Authentic Northern Indian Restaurants

[Anonymous]

Just got back from a work trip to India. Didn't like the country, but loved the food. Even a curry in the airport was better than most restaurants here. What are the most authentic northern Indian restaurants in the area? I'd love to have some more amazing Indian food without having to fly 20 hours.

Please don't suggest Rasika; I've been there, it's great, but way too expensive for regular visits.

[Anonymous]

Taste of India in Bethesda

[Anonymous]

What a shitty thing to say that you didn’t like the country.

[Anonymous]

What didn’t you like?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What a shitty thing to say that you didn’t like the country.

New poster - very understandable. Been to India several times and I love aspects of it, but it is certainly a challenging country on many levels. No other place in the world assaults your senses in the way India does, and from so many different dimensions. I can easily understand why people wouldn't enjoy India. It's complex.

The best Indian food isn't in India, it's in Dubai due to the huge expat community and higher quality control standards. But in the DC area, it's pretty much all the same heavy creamy curries. I do wish we had proper South Indian and thalis, although that isn't what OP is looking for! Others can prove me wrong!

[Anonymous]

If you want really good Indian food you need to go somewhere with a sizable Indian population: Bay Area, NY/NJ etc. This isn’t the place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just got back from a work trip to India. Didn't like the country, but loved the food. Even a curry in the airport was better than most restaurants here. What are the most authentic northern Indian restaurants in the area? I'd love to have some more amazing Indian food without having to fly 20 hours.

Please don't suggest Rasika; I've been there, it's great, but way too expensive for regular visits.

That’s like someone going to one city in America for a work trip and going back and proclaiming they don’t like the whole country. Smh

[Anonymous]

Virraaj on Cordell oh Bethesda.

https://www.virraaj.com/

Food is delicious and has a great cocktail menu too. Plus nice owners and employees 🙂

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just got back from a work trip to India. Didn't like the country, but loved the food. Even a curry in the airport was better than most restaurants here. What are the most authentic northern Indian restaurants in the area? I'd love to have some more amazing Indian food without having to fly 20 hours.

Please don't suggest Rasika; I've been there, it's great, but way too expensive for regular visits.

That’s like someone going to one city in America for a work trip and going back and proclaiming they don’t like the whole country. Smh

I’d cut OP a little slack even though I don’t care for their wording. I am Indian and when I took my American DH to India for the first time to meet my family after we got engaged he was really overwhelmed. It can be a lot to process.

[Anonymous]

Commonwealth Indian at Pike and Rose is not bad. We used to really like Spice Xing but they closed.

[Anonymous]

I’m Indian. Recently ate at Bollywood Bistro and liked it— as did my mother. I’ve liked Heritage India and Bombay Palace over the years, but haven’t been in a long time. My aunt likes Minerva— I haven’t been there. Another Indian recently recommended Bombay Tandoor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m Indian. Recently ate at Bollywood Bistro and liked it— as did my mother. I’ve liked Heritage India and Bombay Palace over the years, but haven’t been in a long time. My aunt likes Minerva— I haven’t been there. Another Indian recently recommended Bombay Tandoor.

Minerva in Gaithersburg? That’s a wonderful place if you want a week of heartburn.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just got back from a work trip to India. Didn't like the country, but loved the food. Even a curry in the airport was better than most restaurants here. What are the most authentic northern Indian restaurants in the area? I'd love to have some more amazing Indian food without having to fly 20 hours.

Please don't suggest Rasika; I've been there, it's great, but way too expensive for regular visits.

That’s like someone going to one city in America for a work trip and going back and proclaiming they don’t like the whole country. Smh

OP here. Not that I need to explain this to you, but...I went to 5 cities in 3 states of India. I was wheezing constantly and I had 4 asthma attacks, one of which was the worst I've ever had, because the air quality in India is beyond abysmal. I suppose not being able to breathe tainted my experience, but maybe I'm overreacting. So fabulous that some of you have never been to a country you didn't like before.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Commonwealth Indian at Pike and Rose is not bad. We used to really like Spice Xing but they closed.

I didn't like Commonwealth, so you now have mixed reviews. But maybe I am just used to my stand-by, Bombay Bistro in Rockville.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m Indian. Recently ate at Bollywood Bistro and liked it— as did my mother. I’ve liked Heritage India and Bombay Palace over the years, but haven’t been in a long time. My aunt likes Minerva— I haven’t been there. Another Indian recently recommended Bombay Tandoor.

I LOVE Bollywood Bistro. I’ve ordered from there before and it’s been OK, but recently it’s been amazing. Not sure if they got a new chef or what but it was the some of the best Indian food I’ve had in a long time