Jab We Met Indian Kitchen

Initially was going to the restaurant across the street but Indian sounded so good instead. I looked up the reviews and everyone's praises had me crossing the street. I was not disappointed and I concur with all the reviews. The food here is fantastic! The service was impeccable and the kindness from every person there just made me so happy and comfortable. I will definitely be coming back and i highly recommend eating here. Excellent experience! Both hosts and servers were so helpful kind and beautiful! Ugh I wish I was good with names, I should have written them down but they were excellent and helped me with my choices! I got the Saag which had so many different flavors with the garlic Naan that complimented it perfectly! Great portions, left with a happy belly and leftovers as I was unable to finish it all although I wanted to try. I am having it for breakfast before my flight home! Thank you so much for this truly amazing meal and hospitality!

Had a double date here last night and the food was delicious! Very flavorful with great consideration for spice level, overall taste and attention to detail. It felt like we were in a family owned spot, everyone was very nice and shared the responsibility for our table without making us feel shuffled around. Our glasses were rarely if ever empty and the food came out in a timely fashion. Now that I know what “mild” is to them, I’ll ask for my food to be a bit more spicy but that is not a ding to them at all. Lots of gluten free and vegan options. We got: Apps Veggie samosas -perfect size and flavors Honey Garlic Shrimp- deliciously sautéed with onions and peppers Aloo Goat Cheese Tikki - delectable fried goat cheese with onion and spices Entrees: Lamb Biryani - delish. Perfect portion size for sharing no leftovers Lamb Vindaloo- excellent. Tender lamb, flavorful sauce Lamb Tikkia Masala - very tasty. Sauce was perfect texture and lamb was also tender Chicken Saag - Amazing. My friend was already talking about how excited she was for her lunch today! Butter, cheese and garlic naan were all fresh and delicious. I love that they had so many variations Overall wonderful experience. I can see us returning again soon, bringing more family and friends. Thank you and we’ll see you again soon!

Everything was amazing! Food - outstanding (and we have many Indian places all over the world to compare it to!), service - great and fast, atmosphere - cosy and light. The only complaint - we wish our chicken was chicken thigh not breast. Make sure to get a reservation, this place fills up fast around 5:30pm.

We came across this place on Google and the name seemed so attractive that we ended up visiting that restaurant for our next meal that day. We reserved a table but there was no wait time. The restaurant ha multiple tables for variety of groups. In appetizers we tried their palak chat after reading the raving reviews , It has nice taste and flavor although I would not recommend this dish to people who don't like sour food as this one has tamarind chutney as well as yogurt so it's a little too much tangy Their samosas were really tasty and warm. They were crisp and felt like they were freshly made. I would highly recommend it. In entrees, we tried their paneer makhani and daal fry, I will highly recommend it. I think there was food color added to makhani coz it looked too red in colour. In breads we tried their butter naan , laccha paratha and bhootiya chilli naan. I think both the naans felt the same to us. The chilli naan had chilli's but it was not spicy at all. The laccha paratha was okay. In dessert, we tried their rice pudding, it was nice but they can probably make it a little less sweet. The hospitality and service here is really good. We came here in the afternoon, seeing that they were open but probably there was so problem and they had already closed by then. We came back next day as we really wanted to have food here, the owner was so happy seeing us back. He made sure we were comfortable and we get everything we needed. All in all a really good place. I just hope they fix the palak chat and make their breads more distinguished We visit this place again in future .

