48 Best Indian Restaurants in Washington

“Good food and good service“

“Tastes just like my mom’s cooking, should try to know it.“

“I have to say, as an Indian who has gone to many an indian restaurant, this place knocked it out of the park. I often find indian food to fall in the “good enough” category, but every dish ordered was flavourful and well-portioned. from the Chicken65 appetizer to the vegetable curry and everything in between, the dishes checked all the boxes. 10/10 would eat here again“

“First I would like to say that I wish there were more than 5 stars. My son and I are visiting the DC area for the Cherry Blossom festivities. My son has a love for Indian food ever since his trip to India. I have never tried Indian food ever. So this was my very first experience. From the moment we walked in the door our amazing experience began. The atmosphere is beautiful and so is the staff. Our server, April was super helpful and very knowledgeable. She has an amazing spirit and is wonderful with her job! The food... was very fresh, aromatic and DELICIOUS!! My son said the food was the closest to the food in India that he has had here in the states. For my first time... OMG!!! I am HOOKED! The only bad part is that I have to go back to Florida and wait impatiently for my next visit.“

“Stumbled upon Herbivore Indian Cuisine during a DC visit and really liked the overall experience. Simple, tasty, and satisfying.

Some quick notes:

* Small but cozy restaurant with a welcoming vibe
* Food was good and had that touch of homemade flavor
* Both vegetarian and non-vegetarian options available
* Portion size was on the smaller side but filling and flavorful
* Naan was fresh and soft—definitely a highlight
* Quick service and polite staff
* Clean interiors and neatly maintained space
* Roadside parking available nearby, typical for DC
* Great spot for a casual meal with authentic Indian taste“

“I've never had a better meal in my life. This is THE only restaurant to completely blow my mind in any genre, start to finish. Impeccable service, ambiance, and quality.“

“Stopped by on my way over to Washington DC. Tried the buffet on Saturday, it's a pretty small buffet, but everything prepared is fresh, even the chutneys.
It's pretty hard to find fresh food, especially in a buffet setting. Because restaurants are usually trying to pass leftover food for their buffet.
Wood flooring, nice chandelier and friendly service.“

“I was in DC for 3 days, and wanted different and outstanding!
OMG. Friendly, outstanding service and ambiance, and... let me tell you, my meal, do not remember what it was. ... I have not had my mouth so happy in YEARS. I tried going back next day, but it was closed at that time! Thank you ... for making my DC trip extra special!!!!!“

“The best Punjabi food in DC. G.O.A.T Room brings the rich flavors of Punjabi/ Indian food here to DMV. They have every dish (fish, goat meat, naan,butter chicken) that I tried there…the BEST that I ever had. I had tried over 100 of restaurants in DMV and no one can beat this. Punjabi food is known for its rich and buttery flavors and G.O.A.T Room uses only fresh spices and herbs, such as turmeric cloves, ginger, and garlic. The owner, Bobby has created an extraordinary dining experience that brings this special food and culture right to DC. Bobby will visit your table and discuss your meal and personally thank you for coming in. He made a wonderful suggestions of food and drinks.. we were amazed with that selections. Butter chicken has a creamy gravy made of onions, yogurt, seeds, and did not disappoint. The goat meat was the best I’ve ever eaten. Naan and everything was perfect and not too oily at all. The portions are good sized and the presentation is exceptional. The atmosphere is lovely with authentic decor, and smartly set tables but mostly it’s the staff’s hospitality that amazed us. Bobby and his team has accomplished what they have set out to do and that is to bring the best food to the people of DMV. With the rich flavors, fresh, spices, freshest yogurt, and love and care in every dish- they have succeeded. Will be making more trips to DC just for their yummy food! Highly recommended. 10 stars. Food: 5/5 | Service: 5/5 | Atmosphere: 5/5“

“It is really good good with good quantity Very friendly staff and good at explaining their menu Must try“

“Rasika is always on our list when we visit DC. It's just so good!!! \n\nI could eat a bowl of chaat on my own - it's always the perfect blend of flavor and texture. \n\nService is always good, whether we're there for lunch or dinner.“

