You won’t be disappointed if you’re searching for the best Indian restaurants in Washington DC Downtown or Indian buffet downtown DC. An array of homely dishes, high-end food menus, and contemporary Indian delicacies is awaiting you. Before you take the easy way out by opting for Indian food delivery, we recommend learning about the most romantic Indian restaurants in DC, Michelin star Indian restaurants in Washington DC and the incredible restaurants below.
Best Indian Restaurants in Washington DC Downtown
Those who’ve personally experienced the lip-smacking offerings of Indian restaurants in Washington DC near the White House know why Barack Obama was a regular customer there. Indian food near Capitol Hill in DC has also delighted customer for years, as have the following restaurants.
Pappe
Website: https://www.pappedc.com/
Phone number: +1 (202) 888-8220
Opening Hours:
Sunday 11:30am- 3:00 pm
Monday to Thursday 5:00 pm- 10:00 pm
Friday 5:00pm – 10:30 pm
Saturday 11:30pm- 3:00 pm + 5:00 pm – 10:30 pm
Address: 1317 14th St NW, Washington
<google-map><iframe src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d3104.7044766221206!2d-77.0317106!3d38.9078728!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x89b7b7eaf1095555%3A0x36197e489515a798!2sPappe!5e0!3m2!1sen!2sfr!4v1664269802567!5m2!1sen!2sfr" width="600" height="450" style="border:0;" allowfullscreen="" loading="lazy" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade"></iframe></google-map>Pappe sits on the 14th Street of NW, Washington, DC, a charming Indian eatery that continues to satisfy every taste bud’s craving for authentic Goan and oldest Indian food in Washington DC. This restaurant brings its homeland recipes to the heart of best Indian restaurants in Washington DC Downtown.
Its food menu is a representation of the best North Indian food in Washington DC and some delicacies of the south as well. Customers specifically devour the Allepey fish curry, fish chittinad, and Crab pav here. This restaurant is a must-visit because you will also find Indian dishes comprising fresh seasonal produce, poultry, and meat.
However, customers tend to favor non-veg items more than vegetarian counters. Those searching for Bangladeshi cuisine may not find it an excellent eatery, but those whose palates never fail to relish North Indian delicacies will find Pappe a culinary retreat.
What’s more, at this cozy restaurant, customers now have the option to dine indoors or outdoors. Past the pandemic, the restaurant management took over a portion of the outdoors, where diners could sit in the crisp evenings and leisurely sip mango lassies.
Food Items Recommended
Thali
Serving portions of chaat
<facebook><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fpappedc%2Fphotos%2Fa.688527424993678%2F1430682007444879%2F%3Ftype%3D3&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="498" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></facebook>Lamb korma
Rich pieces of lamb meat in a thick, flavorful, and aromatic curry
Junglee laal maas
Bone-in goat, red chilies, and tomato chutney
Chicken tikka
Spiced and marinated chicken, cooked in a tandoor
Prawn Ambi
Spicy and sour, Goan prawn curry
Rasika West End
Website: https://www.rasikarestaurant.com/
Phone number: +1 (202) 637 1222
Opening Hours:
Monday- Friday 11:30am – 2:30pm
Sunday 11:30 – 2:30pm
Monday- Thursday 5:00pm – 10:00pm
Friday- Saturday 5:00pm – 10:30pm
Sunday 5:00pm – 9:00pm
Address: 1190 New Hampshire Ave NW, Washington DC, 20037
<google-map><iframe src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d3104.8268154847415!2d-77.0481629!3d38.90507549999999!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x89b7b7b6fa3a4b31%3A0x3598c466df89eab9!2sRasika%20West%20End!5e0!3m2!1sen!2sfr!4v1664269957978!5m2!1sen!2sfr" width="600" height="450" style="border:0;" allowfullscreen="" loading="lazy" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade"></iframe></google-map>Downtown Rasika is a good option to consider if you’re searching for the best Indian restaurants in Washington DC Downtown. You can easily reach the lively, loud, and good-looking restaurant through the metro. The vibrant ambiance, good customer service, and great food makes it one of the best Indian restaurants for lunch in DC.
The best feature of Rasika West End, is its versatility. For your lazy weekend hangouts with friends and family to a festive or formal dinner with colleagues, the laid-back ambiance and kitsch-free Indian dishes make it a perfect pick. It’s also one of the best Indian restaurants with parking in Washington DC (Valet service nightly from 5 pm onwards).
Customers often explain restaurants fail to live up to the hype, but Rasika West End serves the best Indian fusion food in DC. When you want to enjoy authentic Indian treats with exotic Asian ingredients in privacy, you could take one of the seats at the back and feast away on your order.
Fun fact: Where did Obama get Indian food in DC? Well, it was… at Rasika West End!!!
