Good for Lunch! Good spot, nice ambience and generally like the options they have. Although there is a lot of salt so those with high cholesterol, need to be aware of that. read more

The one star review is purely for the experience we had with the service. We (party of 2) went in without a reservation hoping that they would allow walk ins if space is available. We were told that they do allow walk ins but all the tables were booked for the night. We left disappointed. 5 minutes later I pulled out my phone to see if any reservations were available in nearby restaurants. To my surprise, the app showed that there were two tables available at Chai Pani literally 15 minutes later. So I made the reservation, walked back in and told the host that we now have a reservation. They seemed a bit surprised as they weren't expecting that and told us "oh someone might have cancelled their reservation". I highly doubted that but was still willing to give them the benefit of doubt. They sat us down, 20 minutes went by and nobody even asked us for water. We requested a waiter nearby to get us some water as we had been traveling and were thirsty and hungry. Another 15 minutes went by after making the request, the same waiter walked past our table a few times and we still did not get our water and nobody waited on us. To make the matters worse, there was another party of 2 who sat right next to our table 15 minutes after us and within a few minutes of being seated were served water and they were also able to place their drinks and food order while we were still waiting for our waters. This really pissed us off as it made us feel that we were not welcome there. We literally had to complain to the manager so that someone can come over to our table and take our order. This experience left a bitter taste in our mouth and it resulted us in not liking the food too. We have been to their location in Asheville multiple times and we had a great experience every time, food and service. We are never going back to this location again! read more

Finally got a chance to eat here! The space is BEAUTIFUL! Very thoughtful and intentional with the design. You walk in and it smells delicious, getting you ready for an amazing meal. Definitely recommend making a reservation. We walked in and got lucky to have two seats at the bar available for us, but don't risk it like us. We ordered the aloo tikki chaat and disco bhel to start. The aloo tikki chaat was amazing! So flavorful. We then shared the lamb which was incredible. The meat literally fell off the bone. I had a mango lassi on the side to balance the spice, which I recommend. And to end the night, we had to order the gulab jamun. Amazing!!! Ugh the warmth and sweetness is exactly what we needed. Amazing meal, can't wait to come back and try more from the menu! read more

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I love this place. It is a great option if you are gluten free! Every dish I've had is amazing. The environment is so fun too. And I love the mocktails. read more

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Chai Pani was mildly underwhelming. The service was definitely a strength, including the host/hostesses. But the food left me underwhelmed. I got the chili chicken, which I expected to be spicy and it was. I also tried the okra which was cooked very creatively for a dish that is hard to make good. I ended with the lamb shank, the quality of the meat and how it was cooked was very good, but the sauce it came it was so spicy it made it hard to enjoy the dish. I love Indian food and Indian food fusion, and I'm used to the spice that comes with it, but between the chili chicken and lamb shank it felt like they were spicy for no reason, the spice didn't seem to enhance the flavor experience. I will say the drinks were solid, including the mango lassie. Overall, good spot and I recommend it - it just didn't quite meet expectations but the expectations were very high. read more

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OMGGG SOOO GOOD! Felt like I was walking into someone wedding festivities and ready to start dancing hahah their music playlist legit has all the classic wedding dance songs! Oh and the decor was WOWW! Def takes you to an Indian wedding vibe and just makes you excited to try the food. Make sure to get the masala chai cuz wow someone finally got it right with the perfect amount of ginger and spice. We enjoyed the mango lassi, butter chicken (naan was ok.. could be better) and then the kale chaat was delicious! The food is all halal too which was awesome. Make sure to save room for desert and get gulaab jammun. Can't wait to be back! read more

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My wife and I recently ordered for a takeout dinner the okra fries, dal makhani, naan, and the cheese uthappam. While the delivery person through a third-party app took a while, the food was still warm when it arrived. The okra were quite salty, although deliciously crispy and seasoned. The cheese uthappam was the star dish-extremely flavorful, the perfect amount of cheese, amazing texture, and the coconut sauce was an ideal complement. The naan was rich and buttery, and the dal makhani was smoky, well-seasoned, and nicely salted. I highly recommend Chai Pani and I look forward to having Chai Pani again! read more

