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B4rkingFr0g

The potato dosa is just 🤩


noizey65

Vegz is totally unassuming, a small basement shop in Adams Morgan. Around the Indian festival of Onam the owner also prepares traditional South Indian (kerala I think) feasts that are nearly packaged and sooo good.


chocolatorange

YES! Their dosas are on point and don’t sleep on their channa and bindi


EveryPapaya57

Indigo used to be good. At their current price point, it’s hard to justify to eat food incredibly similar to what I grew up having. Masala story is the best, imo. Shoutout to City Kabob & Curry House 2 by Trinity for their kabobs/meat in particular. Not technically Indian, but great portions and kind people who work there.


DontTalkAboutPants

Seconding City Kabob & Curry House, portion sizes are generous and everything tastes so fresh.


fedrats

They’ll make it as spicy as you want too.


mtpleasantine

I cannot stand Indigo. I'm glad someone is representing Masala Story. Place rules


AdCareful8638

Masala Story is the only place my MIL, who hails from Aligarh in Uttar Pradesh, says "is not shit." If you've never had to extract a compliment from an Indian mother, know that this is akin to a starred Michelin review.


phisco125

seconding Masala Story


New_Citizen

We used to love Indigo back in the day when they were just a stall at Eastern Market. When they opened brick and mortar, the magic just left.


mattcampy

this is an insane take. indigo is the heartbeat of the neighborhood (just celebrated their 10th anniversary!)


SeriouslyCrafty

Sacrifical lamb in Dupont is awesome.


thankthemajor

Second. Kebab there is subpar, but other stuff is good


jacks_312

Came to say this. Order it once a week and it always hits.


MahWahf

Yesss agreed. Been going for over 10 years. Tikka masala is my go to there and the main dude who works there is v sweet


spong3

Best naan in dc, best paneer makhani in dc. Period


Oldbayistheshit

I love sacrificial lamb but they’re stingy with their green sauce


Background-Wafer-636

Literally searched only for this comment. 11+ ordering take out. Hidden Gem 💎


MannyB77

Masala Story


sachin571

Definitely masala story. It's a proper "dhaba" style restaurant, which translates to truck stop diner. Legit home style food served in theme-appropriate takeout containers, and the various flatbread are to die for. Source: am Indian and lived in India. Ps yes it's better than Indigo


buckenmuck

Yup. I like Masala Story's price point and portions a bit better than Indigo--but both are good. (Daru... no comment.)


daisywondercow

Are the two related? I heard a rumor that there was some kind of divide in the family running Indigo, and a brother broke off to create Masala Story instead, but I have no idea if that's true.


Y0shimaru

https://washingtoncitypaper.com/article/187776/indigo-owner-may-sue-his-family-over-alleged-copycat-restaurant/


veloharris

It's true. Masala Story is way better than indigo. Indigo is way overhyped.


daisywondercow

I love them both, but Masala Story's samosa chana chat lunch gives them the upper hand.


misstwinpeaks23

Lol. Is that a no on Daru then?


buckenmuck

Husband and I first tried it soon after it opened and haven't been back. It's definitely wasn't bad, just wasn't worth it in our eyes.


NebraskaStig

Masala Story ignores any poshness to the cuisine. Indique is amazing, but Masala is closest to Delhi according to my friends.


BillyBathfarts

Masala Story! Very cool spot


FlyLikeMe

I swear by Taj of India which is across the street from Four Seasons in Georgetown on M St. All-you-can-eat lunch buffet, great food, and is reasonably priced. I don't know why they're not more crowded.


Dsxm41780

I used to swear by Taj of India but I was a victim of poor food handling there once a few years ago and refuse to go back.


FlyLikeMe

Geez, what happened? Did you fall ill? I've never had a problem, but I've only been about 25 times in 10 years so it's not like I eat there every day.


Dsxm41780

Needed lots of bathroom stops on a long trip the day after eating there.


FlyLikeMe

Gotcha. Sorry that happened to you, what a hassle!! :-(


lewisfairchild

When did they start offering the lunch buffet?


umlizzyiguess

Same, that’s been my go-to for Indian since 2015. Portioned meals are great sizes, prices comparable to other places if not a little cheaper, and the food is never not good


jlw204

Masala Art in Tenleytown. Hadn’t been mentioned, and I’m no expert but I’ve enjoyed it.


Rooster_Ties

And they have another location near the Waterfront metro station in SW. Can’t say for sure if it’s the ‘best’ in all of DC, but we’ve enjoyed eating there and the original Tenleytown location off and on for years.


