Lehja Restaurant

Awesome Indian food. Great customer service, excellent food, nice atmosphere. Not spicy. We had Butter Chicken, Tandoori Chicken, Fisherman's Prawns, Blue Crab Taka-Tak, Coconut Curry Scallops, and Garlic Naan. I absolutely loved the coconut curry sauce and mixed the Blue Crab Taka-Tak in it so as not to waste a drop.🤤

We went for a date night to this place. One of the worst places to have Indian food in the area. The curry tasted uncooked, spinach chaat was burnt, salmon was overcooked, onion kulcha tastes bitter cause they burnt it. Save your hard earned $$ and go somewhere else for a better dining experience.

I love Lehja, and am shocked I havent revirwrd them prior to this. It is always an amazing dining experience with excellant service. You can feel and taste the love Sunny  puts into every dish! Everything was flavorful and fresh, especially the Shahi Paneer which was rich, creamy and perfectly spiced. Friendly and attentive staff made the experience smooth and welcoming. Vibrant ambiance added to the enjoyment of the meal. Good portion sizes and quality for the price. The meal felt indulgent without being overpriced. Overall: A five-star experience across the board—will definitely be back! What I Tried: Samosa Chaat Shahi Paneer Naan Neapolitan Kulfi Sula Chenin Blanc My Rating Rationale: +1 Service +1 Food (Taste/Flavor/Quality) +1 Presentation +1 Atmosphere/Vibe +1 Value

I’ve been to this establishment a few times now, but my most recent experience warrants me taking time and writing a review. The food was delicious, full of flavor, and very filling. Every dish was clearly made with care and authenticity. What truly set this experience apart from any restaurant I’ve been to, though, was the hospitality. The owner personally came by our table multiple times throughout the evening to check on us, making sure everything was perfect. He even took the time to introduce us to the chef, which made the experience feel extra special and personal. You can really tell how much pride and passion goes into both the food and the service here. Highly recommend!

One of the most disappointing Indian restaurants I’ve tried in RVA. The basics weren’t met -our meat dishes were overcooked and chewy, and even their “signature” Spinach Chaat tasted bitter, clearly cooked in old oil that you could taste in every bite. The chicken curry was watered down, under-spiced, and lacked any real flavor. Service was just as bad. We waited so long for someone to check on us that I eventually had to walk to the bar to ask for the check. Staff were busy drinking wine on the side instead of paying attention to customers.

One of the best Indian restaurants we've dined at. Large menu to select from. The server was knowledgeable and helpful. I had the Tandori Salmon that I don't remember seeing elsewhere. We missed the Diwali feast menu by 2 days. We plan on returning for that in 2026.

We have been going to this place for more than 10 years. I never once was disappointed. My husband is a great cook so we only go out to eat occasionally for sushi or for Lehja’s Indian food. That says a lot about how good they are. The complexity of seasoning of the sauce‘s are something we can’t create at home. We always take home the leftover sauce. Wine selection is one of the best in the area. Great service all around

Great place to have a unique meal. Food is perfectly spiced just the way I like it. Had the firecracker chicken, specialty ribs with a sweet mango sauce and home made hot sauce that rounded it out perfectly. Chai tea was great as well and not overly sweet. Love learning about the dish origins as well. Hope to be back soon!

This is a great restaurant with good service and good food. Owner is very friendly too. Avoid at all costs going across the street to the Bakers Crust, as it would be quite the opposite experience.

I've had the pleasure of dining at Lehja multiple times, and while there have been a few minor service hiccups, the overall experience has always been exceptional. It's clear that the management is dedicated to upholding a high standard, whereas some service staff may view their roles as merely a job rather than an integral part of the brand's reputation. The food, however, is consistently outstanding! Every dish I've ordered has been flavorful and delicious, but I do recommend specifying your desired level of spiciness, as the default tends to be mildly spiced, likely due to the restaurant's consideration for American palates. The Galauti kabab is a standout, melting in your mouth with rich flavors, and the Chicken malai tikki is also a winner. Naans are always served Fresh. attentive management, who ensures timely service and checks in regularly when dining with larger groups, add to the excellent experience. Plus, the extensive wine selection and trendy bar area make Lehja a must-visit for an upscale Indian dining experience in Richmond. Highly recommend!!