“It was my first time there. Food was great. I would definitely return.“

“feel home even far from home good food and service ❤️👍“

“Delicious!!! Some of the best Indian food in town“

“Authentic Indian cuisine served with care—RASA never misses. A flavorful escape right in the neighborhood.“

“stumbled across this place and it was a hidden gem. The food was delicious. I had a spicy chicken dish and my son had a spicy lamb dish with garlic naan bread. very good“

“⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5 – A Hidden Gem for Biryani Lovers! Curry and Pie is hands down one of the best Indian restaurants I’ve ever visited! Their chicken and lamb biryani are absolutely phenomenal perfectly spiced, incredibly flavorful, and cooked to perfection. You can truly taste the authenticity and care in every bite.“

“This Indian restaurant is clean, cozy, and modern, creating a very welcoming atmosphere. The food is incredibly delicious, full of rich flavors, and beautifully prepared. The staff is also very friendly and attentive, which makes the dining experience even better. Highly recommend!“

“This is my go-to place for lunch when I'm at the office. The food is always clean, fresh, and delicious just the kind of meal I look forward to in the middle of a busy day. What makes it even better is the warm and excellent service. Dilcia, in particular, is always so welcoming and friendly she truly brightens my day every time I visit. Highly recommend for takeout or dine in (outdoor seating is my favorite).“

“We were at the spy museum and came down for a quick bite. We weren't really expecting much but then we saw SpiceX. It tasted like what you would expect at a high-end Indian restaurant! The garlic naan was literally prepared on site and grilled right in front of us. The food was exceedingly fresh and delicious and the staff could not have been nicer. They provide wipes for the tables and everything was very very clean. We were incredibly impressed And the price was incredibly reasonable as well. We highly recommend this restaurant in the food court at L'Enfant!!“

“My cousin and I love Indian food and have tried several places in our home town and when traveling. I can’t speak for the rest of their food but we ordered delivery for their butter chicken and it was amazing. Literally craving it now 2 months later!“

“⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Best in town for food and drinks.“

“Their food is amazing, the atmosphere of the place is really cool. It looks very nice decorated. They have different kind of Naans. You know an indian restaurant is good when the chef is from India. And this is one of those. Come and enjoy! 😊🤤“

“Best Indian food on the east coast!“

“What a fantastic Michelin star experience! We got the 4-course menu. And I'm glad we did, it was our anniversary (late celebration) but the cocktails we got were top notch! Couldn't try all of them on the menu, but I wish we could. Before our courses started we got a petite version of sabudana bad, which was delicious! After that all the good we got was just delicious! I would 100% recommend this place for a special occasion or just for a good date night!“

“So very happy that the buffet is back on Friday afternoons. Had a fabulous lunch, great salad, terrific entree choices and attentive service. I recommend everyone to drop in and partake of some seriously tasty food!“

“I spent a semester studying abroad and missed food from back home. I tried their biryani and couldn’t stop having it every weekend for the next 6 months. The chicken biryani medium spice is the best biryani I’ve ever had from any restaurant!! It’s the one thing I miss about being in DC“

“The perfect lunch restaurant. Food: slim menu, all the classics. The combo i had was killer. Service was so fast, I was in and out within maybe 5 minutes. Basmati, lamb meatballs, korma sauce, chickpeas on the side. Like fifteen bucks. Done.“

“Before trying Sacrificial Lamb, I recall walking past the restaurant many times while they had a banner up touting their naan as the best in the city. Hard to believe, given the size of the place, and abundance of quality Indian cuisine in the DMV. Over a period of several years and many dishes, well beyond the best Naan, I’m a believer. They have all the essential dishes you’d expect and they’re tasty but the curry dishes are exceptional. Whoever is making the sauces has serious skills. Mackni, Korma, masala, vindaloo, all delicious with abundant portions and quality components. Rich flavorful sauces that don’t separate and seasoning that is layered and surprising. Excellent vegetarian dishes too. Aloo gobi was a favorite. Even this basic dish had a bit of a sauce to it. They also catered to my dietary restrictions without issue. One recommendation— order later in the day. It seems the sauces and seasonings only get more enjoyable as the day evolves. Take out is done well, with sizable portions and seemingly no lost quality. Don’t miss the naan. It’s extraordinary and was always delivered warm. They also do naan wraps which are exceptional late night. Dip a wrap in the Mackni sauce, so decadent. I recently moved and have not been able to replace this little gem.“

