Namak Mandi Review: Peshawar's Famous Food Street Comes to Downtown DC
Sizzling karahi, tandoor naan as long as your arm and a lunch buffet that draws a crowd. Why Namak Mandi is the DC area's essential Pakistani table.
Bombay Street Food Review: Columbia Heights' Budget-Friendly Taste of Mumbai
Vada pav, Indo-Chinese chili chicken, a thali for two and cutting chai with pakoras. Why Bombay Street Food is DC's best cheap Indian meal.
Pappe Review: Logan Circle's Spice-Forward Indian Neighborhood Favorite
Fiery lamb vindaloo, Goan crab cakes and Alleppey sea bass curry on 14th Street. Why Pappe has been Logan Circle's go-to Indian since 2018.
Karizma Review: Mount Vernon Triangle's Michelin Bib Gourmand Indian Dining Room
Chevre and herb naan, lamb kakori kebab and a 37-ingredient signature dish. Why Karizma is one of DC's best-value modern Indian meals.
Tapori Review: H Street's Rowdy, Joyful Indian and Nepali Street Food Bar
Lotus root chaat, wagyu momos, vada pav and an Achar Martini under seven-foot fish lamps. Why the Daru team's second act is DC's best new South Asian restaurant.
Chai Pani Review: The James Beard-Winning Street Food Favorite Lands at Union Market
SPDP, matchstick okra fries and kale pakora chaat in a room that feels like a Mumbai street party. Why Chai Pani DC is the city's most joyful Indian meal.
Tamashaa Review: Columbia Heights' Bollywood-Bright Indian Gastro Bar
Panipuri shots, Kerala fried chicken, ghevar chaat and a room dressed in violet and orange. Why Tamashaa lives up to its name.
Rasika Review: The Penn Quarter Classic That Taught Washington to Love Indian Food
Crispy palak chaat, honey-glazed black cod and a dining room that hums from lunch to last call. Why Rasika is still Washington's Indian benchmark.
Daru Review: The Indian-ish Cocktail Bar That Put Northeast DC on the Map
Blue cheese reshmi kebab, bison momos and a bar that treats Indian flavors like a cocktail pantry. Why Daru is still DC's coolest Indian hangout.
Rania Review: Washington's Michelin-Starred Indian Prix Fixe in Penn Quarter
Peking duck vindaloo, shrimp koliwada and a cocktail list built for a big night. Why Rania is the city's Indian splurge.