Food Review: This Punjabi eatery's iconic 'Butter Chicken' dates back to 1962
Tucked along Dubai's ever-busy Sheikh Zayed Road, Baba's Chicken may be a new entrant in the city's dining scene, but its roots run deep. Established in 1962 in Ludhiana, India, by the late S. Himmat Singh—affectionately known as Baba Ji—this iconic Punjabi kitchen has been lovingly nurtured across generations. Today, his grandson Avneet Singh leads the legacy, expanding its delicious footprint from India and Canada to the Middle East.
So how does a storied North Indian eatery translate its magic in a city as diverse and discerning as Dubai?
Flawlessly, almost.
I heard about Baba's from a Punjabi friend who swears by it—someone who grew up on the stuff, and when he called it 'the best butter chicken this side of Amritsar,' I knew my healthy-diet wagon could withstand a cheat day. Or two.
The vibe
From the moment you walk in, there's a sense of bustle and warmth. It's not trying to be fine-dine fancy, nor is it a grimy takeaway joint—it hits the sweet spot: a vibrant, nostalgic space (with descriptive interiors) that smells like tandoor smoke, simmered spices, and hospitality.
The feast
Let's start with the starters. I skipped salads—because cheating on a cheat meal felt like treason—and eased in with papad, raw onions, and that zippy green chutney that slaps you awake.
The Mutton Seekh Roll outshined its chicken counterpart with flavourful tenderness that held its own without being too heavy. The Dahi Ke Kebab—recommended by the server—were a surprise winner. Crisp outside, creamy and tangy inside, they're a vegetarian flex that even carnivores won't mind.
For mains, I veered off the expected path and ordered Tawa Mutton Tikka. This dish deserves more PR. Rich, deeply spiced gravy and mutton that melted like it had somewhere better to be. I mopped it all up with piping hot butter naan, of course.
We also tried the Baba's Fried Fish (BFF)—a golden, crunchy, moist marvel with the right hit of spice.
But the star, naturally, was the Baba Special Butter Chicken. The gravy was luscious and balanced—creamy, tomatoey, not overly sweet. While the chicken itself could've used just a bit more tenderness, the overall dish still hit all the comforting, addictive notes you'd expect from a recipe that's been fine-tuned for over six decades.
Dessert was where they sealed the deal. The Ras Malai was soft and delicately spiced, the Gulab Jamun warm and syrupy, and both together had me wondering why I ever gave up sugar.
And yes, they serve lassi—because what's a Punjabi feast without one?
To sum it up: Baba's Chicken isn't really trying to reinvent North Indian cuisine; instead, it celebrates it and presents it with unpretentious flair. It's a place for comfort, for nostalgia, for unfiltered indulgence. Whether you're Punjabi or not, this is the kind of food that speaks your language.
Verdict? Come for the butter chicken. Return for almost everything the place offers.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Zawya
8 minutes ago
- Zawya
UAE airports receive 75.4mln passengers in H1 2025
The civil aviation sector in the United Arab Emirates has recorded significant growth across key performance indicators during the first half of 2025, with passenger traffic, air cargo, and air traffic movements showing strong results that affirm the sector's strength and ongoing development. According to civil aviation sector performance indicators for H1 2025, airports across the UAE welcomed 75.4 million passengers during the first six months of the year, up from 71.7 million passengers during the same period in 2024, representing a 5 percent increase. January recorded the highest number of passengers, exceeding 13.7 million travellers. UAE national carriers continued their global expansion during the first half of 2025, launching flights to 15 new destinations across Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. The new cities include destinations in Russia, Czech Republic, Poland, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Vietnam, Cambodia, Turkey, Iran, Egypt, Croatia, and Ethiopia — further cementing the UAE's status as a leading global aviation hub. On this occasion, Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism, and Chairman of the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), stated, "Thanks to the directives of our wise leadership, the UAE continues to enhance its global and regional standing as an international aviation hub, posting unprecedented growth rates driven by innovative national initiatives and strategies. This has significantly strengthened the country's competitiveness and leadership in this vital sector, which today represents a key pillar for driving economic growth, diversifying income sources, and supporting trade, tourism, investment, and job creation across all aviation-linked sectors." He added, 'The performance indicators for the first half of 2025 reflect the resilience and sustainability of the aviation sector, as well as the competitiveness of the UAE's airports, national carriers, and air navigation services. We see aviation as a bridge connecting the UAE to the world and a key enabler for achieving our long-term economic objectives. We will continue working to expand the country's air connectivity with global markets, supported by a flexible and advanced regulatory framework, ambitious open skies policies, and ongoing infrastructure development plans.' Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, Director-General of GCAA, stated, "Thanks to the guidance and unwavering support of our wise leadership, the aviation sector is advancing steadily towards greater growth and prosperity. These positive indicators highlight the strength of our aviation infrastructure and the effectiveness of integrated efforts by all our partners — including airports, airlines, and air navigation service providers." Al Suwaidi added, 'We are proud to continue achieving stable growth rates in both passenger and cargo traffic, supported by ambitious development projects to keep pace with this expansion. The total passenger handling capacity of the country's airports now exceeds 160 million, and we are confident that the aviation sector will continue to play a pivotal role in supporting the national economy, boosting tourism and trade, and reinforcing the UAE's position as a leading air transport hub regionally and globally.' In detail, air traffic in the UAE continued its growth during the first half of the current year, recording 531,000 movements — a 6.2 percent increase compared to the same period last year, which saw nearly 500,000 movements. Riyadh, Jeddah, Kuwait, Mumbai, and Bahrain ranked as the top five busiest destinations in terms of weekly flights to and from the UAE. Regarding air cargo, the total volume handled across the country's airports exceeded 2.2 million tons, marking a 4.74 percent growth compared to the same period last year, with national carriers accounting for 67 percent of the total cargo traffic.