“I used to order from here a minimum of once a month. Butter chicken has been garbage last three orders. Tastes like cheap tomato sauce. Like the canned spaghetti-o level of cheap, too sweet, and over processed. May try again in a few months. But miss the quality, great staff, and on point flavors.“

“I recently took my team to Chai Pani for dinner. My wife has been raving about this place since it opened. We did not have a reservation but we were able to get a seat at the bar. They have a great team of hosts/bar tenders. I had a great experience. We started with the cheese uttapam and sweet potato. The sweet potato dish was on the saltier side. Once we got the lamb dish I mixed the rice, lamb and sweet potato together and it was perfect. The lamb was a bit under seasoned so I balanced it out. The KFC sandwich definitely stole the show. I look forward to going back.“

“Friendly staff, inviting atmosphere and the BEST for buffet lunch after an early day at the National Zoo.“

“I’m an out of towner who stubbles upon this gem while shopping! Lovely atmosphere and the food is heavenly. My sister and I had the goat vindaloo and shrimp curry with garlic and cheese naan. Just the right amount of spicy and pares great with their “passion of taj” cocktail“

“I live in VA, but love to try different food. My second time here, because food was great. The girl serving was super too. Was not busy the time I was eating. After reading reviews, I wonder where people normally eat as most restaurants have a charge for sharing if they let you all. I like the quiet atmosphere to relax. Nice to be able to have a glass of wine & do that. The manager was super friendly too.“

“Excellent service, amazing food, and wonderful atmosphere! Highly recommend!“

“Awesome food & service, my favorite go place!!“

“This was BY FAR the best dosas and Idli we have had in years! Chef Paul is amazing and he told me he doesn’t believe in catering or delivery because South Indian food is best served hot and fresh and I couldn’t agree more! The Idlis melted in my mouth. The dosas were just perfect - the masala and chutney and sambhar -10/10! Go - no run to this place!“

“hello sir can you dm me“

“palak paneer is perfect on a chilly March day.“

“Jab We Met Indian Kitchen was an awesome surprise — the food was flavorful, fresh, and beautifully presented. Every dish felt thoughtfully prepared, with bold spices and great balance.

We stopped in during happy hour and loved the cocktails — creative, well-made, and a great value. The service was warm and attentive without being rushed, and the atmosphere felt relaxed enough to enjoy a long meal.

Whether you’re craving classic Indian dishes or just want a great spot for drinks and bites with friends, Jab We Met delivers. We’ll definitely be back!“

“Every bite, Always right! I appreciate your drivers and will tip them.“

“definitely will visit again whenever i am in Washington dc, amazing food, staff are very friendly.
If you guys are looking for a testy Indian/Pakistani food, don't waste your tume for searching somewhere else , just go there and you won't regret, i guarantee“

“Wanted to try something new during birthday excursion. redditors recommended this place. finding out that they had a buffet helped me ensure I'd definitely find something I like. but I actually loved EVERYTHING they had in their buffet once I got there. had multiple plates. If I lived closer, it would've been a regular spot for me. hope to visit again soon. would recommend to anyone.“

“The waffle were delicious!“

“I highly recommended this place. atmosphere is cozy food is delicious!“

“love it there. So much to do and eat. Palette22 drew me there, and I found a great entertainment distinct full of fun times. I plein air painted Morse Alley. Cool spot.“

“New place to me , was great to eat some good Indian food for the first time .“

“I am huge fan of Bindaas Wada pav. They have the best wada pav in USA“