Spicelife Indian Fare

Spicelife Indian Fare is an awesome local lunch spot that’s quickly become a favorite. For just $10.95, you can build your own bowl in a Chipotle-style setup — and the best part is they’ll give you a scoop of everything if you want to try it all! The portions are generous, the flavors are rich and satisfying, and it’s an unbeatable value for the price. Definitely splurge a little for the garlic naan — it’s soft, buttery, and totally worth the extra couple of bucks. The vibe is casual with Indian music videos playing in the background, adding a fun touch without being over the top. Great food, great price, and great value overall!

Casual and relaxing atmosphere, offering perfectly customizable spice levels. This is not “modern” take on South Indian food; but rather a top notch choice for fast inexpensive very comforting dishes. I especially enjoyed the Dosa, Lamb Masala, and yellow Dhal. We’ll be back!

SpiceLife Indian Fare blew us away! The menu was packed with options- so many amazing-sounding dishes it was hard to choose-but the staff was incredibly friendly and helped us pick the perfect meal. Their kindness and prompt service made the whole experience even better. Now the food… absolutely phenomenal. Every bite was bursting with rich, layered flavor. The chicken tikka was the highlight- tender, rich, and perfectly coated in a creamy, spiced sauce that was out of this world. You could taste the depth of the spices without anything being overpowering. It was bold, balanced, and completely satisfying. We also loved that dine-in came with real plates and silverware- it felt more like a relaxed restaurant than a casual counter spot. Portions were generous, prices were totally fair, and everything tasted homemade and fresh. Truly one of the most flavorful meals we’ve had in a long time. Can’t wait to come back and try more!

Great taste. Good selection of food. Food was delivered to our table in few minutes. Price is also decent, would definitely recommend going here .

This place is consistently amazing. My favorite spot for south Asian fare, especially when ordering from the menu. The goat masala is the best. Quality tender meat with a delicious gravy. I really appreciate this place for its quality, consistency and cleanliness!

One of the best places to get Indian food in the area. I've tried the others and none compare. All the food is top quality and very flavorful. The pricing is good too. I love this place. It's my go to for when I want quality Indian cuisine

While the food tastes good, their catering service should be better. I ordered 1/2 a tray of chicken biryani for pick up that had mostly rice with hardly any chicken pieces. This is after I specifically told them that the rice and chicken proportion needs to be better as they have done the same in the past as well. The vegetable biryani was to have extra paneer, but again there was hardly any paneer in the dish. Overall a very disappointing experience.

The biryani and chicken 65 are so so good! Would highly recommend the biryani! The servers are very kind. Will definitely return!

Monday 7/21/25 I've been to this spot a few times but have never tried the "create your own" bowl until today. The bowl price is about $12 after tax which is solid value. Reminds me of a chipotle with an Indian spin on it. For my bowl I got the lemon rice, basmati rice, grilled chicken (dark meat), butter chicken (white meat), Chana Marsala, palek paneer, vegetable pakora, mix greens, Kachumber salad, and side sauces of their sweet mango chutney & tamarind chutney. Also all bowls get half a serving of plain naan which goes great with the bowl. All in all, I enjoyed my meal. The food is good and the portions are pretty good except for the chicken (I expected more chicken portions WITHOUT having to pay extra). -- For more FOOD content, follow me on Instagram: @issa.cheatday

Solid Value!! Food 1.5/2 - I want to start out by saving that this place is definitely filled with value options. Getting such a large bowl of fresh curries and toppings for this price is ridiculously affordable. That being said, the taste was not bad either. I would come back here for a quick meal. Get in and out in just 15 minutes. I also appreciated that they had as many vegetarian curries as non-veg options. Even had a paneer curry for a bowl. Setting 1/2 - Setting can be worked on but the place was clean and inviting. The decor could be improved along with the layout but other than that it was fine. Service 1/1 - nothing to complain about all the nice people working here. They're friendly and helpful. Always serving with a smile.

Is it the best indian food in terms of quality and flavor? No. Was it the best in terms of enjoyment? YES. Ive never had fast casual indian food, and I loved the chipotle/cava style. 10.95 to customize a bowl with a side of naan, being able to eat a little bit of everything was awesome. The fresh veggies were so refreshing and paired wonderfully with the rich sauces. Now in terms of quality, the butter chicken was pretty dry and tough but the sauces made up for it. The bullet naan was also a bit dry but again, with the sauces it was wonderful. The tomato chutney had a slight kick and was rich and delicious, the yoghurt sauce was pretty light and provided a good balance. Ive been wanting to try this place forever, hearing so many great things. I was not disappointed.

