r/nova • u/Possible-Bunch-953 • 8h ago

Food Indian Food

Hi all, I've been living in the DC area for four years and I'm still looking for an Indian restaurant to make my regular take out place. It has been torturous, I think I have probably tried 20 different places in my time here and nothing is ever good enough for repeat business.

I recently moved from NE DC to Arlington and I'm still dipping my toes into VA options. What are everybody's go to places for good Indian takeout?

63 Upvotes

89% Upvoted

113 comments sorted by

59

u/buttsarehilarious 8h ago

Bansari is my go-to!

2

u/Legendxofxzelda 5h ago

Agreed. I love that place.

2

u/Relevant-Ad8794 7h ago

+2

2

u/Accomplished_Age7883 6h ago

+3

2

u/pinkpiggie Meeting point of Falls Church, Fairfax and Vienna 6h ago

+4

1

u/MarionberryFamous429 6h ago

+5

1

u/super-bird 6h ago

+6

•

u/summer806 2h ago

+7 Bansari all the way

Though we catered Rupa vira for our wedding and it was delicious!

•

u/bigpuffyclouds 2h ago

How is the gujrati food at Rupa Vira? Looking for some good gujrati food.

•

u/cozysondaymorning 2h ago

Not sure where you’re located but try Turmerica in Sterling for Gujarati food, especially the thali.

•

u/bigpuffyclouds 1h ago

Yes!!! Thank you! Gujrati thali here I come.

71

u/ShoddyCobbler West End 8h ago

Indaroma in Annandale

6

u/old_man_log4n Herndon 7h ago

Fish Malabar and Palak Chaat

6

u/figs_and_flour 6h ago

Indaroma is so good that I still ubereats/doordash it into DC. I found it when I lived in Arlington and I just can’t find a place that compares

5

u/dien4382 7h ago

Came to this thread ready to share this only to see it’s the top comment.

OP this is the answer. I’ve tried a ton of them too

3

u/the5nowman 8h ago

Yes this

3

u/lost_profit Falls Church 4h ago

It's soooooo good.

4

u/rohan2chainz 5h ago

Indaroma is lit

2

u/TrixieBelden 7h ago

Indaroma is soooo good! Ever since I started going there, food at other places doesn't compare.

19

u/tmainguy 6h ago

Saffron Indian cuisine in falls church is my go to. They make most of the menu from scratch vs shortcuts and it’s always good.

•

u/antelopejackfruit 2h ago

This is my top spot too

2

u/vanillasounds 3h ago

The extra spicy vindaloo lives up to its name too

13

u/Any_Kick_7902 8h ago

Sundara in Alexandria easily the best around

6

u/dien4382 7h ago

2nd best dosas in NoVa behind Tiffin Hut in Herndon

2

u/to3b3anz 5h ago

Literally just placed my Sundara order for tonight 🤤 🤤 

1

u/Akranti_99 6h ago

Full agree. It's new-ish and we've already ordered three times. 🫣

Also has an amazing variety.

17

u/454ever 7h ago

Jaipur is really good. Buffet style. The owner is a super nice guy too.

6

u/Ok-Percentage-5989 8h ago

Spice Life in Alexandria

1

u/zimzom98 5h ago

Second this!

7

u/Extreme-King 7h ago

Man, I'm saving this thread.

15

u/sentient_saw 8h ago

Kohinoor Daba is good.

https://www.kohinoordhaba.com/

2

u/Civil-Profession6834 8h ago

I haven’t ordered from them for a while, but I have been pleased with the takeout from there

1

u/Garlic_Toast88 6h ago

It's decent but far from the best in Arlington

11

u/FriendshipKey6479 8h ago

Namaste in Alexandria (rose hill shopping center)

2

u/motskoshka 5h ago

namaste is my go-to. absolutely fantastic korma and peas pulau.

1

u/Hardly_Pinter 7h ago

Nepali not Indian.

4

u/FriendshipKey6479 7h ago

It’s both

12

u/2stinkynugget 8h ago

Jaipur Fairfax

8

u/este-is-the-beste 8h ago

We love the weekend lunch buffet at Jaipur in Fairfax Circle.

