This may be crazy, but I make it myself? We do some things from scratch and supplement with some store bought things. Palak paneer is really easy and a favorite of mine.

Anonymous wrote:Y’all are eating at the wrong places. Is the clientele primarily Indian? If not, go elsewhere. Granted I’m in the suburbs, but I do not pay anywhere near that amount of $ for my Indian food.

I’m Indian, BTW. And I buy my chapati/naan/parathas at the Indian grocery store, where it is less expensive and freshly made.

This. Go to a small biryani place in a strip mall filled with Indian families. It will probably be good and cheap. The menu will be limited, but that's how the make it cheap

Anonymous wrote:It’s not that expensive near me (right outside of DC). Entrees are closer to $15 than $22 and are huge.

Where is this? I’d like to try!

It’s not that expensive near me (right outside of DC). Entrees are closer to $15 than $22 and are huge.

Y’all are eating at the wrong places. Is the clientele primarily Indian? If not, go elsewhere. Granted I’m in the suburbs, but I do not pay anywhere near that amount of $ for my Indian food.

I’m Indian, BTW. And I buy my chapati/naan/parathas at the Indian grocery store, where it is less expensive and freshly made.

Maybe because people think it is exotic and should pay those prices. But Indian food should be cheap and inexpensive, but it’s not anymore. Chana masala should be about $10 but it’s $20.

Houston and Chicago have better Indian food scene.

Indian food has too many imported ingredients and its labor intensive. However, if a restaurant is getting enough business and keeping menu options limited, they can make it in bulk and cut down cost and time.

Anonymous wrote:Why shouldn’t it be expensive?

Because vegetarian ingredients don’t correlate with expensive food. Sushi and steak makes sense to be expensive.

Why shouldn’t it be expensive?

NYT food column*

Best Indian food I’ve had was at a truck stop in Bakersfield. It was written up in the NYT fois column and exists because of the truck drivers that come through. It was cheap too!

Anonymous wrote:I live in the Bay Area, and Indian food is not that expensive here. Not sure where you are eating...

lol DP here and I’m in the Bay Area too. Indian food is less expensive here but it does cost more in the DMV. There used to be an amazing place in Arlington back before it was built up, Dheli Dhaba. It was cheap and so good but that was decades ago, no idea if it’s still there. Chinese food is more expensive here in the Bay Area and cheaper in the DMV. I was surprised that all the Chinese and Thai restaurants charge for rice here.

I live in the Bay Area, and Indian food is not that expensive here. Not sure where you are eating...

Is there a reason for this? Naan is always a la cart at 5 plus dollars a piece. My vegetarian palak paneer which is basically spinach and cheese is $22. And it’s expensive in every city not just DC.