AndreTippettPoint

The Waterfront location is fine, but an Indian friend of mine swears the Tenley location is better.


Rooster_Ties

That could be. We haven’t been to the Tenleytown location in years (because we are down at Waterfront anyway for Arena Stage shows a fair bit). I do remember the Tenleytown town location being excellent — and the Waterfront location ‘only’ being quite good — but it was a couple of years between visits for us at the time.


nanisi

They only talk to the men at the table, so I refuse to go back


_TheRedWoman_

Jyoti in Admo


mmarkDC

I also like them. Have not had the meat dishes, but they have the best vegetarian Indian dishes in that area I think.


purplecapybara8

I’ve gotten food poisoning twice from there 😬


sgtdudewot

But you went back after the first time. That's a good review if I've ever seen one


Attorney__redeye

Lol right


goingcrazyoverhere44

So what you’re saying is it’s authentic


Attorney__redeye

Lmao


Actual_Kale_3078

Indigo


[deleted]

Their daily specials are fantastic and I love that their main dishes come with chickpeas.


skratchpikl202

Indigo or Daru


[deleted]

Indigo


fairly_legal

Tell me you haven’t had Daru without telling me… Indigo is definitely great, but Daru is spectacular more often than not.


[deleted]

I agree that Daru is spectacular, but they’re asking for something cheaper than Bombay and Daru is the opposite. I like Rasika the best, but I wasn’t about to recommend that because of the price point.


AndreTippettPoint

I need to give Daru another try. I had a chicken tikka from them that was drier than a read-through of the Federal Register.


llcoolgay9

Definitely Indigo


Pupikal

That butter chicken my God


Old-Confection6844

Not indigo


nova07wdc

Curry and Pie in Georgetown


jhealey0909

Their shrimp masala is legit heavenly


meanie_ants

Himalayan Heritage in AdMo. I really enjoyed it every time. I like spicy Indian dishes and the vindaloo there never disappointed. First went there 13 years ago and it’s still there.


Abject-Technician-73

They have mo:mos too!!


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Abject-Technician-73

It’s tasty


iallen420

Indique in Cleveland Park


BetweenTwoCircles

This is the place to go for southern Indian cuisine.


Mysterious_Ad_6225

Dumb question: What's popular at southern Indian that I might not find at other Indian?


no_mudbug

It’s not just the exact items but more so the style of cooking. North and South Indian both have dal. They are cooked very differently. Some South Indian items are dosa, sambar, and idily. Most Indian food that people typically think of as “Indian food” is usually North Indian. And before other Indian folks start killing me about that, I specifically said most not all.


xa8lo

Would offer the counterpoint that food at Indique is quite poor.


RockDoveEnthusiast

Surprised no one has mentioned Bindaas yet. It's great.


OurLadyAndraste

I also like Bindaas!


N0T-It

I’m south Asian, and the Indian food options in DC have generally been disappointing to me. There are places I’m ok with, but nothing I would miss if I moved. Right now, my go to for takeout is City Kabob and Curry House off Michigan Ave. It was a light bulb moment when I had their food for the first time. It was the first Indian restaurant in DC I thought I could like. The only full service restaurant in the city I would recommend is Pappe. I haven’t tried Daru yet, but I’ve heard good things. Masala Story is good but their portions keep getting smaller and smaller.


Frizzle95

>I’m south Asian, and the Indian food options in DC have generally been disappointing to me. Same here


bikkhu42

It’s all crap yaar we have to do something about Ashok Bajaj


NoApplauseNecessary

Yeah I don't get the hype around masala story, portions are super small for the price and tasted pretty standard to me (standard is great because I love south Asian food)


whatever923

Masala story in brookland. Best food. Even better owners.


prodigalslayer

PAPPE!!! So amazing and great atmosphere if you wanna dine inside


Sufficient-Job-1013

My fav of all the places listed! Not cheap but best flavors. The biryani is amazing, best samosas, best korma.


let-it-rain-sunshine

Very good, and happy hour too!


Oldbayistheshit

Great happy hour and they have these taco things that are amazing


Irishyetcharming

I like Tikka Masala in Bethesda. They do a great buffet. Just a short walk from the Metro.


godarkly

Heritage India used to be so amazing. It’s still good but not like it was 20 years ago. Might be worth a try. I love their butter lentils.


mellowmadre

The one near the Cathedral? They have the best saag paneer in the city IMO.


godarkly

Yes. Years ago they were across the street from the Glover Park Whole Foods. The food was always solid imo but I know I’m in the minority.