Perfect Combination Lunch for Astounding $15!!! Have you ever had a meal so delicious, so perfect that you were forced to your laptop to write a review, knowing your thumbs would give out if you tried to craft it on your phone? This happened to me today when I went for an Indian lunch at Jab We Met, on 8th Street (Barracks Row) in SE DC. I had heard JWM was offering a new lunch menu, one with samples of various dishes (combo platters), for just $15.00. Jab We Met is already one of my favorite restaurants, so I expected to enjoy the meal, but this new concept provided my partner and me a kind of fantasy Indian meal, in which we were able to have a little of this and a little of that, without overeating, and for the perfect price! That’s the headline. Let me describe what was so perfect about it. After receiving the usual, incredibly warm welcome and hug from the manager, Sandib, who provides unparalleled customer service and creates a warm and personal atmosphere, I ordered the vegetable combo. I wasn’t sure what the samples would be, but when it arrived, I recognized them right away! The menu had listed the vegetable combo as “Vegetable Korma”, which I had never had, and I like to be adventurous, so I jumped in. My partner had the Tandoori combo with chicken. I would tell you about his lunch (and I know he loved it), but I want to focus on the experience I had, so it is coming from the horse’s mouth. When the plate arrived, I was delighted. There was a beautiful presentation of three shallow tasting bowls about 4 inches in diameter, boasting the vibrant dishes, with a stack of naan and a small, fresh salad of tomatoes and cucumbers nesting at the bottom of the plate, with rice filling the middle. I recognized the two dishes not listed. They are dishes I think of as standard, Dal Tadka (yellow lentils) and sag (flavorful spinach made creamy with ghee and flavored with ginger and garlic). In fact, I think of them as so standard that I had never ordered them at JWM, because I have focused on trying dishes I did not know well. Well, now I know what I have been missing! These two dishes were perfection. The sag was perfectly buttery and all flavors were well balanced. I have never enjoyed that dish the way I did today. The Dal, which I usually think of as a nice foil to other flavors on my plate, stood alone, with the perfect amount of saltiness to not overwhelm the bright turmeric, ginger and onions. I could not stop dipping the warm, delicate naan into it! The third sample on my plate was the best of all, and a dish I will order forever – the Vegetable Korma! What a treat! It has the perfect combination of creamy, slightly sweet and spicy, something my tastebuds cannot resist. I am in love. I could not believe I was getting this flavor experience, in the perfect amount, for the price of one inexpensive entree. Finally, I must talk about the rice. I have always loved the rice at Jab We Met, but today it was so good, I had to ask Sandib how they made it and why it was so perfect and special-tasting, with zero starchiness. He told me they half-cook the rice in cumin and with bayleaves then strain it and let it cook the rest of the way through steaming, and add a hint of oil to give it that buttery, slippery texture. So many months ago, when we first discovered JWM, it was actually the rice that tipped me off to the special nature of this restaurant’s cuisine. Side note: we enjoyed an unsweetened iced tea with cinnamon and cardamom with the meal, and it was the perfect drink to further enhance the flavors and not compete, or take the diner out of the experience. Highly recommend. We finished the meal with a fresh and bright rice pudding that left us feeling light and satisfied. I begged Sandib to make this concept available for dinner, too, because this is exactly how I want to eat. For the rest of my life. He says it will be available soon. Do not miss it!

Went for lunch to try the new lunch menu and had the Tandoori Chicken Tikka special, which came with daal, rice, naan, and the vegetable of the day, which was saag. Both the quality and quantity of the food were exceptional; it was a great value for the price. I can’t recommend it enough! It is the best Indian restaurant in DC.

Super good food and great service! We ordered Saag and Chicken curry and it was absolutely delicious. The flavors are strong but well balanced. The garlic naan is buttery and garlicky. Highly recommend.

Jab We Met Indian Kitchen was an awesome surprise — the food was flavorful, fresh, and beautifully presented. Every dish felt thoughtfully prepared, with bold spices and great balance. We stopped in during happy hour and loved the cocktails — creative, well-made, and a great value. The service was warm and attentive without being rushed, and the atmosphere felt relaxed enough to enjoy a long meal. Whether you’re craving classic Indian dishes or just want a great spot for drinks and bites with friends, Jab We Met delivers. We’ll definitely be back!

Jab We Met is a great spot for both dine in and take out. I used to frequent their sister restaurant (NaanWise in Woodley Park) both when I lived nearby and after I moved to SE, so I was excited to see the owners opened a spot on Barracks Row. My go to order is the palak chaat, the vegetable samosas, and either the coconut chicken curry, the chicken Chettinad, or the chicken makhani (butter chicken). Staff is friendly, and there is plenty of seating. Not too far of a walk from the Eastern Market metro station. A very welcome addition to the neighborhood!

Delicious, robustly flavorful Indian food. Had the Palak Chat appetizer which was crispy baby spinach "salad" with mango and yogurt - a fun and surprising texture and sweet-ish taste profile. I had a chicken makani just to do the standard comparison of this staple dish - was more flavorful than another Indian place across the street. Was also able to adjust the spice level and chose spicy which made me sweat a little but in a good way. My friend had the lamb Rogan Josh which he called tender and spicy, just enough heat for a cold day. The service was very friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. The ambiance was nice with velour booth seating and cool chandeliers. I will definitely come back, and generally found the food much better than DC's average Indian place.