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In-FREAKING-credible! You may have read my poor experience at an Indian restaurant the other day, but this restaurant more than makes up for it. My friend and I dined here after abandoning two other Indian spots in Noma as options. This place was eye-catching from a block and half away, humongous, like a warehouse, tall, festooned with color and visual tour de force. The service was phenomenal. The host, our server, the other servers, the food deliverer--every single one happy, friendly, conversational, and warm. They seem to love their job and want to share their energy with guests. The appetizer was a large portion of the sabudana vada tots, which were deep-fried tapioca root vegetable pearls with green chiles, served with a delicous tangy-sweet dip. SO SO AMAZING. Not a 5/5, a 10 of a 5. I can't explain my logic. We were also thoroughly impressed with the two utthapams we ordered: one mushroom and one cheese. The portions were huge, every bite as amazing as the last. The dipping sauces (coconut chutney and cilantro chutney) were described when delivered and tasted fabulous. The vibe. The ambiance. The food. Chef's kiss. Home-freaking-run! I will come back a thousand times. You oughta too. read more

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This has been on my list to try since I saw them building it and well worth the wait! The decor on the outside is fun, whimsical, and whisks you away to India. The same bright colors and style follow through inside. As soon as you walk in, you're enamored with the most delicious scents that automatically get your stomach growling. We had a reservation and were seated promptly. Our waiter came over shortly and went through the menu concept and gave us her recommendations. Since they use a shareable plates style, it allows you to try many options. We started off with the chai tea which was a strong start. We decided to get the chili chicken, KFC chicken sandwich, and the lamb as our main entree. WHEW. Everything was a hit. The chili chicken was fried perfectly and paired well with the rice. The KFC sandwich was amazing. Crisped to perfection and the sauce on top took it over the edge. The lamb?! Tender to the touch. Every time we tried to pick it up to divide it, it kept falling apart. Definitely looking forward to coming back. read more

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The photo experience begins before you enter the restaurant. The decorations add to the cheer inside. Chai Pani is location close to Union Market. We visited as soon as the place opened at 11:00am. The place fills quickly. If you are visiting for dinner, make a reservation. Parking is sometimes available nearby. When we see a spot, we grab it. There were tons of choices. The toasted SPDP was chilled, but accurately described. I didn't carefully read the description. It is full of powerful flavors. The Vada Pav looks like sliders. It is vegetarian. The mint chutney is good. The fried chilis are not hot. The Daal Makhani was a religious experience. The lentils are topped off with yogurt. They are baked overnight. Just delicious! The rice was a nice touch. It was a flavorful meal. The restaurant is colorful and fun. We'll be back. read more

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A fantastic experience from start to finish. We came for brunch and here are our hits and misses: Chai: elaichi (cardamom) chai, which I enjoy but fair warning if you don't like elaichi In your chai. Came piping hot with two parles and after coming in from a brutally cold walk it was the perfect thing to warm me up. A hit! Cardamom old fashioned: my husband wasn't sure he would enjoy cardamom in this drink but was pleasantly surprised -- it added sweetness but didn't overwhelm. For a whiskey fan, a hit! Sweet potato chaat: so I knew it would be sweet given the name and main ingredient but I had hoped the other chutneys/flavors would provide balance. Still ended up too sweet when chaat is supposed to be all the things -- sweet, savory, spicy, etc.. A miss for me. Sabudana vada tots: crunchy exterior with loads of flavor from the curry leaves and soft, chewy interior -- love that they gave us Maggie! Absolutely a hit for us both. Vada pav: you get two, just FYI. Pillowy buns, crisp Vada, loads of garlic chutney which is a must for me. I really loved it. Lamb Kala masala: tender falling off the bone, divine. Spoon some extra sauce/gravy on top and devour like my husband did. Rice isn't really needed but naan is. The entryway and interior is basically a floral explosion, but somehow it's still fun and not overwhelming. Cute touches throughout like a pani puri cart, merch wall, etc.. Servers are busy on weekends because there is quite the rush but they were pros under pressure and never missed a beat. Looking forward to bringing friends and family here! read more

