Karma Modern Indian To Bindass: Visit Top 8 Indian Restaurants In Washington DC 

Indian food attracts a wide range of palates. It can be said mostly due to the well-balanced flavour profile, which hits the sweet and sour notes to counterbalance the heat and leave a nice aftertaste in the tastebuds. There's a reason why Indians worldwide yearn for the comforting taste of home-cooked meals. The comfort of home can be felt by the nostalgia of a perfectly soft naan combined with butter chicken.

India's culinary traditions are incredibly varied. Today, this cuisine is not just restricted to the. There are many Indian restaurants in major cities across the world that display the same calibre of culinary talent as an eatery in Mumbai, and Washington, DC is no exception.

Video Credit: YouTube/Kunal Kapur

1. Karma Modern Indian 

This suitably titled Indian bistro exudes a rather modern vibe because of its large windows and navy blue and white colour scheme. It is significantly different from any average curry establishment because every dish is carefully crafted to have a unique flavour. The instruction manual on the back of the menu has information about the health advantages of the spices, which are ground on the spot. Palak paneer and chicken tikka, which use freshly produced ingredients, are two of the local favourite dishes on the menu. Customers must try the Amritsari snapper prepared with red snapper and a blend of house tartar sauce. The chicken Chettinad is also equally delicious but can be a bit spicy, pair it with naan or cumin rice. From the dinner menu, one must try the lobster masala and saffron duck. 

Address: 611 I St NW, Washington, DC 20001, United States

Price: $12 to $25 approx. for 1

Time: Tuesday to Sunday- 12 pm to 2:30 pm, 5 pm to 10 pm (Closed on Monday)

Must-Try: Palak Paneer, Chicken Tikka, Amritsari Snapper, Chicken Chettinad, Lamb Rogan Josh, Lobster Masala, Saffron Duck, Kashmiri Gustaba, And Pistachio Kulfi

2. Rasika West End

This attractive, loud, and vibrant location attracts a diverse range of diners and has convenient access to the Metro. Everyone is drawn to this place because of the flavourful Indian food and its relaxed atmosphere, suitable for a formal dinner with business associates as well as a joyous celebration. Settle into a seat at the rear counter to peek into the kitchen, serving dishes like crispy palak chaat paired with tamarind and date chutneys. Then, bindi sambhariya exhibits the ideal balance of tart and spicy flavours. Customers can order the paneer sashlik made with house-made paneer cubes, skewered with onions and peppers, and served with a zesty green sauce. Followers of a vegan diet can try the jackfruit kebab prepared with jackfruit and walnuts served with spiced red and green pepper chutneys. The Scottish tandoori salmon is also equally delicious made with Kashmiri chillies, cinnamon, and black pepper. 

Address: 633 D Street, NW, Washington, DC 20004/1190 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037

Price: $10 to $30 approx. for 1

Time: Monday to Friday- 11:30 am to 12:30 pm, 5 pm to 10 pm

Sunday: 11 am to 2:30 pm, 4:30 pm to 9:30 pm

Saturday closed for lunch, dinner timings- 4:30 pm to 10:30 pm

Must-Try: Palak Chaat, Bhindi Sambhariya, Paneer Sashlik, Jackfruit Kebab, Scottish Tandoori Salmon, Truffle Seekh Kebab, Lamb Coconut Fry, Chicken Makhani, And Biryani.

Also Read: 7 Unique & Delicious Ways To Cook And Enjoy Octopus

3. The Bombay Club

There isn't a better spot for a romantic meal for two. It can be because of the carefully chosen artwork in the dining room, which includes a gorgeous painting showing an impressionist rendition of the classic Indian Kathak dance, or the mouthwatering food that makes dining at Bombay Club so elegant. Make sure to get the bright, nutty lemon and cashew rice and pair it with daal makhani, simmered for sixteen hours to bring out the flavours entirely. Try the duck kebabs spiced with chillies, ginger, and nutmeg and it is extremely delicious. To get a taste of regional cuisines, try regional classics from the menu, like Bengali fish curry or Kerala snapper and pair it with some basmati rice. Guests will also get various thalis on the menu, like samundari and club thali. 

Address: 815 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20006, United States

Price: $10 to $30 approx. for 1

Time: Tuesday to Friday: 11:30 am to 2:30 pm, 5 pm to 10 pm

Saturday and Sunday- 5 pm to 10 pm (Closed on Monday)

Must-Try: Lemon-Cashew Nut Rice, Daal Makhani, Duck Kebabs, Bengali Fish Curry, Kerala Snapper, Roasted Kasundi Scallop, Crab Kori Roti, Shrimp Amritsari, Samundari Thali, And Club Thali.

Image Credit: Daru

4. Daru

This hip H Street location is a terrific place to go with friends to experience modern Indian food and innovative beverages. A spicy and tasty way to start the dinner is with the eggplant paneer bhurji, a dish that combines eggplant with paneer cheese, simmered down with spices like sumac and chaat masala. Rich, savoury meals with an Italian touch, like the wild mushroom biryani, paneer drenched in pesto, and earthy, smoky black lentils topped with a sphere of burrata, are also popular among regular customers. Guests can also try the mango shrimp bhel prepared with cashews, mustard seed, and puffed rice. The Mango Tango, which combines bourbon, mango, and chile pepper, is a delicious and spicy drink. For a strong rum and masala chai combination, try the Chai-Teani.