Great for a date night... family/friend outing...and definitely large groups. I highly recommend the samosas, scallops, lamb biryani, tandoori cauliflower, tandoori, prawns, ANY lentil dish, garlic naan? and going with people who like to order family-style and "throw down". They are very accommodating to the eastern palate and scale to cater to your spice tolerance. It's easily one of the best restaurants in short pump and thankfully I have been more than a dozen times since my initial disappointment 10 years ago. A flavorful experience you shouldn't miss.

Very pleasant ambiance and our server was hilarious. For starters the gobhi manchurian and mushroom-chèvre kulcha were fantastic, as was my lychee martini. Everyone else in my party was also pleased with their cocktails. The dessert sampler was very tasty but, had small portions for the price. The grilled chicken, shrimp, and veggies in the Chicken Shrimp Zafrani were tasty, but I felt that it was a bit small and I was craving so much more of the sauce (which was so good - but there was barely any of it!). My friends had butter chicken and biryani and those were all very good too.

This spot was recommended by a coworker and it didn't disappoint. Initially I was a little skeptical because of how upscale and Americanized it seemed but the food was so good. We asked the server for recommendations and he ordered off the menu items for us so I don't really remember what they were called. The only thing we got from the menu was the assorted bread which included naan, garlic naan, and aloo kulcha. All of them were crispy and fluffy.

Lehja is located adjacent to a mall, but they are off of a walkway/courtyard and have some outdoor seating which is really nice. We had a group of four on our way to another event in another state. We sat outside and really enjoyed the food and service. We started with two orders of Gobhi Manchurian, breaded, deep fried cauliflower florets in a spicy red sauce. I would almost call these buffalo cauliflower with an Indian spice. Excellent, very tasty. Not too hot, and cooked perfectly. I could eat that every day. We also ordered garlic naan and chili garlic naan, both were really tasty. I ordered Lamb Malai Marke, which is chunked lamb in a creamy cashew sauce... There were some conversations with the wait staff about heat levels (1-5) and I ordered level 3, which was great. The rest of the table ordered level 2. The impression I got was that 3 was "iffy", but I enjoy spicy food and there was no sweating or sniffling. Other dishes at the table: Lamb Malai Marke, a Murg Methi Lazeez (chicken chunks in a Mughlai style cashew curry), and another one that I don't know the name of. All of it was excellent. To top it off, the staff were very friendly and consistently available and the price was fair. So... atmosphere (outside) -Check, food -Check, service -Check, price -Check. I'd love to come back and try the rest of what appears to be an excellent menu.

Ok, I'm sad to say this was not the first place we tried when we went out. After very rudely being turned away from another establishment where we had reservations, I called Lehja on a whim because I knew they were close. Our party of four were not disappointed. Not only did the wait-staff accommodate our group, shortly after ordering some starters and drinks the owner (Sunny) stopped by to say hello and check on how things were going. We had an absolutely fantastic experience at Lehja. Everyone at the table shared some of their dishes so we could taste some of everything from seafood to goat (which I'd never had) and some of the best flavors I've ever had in a restaurant. Sunny, you have just earned a spot here and as a Richmond staple for our family. The food and friendly service was secondary to none.

Best Indian in Richmond! Sunny is the owner and is one of the nicest people. Every time I go with my dad, Sunny always comes up and says hi and talks to us. He's very personable! I got the Chicken Tikka Masala and I can't handle any spice so I always say 0 but really that means a 1. It's delicious every time I go! The Lunch special is the best deal! You get a salad and unlimited Naan bread at lunch time. At Dinner time you have to pay for each basket of Naan bread. I can never finish it so it makes the perfect leftovers. Rice typically doesn't heat up well but this rice does, just add a little water to it and then heat it up. The inside is super pretty, very elegant and great for business meetings, especially lunch time. They even have a bar area which is one of my pictures. In the summer time when it is warm they even have outside seating. You can also get the food to go. The hours are 11:30AM-2:30PM, 4:30-10PM Happy Hour is 4:30-6:30pm and they don't do it Saturdays and Sundays

This place is delicious. I came here with my family to celebrate my brothers birthday and everything was yummy. We ordered samosas, butter chicken, tikka masala, saag paneer, garlic naan, and this creamy cashew thing. But let me tell you this is probably the best Indian food I've had here in Richmond. The restaurant itself is very nice inside and the service here is quick. I would definitely eat here again.