The create your own bowl is where it is at. A great price, amazing taste, and fun experience. The ambiance is nice for a fast casual spot. The service was very nice.

Spicelife is my favorite Indian spot in the area. They do all the classics right, and the food is consistently delicious and comforting. The staff is always friendly, and it's my go-to for takeout -- especially in the winter when you want something warm and satisfying.

It's time for an updated review. I was here with a group of ladies. This was the first time visiting this restaurant for all of them. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed their experience here. Everyone opted for entrees appetizers instead of bowls. You ordered at the register and they will bring the food out to you. Service was great. Dosa was definitely a hit with everyone. It was huge! Salmon Tikka appetizer was well prepared. Alu Gobi- yum! Mutter paneer, tikka masala, tandoori chicken- you can't go wrong with any of these choices.

Came back and once again, it never disappoints! Every time we eat here, we just can't get over how delicious every bite of every dish is. Today, we had the Malabari with shrimp, chicken 65, tandoori chicken & garlic naan. Everything was amazing. Perfect amount of spice & flavor in every dish. We love the ambiance and the workers. It's never too full of customers where you don't have a place to sit or sit too close to customers and the workers are always friendly and helpful. We love this place so much!

I go here every week! The build your own spice bowls are always so flavorful and a great deal. I've had my graduation party catered from here. The staff was super helpful in figuring out how much of each dish to prepare for the number of guests. The kitchen and tables and kept clean. Open seating policy with great natural lighting and fast casual ambiance.

The build your own bowl option at Spicelife is the deal of the century! I visited Spicelife on my lunch break and could not believe how much was packed in my bowl for just under $12! Spicelife has a large indoor seating area and a menu with entrees. You can also choose to build your own bowl only when you order in person. They have plenty of vegan options such as Chana masala, pakora, cucumber salad, and sauces. I cannot believe how many items I got to add to my bowl at such a low price! The staff was extremely friendly and knowledgeable about vegan food. I sadly cannot eat the naan as it is buttered and they double checked all the sauces so I knew which ones were dairy free. I will definitely be back to Spicelife to rebuild this bowl for lunch. I also recommend this business for a group lunch because their dining area was empty and should be filled up with food this good!

Mainly went there, cause heard good things about its street food. Tried tikki chaat, paneer makhani, daal makhani, chilly chicken . Average food, ambience for comparable price

I can never turn down the pick your own entree bowl, such a great price for so much food (less than $11). This time we also got a dosa (vindaloo) and it was so spicy (I could feel the heat lingering) but I still loved it. Next time I will try a different one. We also got the samosa chat and it was very flavorful. The place gets busy in the evening but you can always find a place to sit.

The service is honestly not great. The times we've been they've either been rushing us or taking forever with our bread order while our bowls get cold. BUT I will say the food tastes great and the prices are reasonable.

I've never had Indian curry buffet style before! I really liked that I could get all of the curries and toppings on my bowl with a side of naan! You can choose 2 sauces as well. I liked the different varieties of curries, but I don't know if I have a favorite yet because I found them all delicious. Also, I got the garlic naan and I loved it, I most definitely can eat the garlic naan by itself. I'll definitely come back! The pictures I took don't do the food justice and I should have took a better picture to highlight the curries. I'll do a better post/edit when I'm back in the area. Friendly staff and good restaurant to eat inside or to-go.

Good bowls for very less price. They have a great variety in food as well. Overall a great place to eat.

Have always been a fan of this place and its $11 make-your-own bowl. This time, not only did I get a bowl, but also Chicken Tikka Masala and Baingan Bharta (eggplant). I love the bowl because you can mix in different flavors and toppings to create a different texture than just sauce over rice. The veggie toppings and the pakora gives it a nice fresh crunch. The two other entrees were both good and flavorful and came with a quart of fluffy basmati. Sometimes I wish the eggplant was chopped up and not pureed to give it a different texture; but its great, nonetheless. The 'spicy' heat level wasn't hot enough, so will try extra spicy next time. Butter naan was also very good when fresh and warm, but tough to reheat to the same fluffiness. I love that we have good Indian food in our neighborhood and one day will venture back to try other menu items.

This has got to be my go to restaurant for when I want Indian food to go! I love that they have the "build your own bowl" option so that I can choose multiple options. The portion sizes are so worth the money you pay for. Staff are super friendly, and their food is so tasty!

Came for a casual Friday night dinner after an evening of trick or treating in the Crown neighborhood. The pakoras and samosas were good so was the Goat curry. We also tried the ground lamb kabob which we did not like because the kebobs did not taste like meat. All dishes have generous portions. I have not tried their bowls but saw others ordering them so I do believe those are good and inexpensive options. It's a fast casual restaurant and there weee a lot of Indian patrons which always is a good sign.

