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Chicken tikka poutine at Badmaash
Wonho Frank Lee

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Badmaash Hits Fairfax With Big, Bold Indian Flavors

Modern Indian dishes arrive in the heart of LA’s hippest block

Matthew Kang is the Lead Editor of Eater LA. He has covered dining, restaurants, food culture, and nightlife in Los Angeles since 2008. He's the host of K-Town, a YouTube series covering Korean food in America, and has been featured in Netflix's Street Food show.

Badmaash knew they were destined for something big. The plucky, modern Indian restaurant debuted in 2013 on a quiet block of Downtown LA’s northern edge, bringing a Toronto-style swagger and artsy vibe to the Civic Center. Now Badmaash is ready to open its second location, this time in the heart of Fairfax planted next to the uber-popular Jon & Vinny’s and across from the iconic Canter’s Deli.

Brothers Nakul and Arjun Mahendro, along with father Pawan Mahendro, have transformed the former 88 Chinese on Fairfax into a sleek, low-ceiling affair with clean lines, a sunset-style color block, and tightly packed tables that lend to a community feel. The menu resembles the Downtown original, with some playful plates like chicken tikka poutine (a nod to their Toronto roots), fried chicken with paprika masala and serrano-cream, or a chili cheese-stuffed naan.

Of course, traditional bowls of channa masala chickpeas, spinach saag paneer, and a spicy ghost chili lamb vindaloo come along with freshly baked naan or basmati pilaf. Pawan’s more distinctive dishes, like a coconut curry mussels or South Indian fish “moilee” display a level of finesse that’s rare in LA. Anyone looking for a classic butter chicken or chicken tikka masala won’t be disappointed either.

Badmaash opens today from 6 to 10 p.m., with Tuesday to Saturday through the month of June before widening service to daytime and brunch starting in July.

Badmaash Fairfax. 418 N. Fairfax Avenue. Los Angeles, CA 90036.

Badmaash Fairfax
Badmaash Fairfax
Badmaash Fairfax Wonho Frank Lee
Badmaash Fairfax
Badmaash Fairfax
Badmaash Fairfax’s orange bowl of curried chicken.
Butter chicken at Badmaash Fairfax
Wonho Frank Lee/Eater LA
Chicken tikka poutine from Badmaash Fairfax
Chicken tikka poutine
Wonho Frank Lee
Spicy Indian sausage of ground lamb and fenugreek cream sauce
Punjabi fish fry
An Indian fried dish with raw white onions on the edge of a grey table.
Kashmiri osso buco
Wonho Frank Lee
Badmaash Fairfax
Badmaash Fairfax
Badmaash Fairfax
Badmaash Fairfax

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