The National
8 minutes ago
- The National
Salik's Q2 profit jumps 50% on new gates and dynamic toll pricing
Dubai toll operator Salik has reported a nearly 50 per cent annual surge in its second-quarter net income, driven by a sharp rise in revenue from new toll gates in the emirate and the variable pricing system it introduced this year. Net income for the three months to the end of June climbed above Dh400 million ($109 million), the company said in a regulatory filing on Wednesday to the Dubai Financial Market, where its shares trade. Year-on-year revenue for the reporting period also jumped 45.6 per cent to Dh775.7 million, while earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda) – a central metric of a company's profitability – increased by nearly 51 per cent to Dh545.3 million to record Salik's best quarterly Ebitda. 'Salik's strong performance … underscores the strength of its resilient business model and high operational efficiency … further solidifying its robust financial position,' said Mattar Al Tayer, the chairman of Salik's board. For the first six months of the year, Salik said its profit climbed by 41.5 per cent annually to Dh770.9 million, while first-half revenue grew almost 40 per cent to about Dh1.53 billion. The company's Ebitda for the six-month period rose 44.2 per cent to nearly Dh1.07 billion. The board of the company, which is the sole toll operator in the emirate, also recommended a cash dividend equivalent to its first-half profit, which translates into 10.278 fils earning per share, Salik said. New gates boost Total chargeable trips during the April-June quarter hit 160.4 million, up 1.6 per cent annually. Trips during the peak period − when a toll of Dh6 per trip is charged – grew 46.7 per cent to 57.7 million, which Salik said was driven by the opening of two new toll gates in the emirate. Salik introduced the new gates on Business Bay Crossing on Al Khail Road and at Al Safa South on Sheikh Zayed Road in November. The company followed the move in January this year with the introduction of a new dynamic pricing scheme that includes free passage for vehicles from 1am to 6am. The toll operator said its revenue from fines issued to motorists during the second quarter rose 15.7 per cent year-on-year to Dh134.3 million, with net violations recorded during the period hitting about 808,500. Total ancillary revenue, on the other hand, reached Dh8.7 million in the first half, underpinned by earnings from parking partnerships with Emaar Malls and Parkonic, particularly from higher volume at The Dubai Mall. Earnings outlook Salik has also upgraded its guidance for the full year 2025, and said it expects revenue to grow between 34 per cent and 36 per cent, compared to its earlier guidance of between 28 per cent and 29 per cent. Ebitda margins are now projected in the range of 68.5 per cent to 69.5 per cent. 'Our new guidance underscores our confidence in Salik's outlook and future growth potential, particularly given our commitment to strengthening our non-core offering and exploring new opportunities within ancillary revenues,' Salik's chief executive Ibrahim Al Haddad said. Salik's shares settled 1.87 per cent lower at Dh6.30 on the DFM at the end of trade on Wednesday.
Zawya
37 minutes ago
- Zawya
Etihad reports July 2025 traffic statistics
Abu Dhabi, UAE – Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has released its traffic statistics for July 2025, reporting continued growth in passenger volumes and network expansion. In July, Etihad carried 2.0 million passengers, a 19 per cent increase compared to July 2024, when the airline flew 1.7 million guests. The passenger load factor rose to 90 per cent, up from 89 per cent in the same month last year, reflecting strong demand and efficient capacity management. Etihad's operating fleet now stands at 111 aircraft, supporting a growing network of 81 passenger destinations, up from 76 a year earlier. These figures underscore the airline's ongoing investment in fleet and route development. Etihad welcomed 12.2 million passengers year-to-date, a 17 per cent increase over the same period in 2024. The average passenger load factor for 2025 so far is 88 per cent, compared to 86 per cent in the previous year. The airline's rolling 12-month total has reached 20.3 million passengers, further solidifying its position among the region's fastest-growing carriers. Antonoaldo Neves, Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways, said: 'We continue to see strong momentum in our performance, with passenger numbers in July growing by 19 per cent year-on-year. 'Our rolling 12-month total has surpassed 20 million for the first time in our history reflecting the trust our customers place in our service and the strength of our network. 'Our fleet expansion continues with the notable arrival of our first A321LR. July was a record month, with five new aircraft joining Etihad, including two Boeing 787s, an Airbus A350-1000, an A320, alongside the inaugural A321LR. These additions reflect our commitment to growth and boosting capacity across our global network.' Note: (1) Including short-term aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance ("ACMI") leases. Operating fleet includes freighters. For further details: Duty Media Officer Etihad Airways Tel: +971 50 818 9596 Email: dutymediaofficer@ About Etihad Airways Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, was formed in 2003 and quickly went on to become one of the world's leading airlines. From its home in Abu Dhabi, Etihad flies to passenger and cargo destinations in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia, and North America. Together with Etihad's codeshare partners, Etihad's network offers access to hundreds of international destinations. In recent years, Etihad has received numerous awards for its superior service and products, cargo offering, loyalty programme and more. To learn more, visit