This is a high-end Indian restaurant in the Short Pump Town Center. The trickiest part about dining here is locating the place in this huge shopping mall. But once there, we were impressed by the interior and the pleasant ambiance. My wife & I had a lovely dinner here. We had a plain naan and a cheese with mushroom naan and both were very good. For dinner, we shared two entrées: the Tandoori Lamb Chops and the Seafood Kerala Curry. The four lamb chops were cooked perfectly and were delicious. The Seafood Kerala Curry contained sea bass, 2 large shrimps, & 2 large scallops. It was prepared perfectly and was excellent. The service was proper and adequate, if nonchalant. This place suffers, as seems to be the case with many Indian restaurants, from a lack of female servers and hostesses. They are also open for lunch. Location: 4 stars Food: 5 stars Service: 4 stars Ambiance/Décor: 5 stars Value: 4 stars

Twice , once pre- and once post-COVID, the genuineness of spice combinations and freshness of the meat fish and produce have been impeccable. Last night the chef-owner approached our table. It was Monday so he had time. Long conversation about how meticulous they are to provide spicy heat levels that don't bust your gut, unless you ask. They recently had spice night and sold out immediately. My out of town guest was impressed.

For years people have been telling me "Lehja is THEE place to get Indian food in RVA" so after years and years of hearing this from several people I decided to check it out. I had a Buisness meeting here with my boss on a week day. The dinner crowd was just starting to trickle in when I arrived. Right off the bat I was stunned at how intimate of a vibe this place had. Hanging crystals to separate the booths, dark mood lighting and candles. Not the best place to take your boss lol!! Definitely a great spot for a romantic date though. The servers were great, very attentive and had a "here to serve attitude" I loved them. The manager was also pleasant. When taking our order the server said we could pick our spice level from 1-5. I love spice but I know that spice levels at Indian restaurants can get really hot so I played it safe and went for a level 2. Not the mildest but one notch above. My boss opted for a level 5!! 5 is the highest!! For context my boss is very worldly and well traveled, he's accustom to very spicy food. The server looked perplexed when my boss said he wanted a level 5 he almost tried to deter him from it. My boss stuck to his original request and asked for the 5. When his food arrived he was surprised by how mild it was. He actually added additional spices to get some spice. I ordered a salmon Tikka with asparagus! The salmon and asparagus were both cooked well. The sauce was pretty bland though, not at all what I expected. For dessert we ordered a chocolate cake. The cake was very rich. Overall my experience at Lehja was a little underwhelming. The service was great, the food was underwhelming and the atmosphere was warm and romantic. Again not ideal for doing business.

I haven't had Indian food in years so I wasn't sure where to start with ordering but our server provided great recommendations. I had the Seafood Kerala Curry and hubby had the Lamb Vin d'Alho. We also had the garlic naan and the Coconut Curry Scallops. Everything was amazing and it was great that we could adjust the spice level. We finished off with desert with the Limoncello Mascarpone cake and it was SO delicious! We wished we had ordered two slices! Loved the ambiance and the service provided. We will definitely be back!

We used to come here a lot more often pre-Covid and was almost always amazed by the food but we decided to try it again years later. It was just alright, nothing too special and it is more on the pricey given it's location. the portion sizes are comparable to other Indian restaurants around the area. I ordered a lychee martini and I was not a fan. It could be a great place to go to if you're already at the mall and want a snack, but we were far from full from the food we ordered (3 entrees, garlic naan, and two orders of basmati rice).

The food was incredible! We have high standards for Indian food because we want authentic flavor, and Lehja certainly meets the mark. The staff was very friendly and knowledgable about the different dishes, the levels of spice were pretty good (though I expected "Indian hot" to be slightly spicier). The restaurant decor feels more upscale and was nice for a date night. I can't wait to go back and try different dishes on the menu.

Set reservation for date night with my wife. We showed up 20 mins early and decided to get a drink at the EMPTY bar excepts for all the dirty glasses from previous customers, the bar tender greeted us with he was "really busy", we waited a few mins before I checked in with the hostess-who looked like a minor and was walking in circles. No one even took the time to say hello...the bartender was not busy and was even checking his phone. We were finally sat back in the super busy bar area. Only to be un greeted by any kind of server for another 8 mins before we decided to walk out, as we figured this must not be their night for service. The bar itself looked like a health code violation and the service was just downright awful.