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Vibrant decor, friendly staff and delicious food. Nice options on their menu too. I have food allergies and our server was helpful with recommendations. *Sweet Potato Chaat- delicious! The pomegranate brings it all together well *Disco Bhel- was flavorful *Lamb- nothing stand out, but ok We'd definitely come back. There were several menu items we'd love to try next time, and the excellent customer service makes it even better. read more

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Have been to the original Asheville location a couple times, it's pretty good so was excited to try the DC new location! Made a reservation for 6 to celebrate a birthday for a Sunday brunch - we were seated on time in a nice large booth. The decor is stunning! Really colorful, fun, and true to Indian style, not in a fake way. The food was good as well for the most part - the DPSP was as usual a hit and even the bhel puri was surprisingly well done. The sabudana vada were an unexpected winner, crispy on the outside and chewy and flavorful inside. However the drinks were a bit of a let down, and they were out of the tandoori chicken that my FIL wanted. Overall a great one time experience for a special occasion - Indian food that's not not typical for Indian restaurants in America. read more

Chai Pani - Indian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I've been here twice and the food was hit or miss for me. For instance, our friends raved about the okra fries but I didn't find them flavorful - just salty. I did like their eggplant dish, which they recently took off of the menu. I also recently had their tots, which are made with tapioca and delightful when paired with the spicy ketchup sauce. Their grilled paneer is also plated beautifully and absolutely delicious! Service is ok. Everyone is nice but out of every 3 people we interact with, only 1 is particularly responsive. Hopefully that'll only get better and better with time. read more

Chai Pani - Tots and paneer - Indian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Booked far in advance, I got to snag a table at the brand new Chai Pani in Union Market DC. Immediately, I was taken by the beautiful and extravagant decor. The vibe is insane and I love it. From the music walking you in, the cheerful lights and colors outside, and even a photo-op by the front door. I loved the massive chandelier above the check-in, the pani-puri cart (that was out of commission when I went), and the thoughtful cricket accents on the back wall (and there's even a merch wall!). We started with a raspberry lime Rickey and a tamarind cola to drink - both super unique and delicious. For an NA option, I highly recommend!! The food was great and shareable, which made it easy to share several dishes. Lots of bold flavors came from the SPDP (a fan favorite puri puff), the cheese uttapam (a little more pancake than I was expecting, was hoping for more of a flaky texture), the tamarind-glazed spare ribs (my #1!!!), and the yummy butter chicken. I wish I had more room to add in a paneer and a KFC sandwich, but this was actually the perfect amount of food for 2. We finished with a bhapa doi which I loved - a sweet custard dotted with garnishes. Our service was extremely attentive, we got great recommendations, and the food was served quickly. I'd definitely recommend stopping by and I look forward to going back and trying more of the menu! read more

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Looooved my first experience at Chai Pani! Gorgeous and colorful decor, great service, and excellent food. We got the kale pakora chaat , butter chicken, naan with ghee, and the bhapa doi. The kale pakora chaat was my favorite but I enjoyed all dishes. The mango lassi was also the best I've ever had! Definitely recommend making a reservation, two of us walked in on a Wednesday night and had to wait 45 minutes for seats at the bar. read more

Chai Pani - Inside - Indian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Highly recommend making a reservation even on a random week day because this place is popular! And for good reason. Some friends and I made a reservation for a Wednesday evening and basically wanted to order the whole menu. My faves were the SPDP, wild mushroom uttapam (so good!), and the gulab jamun. The spicy plate of hot sauce, mango pickle, and Thai chillies is also a must if you like to experiment with some heat. We went the small plates route so we could try a bunch of different things but I'll be back to try some of the entrees! read more