My friends were telling me about this spot and I've been eager to try since my closet favorite Indian restaurant near the Waterfront Metro closed. Right away I noticed the restaurant was clean, modern, and spacious. There are booths, tables and even an extensive bar area. To my surprise the former manager of the aforementioned Indian restaurant was managing this restaurant! He is phenomenal, the guy knows how to make a repeat customer out of everyone. He gave us some menu recommendations and we went for it. The staff were relaxed and attentive. They knew the menu well and even showed us the right option for wine with our meal. Enjoyed this place it's perfect for all occasions.

The origin of this place's name eludes me, but it is an interesting place. It's got a snazzy atmosphere and I was surprised it wasn't more crowded. There are other Indian restaurants in the area. I was happy with this one. Getting a dal that was clearly labeled as vegan, I asked for the maximum spice level and got it, with an astringent herbal tang to match. Ordering a mushroom naan provided an interesting flavor contrast and a good way to mop things up. A ginger tea was strong and ordering a pot was worthwhile. My old favorite Indian place in Southeast is gone, so this has a chance to become my new one.

This place has a nice ambiance and cool bar with really creative drinks. My friend got a spicy mango jalapeño cocktail that was quite interesting. For non alcoholic drinks, the mango lassi is soooo good, it is a sweet and refreshing balance. A perfect pairing to curry. The curries here are sooooo delicious. If you're okay with light spice the medium level spice is the perfect amount. The lamb Rogan Josh and Chicken Korma were both a hit! Also don't forget to try the garlic naan. Servers were really attentive and kind as well.

I enjoyed the rich depth of flavor each dish has to offer. However, if I were to go back I think I'd leave the protein off of everything and just eat rice with the sauces and naan. We waited over 30 mins for our entrees so I'm docking off a star for the wait as well as the tough lamb and saag paneer. Vegetable Samosa: 10/10. We really enjoyed the two sauces that came with it. Chicken curry: 10/10. Our favorite entree of the night. Had a great balance of coconut and spice. Comes with basmati rice. Lamb Rogan Josh: 7/10. This dish packs some heat and the spice was just right but the lamb was tough. Comes with basmati rice. Saag Panner: 6/10. This was very herby. I wouldn't order it again. Comes with basmati rice. Bread Basket: 10/10. It came with two pieces of butter naan, garlic naan and lachha paratha. The laccha paratha was to die for! It has flakey layers like a crossaint!

We ended up turning this place is to our favorite restaurant to visit on long days and weekends. Met some amazing new employees. The owner and manger are still the most amazing people. We have tired something new every time I had stoped by. Before the year is over I think we would have tired every meal off the menu . The atmosphere is so joyful and relaxing Especially on Friday nights and more brunches on Sundays .

Staff are friendly, the the place seems modern and clean. But the food was just ok, no real depth in flavor. We had garlic naan, samosas, coconut chicken curry and lamb biriyani.

Not sure what to order but the server did a great job at helping us find the exact right thing. Coconut curry with chicken, and a lamb vindaloo. Garlic naan to go with it all. We loved it. Ended the meal with ginger tea--so delicious. Ambiance was clean and warm. Service was excellent. We will be back.

We came in here a few days after they just opened and it was a great experience! They have a pretty extensive menu and it feels very upscale. The seating and lighting is very adult and transports you somewhere that is not Eastern Market. We sat at the bar and Sandeep was a great host, he made sure we were taken care of. He shared stories of his experiences in DC and the history of Jab We Met. If you are looking for a new Indian spot with a great atmosphere, great drinks and delicious food, look no further!

Food was delicious, ambience was beautiful, with warm and modern decor, and service was great.

A very sad yelp disappointment in my opinion. Yelp said 4.8 stars for the place and I didn't take the time to read the reviews before going here. The place is spacious, but light up like a seedy vegas motel. There was nothing about this place that would make me want to eat here again. Ambiance, terrible. Food, awful. Service, non existent. Value for money, abysmal. If you don't want to read ahead, totally okay - you have the tldr version above. The restrooms were dirty, wet and just not pleasant at all and that should have been my first red flag, past the ambience. For food, we started with the palak chat and the chicken 65. The palak chat was stale, including the tomatoes and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone. The chicken 65 was just doused in a ton of tomato ketchup and had zero actual taste, except spice and I couldn't get past the first bite. We shared the paneer makhani and garlic naan + naan kulcha. The makhani was honestly an insult to Indian food. Chock full of tangy tomato sauce with no real flavor and 4 pieces of paneer, for $18. We didn't finish it, even with 3 folks on the table. The garlic naan and onion kulcha were actually the only tasty things we ate, you could tell they were freshly made. Asked for a side of pickle. For $4 I got 2 tiny little pieces of stale, shriveled up pickle. Our server threw shade at us for asking for fresh silverware, disappeared for long periods and time and was intent gossiping with a fellow server our entire stay. She also rolled her eyes when she asked us how the food was and we said it was okay. Overall, not a great experience and I would not recommend this place to anyone.