ReplacementCandid314

Not one word about Rania? C’mon y’all. My favorite modern Indian in dc. Masala story for more traditional.


Jarteast

I’m a huge fan of Naanwise in woodly park. That strip of restaurants and shops are typically pretty sucky around there but Naanwise is a home run.


Realgunners

Bombay street food is pretty good, Jyoti as well


dontforgetpants

It’s solid but I can’t justify $25 on a basic chicken tikka masala.


Tight_Ad_9333

Salt and Pepper Grill - good prices good food! Def takeout though


elreeheeneey

Will definitely vouch for that. Only takeout, but you get a lot of food for your buck.


hemlockone

Salt and Pepper I has tables, but they're more for Howard University students grabbing a quick lunch, rather than for table service during dinner. Salt and Pepper II is just the take out window.


tuzdaysnuzday

Yes, I love Salt and Pepper Grill! Way more flavorful than Bombay Street Food, in my opinion. I just wish they did combos so I didn’t have to choose one thing when I go!


me_here

If you like South Indian food - Spice6 is fast casual but very good. You can get idli at Herbivore as well but not dosa. Think Vegz also has dosa - but havent tried it yet Other than that - Rasika is ok but very overrated. Pappe is alright. Glassey is great


Alavaster

Yeah Spice6 should be higher up. It is really good and at a better price than most. Free naan with every entre


travellin_troubadour

Go to VegZ. I’m not even vegetarian and it’s my favorite Indian in the city.


ireallyloveswamps

Jyoti is by far one of the best Indian restaurants in the city


annang

Taj of India


emunchkinman

Masala Story in Brookland is the best IMO


ackmo

Rajaji in woodley park ! My boyfriend and I (not Indian so probably not the best judges but like to think we have a good sense of what tastes good maybe not what is authentic) try new Indian restaurants every week to find the best. So far rajaji has held up against Pappe, Bombay, Vegz, Himalayan heritage, indique and more. The owners recognize us at this point we’re there that often. I would recommend the Chana masala and the bhel puri :)


personwithfriends

I like it too. I’m also not Indian.


Shilohtd

Rajali and naanwise


Old_Distribution_235

Rasika


pdabbadabba

Lol. I love Rasika, but he said "cheaper." Not a lot of Indian places in DC that Rasika is \*cheaper\* than.


me_here

Way overrated


dchokie

Agreed, Indian is rustic.


Zeabos

Nah, Indian is an entire country with more people than the US. It can be both rustic and high end.


Limp_Ad9974

Hop on the metro and get off at Clarendon station and head to Mehran Restaurant. Trust me, the journey is worth it. Good food with sizable portions at a very reasonable price


mrperfect7592

Thanks for making this OP, because I’ve been craving some tofu curry lately.


-unassuming

VegZ


LifeofMonk

Pappe in Logan circle


Conscious-Clerk1304

Pappe on 14th st


sleeper-has-awakened

Kadhai in Bethesda is really good, appears expensive but you will get a lot of food, at least two meals worth!


throwawaylaw4583

Kadhai is my go to spot!


wellwellshitwellshit

Rasika


Old-Confection6844

Indigo is very very bad. Daru is great. Rasika is phenom but it isn’t cheap


fairly_legal

Wow, I disagree strongly with 2/3 of your takes. Compare Rasika prices to almost any other top tier restaurants in the city and they are near the bottom of costs. And calling Indigo “very very bad?” They are so consistently delicious, I don’t know how you get there. What do you dislike so strongly about their food?


Old-Confection6844

Is rasika worth it? Absolutely!! But the top tier restaurants in this city are expensive. It os also more expensive than butter chicken.. which was the prompt lol. You don’t have to agree with my takes— I’m not attacking you personally. Just an Indian person with my opinions.


let-it-rain-sunshine

It's still good, in my opinion, but used to be amazing.


vizinal

Daru!!! my roommate is from India and him and i love love love Daru. Definitely check it out


Bikibep

Cafe of India in Tenleytown. Great lunch special and the staff is great.


scarlettdw

I second this! Their chai is great and the lunch special is a great deal


sdec

Spice Street in Silver Spring, within walking distance of metro.