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Ambiance and vibes are nice. It wasn't my favorite Indian spot, I went with a couple of my brown friends and they said the same. It's an Americanized Indian spot. However, it doesn't mean it wasn't a good spot and worth another visit. Just set your expectations, it's not super authentic tasting. We tried booking a reservation a week in advance, but they were completely booked. They do allow walk-ins, which we did. We arrived at 11:10 am right around the time they opened. People were already going in to get seated. We were able to get a table, but only for 1 hr. Staff were kind enough not to rush us since food and drinks took some time to come out. They said the food comes out as made. So we all waited for everyone to get their food before we ate. Can be weird to start eating while others watch you.... The table ordered: Butter chicken 3.5/5 (super sweet, weird added taste to it like it was sitting in the fridge and reheated) Naan 2.5 / 5 (tasted like the Firestone Costco brand) Vttapam 3.5/5 my friend said it wasn't bad, but not authentic tasting KFC Sandwhich 4/5 solid, just another chicken sandwhich, but wasn't anything crazy Lamb Kala Masala 4.5/5 amazinggg fell off the bone and well seasoned!!! Chai 4/5 great flavor and loved the traditional cookies it came with. Mango Lassi 5/5 flavor and consistency was perfect! Perfect amount of sweetness too Drinks - aesthetic and good. Overall, it was a fun experience. If someone says they really want to go there I wouldn't be opposed to it. I would try something new or get the Lamb Kala Masala. read more

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Amazing!! Can't rave enough about the flavors and food here at Chai Pani. I went with two of my girlfriends and the service was superb, I wasn't a fan of my first cocktail and our server was kind enough to switch it for another and was so lovely about it. We asked her about her thoughts between 2 dishes we wanted to share and she ended up sending one of those dishes on the house. Really exceeded expectations on all fronts. Large restaurants with amble seating and while it was very busy we did not feel crammed and enjoyed our evening catching up with each other. My favorite dish was their kale fritter dish (not pictured) it was so flavorful and crunch, unexpected favorite of the night. Followed by their spare ribs, perfect sweet and tangy profile. We definitely will be back! read more

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Chai Pani is one of my new favorites in the DMV! And you won't miss it behind Union Market because it draws the eye (in a good way). I went twice in a week and hope to go often. Majority delicious vegetarian friendly choices, every bite is packed with flavor, portions are well sized for sharing, vibes are festive and colorful, staff is so friendly (shoutout to Bhakti). I have no complaints! So far my fave dishes are the desi salad, kale pakora chaat, and paneer tikka. read more

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4.5 stars. Come with a big group to share! Lots of Indian street foods that are very shareable. Very fun and colorful decor and also merch! Reminds me of Dishoom a bit. It's pretty spacious, but still recommend making a reservation. Our server was very friendly and had very fun energy. They have an amazing list of drinks here - non-alcholic and cocktails! It was very hard to choose, but my favorite was definitely the chai (hot one comes with a Parle-G cookie)! The Tamarind Cola was a little too sour for me. My favorite food items are basically the Chaat category: SPDP (pani puri), Disco Bhel, Desi Salad, Matchstick Okra Fries, and Kale Pakora Chaat! All had amazing flavors and texture!! Other things we tried that were solid, but not the star: Chilli Chicken, Tamarind-Glazed Spare Ribs, KFC Sliders, Sloppy Jai (lamb sliders), and Butter Chicken. These items were not bad, but I probably would not order them again and try other things. I actually really liked the Parsi Shrimp Patia. I don't get to eat a lot of Indian seafood dishes, so this was really nice. I would skip the Cheese Uttapam. I didn't like it at all. Near the end of our meal, management had to apologize since they neede to move us to outside since another table was waiting. They gave us all free dessert and every single person a mango lassi (7 of us LMAO) We enjoyed the mango lassi and the Parle-G ice cream a lot! The Gulab Jamun was solid too since it wasn't too sweet. The Bhapa Doi was okay, but not sure if I would get again. Overall, a fun time and would come back more good times!! read more

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Finally made it out here, and it's a cool mix of modern and traditional Mumbai vibes. The ambiance alone makes the trip worth it. You feel like you're transported straight to India. Had the bhel, dahi puri, and vada pav, and all were really tasty. Prices are a bit on the higher side, but you're paying for the experience, so it's understandable. The staff was attentive, and I appreciated the good recommendations they gave. I'm definitely planning to come back for a special occasion, but it's not really the kind of place I'd hit up all the time. Luckily, I scored reservations, so I was able to finally check it off my list. Glad I made it! read more

