47 Best Indian Restaurants in Washington

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

“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.“

“We ordered enough food for five people. The lamb shank and lamb chops were great. I didn't fully like the vegetarian options. Forgot to take pictures of the main course and appetizers. Though the desserts were awesome except for the gulap jamun.“

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

“Good food and good service“

“Great food and Barman !! It is a great place“

“I will say that this place is a MUST visit! I was thoroughly impressed by the ambiance, the service and most importantly the food! Every bite was delicious and left me wanting more. We had the four course menu and it was enough food that everyone in our party felt satisfied and even a bit full. The service was great too! They brought out each course promptly and we enjoyed the attentiveness and attention to detail. Indian food has never tasted so delicious! I hope to return again soon!“

“After a full day of walking, we wanted something comforting for dinner. We’d seen reviews for Dakshin Indique and decided to give it a shot, even though it meant a 40-minute drive on a rainy Tuesday night. Honestly, it was worth it.

We ordered the Paneer Biryani, Chicken 65, and Chicken Biryani. Everything was fresh, flavorful, and had the right amount of spice—not overwhelming, just satisfying. Even though we’re only visiting DC, we’d definitely come back.“

“There is no better Indian food for hungry people! They held and seated us, a 10 person party, until the end of the restaurant hours with cheer.

Reasonably priced for sharing food, and you’ll want to get a bit of everything. The crackling spinach has such a unique tamarind flavor, it is a must try.

We come here after a lot of our New Morning Farm farmer’s markets, and they never disappoint. Highly recommend!!“

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

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

“I just ordered Oh! Naan for the first time and I am very impressed! The chicken masala (medium spice) was delicious. The spice level was spot on and the overall flavor was fantastic. The chicken pieces were all tinder and the portion was very large. I also had garlic naan (which I got buy one get one free). It was soft and warm with the perfect amount of garlic and butter.

I ordered the food on an app for pick up so I can’t speak to the atmosphere, but the food was ready quickly, packaged well, and the ladies who helped me during pick up were very friendly. The food was still very warm and fresh even after my ten minute walk home.

I’ll totally eat here again, and would recommend others trying it out“

“I recently visited Bombay Street Food Express 3 and it truly exceeded my expectations. The ambiance was warm and welcoming, with a clean and cozy interior. The staff was incredibly attentive and friendly — from the moment we walked in until we left, we felt well taken care of.

The food was absolutely delicious. We ordered the Butter chicken, chicken Tikka masallah, Bombay palak chat, madrasfish curry, lam Rogan Josh, sag paneer, Dall Makhani, Butter Naan, Garlic Naan and Mango lassi and it was perfectly cooked and full of flavor. The presentation was beautiful, staff is very friendly and every bite tasted fresh and thoughtfully prepared. The portion sizes were generous, and the prices were fair for the quality.

Whether you’re looking for a place to enjoy a quiet dinner or celebrate a special occasion, Bombay Street Food Express 3 is an excellent choice. Highly recommended — I’ll definitely be coming back!“

“During my recent visit to an authentic Indian restaurant, I had an incredibly delightful experience. The food served was exceptionally fresh and made with great care, lending it a truly homemade flavor. The variety of flavors in each dish was absolutely outstanding, and I found myself thoroughly impressed. I am eagerly looking forward to my next visit - it has definitely earned an A+ rating in my book!“

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

“Always a dependably solid meal. The folks working here are super friendly and do a great job. And they have good music playing, but it’s not too loud where you can’t have a conversation.

Vegetarian options: They have as many vegetarian main options (paneer, sweet potatoes, cauliflower) as they do other proteins.“

“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.“

“Great food, great customer service, and dope playlist!“

“This is a good restaurant for having Vegetarian food. If you are reading this, I'd strongly recommend trying them. I liked the ambience, service and the food quality. They were welcoming and responsive. I couldn't tip them as I was in a rush, doing my bit by writing here.“

“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“

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

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

“⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 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.“

“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! 😊🤤“

“Love to sit at the bar. The Manager is such a great guy! He plays amazing music each time I’ve been in, and the food is wonderful!! He works so hard— I am amazed and inspired by his work ethic!!“

“Visiting DC with family and they mostly prefer Indian food. Went out of our way, stumbled across this place and we’re so glad we did. Generous portions, best butter chicken (perfectly sized tandoori chicken pieces in creamy sauce) I’ve had in the USA, the cucumber and tomato topping adds the perfect crunch, freshly baked naan and overall, quite reasonably priced for the DC area. Everything tasted so fresh. I wish they got more business. Highly recommend to give them a try :)“

“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“

“Being vegetarian, we ordered veg Momo's and veg biryani, and they both were super delicious. Veg options aren't significant, however, the available veg options are sufficient. If you are around this area, you should definitely try this small restaurant. Self service.
We are onsite and ordered to-go for the next day.

Inside seating available. Roadside limited parking.
Restrooms are available for customers.“

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

“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.“

“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.“

“One of the most amazing Indian restaurant in DC, serving “authentic” Indian cuisine. Had their lunch platter which was just amazing The platter is the Chicken Makhani Combo platter. Comes with a Naan too And a choice of Onion Fritters as an appetizer or Indian Rice Pudding as dessert and costs only $16.45 on the week days and $19 on the weekends“

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

“Katie is worth her weight in GOLD. She the best, and deserves a million stars!!! Ms. Sheila“

“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.“

“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!“

“Great atmosphere and energy! The staff is very personable and shared their recommendations. I’m excited to try lamb korma!

Update! - The lamb korma (green) was AMAZING, savory seasoning with a little kick! The other dish was chicken curry. It was good, traditional but not as spicy. Lastly, the dessert (single photo) is rice kheer. It was lightly sweet like yogurt but the texture was more grainy. Good just a new texture for me, think cream of wheat.

Overall, good food & service. Food was made to order and service was thoughtful. I recommend giving it a try!“

“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.“

“I’ve been searching for a consistently good Indian spot that has all the essentials without being overpriced or too fancy for years and this place definitely hit all the marks. The Lamb Saag and garlic naan was so good and perfectly spicy. The mango lassi and vegetable samosas were also exactly what I needed. This will for sure be my go to Indian food spot moving forward. Great job guys.“

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

“The chicken pulao was too good, it had all the spices and flavors correctly blended. The lamb biryani and tamarind chicken curry were also made to the order and to the correct spice level.Overall, a very good experience and value for money. I would recommend the mango lassi , it was sweet and cool.“

“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!“

“Had a lovely dinner here with friends. Our server was as nice and chill.

The food was delicious. We had the samosas and spinach for apps, which is one of my fav dishes, and the mixed grill and butter chicken for mains. Loved the variety and flavor of the mixed grill, I actually wish it had lamb chops instead of the salmon but overall it was great. The butter chicken was a little too sweet but the chicken was fresh, which I really appreciate soft melty chicken in curry. I had the mango lassi - this fell flat for me. The flavor wasn’t that good and it was served in a to-go cup for me to drink with my meal in the restaurant. I’m guessing it’s cutting in cleaning yoghurt cups but it takes away from the experience.

Overall good experience and will be back.“

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

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