and all the meats were delicious, with or without the chutney that came with. The only one I did not like was the salmon that was a bit fishy. But the rest, starting with the lamb, then the chicken, was perfectly cooked, not dry and quite flavorful, with sometimes a nice char. A must have!

Last is dessert. The gulab jamun there is always good, served warm with lots of syrup. We tried the paan kulfi that is betel leaf ice cream flavoured with gulkand and fennel seed: interesting but not really something I would get again.

Overall, we had great meals at Badshah. Well, if we did not, I would not have gone back there all these years, invitation or not. Know that this post spans over 2 months, so the menu may change. Still, it is a great place with a mouth watering menu that can satisfy the vegetarian and the non vegetarian diners. And if you are not up for a meal, you can always stop there for a drink. Who knows: maybe you will be tempted to order something to eat!

Enjoy (I did)!

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Badshah - 788 9th Ave, New York, NY 10019

I Just Want To Eat!