Chai Pani - Indian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Wow! Exceeded the hype! Located in Union Market, Chai Pani draws you in with its colorful decor and upbeat Indian music. The inside had such a cool design with a large bar, booths, and tables. Everywhere we looked, something caught our eye. Service was fast and friendly with great explanations of the dishes. They packed a lot of flavor into the dishes and while we sampled 6 or so, we are already looking forward to our next visit. Our favorite was the kale pakora chaat and chili chicken, and the fried okra was also very good. The spicy dish for $4 was a great addition if you wanted to spice up your dishes. They have creative takes on cocktails with the tamarind old fashioned being really tasty and the mango lassi was also delicious. They get crowded so book ahead or swing by during the lunch hour if able! read more

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Solid spot. In terms of atmosphere / decor, they killed it! Interesting drinks and plenty of food options. I thoroughly enjoyed everything I had! I highly recommend Chai Pani as a date spot. read more

Chai Pani - Indian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I haven't had Indian food in a long time. Chai Pani fulfilled my cravings and then some! I didn't have a reservation but I magically snagged a spot for two. My friend and I split the butter chicken and kfc sliders. It's a different kind of delicious folks!! I'll gladly return here !! read more

Chai Pani - Butter chicken - Indian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Such a fun India restaurant! The decor is beautiful, with street vendor vibes- they have an adorable gol gappa stand at the entrance and Bollywood music playing in the background. They also have numerous vegetarian small plates, and even a few vegan options. And I loved the desserts- I don't have a sweet tooth, so I appreciated that they had a yogurt dessert that was only mildly sweetened. I will say the main novelty of this place is the vibes/decor- the food itself is not really unique. But I loved the environment, and would totally come back for a special event! read more

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No words can describe how amazing Chai Pani is! This is my 3rd Chai Pani (I had the good luck of trying Asheville and Atlanta and also Botiwala in Ponce City Market) and it did not disappoint. Some of my favorites were the sabudana vada, the vada pav and the Chai. The server was so fun to talk to and the ambience is spectacular. 100% recommend this place for yummy authentic Indian street food read more

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Obviously, this place is beautifully decorated and that definitely adds to the experience. I wouldn't say the food is outstanding but the atmosphere is: - SPDP (5/5) everyone enjoyed this dish and it's flavors and a classic pani puri - sweet potato chaat (5/5) also a great appetizer - okra fries (2/5) I was so excited about this but sliced too thin that you don't even get an okra texture or flavor and overly salty - paneer tikka (5/5) favorite dish for more of the table! - wild mushroom uttapam (4/5) some people liked this and some were fine with it, flavors were muted - butter chicken (3/5) flavor was weird to me, but some people liked this - daal makhani (3/5) I really liked this but others didnt read more

Chai Pani is an explosion of color sitting at the North end of Union Market, right across the street from Cotton & Reed. There are pinks and oranges everywhere, plants galore, and a cool sand art display at the entrance. The dining room is large but packed - a reservation is absolutely essential if you want to dine. The one sour note to the meal is they are very slow in getting you started. We had a 9:00 pm reservation and arrived on time, but we were not seated until after 9:15, and it was after 9:35 by the time the server finally came to the table for the first time. They really need to work on that, a restaurant open this long should be running smoother. Nevertheless, once the server did finally come to us, he was very nice, and our food came out quick. The butter chicken is a staple, but it is far more elevated here than most places. It had a deep peppery flavor that was delicious. It can't be missed. We also shared two more dishes, and they were great, too. The menu describes the disco bhel as "a sweet, spicy, salty, tangy party in your mouth," and it was as advertised. So delicious. It was a nice portion and full of peanuts, pomegranates, cilantro, chutneys, crunchy chickpea noodles, and corn flakes. Really good. The KFC chicken sliders hit the spot, too. We couldn't quite finish these three dishes between two people, and it held up great for lunch the next day. The cocktail selection is solid as well. The cardamom old fashioned is a worthy take on the classic, and their espresso martini was smooth and refreshing. We had pre-dinner drinks at Bar Betsie, and I think the drinks at Chai Pani are even better. read more

