Indian Gastropub · Downtown LA, Fairfax and Venice
By Monty Khas, Anonymous Critic. Pays every bill.
Badmaash means rascal or troublemaker in Hindi and Urdu, and when the Mahendro family opened their first restaurant in downtown Los Angeles in 2013, that's exactly what they set out to be. More than a decade later, the rule-breaking Indian gastropub has three locations and a bottled butter chicken sauce on grocery shelves, and it's still one of the most fun Indian meals in the city.
The people
Badmaash is a family business. Chef Pawan Mahendro brings decades of experience in Indian kitchens, while his sons Nakul and Arjun handle the vision and the energy. Together, they built a restaurant that treats Indian food with respect and a sense of humor in equal measure.
The rooms
The original sits on West Second Street in downtown's Historic Core, a casual, buzzy space that set the tone for everything that followed. Fairfax brought the party west, and the newest location in Venice adds a breezy beach-town polish. All three share the same easygoing, come-as-you-are spirit.
What to eat
Start with the chicken tikka poutine, the dish that made Badmaash famous. Crispy fries, cheese curds and gravy get a rich layer of chicken tikka, and it works far better than it has any right to. The chili cheese naan is just as dangerous, and the papri chaat brings a cool, tangy crunch to balance all that richness.
The Punjabi fish fry is a must, flaky white fish in a light, spiced batter, and the butter chicken samosas are a clever twist on a classic. For mains, the butter chicken is excellent, but the ghost chili lamb vindaloo is the one for heat seekers, with a slow, building burn. The spiced lamb burger is a sleeper hit, and the mango-glazed pork belly shows the kitchen's willingness to color outside the lines.
The bar
Badmaash pours Kingfisher beer alongside nostalgic Indian sodas like Thums Up and Limca. The housemade lassi is a cooler for anyone who goes too hard on the vindaloo.
Before you go
Downtown is the original and still has the most character. Fairfax and Venice are easier for Westsiders. Lunch is a good bet, and online ordering makes it an easy takeout night.
Why it matters
Before Indian sports bars and Bollywood cocktail lounges, there was Badmaash. It showed LA that Indian food could be cheeky, casual and wildly popular, and it paved the way for a new generation of desi restaurants across the city.
The Quick Fix
What to order: Chicken tikka poutine; Punjabi fish fry; chili cheese naan; papri chaat; butter chicken samosas; spiced lamb burger; ghost chili lamb vindaloo; butter chicken; a Thums Up or Kingfisher
Pricing: Mid-range. Easy to graze, hard to stop.
Best for: Casual dates, after-work drinks, groups of friends, first-timers to Indian food and late lunches downtown
How it compares: LA's original Indian gastropub; more accessible than Pijja Palace and more casual than Baar Baar; the poutine is still the city's most famous Indian mash-up
See where Badmaash ranks: The Best Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi Restaurants in Los Angeles: Our Top 10 for 2026
The food was always this good. We're just paying attention.