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First time I ever had this food from this place. Surprisingly I loved this place. They told me it's the fusion of Thai and something else (I forgot) I thought it was more of Indonesian food. Because it has the food court feel, it doesn't have anything to say about ambiance but guy at the stand helped me choosing the meal. His recommendation was fantastic. Tbh, I would go often to get my food from there. Honestly it's so fulfilling and tasty.
Great food. We got the pork noodle bowl and the green mango bowl. The server suggested half green mango and half green papaya. I took her suggestion and it was fantastic! The best dish though was the shweji. It was just the right amount of sweet and very moist. I forgot to take a picture of it though.
The western market is conveniently located amongst all the 9-5ers stomping grounds yet I haven't fallen in love with many of its options yet - next to falafal inc, this is the best option for bang for your buck and quality fast casual - the workers are the sweetest people who are incredibly lively and seem to really care that you enjoy your experience and food - I ordered the ginger bowl with shrimp and my joking with the worker about my high spice tolerance paid off, this was SPICY. it was light and refreshing like a vinegary coleslaw with a punch - I wish they added more than 4 pieces of shrimp but considering it's fast casual I was just happy to not doubt the ~food poisoning potential~ of the shrimp at all - you can really tell the vegetables are fresh (they have greens legit straining out water behind them) and the sauces are flavorful and far from store bought generic
The location is a bit misleading on various map services; this is in the big Western Market complex but it's really on the west side of it, a booth in the open section. Having found their original location in Georgetown untenable, I was told, this location will hopefully stay around. A Burmese salad is really something if you haven't had one. The ingredients are finely shredded and so numerous and varied that it's hard to describe. They'll usually simplify things for you by asking a couple of questions about what you want, but there are a ton of ways to customize here and they're very friendly to special dietary needs. They'll do noodles and rice for more money if a salad isn't sufficient, but I do usually come for a salad. When I finally found this location open, they had mango in season and I got a mango salad and added tofu and a bit of spice. The mango was quite sharp in flavor, the tofu plentiful, and the overall experience not too different than what I remember from their old location. One sits in various tables strewn around the complex. It's an expensive bowl (although realistically, pretty much everything other than Falafel Inc is going to be pricey for what it is in this area). But if you want something different, healthy, and delicious, Bandoola Bowl remains a winner. Also check out Mandalay in Silver Spring, under the same ownership. They've had a fair amount of turmoil with their various locations and will likely move out of Silver Spring, but anywhere they pop up, the food will be good.
100/100 Love this pure Satvic Food. Delicious, clean, fresh, high quality, great service! Order: Vegan Papaya, Mango, Ginger bowl with Lemon Dressing, Not Spicy!! Yum!! Come back for sure!!
Such a tasty and quick lunch option located in Western Market. I love the shrimp noodle bowl. The portions are generous, and I love that it includes lots of veggies. They offer spicy and non-spicy options. I got it with the peanut sauce and it was light but flavorful and very appetitizing. Also, service was great! If you're unsure what to order, they will give you recommendations and ask if you have any allergies.
I recently went here for an early weekday lunch and was pleasantly surprised by my meal. Although the bowl was expensive (over $15) and the chicken initially did not look tasty, I enjoyed the bowl. There was a good balance between the amount of chicken, vegetables, and noodles, and the spicy peanut sauce tied everything together (and was also very spicy). Given the lack of good food options in Foggy Bottom, I would recommend if you are in the area and need a meal.
I have visited Bandoola twice and have had great experiences both times. Bandoola is one of the vendors at Western Market. Their menu is extremely easy to read, and it has notations to indicate what is vegan. When you order your meal from them, they immediately ask if you if you have allergies or dietary restrictions. They take so much care to make sure everyone receives a meal that contains only items they can eat whether it's based on allergy or dietary choices. The first time I visited Bandoola I ordered a spicy rice noodle tofu bowl. On my first visit they only allowed me to get my bowl medium spicy. They said if I could tolerate that spice level, at my next visit I could get the highest spice level. On this second visit, I let them know I would like my meal as spicy as possible. They certainly gave me the heat. This bowl was lit! I ordered a brown rice tofu bowl with all the vegetables. They mixed it with a peanut sauce and made it the highest spice level. I absolutely loved my meal! The spice level was spicy enough to make my nose run, but not spicy enough to make my ears feel like smoke was coming out of them. The vegetables in the bowl provided so much texture and crunch with fresh tomoatoes, cabbage, onions, and peppers. I thought that they added enough sauce that the bowl was flavorful throughout, but not too much sauce where the meal was saturated in it. I am so excited to try some more of their vegan sauces and continue to satisfy my need for spicy food here. I also want to add that I attended this business with 8 other people. This business is able to handle large groups of people, and get the food out fast. I am so impressed with how well organized this business is, and how easy it is to visit with a big group of friends. Thanks for all the vegan options Bandoola and I cannot wait for my next meal already!