Very chic interior And friendly wait staff. We got a variety of drinks and their two chaat du jour which were delicious: a cold chickpea dish and a fried spinach. For entrees, we had chicken tikka masala, the daal lehja, and the scallops and we loved everything. Perfectly spiced, good variety in texture. It's definitely one of the more pricey Indian spots in the area, but I don't think it's unwarranted.

I came here for dinner my second day in Richmond on a business trip and I enjoyed the experience. The bartender and owner were very personable. The food was pretty solid as well. The Firecracker Chicken Tikka appetizer was healthy and flavorful. The Tandoori Seabass Kadhai was also good but not as spicy as I wanted it. I was asked 1-5 on the spicy level and asked for 5. It was more of a 2 for my palate as I can take my food extra spicy. It comes with a huge bowl of Basmati Rice which I barely touched as it would have been way too much for me. The Pistachio Kulfi was a pretty tasty dessert but nothing mind blowing. They have a good wine selection here, including Indian wine. I tried an Indian Cab/Shiraz blend which was pretty good. The prices here are definitely higher than most Indian restaurants as Indian food is usually very affordable. The prices are probably double most Indian places I have been to, other than fine dining establishments I've been to in DC.

Great service, great food. Portions were large and very tasty! Definitely would return on next visit. Location in a very nice town center in Short Pump Va!

Everything was absolutely delicious. I'm surprised the place wasn't packed when we went. Service was great, loved the ambiance, and of course the food 10 out of 10.

Phenomenal food! The owner/ Manager was pleasant and help to accomodate my husbands food allergies! Great location in Short Pump, beautiful presentation

In terms of taste, this was pretty good. Nothing amazing but it will definitely satisfy your Indian food cravings. However, it was pretty pricy so keep that in mind if you end up going! I went with six other friends (definitely make a reservation if you have a big group) this past Saturday for dinner and we ordered an entree each, a few appetizers, and lots of mango lassis. The consistency of the mango lassi was more watery than I'm used to (less viscous, I guess) but that was preferred by most of our table. Not too sweet and enjoyable! $4 for a thin and tall glass. We got "Chaat Du Jour" ($10) and two "Gobhi Manchurian" ($10 each). I thought the chaat was delicious and thoroughly enjoyed the chickpeas and sauce! The fried cauliflower (Gobhi) was very delicious but there were like 4-5 florets per appetizer which is extremely pricy. That's $2 per bite of cauliflower. I didn't think it was worth it. I got the saag paneer entree (level 2 spice and $17) which had a very small spice kick. Good amount of paneer in the curry and it was pretty standard in terms of taste - very creamy and loved the seasoning. I'd probably get the level 3 if I come back. For a vegetarian entree, this was pretty expensive. Our table got two servings of "Assorted Breads" ($11 each). The bread was delicious but the portion was small. Our entrees did come with lots of basmati rice so we had a huge food coma after. Overall, I'd recommend this restaurant if you're down for a more "high end" experience and if you want to splurge a bit. Otherwise, there are definitely cheaper options in the RVA area (like Lemon, for example). Service was helpful and friendly!

Great cauliflower appetizer and lamb saag (off the menu). Out of all of the Richmond Indian restaurant, it is my favorite.

I've heard great things about Lehja from different people in Richmond and decided it was finally time to check it out with some coworkers for lunch. I ordered the Punjabi Curry with chicken spice level 3 which came with rice, a house salad or soup, and naan. Let me just say that the flavors in this curry were fantastic. The spice level was just enough of a kick for me and wasn't overwhelming at all. I definitely want to visit again to try their other menu items. All in all, I would say that Lehja is worth the hype and talk around RVA.

Date night meal. Ambience was nice and waitstaff attentive. Appetizers and main courses were delicious but nothing special. I had the eggplant and wife had a goat dish. We ordered medium American hot and probably could gone to the next level of hot - but we were happy with what we had. Appetizer, glass of wine, chai tea, and 2 main dishes ran about $94 including tip on a weeknight. At this price point, Anoka, the Indian place next to Skate Nation or even Texas de Brazil would have been a better option. Overall, good for once-in-a-while, but not as a regular thing.