Place looks really neat I enjoyed the vibe/lights. Food was great and the service was very nice and quick.

Delicious!!! We celebrated my husband's birthday tonight and it was fantastic. Sandeep, the wonderful manager, had our table ready and made a bone-in chicken special that was truly some of the best Indian food we've ever had. Kids loved their lassies, Chana masala, Dahl and onion naan. The staff is responsive and lovely. I could go on...so nice to have this new gem on the Hill!

After my Review, Management reached out to apologize and stated that what I actually received were appetizers instead of the entree portion. They promptly refunded my purchase. I will definitely give them another shot.

Tandoori Lamb Chops are good, very disappointing portion. 3 very small lollipops was all that was included, typical appetizer portion anywhere else. I won't be back given price to portion provided.

Best Indian meal and best overall value for any meal I've had in the District. I had some kind of cashew-based curry that I'd never tried before. It was excellent and the nan was next level. Also, they had an excellent saxophone playing all night. Really made the mood. Prices are extremely reasonable for what you get. They are still figuring out service. But overall, it was still a five star experience.

Really good food and good service. It has the standard Indian cuisine options. I like the spice level at medium so that was perfect.

I would give it six stars if I could. The Samosa, the standard by which I judge most Indian restaurants, were among the best I've had. The staff even asked what level of spice I wanted them, a first for me. The only thing that was underwhelming, still good, but not great, were the papadum. The garlic nann was wonderful. We split the Lamb Rhogan Gosh, the lamb was tender as possible, and perfectly spiced The service was EXCELLENT Absolutely worth a trip to Eastern Market area!

I ordered Chicken Tikka Masala and requested it be "Spicy Hot", and it was sooo good! The garlic naan was top tier too. I have tried quite a bit of different Indian restaurants in DC and this one is definitely in the top 3.

Food, service, ambiance all A++! They nailed all of it! Food was outstanding from the naan bread through mains! I was too full for dessert or drinks but I am sure that is also excellent so hopefully next time I can try it! I had the ginger tea which was delicious! Highly recommend!!

My prior review for Masala Art Southwest stands for this young transplant. But this reincarnation, running on the transplanted brilliant, unique hospitality of Sandeep, offers a fuller menu and a lively bar (think pre-COVID). The proteins are interchangeable for most dishes. So I'd imagine you could order chicken, lamb, fish, or shrimp biryani, vindaloo, etc.: all served in tasty, large portions. My old standby, chicken biryani survived the move. I still love the black lentils and lal maans (lamb and chicken). The conservative in me can't let go of some dishes I wish were replicas of Masalas. Some dropped off of the menu, and the naan seems a little closer to a conventional Western flat bread or even a pizza crust?. I still like it, and would be none the wiser(?) if I hadn't eaten my belly full of more traditional naan at Masala and other South Asian restaurants. I'm giving it a chance to grow on me while I get over myself. When the restaurant 's not mad busy, like Friday nights when there's live jazz(!), Sandeep may help you find something close to what you've had elsewhere, or even have the kitchen prepare your off-menu dish. But beyond the food, this is a restaurant where the party don't stop, whether only a few people are at the bar or it's a full house. The bartender will make you a pleasant surprise based on your tastes. Just sure to ask what's in it, as it may have been a one-off improvisation. A winning partnership between Sandeep and the owner has the entire staff/family giving awesome attention to all customers and seemingly having a good time. If you've been to a restaurant where the owner sits in a corner scowling over bills, or perfunctorily circulates asking whether everything's okay, this ain't it! The space is much smaller than Masala Southwest, so be ready for a little more intimacy(?). That I walk the 12+ blocks, passing other South Asian restaurants, for good food and good times speaks to all Jab We Met has to offer. When I'm there, I run into other pilgrims from Southwest. See you at the party?

We decided to try this place on a whim and we were glad we did! Highly highly recommend the Amiritsari Fried Fish!! We also got garlic naan, chicken tika and aloo gobi which were fantastic! Super filling! Even the rice was really great - very fragrant, and you can see they take pride in their food. Staff was super friendly and attentive. And we loved the upscale interior and quiet background music.