I ordered the spicy noodle bowl with chicken, and I was very happy. The flavors were great. The veggies were fresh! It felt like a pretty healthy meal. I think I would have liked it to be a little spicier. I also tried the sweji dessert, and it was very delicious! The gentleman working there was so friendly and kind! He was chatting with all the customers. He brightened my day! I recommend you try this food vendor in Western Market.
This place rocks. It's in Western Market and is great for a casual but fun lunch that also can be healthy. I eat here more frequently than I'd like to admit and always am happy. They're always willing to customize your order, which for someone like me is important- I love spicy salads but don't want them too spicy, and they're always willing to accommodate that. I get the salad with chicken usually. The lemon-ginger dressing is my favorite and has outstanding adventurous flavor. Great casual place to get lunch alone or with friends.
Reviews are largely positive. People highlight the fresh, flavorful food, diverse menu options, and friendly, helpful staff. The space is also clean and well-maintained.
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7 months ago
Bandoola bowl still is my favorite fast casual in DC! My go to order is tofu rice spicy noodle bowl with the burmese sauce (fish sauce base). Fresh, tasty, flavorful. The owners are so kind and welcoming. The pork rice noodle bowl with spicy burmese dressing is also delish. read more
I am a big lover of Mandalay in Silver Spring (owned by the same family) and Burmese food in general with all its textures and flavors, This one is more of a food stall fast food place but I really enjoyed my warm noodle bowl. I asked them to heat up the curried chickpea a tad and got the wheat flour noodle bowl with the spicy bandoola dressing (The noodles are egg free and they are very clear about which dressings are vegan, which have fish sauce etc ). Delicious. My general rating system: 1 star: I would stay away 2 stars: Has some good things about it but I generally don't recommend. 3 stars: Pretty good. I wouldn't go out of my way to go back but a decent place 4 stars: Great place. I would go back. 5 stars: I highly recommend stopping whatever you are doing and making plans to try it out! An Evie favorite! read more
I pass by this place often and never had an opportunity to try them until now. Well, they have gained a new customer!!! First, the staff is so kind. Very warm, friendly, and attentive. They asked a lot of questions about food allergies and did not hesitate to recommend items based on my preferences. Next, the booth is extremely clean and they took precaution when handling food. I appreciated that a lot. Price: for the area and the fresh food category, you cannot go wrong with the price. The food is extremely fresh and I paid $16 for a very hearty and balanced bowl. Meal: I ordered the warm bowl and selected brown rice with chicken as my protein and a delicious ginger sesame sauce to top it off. This bowl was exactly what I needed. The array of vegetables included: carrots, cabbage, lettuce, and servings of celery. Now image those vegetables being seeped in a tangy sauce with a serving of warm brown rice and juicy grilled chicken strips in between. The flavors were complimenting each other so well but I tasted a consistent set of spices in each bite-which I loved. I thoroughly enjoyed this bowl, it was THAT good! Highly recommended if you're in Western Market and hoping to find clean eats. To vegetarians, there are a lot of options, to vegans, there are items you would like, to meat eaters, there are items you'd enjoy while indulging in their delicious vegetables. Overall, I love their diverse menu but I appreciated the cultural taste on a plate. Can't wait to return. read more
First time I ever had this food from this place. Surprisingly I loved this place. They told me it's the fusion of Thai and something else (I forgot) I thought it was more of Indonesian food. Because it has the food court feel, it doesn't have anything to say about ambiance but guy at the stand helped me choosing the meal. His recommendation was fantastic. Tbh, I would go often to get my food from there. Honestly it's so fulfilling and tasty. read more
5 months ago
Great food. We got the pork noodle bowl and the green mango bowl. The server suggested half green mango and half green papaya. I took her suggestion and it was fantastic! The best dish though was the shweji. It was just the right amount of sweet and very moist. I forgot to take a picture of it though. read more
10 months ago