What a beautiful restaurant! I felt like I was instantly transported to Bombay. The service we had was wonderful from checking in for our reservation and all throughout our meal. The food was great and super flavorful! The drinks were very tasty as well. read more

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This place is a real treat! Great energy and vibrant decor when you walk in. The hostess Julia was very welcoming and friendly and talked me through Pani Puri (the street cart/station) at the front to have something to nibble on while you wait. Genius ideas. It was a crunchy crisp ball filled with chickpea and a tamarind sauce and spicy sauce which you can top with jalapeño or onion. It was delicious and a great intro to what awaited. All their cocktails are made in batch. I had golden hour which had turmeric. It was very sippable throughout the meal but for $16 I didn't need 2. Our waitress Anisha was an absolute delight! Friendly personable and really helped elevate the dining experience. The kale chips are addicting and a much. Imagine kale tempura-like fried sprinkled with pomegranate seeds and drizzled with 2 creamy sauces. Salty and sweet with a hint of fruitiness. The butter chicken and naan was perfect. The kabob was pricey for the portion but the meat was cooked exquisitely and melted in the mouth. The chilli chicken was good but you can get that anywhere. I would recommend for a picky eater. It's a safe bet. We did the spicy plate which is good for those that need some heat. It was a pretty spicy sauce and some peppers. Love this place and may be a staple whenever I am in DC read more

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I dined at Chai Pani the night before Thanksgiving with my big bro and big sis, and it was such a wonderful experience! I'm so happy this restaurant is in my neighborhood, and I can't wait to dine there again! Drinks: We started with the Cardamom Old Fashioned and the Tamarind Margarita -- both so flavorful and unique. The perfect way to kick off the night! Food: We ordered a little bit of everything: Sweet Potato Chaat, Chilli Chicken, Tamarind Spare Ribs, the KFC Sandwich, and the Methi Malai Muttar Paneer. We shared it all (minus the ribs since I don't eat pork ). My absolute favorites were the Sweet Potato Chaat and the Chilli Chicken -- SO good! Service: Our server was fantastic and offered great recommendations so we could try a variety of dishes across the menu. After dinner, we moved to the bar for another round and ended up closing the place down. The bartender was super kind and didn't rush us -- even when giving us the gentle "it's time to go" heads-up . Ambiance: From the outside it looks larger than it is, but the space is cozy, colorful, and beautifully decorated. The tables near the hostess stand would honestly make great additional bar seating, and there's room for one more table. The vibe fits the cuisine perfectly -- warm, vibrant, and full of personality. Pricing: Prices are pretty standard for the Union Market area, so don't expect it to be cheap. The portion sizes could be a bit larger for what you pay, but they weren't too bad overall. Pro Tip: Make a reservation well in advance -- this place stays busy, and walk-in wait times can get long. A delicious, lively, and memorable night. So glad to have this gem right in my neighborhood! read more

Chai Pani - Indian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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A wonderful date night! So good I had to come back to yelp to share it! Food/drinks: Fantastic and a lot of food for 2! The sweet potato chat was chef's kiss. The mushroom package dish was out of control flavor. The lamb was very tasty. The bagain bharta was good, spicy, and veered closer to a salsa IMO -- but the papadam was the best I've ever tasted. The salad was also quite good, but unnecessary given everything else we ordered. My cocktail (golden pineapple?) was fab; I'm amazed I cut myself off at one. Service: Pretty good! The highlight was how they worked with my dietary restrictions. Gluten free? No problem. Poultry free? No problem. Dairy free? Workable (but note: the lamb is marinated in yogurt). Ambiance: Very cool. They have a free (non GF) app while you wait. The authenticity comes across. And there's a modern almost kitschy charm that works. Family friendly: Probably but can't say. I saw one toddler and one baby, but not sure if they have high chairs or booster seats. There are also lots of nuts on the menu if your kiddo has allergies. read more

Chai Pani - Salad, baigan bharta, sweet potato char, lamb, mushroom pancake - Indian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

