Punjab Grill

Butter chicken before boarding in T3

Gate-side in Terminal T3, airside, Punjab Grill is the North Indian sit-down spot people actually plan around. Some regulars say they reach T3 a full hour earlier just to squeeze in one last butter chicken before an international flight. Expect white-tablecloth energy by airport standards and a bill that matches a $$$ price tag rather than food court pricing.

The menu leans classic North Indian: reviewers keep naming the butter chicken, dal makhani, and mixed kebab platters as the safe orders. Portions on the kebab platters draw complaints for feeling small relative to cost, so treat them as part of a bigger order, not your only dish. Most diners rate the food around 3.5/5 overall, with flavor getting higher marks than value.

Service pace matters here. Multiple flyers say a proper sit-down meal runs 45–60 minutes, longer if the restaurant fills up around evening international departures. Billing can drag, with a few reviews mentioning tense last 10 minutes waiting for the card machine while watching the boarding screen. If your boarding pass shows a tight 45-minute gap to gate closure, this is the wrong pick.

Alcohol is available, so you can get a beer or whisky with your meal instead of fighting for a bar stool elsewhere in T3. That said, several people point out the markup feels steeper than in city branches, so treat drinks as an add-on, not the main event. Food-wise, stick to the signatures; regulars say the more experimental dishes don’t justify the airport premium.

Tip: Check your gate and boarding time, then walk straight here, order butter chicken + dal makhani + one bread basket, ask for the bill when mains arrive, and you’ll keep the stress level down.