The western market is conveniently located amongst all the 9-5ers stomping grounds yet I haven't fallen in love with many of its options yet - next to falafal inc, this is the best option for bang for your buck and quality fast casual - the workers are the sweetest people who are incredibly lively and seem to really care that you enjoy your experience and food - I ordered the ginger bowl with shrimp and my joking with the worker about my high spice tolerance paid off, this was SPICY. it was light and refreshing like a vinegary coleslaw with a punch - I wish they added more than 4 pieces of shrimp but considering it's fast casual I was just happy to not doubt the ~food poisoning potential~ of the shrimp at all - you can really tell the vegetables are fresh (they have greens legit straining out water behind them) and the sauces are flavorful and far from store bought generic read more
The location is a bit misleading on various map services; this is in the big Western Market complex but it's really on the west side of it, a booth in the open section. Having found their original location in Georgetown untenable, I was told, this location will hopefully stay around. A Burmese salad is really something if you haven't had one. The ingredients are finely shredded and so numerous and varied that it's hard to describe. They'll usually simplify things for you by asking a couple of questions about what you want, but there are a ton of ways to customize here and they're very friendly to special dietary needs. They'll do noodles and rice for more money if a salad isn't sufficient, but I do usually come for a salad. When I finally found this location open, they had mango in season and I got a mango salad and added tofu and a bit of spice. The mango was quite sharp in flavor, the tofu plentiful, and the overall experience not too different than what I remember from their old location. One sits in various tables strewn around the complex. It's an expensive bowl (although realistically, pretty much everything other than Falafel Inc is going to be pricey for what it is in this area). But if you want something different, healthy, and delicious, Bandoola Bowl remains a winner. Also check out Mandalay in Silver Spring, under the same ownership. They've had a fair amount of turmoil with their various locations and will likely move out of Silver Spring, but anywhere they pop up, the food will be good. read more
2 years ago
100/100 Love this pure Satvic Food. Delicious, clean, fresh, high quality, great service! Order: Vegan Papaya, Mango, Ginger bowl with Lemon Dressing, Not Spicy!! Yum!! Come back for sure!! read more
Such a tasty and quick lunch option located in Western Market. I love the shrimp noodle bowl. The portions are generous, and I love that it includes lots of veggies. They offer spicy and non-spicy options. I got it with the peanut sauce and it was light but flavorful and very appetitizing. Also, service was great! If you're unsure what to order, they will give you recommendations and ask if you have any allergies. read more
I recently went here for an early weekday lunch and was pleasantly surprised by my meal. Although the bowl was expensive (over $15) and the chicken initially did not look tasty, I enjoyed the bowl. There was a good balance between the amount of chicken, vegetables, and noodles, and the spicy peanut sauce tied everything together (and was also very spicy). Given the lack of good food options in Foggy Bottom, I would recommend if you are in the area and need a meal. read more
I have visited Bandoola twice and have had great experiences both times. Bandoola is one of the vendors at Western Market. Their menu is extremely easy to read, and it has notations to indicate what is vegan. When you order your meal from them, they immediately ask if you if you have allergies or dietary restrictions. They take so much care to make sure everyone receives a meal that contains only items they can eat whether it's based on allergy or dietary choices. The first time I visited Bandoola I ordered a spicy rice noodle tofu bowl. On my first visit they only allowed me to get my bowl medium spicy. They said if I could tolerate that spice level, at my next visit I could get the highest spice level. On this second visit, I let them know I would like my meal as spicy as possible. They certainly gave me the heat. This bowl was lit! I ordered a brown rice tofu bowl with all the vegetables. They mixed it with a peanut sauce and made it the highest spice level. I absolutely loved my meal! The spice level was spicy enough to make my nose run, but not spicy enough to make my ears feel like smoke was coming out of them. The vegetables in the bowl provided so much texture and crunch with fresh tomoatoes, cabbage, onions, and peppers. I thought that they added enough sauce that the bowl was flavorful throughout, but not too much sauce where the meal was saturated in it. I am so excited to try some more of their vegan sauces and continue to satisfy my need for spicy food here. I also want to add that I attended this business with 8 other people. This business is able to handle large groups of people, and get the food out fast. I am so impressed with how well organized this business is, and how easy it is to visit with a big group of friends. Thanks for all the vegan options Bandoola and I cannot wait for my next meal already! read more
7 months ago