Address:1451 Maryland Ave NE, Washington, DC 20002, United States

Price: $10 to $20 approx. for 1

Time: Monday to Sunday: 5 pm to 10 pm

Must-Try: Eggplant Paneer Bhurji, Wild Mushroom Biryani, Paneer Pesto Tikka, Black Daal Burrata, Mango Shrimp Bhel, Lassoni Lamb Chops, Ragda Pattice, And Stripped Bass Paturi.

5. Woodlands- Pure Vegetarian Indian Cuisine

Woodlands is the greatest place to find South Indian restaurants in Washington, DC. This is the place to be for die-hard vegetarians from Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Madras. They offer everything from the regional cuisine of the southern states of India. The South Indian thali is extremely popular among the locals. Try their chilli bhajji prepared with green chillies dipped in besan and deep fried. The Woodland special cut mirch is also popular among people, here the chillies are stuffed with masala and fried. They have a wide selection of dosas like spinach dosa, sadarawa dosa, pudina roast dosa, and onion rawa masala dosa. Rice lovers must try their bisi bele bhath and tomato rice .

Address: 4078 Jermantown Rd, Fairfax, VA 22030

Time: Monday to Sunday- 11:30 am to 3 pm, 5 pm to 10 pm

Must-Try: Chili Bhajji, Cut Mirch, Spinach Dosa, Sadarawa Dosa, Pudina Roast Dosa, Bise Bele Bhath, Tomato Rice, Chole Bhatura, Malabar Adai, And Special Upma. 

Image Credit: Pappe

6. Pappe

Indian food is best enjoyed in a family setting, therefore with more people, the more enjoyable it will be. Pappe's vibrant décor, cosy booths, and a varied menu make for a fantastic setting for large gatherings. The best thing about the menu is how diverse it is, with foods from all around India, including gobi Manchurian, an Indo-Chinese cuisine that is very famous in New Delhi. They also have fish curry and uttapam (rice pancakes) from the southern states of India. Whenever visiting, definitely try the junglee laal maas, a Rajasthani dish prepared with meat, garlic tomato chutney, and red chillies. Don’t miss the lamb biryani made with aromatic basmati rice and lamb, served with cucumber raita. Sweet lovers can also try unique desserts like the chai creme brulee and rabdi tres leches.

Address:1317 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20005, United States

Price: $16 to $30

Time: Monday to Thursday- 5 pm to 10 pm

Friday to Sunday- 11:30 am to 10:30 pm

Must-Try: Gobi Manchurian, Fish Curry, Uttapam, Junglee Laal Mass, Lamb Biryani, Chai Creme Brulee, And Rabdi Tres Leches.

7. Indique

One of the oldest and consistently delicious Indian restaurants in the neighbourhood, Indique offers a traditional Indian evening experience. Try the crunchy tiny dosa, a south Indian pancake filled with potatoes and topped with sweet fresh coconut chutney and a spicy lentil dipping sauce called sambar. Their original dishes, like the saag makai and Malabaar fish curry are still some of the best in town. Guests must try the asparagus poriyal, which consists of finely chopped asparagus that is shallow-fried with mustard seeds and curry leaves. The morel vegetable stew is equally delicious, made with chewy morel mushrooms steeped in a smooth coconut curry. The restaurant's cocktails are just as good as its food; the Mumbai Mule and Garam Masala Tonic are some of the local favourites. Sweet lovers should try the tamarind vanilla swirl and homemade mango cheesecake.

Address:3512 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008, United States

Price: $8 to $ 20 approx. for 1

Time: Monday to Sunday- 5 pm to 9:30 pm

Must-Try: Chicken Mini Dosa, Asparagus Poriyal, Moel Vegetable Stew, Bhelpuri, Pickeled Pork Belly, Shrimp Curry, Saag Makai, Malabaar Fish Curry, Paneer Makhani, And Tamarind Vanilla Swirl.

8. Bindass

The lively menu of street food options distinguishes Bindaas from the other Indian eateries in the city. It pays magnificent homage to the colourful, vibrant street cuisine culture of India. Try the vada pao, which are baby sandwiches made of potato and vegetable patties spiced with garlic, ginger, turmeric, and garam masala and served on a bun with spicy cilantro chutney. People can also taste golgappas prepared with avocado, yoghurt, and sweet tamarind chutney. And the famous kathi roll is also available, which is a spicy Indian wrap with a chewy whole wheat roti enclosing strips of sweet bell pepper and onions and chunks of paneer or meat.

Address: 2000 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20006, United States

Price: $5 to $20 approx. for 1

Time: Monday to Thursday and Sunday- 11:30 am to 9 pm

Friday and Saturday: 11:30 am to 10 pm

Must-Try: Vada Pao, Avocado Golgappa, Mango Pani Puri, Kathi Roll, Masala Omelette, Parso Fried Chicken, Lamb Goli Kebab, And Tawa Biryani. 

Visit some of Washington, DC's top Indian eateries to taste the flavourful dishes. These incredible restaurants will satisfy every type of foodie seeking something new, whether they are vegetarians, lovers of spices, or just plain foodies searching for something different. Enjoy the gastronomic delights of India while incorporating a touch of regional flair by visiting these places throughout the city.