Food Items Recommended
Crispy okra
Deep fried and served with a blend of spicy and sour Indian ingredients
Crunchy bhindi
Deep-fried okra featuring a perfect blend of sour and spicy flavors
Crispy palak chaat
Crispy fried spinach fritters tossed with the date and tamarind chutneys and raita
Paneer
House-made paneer cubes, skewered with onions and peppers and served with a tangy green sauce
Some More Options for the Best Indian Restaurants in Washington DC Downtown
Bindaas
Website: http://www.bindaasdc.com/
Phone number: +1 (202) 290 2278
Opening Hours:
Tuesday – Thursday 11:30 am – 9:30 pm
Friday- Saturday 11:30 am – 10 pm
Sunday – 11:30 am – 9 pm
Monday- Closed
Address: 2000 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
<google-map><iframe src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d3105.0246640046985!2d-77.0450627!3d38.9005513!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x89b7b7b08fde59bf%3A0xc0287d5e6100c735!2sBindaas!5e0!3m2!1sen!2sfr!4v1664270042642!5m2!1sen!2sfr" width="600" height="450" style="border:0;" allowfullscreen="" loading="lazy" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade"></iframe></google-map>Indian street food in DC is as synonymous with India’s identity as are the country’s Bollywood films. Street food plays an integral role in promoting cultural diversity in the country and is a source of indulgence for foodies who love a blend of salty, spicy, sour, and sweet flavors.
Bindaas brings you a tempting array of the most popular dishes from Bombay street food. People head to this dining restaurant from far and near to enjoy the high-quality renditions of kebabs, uttapam flavors, bhel puri, and lots more. You must head here for the best Indian food in DC City: kabob.
When discussing the best Indian restaurants in Washington DC Downtown it is impossible to miss mentioning Bindaas. The chef here whips up delicacies with an assortment of vegetables, combining nutrition and unbeatable flavors in one meal.
From potatoes, pears, and carrots to cauliflower in a blend of special spices and a thick gravy of tomatoes and onions, your taste buds will be in for a treat here. Most days, customers return satisfied with Bindaas’ culinary offerings and services.
From huge serving portions to excellent use of original spices and the tantalizing aromas and flavors of authentic Indian street food, this beloved restaurant should be on your list of itineraries.
Food Items Recommended
Dosa
Savory crepe with Chile cheese and served with coconut chutney
<facebook><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fbindaas%2Fposts%2Fpfbid0J75zhz1VJ9381UYKZFrPFvWxxFgi9pVH9VL6uievWFnPgb3E3y1K3sP5Vp8urVT3l&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="635" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></facebook>Paneer Kathi roll
Paneer cubes skewered with onion and bell peppers in aromatic spices wrapped in crispy paratha
Lamb goli kebab
Lamb meat flavored with roasted masala and fennel seed
Ragda pattice
Spiced potato with red onion, yellow pea, and cilantro chutney
Cauliflower chili pakora
Cauliflower florets, batter-coated and deep fried, served with chaat masala and pickled onion chutney
Sakina Halal Grill
Website: http://www.sakinahalalgrill.com/
Phone number: +1 202-637-9770
Opening Hours:
Monday – Saturday 11:30AM – 9:00PM
Address: 1108 K St NW, Washington DC 20005
<google-map><iframe src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d3104.9476183734205!2d-77.02981688515477!3d38.90231315426045!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x89b7b7938745af17%3A0x7f4fb13f264b94ba!2sSakina%20Halal%20Grill!5e0!3m2!1sen!2sfr!4v1664270102210!5m2!1sen!2sfr" width="600" height="450" style="border:0;" allowfullscreen="" loading="lazy" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade"></iframe></google-map>Customers of Sakina Halal Grill keep returning to this eatery over and over for a reason: excellent Indian food with a lovely ambiance, traditional décor, and outstanding customer service. Sakina Halal Grill serves purely sourced food, another plus point to attribute the renowned restaurant with.
When searching for the best Indian restaurants in Washington DC, Downtown, you’ll never make a bad choice with this Indian food buffet in Washington DC. Diners claim they relish the culinary treats like a king here and that few places can beat the delectable butter chicken, mango lassi, and chicken Karachi here.
We wouldn’t be wrong to describe this restaurant as an all-rounder, considering the top-notch customer service, striking ambiance and decors, and of course, the authentic, delicious food.
Food Items Recommended
Jalaibee
Crispy dessert of all-purpose flour and curd, deep fried and soaked in sugar syrup flavored with black cardamom
<instagram><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CaIytr-gILZ/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CaIytr-gILZ/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"> <div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; 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font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"><div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"></div></div></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div></a><p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CaIytr-gILZ/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Sakina (@sakinahalalgrill)</a></p></div></blockquote> <script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script></instagram>Chicken karahi
Chicken pieces cooked in a thicker and drier curry, made with tomatoes, ginger, garlic and flavored with special aromatic spices
Chaat papri
Indian street food snack, made with chickpeas, sev, moon beans, potatoes, chilled curd and coriander, and tamarind chutneys
Lamb karahi
Lamb pieces cooked in a thicker and drier curry, made with tomatoes, ginger, garlic and flavored with special aromatic spices
Conclusion
- Pappe, on 1317 14th St, NW, Washington, serves the best Indian chat thali.
- Rasika West End, located at 1190 New Hampshire, Ave NW, Washington DC, 20037 serves the best Indian vegetarian dishes.
- Bindaas, located at 2000 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, is highly recommended for its chile cheese dosa and lamb kebabs.
- For the best experience of authentic and halal food, Sakina Halal Grill, located at 1108 K St NW, is the best option in downtown Washington DC.