I ordered the spicy noodle bowl with chicken, and I was very happy. The flavors were great. The veggies were fresh! It felt like a pretty healthy meal. I think I would have liked it to be a little spicier. I also tried the sweji dessert, and it was very delicious! The gentleman working there was so friendly and kind! He was chatting with all the customers. He brightened my day! I recommend you try this food vendor in Western Market. read more
This place rocks. It's in Western Market and is great for a casual but fun lunch that also can be healthy. I eat here more frequently than I'd like to admit and always am happy. They're always willing to customize your order, which for someone like me is important- I love spicy salads but don't want them too spicy, and they're always willing to accommodate that. I get the salad with chicken usually. The lemon-ginger dressing is my favorite and has outstanding adventurous flavor. Great casual place to get lunch alone or with friends. read more
1 year ago
1 year ago
Ginger bowl with shrimp, very light fresh and overall super yummy! Cute place in western market near gw and the service was great, the young lady was helpful being that it was my first time trying read more
5 months ago
2 years ago
4 years ago
Food very tasty and delicious. You started off by choosing either brown rice, wheat noodle or rice noodle and then the protein. They added the fresh veggies and mixed with their special, tasty dressing. I had the rice noodle with pork and lots of fresh veggies. I highly recommend if you want some fast and healthy meal. read more
Big portion for the price! Mostly veggies, noodles were buried at the bottom. Chicken was not as grilled as I'd like it to have been but still delicious! Employees were very kind and accommodating to food/sauce preferences. Definitely would come back again. read more
2 years ago
Tons flavor healthy salads. Favorite so far is the mango + papaya mix (add on shrimp) with lemon dressing medium spiciness (still spicy). Friendly and professional service...fast too. read more
Something quick healthy and very very good with a little kick all mixed in a bowl. My first time here but not my last. The owners were super friendly and awesome. They explained the whole concept of their establishment to me. Which I thought was helpful and cool. read more
I am the type of person who always looks for light, refreshing, yet filling food. This place checks off all three criteria. Recently opened over the summer, so I feel like it will be busier once school is in session. I got the shrimp rice noodle bowl. Amazing! It's basically chipotle style pick your toppings (or predetermined menu) and they toss the toppings with your selected base. The thin rice noodles are already flavorful, but they add some more sauce to the bowl. The shrimp rice noodle bowl comes with lots of cabbage, red onions, carrots, crispy garlic, red pepper, corn, and cilantro. You can ask to take out or add other ingredients. The ingredients are fresh and kept well. The service is quick! They toss the ingredients in the back and put it in a bowl to take out. The people there are really friendly and nice! Enjoyed my short interaction with them. Tip: They give 10% discount for students! read more
Perfect place for a light and refreshing lunch! You can definitely taste the Southeast Asian influence in the dressing. I got the default dressing for the roasted pork salad bowl and it was super flavorful - a bit on the sour side as I think they squeezed like in there and the dressing might have had a citrus element also, but it was still really good. It's also very customizable, which is a plus. The pork was also a bit dry. But overall a great place, and the employees were also so friendly and nice. read more
3 years ago
3 years ago
Can't say enough great things about this restaurant! The ingredients are always fresh, dressings are fantastic, and staff are THE BEST! If you haven't tried - these bowls are served cold and crunchy (veggies are not cooked). Colorful, healthy, and delish. Pictured here is my tried and true tofu bowl over wheat noodles mixed with peanut dressing + spice. Favorite fast casual in the city (and it's not even close). read more
3 years ago
3 years ago
4 years ago
3 years ago
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4 years ago
I wanted something fresh and filling. I was thrilled with the Mango Papaya Salad with Tofu that they carefully crafted for me. It was a large size and hit the spot on this hot, humid day. It has both Thai and Vietnamese flavors with their combination of peanuts and fish sauce. Everyone there was super great at sharing how their menu custom worked. They were also very careful and accommodating regarding an allergy concern. Great service. Great food. Wonderful flavor. Fresh ingredients. Clean. No guilt. Highly, highly recommend. Plus, there's plenty of seating areas with air conditioning. read more
4 years ago
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Bandoola Bowl GW - asianfusion - Updated October 2026
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