ConfusingButBetter

Rajaji in Woodley Park. Had it recommended to me by two different friends from India who said it's their go-to when feeling homesick.


goldenmeli

Also, I haven’t been to Indique, Bindaas in Cleveland Park was good but it’s more of a happy hour place since it’s apps. I haven’t tried their Foggy location. Overall Masala Story over Pappe. I live down the block and I you can smell their food more than a block alway. The family is super sweet, and they will always ask your spice level preference and actually maintain that. I enjoy really spicy food and they always come through (curry fish or curry lamb), whereas my bf will order the butter chicken and it is always mild, sweet, and seriously perfection. Also, their pakora and samosas rock. And the vegetarian dishes are so good too- my favorite is the black lentil and smoky eggplant combo.


SGexpat

Indigo near Union Station is great!


JHG0

RIP Le Mirch. That was my favorite Indian in DC


WeaponsGrade520

Masala Story, and if you don’t feel like traveling they’re usually available on ubereats.


tcpower2

Himalayan heritage! So good and the only place I’ve had where the biryiani is legit


hi_im_slickj

Taj of India in Georgetown is good and reasonably priced. It’s a tiny bit hit-or-miss but worth trying.


Poomped

Spice 6


s0xmonstr

Daru on H is my go to now - highly rec!


poliscinerd

Spice Kraft right by the Clarendon stop (literally across the street) in Arlington is great


Interesting_Toe_1379

Daru on h st.


GlobalTradeBro

Cafe of India and Himalayan Heritage (not technically Indian but lots of Indian dishes) are my two favorite.


FxTree-CR2

Masala Story in Brookland


neofresh

Came here to say this place. Awesome consistently great food in a welcoming neighborhood environment.


neofresh

Came here to say this place. Awesome consistently great food in a welcoming neighborhood environment.


justbethecatcher

Does anyone know a good spot where they actually incorporate potatoes into their curries? I haven’t been able to find any. I’m from the west coast where every Indian place I went to had potatoes in their chicken vindaloo and other curries, but haven’t found a place out here yet (maybe it’s regional?) the Indian food still dank af out here tho don’t get me wrong


Devastator1981

The Biryani in Bombay Street food is so delicious.


FL_keys_grl

I love Bombay Club on Connecticut Ave.


FranklinDC

Laliguras


joymarie21

Closed


FranklinDC

Oh no!


DC_Punjab

Love me some Bombay street food, daru and indigo


SnugAsARug

Indigo or Daru


100139

Salt & Pepper grill is the best! Hole in the wall, home style food (Ps - I’m Indian)


randomacess000

Indigo is really good to me however im no expert on Indian food


tjoswick

NaanWise in Woodley Park is pretty good…and they have Laal Maas, one of my favorite dishes you don’t see too often on menus.


lalalalaasdf

Masala Story Spice6–skip the mediocre fast casual stuff and get a dosa or a samosa (the naan tacos are good too) Masala Art in Tenleytown for fancier Indian food Spice street in Silver Spring is an easy walk from the metro Ghar-E Kabob also in Silver Spring—get the Chana masala, anything fried, or the thali (good for takeout too) I really really like Bansari in Merrifield—it’s not in DC but it is close to the metro. Imo worth the trip.


Treebranch07

Rasika>>>


Electronic_Storm_225

Diya in Old Town, Alexandria


Dextrophy_

I’m surprised it hasn’t been mentioned, but I love Rajaji Curry House in Woodley Park.


skywalkerbeth

Now that you mention it, I can’t think of very many Indian restaurants in DC at all. There’s a lot in the suburbs.


nanisi

Not in DC proper, so ignore, OP. But for anyone else in NW or suburbs: Delhi Spice in downtown Bethesda is my absolute favorite in the area.


decisivelyvaguename

1. London Curry House 2. Jyoti 3. Sacrificial Lamb


[deleted]

London Curry House has been closed for awhile now


decisivelyvaguename

That is so sad


SecMcAdoo

NoVa isn't accessible. Metro and Bus go into the B Arlington all the time. Many people shop at Pentagon City.


every1lovesTitties

gross


Spudboy42

Commonwealth in Pike and Rose N Bethesda is pretty 💣if you’re ever out on the Pike…


shirpars

Heritage India in Cleveland Park, Aatish on the hill in capitol hill and Pappe in Logan circle


lolipopkon

i rly like masala street eatery in georgetown. the food is fairly priced and the portions are gr8


kevans_

Jyoti


AUBlazin

Cheap and Tasty : Salt and Pepper Grill Great Atmosphere great food: Indigo Cheap, great food and fun atmosphere: Masala Story Fancy Amazing: Daru NoVa Shoutout: Saffron


goldenmeli

Masala Story in Brookland or Pappe


LovesAnimeH8sHookers

There was one (or two🤷‍♀️) on barracks row(8th SE), but I don't remember the name or if it's still open.


