Punjabi Dhaba

Best of Boston 2006 Restaurant, Indian

The garlic naan and chicken tikka masala might be enough to tempt us…if we couldn’t get those standards at every other Indian joint. The draw at Punjabi Dhaba? Efficient service, ridiculously low prices, and a variety of authentic fare—crispy samosas, complex curries, tandoori chicken, and lamb kebabs. Order at the counter, grab a seat (if any are open), then surrender to the flavors while taking in the rhythm of Bollywood films played at epic volumes. 225 Hampshire St., Cambridge, 617-547-8272.