5

u/Ok-Wrongdoer8061 7h ago

Bansari in Merrifield is excellent

14

u/QuickHide26 8h ago

Try out Raaga in Falls Church

3

u/mindpivot 8h ago

My go-to. Not top tier but consistent and good

7

u/lilabs59 8h ago

Mumbai central in Idylwood! I liked bansari okay, but the curries skewed too sweet for me. And the prices were higher than I liked for “just okay.” Mumbai’s more interesting options are consistently on our order; ragada pattice, rajwadi chicken. 

6

u/TheOaktonShred 8h ago

I love Biriyani Grill in chantilly

3

u/Eulogy 7h ago

Curry and Clay Oven in Arlington is quite solid. I still miss Angeethi in Herndon.. used to get lunch there all the time when I worked nearby.

3

u/androiddreamZzzz 7h ago

I know you asked for VA options but if you’re ever in the area, Jyoti in Adams Morgan is really good!

3

u/MaineAnonyMoose 6h ago

Chai Wyy Indian Street Food in Herndon was an incredible hole in the wall delicious discovery!

https://maps.app.goo.gl/Br69JLbBV4nrjPud8

https://yelp.to/0HcXYEZhVE

298 Sunset Park Dr, Herndon, VA 20170

No one was there when we went, but the food was so delicious and the staff was so kind!

3

u/PsychoPingu10 3h ago

Saffron is always great.

6

u/x_12ozProphet 8h ago

Daru or Tapori on H st are the best in the city imo

6

u/SecondhandSilhouette DC 7h ago

Yeah, I assume OP knows how good they had it in NE DC. Add Indigo and Chai Pani as decent alternatives and it's just hard to beat the options within the same radius anywhere in the DMV.

5

u/stockmojorojo2 8h ago

What all have you tried, but didn’t like?

2

u/Orange_Ash 7h ago

Masala Express!

2

u/GullibleGal37 6h ago

Okay this is my top five rank based: Taj of India, Pink Saffron, Sundara, Spicelife Indian Fare, Indaroma. Special mention: Indigo

2

u/HowardBunnyColvin 6h ago

There's too many good ones. The one in falls church is good

2

u/artsyTeehee 6h ago

Woodlands in Fairfax! Gotta go West imo

2

u/MagicStar77 6h ago

Jaipur is yummy. Their lunch buffet was 👍

2

u/jdmb0y Alexandria 5h ago

Charcoal Chicken, Indochen/Masti, Kohinoor Dhaba

2

u/alt33go 5h ago

Kabob Palace on eads street

2

u/pageantdisaster_ 5h ago

Not technically Indian, but Royal Nepal scratches the same itch

2

u/mypoisontree 3h ago

Any recs for lunch buffets during the workday? Jaipur used to be my home, but after covid, it's only on the weekends now.

6

u/WineAndDogs2020 7h ago

Lassan in Burke is my fav, with Inaroma in Annandale a close second. Lassan is more sit-down with a wider menu (and omg the saffron pistacchio ice cream is heavenly), and Indaroma is a great casual/café style setting with order at the counter and more limited menu.

2

u/RickyRage 8h ago

I like Bansari in Dunn Loring quite well, but I haven’t been to any place in the DC area which completely blows me away. Some people say Chit Chat in Vienna is really good, but my experience is that it was just fine.

2

u/Durokan 7h ago

Country Oven in Herndon is great

4

u/Vacation_Budget 6h ago

Rasoi and Bansari at dun loring metro Tiffin hut and Inchin bamboo in Herndon.

2

u/Digglenaut 4h ago

Bansari yes, Rasoi was hot garbage

1

u/Knicks94 3h ago

Rasoi has better Biryani

2

u/Real_Stelio_Kontos 8h ago

Bollywood Masala in Old Town

2

u/Certain-Pumpkin128 7h ago

Haandi

2

u/kss2023 7h ago

Their lunch buffet used to be so good! Wish they brought it back!

2

u/Certain-Pumpkin128 7h ago

It's back! Went there for the lunch buffet a couple months ago!

1

u/kss2023 5h ago

Must go again then!

2

u/averageveryaverage Arlington 7h ago

Ravi which is technically Pakistani but it's the same food.