So good. Loved the food, service was great (took care of our needs, made solid suggestions for order of service/pairings of food), easy to get to with where we were staying in the area. I think my biggest critique is that I would have liked another lassi option on the menu. And the main reason it's not 5 stars is that I wasn't in town long enough to come back multiple times... I usually wait to visit multiple times to do that. Would I come back? Definitely. Would happily go again and continue exploring their menu.

Very nice fancy Indian Food in a sharp clean setting. Pricey for the portions in my opinion. But not so friendly.

My husband and I took our parents to dinner here for a celebration. The food itself was not terrible, but not amazing as you'd expect from a James Beard Nominated place. Sure the ambiance is beautiful, service is top notch, but what's the point when food is good just not amazing as I thought it would be. It will satisfy your Indian food cravings, but I think flavors need to be worked on a bit. It seemed very americanized and not traditional enough.

Always good food & service the bar is great lot of cocktails & the flavors are amazing

Best Indian in Richmond (Anokha is a close second) - surroundings and service are a match for the very good food. Duck Salli Boti is a personal fave, as is the lamb vindaloo. You teally can't go wrong on this menu - everything from their appetizers, which are a spin on Indian street food, to classics like their vindaloo and tikka dishes, are just delicious - so if you like Indian food, you need to check Lehja out.

Our server was excellent. He was very informed on the menu and the spin the restaurant had on the dishes. I think some of the dishes were very very tasty especially the eggplant, but the nan left something to desire! It wasn't very soft it was just kind of boring. Prices are a little higher than you would expect from a typical Indian restaurant! He had some very interesting spins on some cocktails using Indian spices and tropical fruit!

Indian restaurants tend to run on a spectrum. At one end, you have swanky places with polished service that serve regrettably tepid flavors in an attempt to cater to a broad audience. Conversely, smaller operations sling authentic, bold dishes that taste like home but in environs best suited for takeout or a quick meal. Lehja represents one of the few restaurants to hit the sweet spot in offering a large menu of dishes with gourmet touches, appealing ambiance, and great service. My wife and I chose Lehja to celebrate an anniversary due to its accolades (best of Richmond lists, James Beard nomination for the chef, etc). We started wine from the small but well curated list of by-the-glass pours for my wife and a generous draft of a Veil double IPA for me. A selection of cocktails and a vast library of bottled wine rounds out the drink program. Our food tasted great. We started with the lamb gulati kebab and an off menu special of spinach and kale chaat. The former offered two meaty, juicy patties of lamb seasoned heavily with chili and paired with a complimentary, bright red pepper chutney. We didn't taste much of the advertised goat cheese stuffing, but the kebab was tasty enough that we didn't care. The chaat offered addictive, crispy flash fried greens tossed in a balanced, zesty blend of chutneys and yogurt. This dish compared favorably to the famous spinach chaat at Rasika in DC. For mains, we opted for the duck sali boti and the lamb malai marke. The duck comprised two meltingly tender confit duck legs in a tangy (albeit slightly watery), spicy tomato based curry topped with addictive, crispy duck fat potatoes. The fries in particular were a unique touch that sopped up the sauce well and made for an extra hearty bite. The lamb yielded morsels of tender meat swimming in a rich, creamy, and warmly spiced gravy. We enjoyed these dishes with Lehja's pillowy, chewy naan, which while a little small represented an excellent rendition of the classic bread. Note should be made of the great service here. I think that the manager and/or owner primarily took care of us, and he offered menu suggestions and demonstrated an excellent knowledge of the menu. Despite the restaurant being slammed, he routinely checked in on us to make sure we were happy with our meal. The personal touch was most welcome, and his passion for the restaurant was obvious. While a meal at Lehja can get pricey, the quality of the ingredients shines and the portions (save for the naans) are fair. We enjoyed our meal here to a greater extent than expected. The food possessed ample flavor and spicing to satisfy our native Indian tastebuds while offering some unique twists. Our meal earned four stars with an extra fifth for warm, professional service. As such, Lehja is definitely worth the splurge for any fan of Indian cuisine.

