Worth A Try
TLDR: If you can get into Dhamaka, buckle up for an adventurous meal. Spicy-food lovers in particular will love the heat, but less masochistic eaters will also be satisfied by the authentic flavors – just be mindful of what you order and make sure to get a mango passion lassi to temper the fire in your mouth between bites.
I ate goat testicles last night. I repeat, I ate goat testicles last night. And you know what? I think I liked it.
Dhamaka is the kind of place to eat dangerously. And I’m not just referring to the testicles on the menu. Everything, except perhaps the drinks, is spicy. Most of the dishes probably hit around 3 or 4 on a 10 point scale from “not spicy'' to “I just ate a reaper pepper”. We almost ordered the lamb shank and I promise you I am so glad I asked the server how hot it would be before we did, because there is basically no way I could have eaten a 7/10. The spiciest dish we ordered was the Gurda Kapoora which we were told was a 6/10 and my mouth was on fire.
But despite the heat – or maybe because of it – the flavors at Dhamaka are dynamite. Like literal explosions of cumin in your mouth. A self-described “unapologetically Indian” restaurant, I loved how each dish was a spicy flavor punch to the face; it was exactly what you’d expect from an authenticity-focused restaurant. Highlights included the mutton stew (it comes with a whole head of roasted garlic, yum!), the Sigdiwala chicken, and the paneer tikka. The drinks were also delicious and necessary to combat mouth-on-fire spice – it was a relief to have a mango passion lassi for sipping between bites.
Situated inside Essex Market in the LES, the Dhamaka space isn’t as interesting as its food. It’s got colorful decor, but the tables feel flimsy and more cafeteria-like than upscale, which is unexpected for the prices. I feel this is the one area they could really improve to make the experience feel more special, especially since you’re not going to be able to walk into Dhamaka any old time you want.
Squarely falling into the “tough resi” category, Dhamaka is one you’ll have to wait patiently for. Fortunately, it’s not an “I could eat this everyday” meal, so you probably won’t mind having to wait a while til you go again. Do what you gotta do to make a reservation and pick some friends who aren’t scared of the heat to go with you. Picky eaters not welcome.
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