They use a lot of MSG in their food preparation - and I called to verify that the following day after ordering takeout the prior evening. Although the food was good I ended up incredibly tired, nauseous, and with a headache about two hours afterwards from the effects of large amounts of MSG flavoring. I think if your food is good, with quality ingredients, then MSG should not need to be added. They should also list on their menus and website that they use MSG additive because not everyone tolerates it well.

Great place! Their samosa chat is bomb! I usually like their food. I took off 1 star because of the chicken biryani I got this time. Bland taste Well, Biryani I got was more like tomato flavored pulao. Rest of the dishes are good !

This is where I go for enlightenment and clarity. The level of spice and flavor of their biryani is unmatched and at a relatively affordable price. Chicken biryani is $15, which is on the lower end for this area. And they don't skimp on portions either. Ever since I first had biryani in 2020, then tried spicelife in 2021. From then to now in 2024, I've been going around trying out biryanis everywhere in moco. But I keep coming back to spicelife, because no one else reaches my soul like them. You can play around with all the other spots, we all have to have our own journey to find our meaning in life. To fill the dark void that is our existential dread. But when all is said and done, this is the only way to the life of spice. join us when you're ready.

The chicken tikka masala, rice, and garlic naan are just so classic and go perfectly together here. I ordered carry out and it was quickly prepared and ready to go when I got there. And it ended up being so delicious. While I felt it was pricey, it ended up being worth it. I thought the restaurant itself had a good amount of seating and is in a really cute area full of shops. Parking was easy on a Sunday afternoon- both street and garage parking are available. This is definitely a place I am excited to go back to

Doordash Saturday night. Goat masala, medium spice, was excellent! 4.5 stars. Garlic naan was 4 stars. Tamarind and mint chutneys were superb. 4.5 stars. Rice was outstanding! Fragrant and well seasoned, cooked perfectly. 5 stars.

This is not my favorite Indian joint but it's an okay one. It's like a chipotle that serves Indian food. Choose your base, protein and sides. They serve a good quantity. If you are new to Indian food or looking to grab something quickly, then this is a good place to start

I have been wanting to try Hakka food for awhile and was super excited to see it on the menu here. I ordered the Chilly Chicken and Veg samosa. The chilly chicken had a slight tangy flavor to it, but was mostly overpowered by the spiciness. I think the dish was okay. I really enjoyed the samosas! They were crispy on the outside and had a generous amount of filling. I'd like to come back and get the build your own bowl and some other dishes on the menu!

Located in Downtown Crown, Theres side parking and nearby garages. The restaurant offers take out and carry out options. However their layout for their food, is chipotle style, pick your choices etc. They have the classic Indian dishes; butter chicken, tandori, and chicken tikka. I love love Indian food, and around this area, I have yet to find that one, that will make my tummy happy. Employees are ok, I wouldnt say friendly, kinda like basic customer service. You can pick your 3 and your base or you can order an entree. I decided on picking 3 options, just to sample a few, so I can have an idea. You also get a side of some Naan. I love rice, so I did get a generous portion of Basmati Rice too. The restaurant is ok, They have indoor seating, and tvs all around playing Bollywood music videos or Bollywood novelas. They offer tap water, which is a plus. The moment of truth, One thing about Chipotle style that Im not keen on, is the food tends to sit longer under warming trays then if you were to get an cook to order entree. Same goes for rice. I had butter chicken, Its my favorite Indian dish, however I didnt get to enjoy as much, because my chicken wasnt hot, more so lukewarm, and not tender. It lack flavor. I missed the seasonings that I am used to. The other items I chose were ok, and I should have bypassed their version of pico dressing. As for the rice :( major sad face, I can tell it was sitting for some time, and that also put a damper on my dish. I was sad when I found out that they dont make Ras Malai. Its a delicious dessert that cools your palate with deliciousness. Their desserts are limited here. Insert another sad face emoji. I dont recommend their chipotle style (buffet) option. I suggest ordering an entree instead. Ill give this place another try and give an update of when that happens. I love me some tandoori chicken.

I previously had Spicelife at a friend's place and enjoyed the food so I returned to try different dishes. Spicelife has fast casual bowl options for about $11, as well as entrees like tandoori chicken, biryani, and curry. There are so many options. I got the chicken palak, chicken tikka masala, and garlic naan. The food was delicious. I especially loved the chicken palak. Everything was so flavorful. It's not a big restaurant. It was mostly packed when I went. There's a parking garage and metered street parking.