Delicious food, reasonably priced and tastefully designed, is a good description of Jab We Met, which means When We Met. We've eaten there several times, and yesterday's lunch for the three of us was as good as ever. The Veggie Samosa is an excellent first. We each ordered an entree. My favorite is Masala -- not too spicy. The Baingan Bhartha was delicious as was the Saag with chicken. We also enjoyed two naans -- garlic, which is outstanding, and butternaan. As always, the manager-- Sandeep-- keeps things moving, is attentive, and is just a generally nice, thoughtful person. This certainly is one of the better restaurants on Capital Hill.

Ordered takeout on a Friday night -- got garlic naan, butter chicken, Lamb Saag and Palak Chaat. All were delicious, the garlic naan in particular. This is now definitely the best Indian option in the neighborhood.

This has quickly become my go to for authentic Indian cuisine on the hill. The flavors are layered and fantastic, lots of vegetarian options, good portions and there are combinations on the menu I don't see anywhere else. The atmosphere is elegant (the deep blue bench seats are great for private conversations!) and the staff is friendly and attentive. The bar is gorgeous - there was a lot of thought given to designing a space conducive to good meals with friends. It's so great to have an option to Rasika and Daru in the neighborhood and delivers on quality and flavor!

Had such a lovely dinner last night at Jab We Met! Went here on a whim with two friends and was not disappointed. The restaurant is decorated beautifully, the tables pre-set and dimly lit. The service was remarkable, we had staff coming up to our table to check on us every few minutes, water was refilled very quickly, and any empty dishes were removed expeditiously. The food was remarkable as well! The portions were very generous, the food was well-seasoned and perfectly cooked. Definitely recommend the garlic naan (out of this world!) and lamb biryani. I look forward to coming back to this restaurant in the future!

Jab we met Indian kitchen is phenomenal in every sense of the word. If you love Indian food this place is it! In every new city I search high and low for the perfect Indian spot. I thought I found a super great one but after today I found my go to spot. While I was able to order to go I was able to pick up and view the inside, beautiful and elegant decor. Again, while I wasn't able to dine in the staff there was top notch very welcoming and helpful. I got home and just inhaled everything. The tikka masala was made to perfection, every single bite was just as amazing as the last! We also got the lamb Rogan Josh that was equally as delicious and delectable. The garlic naan was buttered to perfection. Needless to say, I will absolutely be returning probably within the week for a nice date night and will ensure to snap some pictures. This place just opened and I'm sure it's going to be everyone's to go spot.

Nicely renovated space, offering good quality Indian food, mostly familiar dishes. We will go back and sample more.

Great food and super accommodating of families. We came in with 2 kids under 2 and the staff was so helpful and kind! Glad to have this new addition to our neighborhood.

Once again, Jab We Met did not disappoint! Last night we tried the Palak Chat -- delicious!! I have never had such a gourmet Indian experience. So many flavors and textures. The description does not even mention cilantro, which brought a brightness to this dish with the perfectly crisped baby spinach and chutney. It would not have occurred to me to try this, but was so grateful for the recommendation once I did! The atmosphere was warm, with what appeared to be a group of regulars eating and drinking happily at the bar with the manager. I saw that my last review is "not recommended " by Yelp, which I find irritating. I am a graduate of a fancy school and was an English major, so if my writing seems professional or something, I cannot help that. I love this restaurant and am happy to share my positive experience there.

Food and service were amazing. Great location and a must try for anyone in the DC area.

Great food and lovely ambiance. There are lots of vegetarian and vegan options as well!

Jab We Met (when we met) is the best Indian restaurant I have ever been to. My boyfriend and I went back for a second meal tonight, after having already decided this was the most delicious experience we had had -- and we were far from disappointed! The manager, whose name I learned is Sandib, is extremely warm, and he remembered us very well. We had sent our Air B and B guests to have a meal there, and they ended up eating there four days in a row!! I guess this made us memorable. In any case, once again we cleaned our plates (when we usually bring leftovers home). This time we had the Tandoori chicken (and other exquisite dishes - aloo gobi, coconut curry with vegetables, raita and naan) -- but I must tell you about the chicken. I never order Tandoori chicken because every time I have tried it, it has been dry. This was the juiciest chicken I have ever had. Ever. The spices were perfect -- as expected...and we finished with huge grins on our faces. Sandib gifted us a sweet treat -- Gulab Jamun. These were warm, freshly (fried) balls of dough soaked in honey and topped with pistachios. Oh my god. Heaven!! And just the right amount of sweet to finish the meal. They are introducing a brunch menu in a couple of weeks and we will be there! You must experience this restaurant!!