I can't believe how long it's taken me to try Lehja! Today was the day! We arrived at around 1:15 p.m. purposely trying to avoid a lunch crowd. There were two other tables in the area where we were seated, spaced far enough apart for covid comfort. Decor was more upscale than the typical Indian restaurant, appropriate for the Short Pump location. Black cloth napkins and they ask ice or no ice for the waters. Our server was pleasant and promptly took our orders of saag paneer for me and tandoori lamb tikka for my nephew. My nephew likes very spicy food, so of the 1-5 spice levels, he asked for 4, while I asked for 3. The dishes came with naan and small mixed green salads with balsamic dressing, both delicious. My saag was perfect. His dish, however, was not even as spicy as mine. Our server checked and said she put in the right temperature, but offered to bring some house made hot sauce, which did the trick (except it was cold). He said his lamb was a bit tough (interesting observation from a 12 -year-old), but otherwise, he enjoyed the meal. While I thoroughly enjoyed Lehja, taste-wise, there are lots of other Indian restaurants that match it and offer larger portions at a smaller price point. You're paying for the location and decor here. I'd definitely go back, but it wouldn't necessarily be my first choice for Indian food.

My BFF treated me to dinner for my birthday and it was my first time trying food from India and I must say it was amazing. I heard great things about the cauliflower appetizer and it did not disappoint. For my entree I went with the lamb chops which had a nice grilled flavor, and they were very tender. They came with a side of jeera aloo which seems to be a potato of some sort but nevertheless good. I also got a side of the naan bread with the herbs and I could've ate two orders of that as it was very delicious. My friend had already ordered the drinks so I'm not sure which one it was but it was good and not overly strong but just enough liquor. Loved the ambiance and the staff was awesome. They even gave me a free dessert for my birthday which was very thoughtful.

The food , service and ambiance all great. Love the Chaat du Jour, Shrimp and chicken Zafrani. The Mushroom Chevre Naan was so good that I ended up ordering another one for Togo. I have never seen Grgich Cab offered By the glass anywhere. It was an amazing and must visit place now on.

If you look up blogs for Best restaurants in Richmond this restaurant makes it to the top 20 list. Therefore our group thought it would be in our best interest to try it. This is one of those fancy Indian places where you pay for the ambience but the food is so subpar. Our waiter was nice and we believe he was one of the original owners he told us that this restaurant was started by a group of business students from Europe who traveled India and crafted these entrées. He tried to claim that my shrimp and chicken entrée is the only one of its kind in the whole country a bit of a dramatic statement if you ask me. It was good, though I could have made this on my own at home, the Price was ridiculous and not worth it sadly. Everyone felt the same about their meal very mediocre quality, taste, flavors, very very very high price. We deafly will not return again sadly.

Food is delicious. The bartender is an artist and really knows how infuse his liquors in to his cocktails. The ambience is incredible... great for date nights.

Overpriced and not worth. The chef bragged about how experience he is. We ordered everything what he recommended. And didn't like anything. Especially the quality and portions size. Appetizer prawns were cold. we mentioned the concern to the chef he was not bothered. All naan price is outrageously high and I doubt if they are even freshly baked. Kulcha naan definitely felt reheated. And the mushrooms truffle naan is a joke. Please be mindful and order only the basic dishes before spending lavishly. As an Indian who cooks Indian food on a daily basis' and have eaten at Michelin Star restaurants this place simply minting money from unfamiliar Indian food clientele. And not to mention the restroom stinks grossly... the staff is not professional. The chef/owner/a restaurant consultant he is absolutely needs visit from Gordon Ramsay...

Picture it. A cold rainy day in Short Pump, you've eaten nothing but your own cooking for weeks because of the pandemic. Enter: Lehja. Exquisitely flavored, presented beautifully, and well portioned. The appetizer Chaat de jour was off the charts good - cool tangy chickpeas with yogurt & herbs. Our entrees were vegetarian - (Kofta Chaman Dilkhush) croquettes with a tomato sauce and (Malai Methi Ki Makai) sweet corn with a green aromatic curry sauce. We stuck with a spice level of 3 and it had good build. The naan has a small charge but the slices completed the dish - worth it ! Overall I can definitely see why Lehja has such excellent reviews and awards. I'll be back - for sure !