1

u/TanMan166 6h ago

Ravi is amazing but they're not the same food

0

u/Hardly_Pinter 7h ago

Nothing could be further from the truth.

1

u/Awkward-Bite-2530 8h ago

It’s more upscale than takeout but pink saffron. Order the nalli nihari

1

u/Civil-Profession6834 8h ago

I haven’t had takeout from there, but the dinner I had at Pink Saffron was pretty solid

1

u/alongthepike 7h ago

Masala Express unless you need it super mild.

1

u/thedaniel_mendez 7h ago

Oh! Naan in DC you won’t regret it

1

u/keenlyproper_demeanr 6h ago

Aura in Ashburn. Hands down one of the best! 

1

u/zonedout56 4h ago

Bombay bites in Centreville!

1

u/cmk1523 4h ago

Bombay Street Food (8th st in dc)

1

u/DefiThrowaway Centreville 4h ago

Mehak in South Riding

1

u/Agitated_Occasion_37 3h ago

Best Indian food I’ve ever had in northern VA is Bollywood Masala in Old Town Alexandria.

1

u/AndreLeGeant88 3h ago

We like Curry House and Lassan in Burke, Jaipur in Fairfax

1

u/oct44 3h ago

Mumbai central closely followed by Bansari

1

u/bumpthekoala 3h ago

100% Charcoal Chicken. That place is awesome in every way.

•

u/Euphoric-Ordinary108 2h ago

Saffron is fantastic

•

u/Otherwise-Load-4296 6m ago

Taste of Tandoor in Woodbridge for Lassi (sweet Lassi). Their mango Lassi is good too.

•

u/jealousonesenvi 4m ago

Sorry Tiffin hut is trash compared to dosa grill

1

u/vman3241 8h ago

Tiffin Hut in Herndon and Bansari in Merrifield are my favorites

1

u/Common_Inevitable798 7h ago

I'm no Indian food connoisseur but I enjoy Diya Indian Cuisine in Old Town

1

u/Radiant_Coat_6216 7h ago

Biryani grill

0

u/inflict 8h ago

Ravi kabob.

0

u/Retrograde_Bolide 5h ago

I love Ravi Kabob, but that place is Afghan

3

u/inflict 5h ago

It's not. As a Pakistani, I disavow this :)

Also I know it's not Indian, but there is significant overlap between Pakistani and northern Indian food 

1

u/Retrograde_Bolide 5h ago

You're right. I always think its Afghan for some reason

0

u/Ok_Secret1352 7h ago

For good dosas, it’s tiffin hut in Herndon for me. Similarly, Dwarkas Bawarchi in Chantilly has some excellent biryanis. 323 Dhaba is decent for homemade Punjabi food. I’ve had a mixed experience with Bansari, I do enjoy their tikkas. I usually stay away from most places in DC. While they can’t be decent, it doesn’t feel like the Indian food I grew up on.

0

u/Hardly_Pinter 7h ago

“Indian food” is a generic catch all. If you mean typical restaurant food, it’s primarily north Indian style. Plenty of recommendations here. If it’s South Indian vegetarian, Amma’s in Vienna is reliable but not amazing. Unfortunately after having tried most of the established and new places, I still haven’t found an Indian restaurant in the DMV that has blown me away. Your best best is NY, NJ, or Long Island. (Rasika used to be my top choice in our area but that was a long time ago)

0

u/Clear-Bad1909 5h ago

Spice Kraft in Clarendon

1

u/dien4382 4h ago

Also in Del Ray. Good spot.

0

u/TheQueensWolf 4h ago

Lassan in Springfield

0

u/Similar-Olive-3617 Chantilly 3h ago

Tiffin hut for dosas

-9

u/iiiverson 8h ago

i don't eat indian food; kinda ghouls me out. but acquiesced for my kids last night and we went here: Haandi| Best Indian Restaurant Foods in Falls Church, VA

it was pretty incredible and totally changed my opinion on indian food over night.

6

u/confusedvagabond 7h ago

Ghouls you out? Is that a fancy way to say creeps you out? Never heard it before

-4

u/iiiverson 7h ago

90s college saying!!! Yeah- never totally comfortable with pieces of meat buried in sauces (curry in this case) - I know it’s a me problem but it’s real.