Ahhhhh seriously the best food ever!!! There chicken biryani!!! It was sooooo delicious and super tasty It literally like my mom's homemade biryani. It also came with raita. I was greeted as soon as I walked through the door. My order was ready in 20minutes. They did an Amazing job!! Thank you Chef!!! Amazing food, amazing service and love your food!!

The service here is terrible. The staff person at the register was rude and had a very negative attitude for no reason. We ordered an extra dish after our original order and we never received it. He kept saying it was coming and it never came. There was no manager or owner on the premises according to this person at the register. We will not be back.

Spicelife has become our local go-to place for Indian cuisine. Our usual order, consisting of Chicken Tikka Masala, Shrimp Malabari, and Garlic Naan, has consistently delivered delicious tastes that keeps us coming back for more. The Chicken Tikka Masala is a masterpiece of tender, succulent chicken pieces enveloped in a luscious, creamy sauce. The blend of spices creates a dish that is both comforting and indulgent. The Shrimp Malabari, a personal favorite, boasts shrimp immersed in a curry that balances sweetness, spice, and richness to perfection. Each bite is an imaginary journey to India, because I've never been lol. No meal at Spicelife is complete without their Garlic Naan, a pillowy and aromatic delight. The naan is flawlessly baked, with just the right amount of garlic infusion, providing the ideal vessel to scoop up the savory curries. I love their Garlic Naan so much that I order at least two for myself to finish in one seating. Their Garlic Naan dipped in their Tikka Masala sauce is... (I have no words) We normally order to-go and our experiences have been consistently positive. The packaging is secure, ensuring that the flavors and textures of the dishes are preserved during the drive from the restaurant to our house. The online order system is simple and effective. One noteworthy aspect is the attention to spice preferences. Spicelife has consistently accommodated our requests for customized spice levels, allowing us to enjoy the dishes with just the right amount of heat for our taste. Spicelife has established itself as a reliable haven for us. Each bite is an "imaginary" culinary voyage that transports us to the heart of India (again, we've never been). With consistent positive takeout experiences, we eagerly anticipate many more flavorful experiences at our local Indian gem.

I happened to be in the area and craving Indian food! If only I discovered it sooner! Their customer service was amazing and they were so patient with me. I got the butter chicken, spinach, and Chana masala. They were all delicious!! My favorite was the Chana masala I would come back just for it!

Kind of irritated. Been eating here for years and love their bowls. They offer two types of chicken for the bowls. You get one scoop of each. Didn't want both chickens because one is too spicy for me. Asked for the double scoop of the one, they said no. My husband went the other way because of dairy intolerance and he wanted two scoops of the spicy instead of one of each. Nope. We said it balances out. Still nope. I don't understand and we will be coming less. Still can't give it up though because it is fabulous.

Came back again and ordered some of my favorite dishes: spice bowl, masala dosa, and AAM Palak Chat. They were all good, but I have to point out that AAM Palak Chat wasn't as pungent as I had before. Each time the flavor was a little bit different. The quality and flavor of the dish depends on the chefs on duty. I wish the flavor was more consistent. However this is still one of my favorite restaurants. I can see myself coming back again and again.

*****3.5 stars***** Fast, friendly service. Decent food. Located in Downtown Crown, Spicelife Indian Fare offers a Chipotle-style menu, but also a regular menu to order off of as well. Decided on a spice bowl so I could try a little bit of everything. For my bowl, I got lemon rice, grilled chicken, okra fry, palak paneer, and kutchumber salad. I thought my bowl was just okay. I was expecting tons of flavor, which I usually get when I eat Indian food. Sadly, I thought it was lacking here. My chicken was tender, but didn't taste like it was marinated at all. I enjoyed the okra fry and the palak paneer was pretty standard. Next time I think I'll order off of their regular menu. There's so many items, though! Suggest taking a look online beforehand if you can.

I use to go here all the time for their bowl. It was a great price and they would give you a good amount. They raised the price by a few dollars (like everywhere else) and I wasn't getting as much so I stopped coming.... But I went back a few times recently and the amount they were providing was on point ! I haven't had anything off the main menu, however, the bowl options have always been really good to me.

Typical Indian make your own bowl restaurant with the addition of a generous selection of cooked to perfection Dosas. Large tables for seating which makes it ideal for groups. Inexpensive with numerous make your own bowl options.

The food here was delicious and crazily inexpensive, especially for the area. I had a bowl with lemon rice, butter chicken, channa masala, and a bunch of toppings, and the total was less than $12. They have a wide selection of Indian breads, which unfortunately I didn't try because I didn't bring anyone to share them with, but the naan included with my meal was great. Definitely recommend this place. I've been to a few other restaurants in this shopping area, and this has been the best, taste-wise.