My wife and I went six years ago when I had to stay in Richmond for a work thing but she had a dental issue which led to us getting the whole meal boxed up and then my eating back at our home hours away. Fast forward six years and we had a great second attempt at Lehja last night. We have driven through Richmond and stopped to eat a few times but pre-Covid we always go to Perly's. As their hours have shortened during the pandemic we drove in after they closed so we got the pleasure to eat at Lehja. Lehja is in the outdoor part of what seems like a pretty massive mall/mixed use area in Short Pump which is about 15 min give or take off of I-95. It's a spacious place with lots of seating. We have only been there during early dinner hours but have been seated immediately both times. The papad tray isn't free but it's worth its nine dollar charge. Lots of papadum along with large ramekins of tamarind, mint and tomato(!!) chutney. I'm an onion chutney fiend but their tomato chutney was so good that I didn't miss it a bit. The chaat of the day is pretty much a go-to order apparently. Yesterday's was perfectly fried spinach with red onion, pomegranate seeds, yogurt and chutneys. It was fantastic. Our second app was the blue crab taka-tak. Almost a pound of what tasted like tandoori cooked blue crab with fried asparagus bits and naan pieces for dipping. Huge appetizer with great flavors -- I'm still bummed that we couldn't finish it! Our mains: 1. Lamb Rogan Josh -- as tender as any lamb we've ever had and perfectly spiced. 2. Banarsi vegetables -- beautifully seasoned vegetable curry with vegetables that were obviously fresh -- couldn't have been happier with it. Overall it was one of the best and most unique Indian meals I've ever had. I used to love Tabla in Madison Square Park as well as Tamarind, Chaunan in Nashville and Chai Pani in Asheville and Lehja tops them all. Owner is super nice too and knew the area in NC where we live. Couldn't have been happier with the meal.

Lehja is consistently the best Indian food in Richmond, and that fact has been confirmed each time I've gone. There is one other place that matches in flavor, but nowhere else has the trinity of flavor, atmosphere, and service like Lehja harbors. The owner, Sonny, has such a clear passion for food. He comes to the tables to check on guests regularly. He's even created a "contemporary" section of the menu that reflects more of a modernized and elevated take on Indian cuisine. If you're asking me, I recommend the Lamb Saag and the Chicken Tikka Masala. The drink menu is strong (I love the snake charmer), and the desserts are stronger (get the gulab jamun). Overall, you can't live in Richmond and claim to love Indian food if you haven't been to lehja at least once

We've been here with our family a dozen times or so. Great location. 3 stars only because we had a bad experience one time... but it only happened once. Friendly service. Nice decor. Food is always tasty. Borderline 4 stars. If all continues to go well, we'll bump it up. UPDATE: bumping up to 4 stars.

Just had lunch here and I am delighted to return after a couple of years since last time dining at Lehja. The food and service are excellent. Very fresh and the flavors just jumped out without being overpowering. Chicken Marsala with lentils side dish- yum. The rice is the best in the city. Sunny really has a great local restaurant. Only downside is perhaps because of the preparation and fresh ingredients it is a little pricey- but worth it. Eat local- support our community.

Best Indian food in town and the service is excellent. Probably because the owner is always on the floor mingling and keeping eyes on things. Best tikka masala in the RVA

Ambiance - decent. Nothing extra. Appetizers - chaats are yummy. Soups are not tasty at all. Tandoori bbq items - the appearance is yummy but they majorly lack flavor. They literally have one tomato based sauce that they use as a base for multiple different items. I was disappointed in my entrees. Lacked flavor. Only thing I liked was the chaat. Probably won't be back. Just my own opinion. Thanks.

Yummy food! The menu is extensive and creative! We had their kaali Chana/alu/goat cheese patties for appetizer, I had their shrimp/chicken zalfrezi, and my husband had andhra style chicken curry. The chicken/shrimp zalfrezi was sizzling and a great choice for anyone looking for healthy options. Their naan has the right amount of makhan . I have to knock off stars due to their service. The staff is friendly, but inexperienced when it comes to food and service. Service was slow as a result. Water glasses taken away before we finished dining, room temperature chai (then reheated in the microwave instead of a fresh hot batch), missing utensils, sugar/cream not brought with coffee, etc. dessert came out after we were done with coffee and chai. Maybe an off evening. We had strawberry ras malai for dessert and don't recommend it. Store brought ras malai topped with something like strawberry cool whip. Nothing restaurant quality. Great food minus the ras malai and chai. Would go again !