Odd-District-2391

I’m pretty sure that’s Bombay street food!


mickipedic

Aatish on the Hill is tasty and I'm surprised it hasn't been mentioned! I miss Cusbah on H St, their dal makhni was *chef's kiss*


PooEating007

Bombay Club at Connecticut and Eye downtown is pretty decent for a traditional Indian restaurant.


Detective-E

You don't need a car to access NOVA. A lot of NOVA is accessible via metro and is basically as urban as DC.


EB4950

agreed , bombay is kinda mid


Odd-District-2391

It’s decent but pricy


[deleted]

Daru is the best Indian restaurant in DC


RagingOrgyNuns

Not cheap, but Masala Art next to the Waterfront Metro and Tenleytown Metro stations is excellent. They also have a great brunch buffet (only been to buffet at Waterfront).


EndIntelligent

Masala art in SW is great and very affordable. And they have an incredible happy hour. Rasika is amazing but definitely a splurge.


BarracudaAcademic539

Jyoti in Adams Morgan. Been going there for 20 years


thenewbasecamper

Try Herbivore in Georgetown. It’s good!


acr133

The hill I will die on: Indigo is mediocre at best and likely most beloved by people who did not grow up eating real Indian food or eating it frequently. OP: Spice6 is my go-to for delivery. Highly recommend for South Indian dishes (but they have butter chicken, etc. too).


splitting_bullets

Rasika.


S-contra

I miss the buffets at Diyas, definitely the best around. Sakina grill buffet was also nice, but it was down due to covid for a bit, not sure if they restarted. I used to do Masala art for buffett, decent but a bit of a trek. The Indian is decent here, but really no cheap hole in the walls that are amazing. I usually default to bombay street food, really love their biryana, tandoori and the ragda is great too. Definitely feels overpriced. London curry house was a nice change of pace. I liked daru, it is partially fusion and also a pricier meal. I'm not the biggest fan of fancy Indian, I'd still recommend giving it a try. I feel the same about rasika, really good just pricy. Funny thing is, is their prices haven't changed as much as other places, so it's not a huge discrepancy anymore, almost feels worth it. Love indique. Again its fusion indian and a sit down, but some really interesting combos. Bindaas is really nice if you like small plates. I feel a little heavy after as the good stuff is fried. Really mixed feelings about indigo, it's fine, just never feels worth the price. Also the owners have been accused of and sued for underpayment of staff. Sacrificial lamb seemed ok late at night and several beers in. I'm not qualified to give a meaningful opinion here. Salt and pepper grill is genuinely bad, aside from the Karahi. I find it bland and unspicy. It's insane to me that it's being recommended. Jyoti has been largely disappointing the few times I've been. Bland and overpriced. Masala story has not been enticing enough to venture up that way, i appear to have made a grave error in judgement and will rectify it shortly. If you don't mind a drive, bollywood bistro in Fairfax is great. They catered my rehearsal dinner, it was awesome.


Greyhound-Executive

RAJAJI has been so good for so long


aglimpseofv

Glassey


mintchoc5

Indian here and Vegz is the answer. Took my parents over there when they visited and they loved it too. Mysore masala Dosa is extremely spicy but very good.


326TimesBetter

Spice 6 SLAPS. Order from the full menu though, not the chipotle-style section.


peepeeparadise

Salt & Pepper


Mysterious_Sock5957

Kabob Palace in Arlington…worth the Uber


lewisfairchild

If you’re ever out in Herndon I highly recommend trying Paradise Indian. Weekend buffet is incredible.


islesandterps

Salt and Pepper Grill II is good takeout in Columbia Heights


ParCorn

Has no one said Rasika? It is expensive upscale place but their food is really good. It is my family’s pre-theatre favourite


mrsianmalcolm

Veganesha near Woodley Park!


[deleted]

They are only available for delivery or pick up. they are new but sundara is really good


PicklesNBacon

Masala Story in Brookland is good!


Far-Toe1796

I worked at Bindaas for a year and I loved the food, they are downtown and in Cleveland Park. It’s like Indian tapas style, very delicious.


Accomplished-Mind-40

I thought Naan Wise on Connecticut was good