Rafia R.
Yelp
First takeout I had during my move to DC. This place was further for me than their other location over on H street which must have been closed due to COVID, but I'm glad this place was opened. The menu was very limited, only five options to select both the main and side dishes from. I think it would be better if the side dishes were different from the main. Additionally the food was already all prepared, so it felt more like fast food than restaurant quality food. I ordered the Chicken Tikka Masala as my main and chose the Channa Masala and the Vegetable biryani as my sides. This meal also came with a side of naan. Opposite of the register and the food, there is a selection of sauces one can take for free. The options were: Raita (a spice yogurt side), Vindaloo sauce (spicy red sauce), and a cilantro chutney. I picked up two containers of Vindaloo sauce. The total cost of my meal after taxes was $11.67, which is incredible especially given how much they give you (definitely at least 2 servings worth, I'd say 3 servings for me) and since it's DC! But in all honesty, as a South Asian who has consumed a lot of Indian and other south Asian foods over my lifetime so far, the food was kind of mediocre. I am sure those who did not grow up eating this food would find it more than wonderful, but I found it to be just okay. I would come again if I was craving Indian and was wanting something cheap and **fast**, but otherwise I'd go elsewhere. I felt that the chickpeas and the chicken were missing the acid component wholly and not enough salt and heat. The pulao rice was beautifully seasoned (I could tell there was a lot of ghee in there). The biryani was dry. The naan was just like regular naan. The vindaloo sauce was disappointing--it was not able to to hit the acid and heat aspect as one might anticipate. It tasted very much like red pepper flakes drenched in tomato juice. But overall the meal was decent, not great but not terrible. Most definitely filling which sometimes all you know. This was just fast Indian food, like Halal Guys. I would give the place a 3.5/5 if I could. I will try again sometime soon.