This was the most amazing Indian food I have ever had. It was nearly impossible to choose what to get. We got multiple different items and not a single one disappointed. We will be back to try even more. Don't think twice, and come here!

Let me just start with OMG! How did I wait so long to eat here? I will not make that mistake again. The food and (curbside takeaway) service were fantastic. We wanted to eat here but didn't know what to order so we called asked for some advice and were not disappointed. We forgot to take pictures because we inhaled the food so fast but I did take a shot of the kitchen receipt so I could remember what to order next time. Everything was fantastic, but the Tawa chicken (the sauce, omg!) and the Deconstructed butter chicken rocked my world. I'm dreaming about them right now. Cant go wrong with any of these and the mushroom naan, mmmmmm so yummy. I wasn't sure I was fan of Indian food, after a previous bad experience at another restaurant but let me tell you I'm completely converted. I will be back soon!

TL; DR... Decent food, overpriced, really bad service Came here for dinner. Let me start with the food. We ordered Dal Tadka, Malvani Rassa Goat, Lamb Malai Marke, and Kashmiri Lamb Rogan Josh. They were all quite good! Unfortunately, there's where the goodness ended for our experience After we were seated, a waiter came and stood with his hands in his pants pockets, and asked with a tired expression on his face, "Any questions?" We indicated that we needed a few minutes to check out the menu. He came back after 2 minutes, with the same posture and attitude, "Any questions?" It felt like we woke him up from his nap and we were preventing him from going back to bed. We thought it was just this waiter with an attitude issue until we saw another waiter taking orders from the table next to us. He had his arms folded across his chest and appeared similarly uninterested. When we began ordering, our waiter asked someone in our party what spice level he wanted between 1-5. The reply was "4," to which the waiter asked, "Are you sure?" Fair enough, he wanted to make sure we could take the heat, which we certainly can. But when the food came out, it wasn't even spicy at all! The only bright spot with the service was the older lady who was always around to fill our glasses with water with a smile. When we were mostly done with the food, another server came and started clearing our dishes and dropped the check on our table. We took that as a hint that we had stayed long enough. The whole dining experience took about an hour, excluding the time we waited for our food. Price was HIGH, even when you consider the location among an upscale shopping center. Portions were small for all the dishes we had. Garlic naan was $5 for a really small serving, compared to other Indian restaurants we've been where it's usually $2-3 for a bigger serving. Don't even bother ordering the Mushroom-Chèvre Kulcha (Stuffed Naan, Portobello Mushroom, Goat Cheese, Grapeseed Oil). We paid $9 for a small serving of plain naan with tiny spots of mushrooms that didn't taste anything special, not even a hint of goat cheese Like some other reviewers said, there are definitely other Indian restaurants serving the same quality or even better food at a fraction of the price, and with good service to go with it. You'll have a better dining experience elsewhere

Went in on Sunday evening for dinner with my son who loves Indian food. I had hyped this place up so much we had high hopes. It heralds itself as one of the top 5 Indian restaurants in the country. Those are big words. In my head, I am imaging Michelin star upscale status. My son and I were seated at a booth; I will say, he loved all the adorning beads that hung throughout the restaurant. Plastic and cheap but he enjoyed them. What I didn't expect was for the booths to be cracked and ripped up. For the tables to have gauges and cracks in them. My son asked if this was a "fancy restaurant" and I quickly had to change my definition of fancy! But truly the most disappointing thing about our entire dining experience was the horrific service. Our server just could not be bothered. Curt. Rude. And came up way too often, rushing us. At one point, I was trying to get him to explain the chaat du jour to which he replies- "spinach or chick pea". What?? Care to elaborate? I still don't understand what he said and he wouldn't give details. I asked about one the lamb entrees, if it included the bone-in or was it chopped and how it was served. "Yes", was the respond I got. I asked him about a couple of the appetizers and which he liked best. Wouldn't answer. I asked him what most people like best. He said it just depends. Hey, thanks for the help. Finally, I then ordered a glass of Chardonnay which shows to be $13 on the menu but when the check came it was $15. Not a big deal but again, more inconsistent nonsense. The service was entirely uncalled for. Not sure if it is a cultural thing or this man was having a terrible day but for $150 check, I'm not going to be that forgiving. Was the food good? Sure. But I don't do shit service, doesn't matter how the food tastes. Overall, very dissapointed.