(4 out of 5 hot dogs)

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Dakshin
1154 1^st Ave (63^rd and 64^th)
1713 1^st Ave (88^th and 89^th)
749 9^th Ave (50^th and 51^st)
Time: Everyday 12-3
Price: All you can eat buffet, $7.99

I’m a superfan of all-you-can-eat meal deals, as you can imagine.  And Dakshin does not disappoint.  With several different dishes: chicken, lamb, potatoes and veggies all with different sauces and curries, it’s yummy in da tummy.  The quality is what one would expect with an Indian buffet, but the quantity is what’s important.  Unlimited. And that goes for the naan and rice, and all the chutneys as well.  You’ll eat so much that curry will be seeping through your pores for a week.  You’ll eat so much it would make Ghandi blush.  You’ll eat so much that strangers will come up and rub your Buddha belly for good luck.  So hop on your elephant, and ride over to one of the three NYC locations! (P.S.- I’ve dined here several times, but never had my camera.  So I popped in today and took a picture, causing quite a stir among the staff and the patrons.  Oh, the life of the anonymous blogger!)

(2 out of 5 hot dogs)

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Kebab Factory
101 Lexington (Between 27th and 28th Street)
Time: Everyday 12:00PM- 3:00PM
Price: $7.95

For a factory, maybe they should take a little tip from Henry T. Ford, and set up some assembly line action, because the service here is extremely slow. On the sign outside, Kebab Factory advertises a lunch special of unlimited kebab and curry for $6.95. But the reality is, if you want chicken you have to pay a dollar more. Misleading advertising: something that really grinds my gears. The chicken is tiny (maybe 1/3 the meat you’d expect on a kebab), but it is spicy and pretty tasty. The naan is standard, and served with four pretty good dipping sauces, my favorite had chick peas in it. Unfortunately, the service is horrendous. I continually asked for more naan and kebab, and they were extremely slow. They never offered to refill my water (rusty tasting tap water even, another thing that grinds the ol’ gears), and the server would disappear for ten minutes at a time. I finally had to go refill it myself from the server’s station. That being said, if you are really hungry for unlimited Indian food, and could are more patient than I am, don’t mind eating in a Murray Hill basement, and you bring your own bottle of water, this isn’t a bad place.

(5 out of 5 hot dogs)

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Milon (up and to the left)
93 First Avenue (between 5th and 6th street)
Time: Every day 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Price: Your dreams come true, $5.95

This is one of four almost identical restaurants all located at the same address, each with hosts trying to convince to come to theirs. If you go any night of the week, this building is a crowded bring-your-own-liquor hullabaloo. Each has a cluster-fudge of decorations including crazy hot pepper Christmas lights, Sponge Bob ornaments and giant lizards. At each, there is cheap and tasty cuisine. At each restaurant, a server might randomly turn off the lights, turn on a disco ball and sing you a happy birthday song and bring you mango ice cream. What makes Milon different? It is upstairs and to the left, and that makes all the difference. Although is this a fun and raucous evening affair, if you are looking for something more quiet, come for the incomparable lunch special. It comes with papadum and dipping sauces, naan, rice, soup, cabbage, an appetizer (samosa or vegetable dumpling), and your choice of entrée (chicken, lamb, beef and vegetable with curry masala, kurma masala or tandoori sauces.) And on top of that, they give you a dollop of their signature mango ice cream for desert. AND all of that for $5.95. Although you definitely need to experience Milon at night, come by and take advantage of this unbeatable lunch special.