Ordered take out from here last night. The bullet naan bring the heat. Maybe even more so than I wanted, as I realized I am often relying on the naan to give me a break and help tamper the spice. The Chicken 65 may be my favorite dish of theirs. I was a little let down by the chicken tiki. It wasn't red and the flavor was different than what I am used to from other places. Also some pieces had way too much grizzle and I actually spit one piece out because it was pretty much all fat. It also took a really long time to get to us. Over an hour. Not sure if that was DoorDash's issue or the places. It arrived warm though, either way.

This is good Indian fast casual. Based on what I tried from the buffet, I would like to try more menu items. For one flat price, I got a nice big bowl of saag paneer, two types of chicken, two types of rice, and a decent piece of naan. There was a lot of food, so I had two rounds of leftovers! These are standard Indian menu items, so if you are looking for fusion or inventive spins on Indian food, don't expect that from the buffet.

Good Evening, I would like to say that this Fine Restaurant has exceptional qualities. The food was affordable and absolutely delicious. The "Make your own Spicebowl" is to die for. Another great quality was the Mango Lassi. All in all, this exceptional Restaurant has great food at great prices. But seriously though I can't believe that I haven't found this place earlier. 10 / 10 would stuff my face again.

We love Spicelife! The bowls are a great price and very filling. Food is really flavorful and the staff is kind and attentive. I also enjoy the Indian music videos being shown in the dining area. Also there is ample parking in the lot nearby.

An absolutely amazing, fast-casual Indian spot with great flavors. I live 15 minutes away and will now be coming here regularly. If you like Chipotle, Cava, you will LOVE this place. For $10.95 you get a delicious bowl with popular Indian toppings and the fluffiest naan bread on the side. I came for dinner and got a bowl topped with lemon rice, butter chicken, grilled chicken, chana masala, fried spinach, and chopped tomato/onion/cucumber salad. You also get to choose from a variety of sauces, of which I chose a tamarind sauce and mango chutney. Both sauces were flavorful and complemented the bowl really well. The naan bread was very good and tied everything together. I mean, what more could you ask for? This place blew me away. I highly recommend it!

Favorite local indian spot in Gaithersburg area. Always fresh, and incredibly filling. We typically get the build your own bowl.

Had the lamb biryani and samosas today. Lamb nice and tender. Would give it 5 stars but it's just way too much rice I was hoping lamb on the bone and nan with it. If you want to sit on the toilet 5x in less than 1 hour and have your bum feel on fire then i recommend you try this food. I feel 20lbs lighter while writing this. :)

I've been going to Spice Life for two years now and this is probably better than most sit-down full service Indian restaurants in MoCo!!! The rava onion masala dosa is my go-to, the potato masala is soooo buttery and flavorful, sambar has a nice kick and tomato and coconut chutneys are so good too. The malai kofta is excellent, full of delicate nutty flavor. Best naan around, they make it very soft! The samosa chaat here is really nice and flavorful. Ambience could be a little better, but other than that all in all, delicious food at good process point. Btw, I never remember to take photos because the food is so good I just dig right in and eat!!

Delicious food! We had to wait about 20 minutes for the food the be prepared, but at least we knew it was fresh!! We ordered the chicken kebab, chicken tikka masala and garlic naan. The chicken kebab was flavorful, the chicken tikka masala had a hint of spiciness, and the garlic naan was buttery soft. There was a heaping amount of rice provided in our to-go order, and one of the dishes comes with chick peas. The food does seem a bit pricey, but it comes with a lot of food, and is so worth it! You will definitely have enough for another meal later. Spice life is definitely worth trying if you're in the area and craving some Indian food.

The food is inconsistent. The spinach paneer is always hit or miss and often lacks flavor and hardly has any cheese. The lamb is good and the butter chicken has good flavor, but the chicken is often dry.

Went here last week for food after my massage at Massage Envy down the street! Food was delicious and made as you ordered; it didn't sit around and was piping hot. I was also given a great portion; enough for two meals. I will definitely be back when I'm back in the area.

This place is awesome, such a great value. Think of it as Chipotle but Indian and they do have some entrees. However, my son and I built our bowls (tons of flavorful food) for $11! He really hadn't tried Indian food before, so I started him off with the classic butter chicken. We really enjoyed our meal, and he couldn't even come close to finishing his bowl, and he's a 5' 10" 14 year old.

Awesome food! Love the salmon tikka and shrimp. Food is always fresh. Garlic naan is always hot!