Indian restaurants in Washington DC

28 people recommend, 2 warn against itvia r/washingtondc

Most diners recommend City Kabob & Curry House, a buffet-style spot that one diner calls technically Pakistani and another calls halal and delicious. Many say the food is delicious, and a couple single out the vegetarian options. A few say takeout is their go-to, and a couple say you can linger for hours over schoolwork and a meal. A few call the value good, though two find the buffet pricey, and one of them has cut back on visits since the price changed.

27 people recommend, 1 warns against itvia r/washingtondc

Most people recommend Daru; a few call it the best around, among them one who says it is the top Indian meal they have had in the US. Several describe it as modern or not traditional, and a couple call it fusion. One commenter calls it good value for fine-dining quality, and two bring up its happy hour. Not everyone is convinced: one calls it a disappointment with generic flavors, one feels it has slipped compared with a few years ago, one finds it overpriced, and one calls it bougie and better for special occasions than everyday eating.

24 people recommend, 5 warn against itvia r/washingtondc

Many diners recommend Indigo, a Punjabi-style place in NoMa. A few find it budget-friendly, and a few call it traditional or home-style, while one praises the patio. Individual diners point to its thali, chana masala, paneer makhani and spinach dishes. Several are less impressed: one calls the food mediocre and bland, one says it is not good, one finds the paneer overly sweet, and one says its rolls fall short.

Noma

17 people recommend, 1 warns against itvia r/washingtondc

Many people recommend Masala Story, and several name it for biryani, with one diner saying the best biryani they have had was at the Brookland location. One diner calls the samosas very good, another says the paneer makhani is good, and one praises the saag goat. A few are mixed: one finds the food very American-tasting though the space is welcoming, one calls it the best of the few they tried but is not keen on the naan, and one agrees with that mixed take. One diner calls it poor.

Brookland

16 people recommend, 2 warn against itvia r/washingtondc

Most people recommend VEGZ, with a few singling out its South Indian food and dosas and many pointing to the Adams Morgan location. One diner calls it the best pick in DC proper for South Indian food, though several note it is fully vegetarian. Another diner likes it but says it will not cover meat dishes, and one finds the dosa middling and is surprised by the hype. One diner who got takeout found the naan flat and bready rather than crispy.

Adams Morgan

15 people recommend, 1 warns against itvia r/washingtondc

Most diners recommend Tapori, and when people compare it with Daru and Chai Pani several put it first. One diner calls the fried cauliflower a favorite, and another prefers the creativity of its drinks. One diner likes the vada pav and achar martini but found the other dishes unmemorable, and one who went soon after it opened was not that impressed. One commenter calls it overrated, and one says prices at all three of those spots are a bit wild.

15 people recommend, 1 warns against itvia r/washingtondc

Many commenters recommend Masala Art, which has outlets in Tenleytown and Southwest; one commenter names the Southwest one for its lunch buffet and another says both are excellent. One commenter likens it to a good red-sauce Italian place, unpretentious and tasty. One calls it the best Indian meal they have had, and another says it is the best they have found in town so far. One commenter who lives nearby has been a couple of times, is not eager to go back, and finds Cafe of India nearby better.

13 people recommend, 2 warn against itvia r/washingtondc, X

Many diners recommend Rasika, which has West End and Penn Quarter outlets; one commenter prefers the West End one. Its biryani comes up, and one says the thali is lovely, one says the palak chaat is still on their mind, and one considers it among DC's best values for the quality. Caveats: one commenter says their friends were not overly impressed compared with their top three, one feels the cooking suits non-Indian palates, one finds the taste decent but not close to everyday Indian food, one misses thin naan, and one used to rank it near the top but is unsure how it holds up now. On price, one says a bigger budget is needed and one finds it a poor fit for takeout.

8 people recommendvia r/washingtondc

Many commenters recommend Pappe. One diner who has tried almost every dish on the menu at the 14th Street location says it isn't overly sweet and is amazing, one rates the lamb biryani very highly but does not like the samosas, and one says a request for extra spice was met. One commenter is mixed: they liked it before, but now that they eat vegetarian feel the menu lacks paneer curry options. One commenter says they still find the food really good.

14th

8 people recommend, 2 warn against itvia r/washingtondc

Many diners recommend Chai Pani, mostly when people compare it with Daru and Tapori. One diner calls the okra fries transcendent, another says the Indo-Chinese chicken is insane, and a third likes the chai and chaats but was unimpressed by the chili chicken. Another says the starters and drinks are amazing but the entrees less so. One diner found it a bit meh, one finds the prices a bit wild, and one says portions are on the small side. A couple rank it behind Tapori and Daru, while one prefers it to Tapori and another to Daru.

6 people recommendvia r/washingtondc

Several people recommend Salt and Pepper Grill, and a commenter who used to go there regularly says it still holds up. One commenter finds the food spicy and flavorful rather than sweet, and another commenter, who has not been back in some time, recalls the portions as good value for the money. Heat is the main caveat: one diner says the vindaloo runs extra spicy, while another, who usually likes heat, found it too much on their visit and suspected that visit was unusual.

5 people recommendvia r/washingtondc

Most commenters recommend Tikka DC, which one places close to the Van Ness metro stop; a few describe the food as tasty, excellent or delicious, and one finds the prices affordable for the quality and quantity. One diner enjoyed the malai kofta and paneer makhani as takeout, and another found the garlic naan freshly made. Portions get mixed comments: one found them large, while another found them modest with more heat than expected. Two are mixed: one found the momo just okay, and another felt the ambience trails Daru's, though a different diner praised the lighting and atmosphere.

Van Ness

5 people recommend, 2 warn against itvia r/washingtondc

Several diners name Spice 6 as a good pick in DC, and the two who name an outlet mean the Chinatown one. A few point to its dosas: one calls the paneer dosa solid and another praises the dosas and naan pizzas. One diner praises the wada pav and calls it a go-to for idli. Less enthusiastic views come from two diners: one calls it fairly westernized and unlikely to suit Indian palates, while another finds it consistently underwhelming.

Chinatown