KenScale: 7.5/10 Visit: February 2026 My wife Jun and I are always eager to check out new Indian restaurants around where we live, so I was super excited to hear last year about the opening of a DC branch of Chai Pani. The restaurant, based in Asheville, North Carolina, winning the Outstanding Restaurant award at James Beard Award a few years certainly opened my eyes at the time, and I couldn't wait to check out the Indian street food-inspired dishes from the DC branch, located in the increasingly crowded (restaurant-wise) Union Market. Jun and I have rarely had a bad Indian dining experience in our culinary journey together, but Chai Pani unfortunately fell short of our sky-high expectations. The chaat section of Chai Pani features a variety of street food dishes with fried ingredients. Jun's general impression of the dishes we tried was that, after a few delicious bites, they became overpowering with flavor, almost to the point that her tongue got numb. The SPDP, a toasted puffed up puris flatbread stuffed with potato, red onion and cilantro, raised our anticipation at first but by the time we got to the third bite, the seasoning from sweet yogurt, tamarind and green chutneys became almost oppressive. Same for the kale fritter chaat that was described by the restaurant as "iconic" in its menu; knowing how much we enjoyed kale-based chaat at other places like Rasika, we wished we had enjoyed the version from Chai Pani more. The okra fries, tossed with salt and seasoning, were surprisingly pedestrian (despite the menu's colorful description of "okra like you've never had it"). For the larger dishes, the tamarind-glazed pork ribs braised with ginger, garlic, soy and star anise were delicious but again the tamarind-ginger glaze required us to eat a decent amount of rice to compensate for the aggressive flavor. On the other hand, the slow braised lamb shank in a blackened onion masala with green chili was somewhat muted in the flavor by comparison; it might've neutralized all the overwhelming flavor from the other dishes but I couldn't say it was on its own a standout dish that we would be happy to come back for. Not surprisingly, thanks to its profile and the general love for buzzy Indian restaurants in the DC metro area, Chai Pani has become one of the harder tables to get a reservation, especially during primetime weekends. As we headed to the restaurant, Jun and I encountered a line of people who didn't have reservations to try their luck at the bar or walk-in tables. The bright dining room with various objects inspired by Indian street food culture seems to be another attraction to the eager diners, but the visual sensory overload further added to our disorientation from the food. We were also somewhat confused that our server would bring dishes in the order they were prepared so we got the larger lamb shank much earlier along with a few chaats. There is full bar with cocktails inspired by Indian ingredients; you will certainly need one or two drinks to calm down your palate. If you are looking for a fun dining environment with friends and family, Chai Pani may fit the bill. As it comes to whether Jun and I would be back for the food, we were not sure after drinking copious amount of water on our way back home. read more

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An extremely cute and vibrant restaurant in DC that I was so excited to try!! The restaurant welcomes you with Indian music playing throughout the speakers even outside the restaurant. When you walk in, you are greeted by beautiful florals and a pani puri cart (unfortunately I didn't try it). My friend and I were seated at a tiny 2 top that honestly, I was surprised was even for actual dining. The table seemed more a part of the bar area and I feel like would've been better for just drinks, but luckily we had a little ledge next to us that we placed our drinks on to make room for our food. For drinks I got their version of an espresso martini, which is made with South Indian filter coffee and some chai. It was absolutely delicious and I loved the warm, cozy spice of the drink. Baingan bharta- not your typical baingan bharta (our server even warned me about this). It's more of a cold eggplant dip. I really enjoyed it though! It was bright and tart. Tamarind glazed spare ribs- my absolute FAVORITE dish we got. The ribs were so tender they were falling off the bone. The sweet tamarind-based sauce was so delicious. Parsi shrimp patia- perfect shrimp dish for a cold night. The tamarind, jaggery, and peppery flavors of this dish almost remind me of rasam. So so tasty! Butter chicken- I'm a sucker for a basic dish like butter chicken at an Indian restaurant. This dish, however, is why this place falls just short of 5 stars. I wanted to love the butter chicken but unfortunately it was too salty. The chicken was nice and soft though. Really really enjoyed this spot and honestly wish I could've tried even more items on the menu. Highly recommend!! read more

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This is a beautiful and colorful restaurant! I love the spices they sell in the host area. I wanted to buy them all. We had a late lunch reservation (2pm) and they were so busy we didn't get seated until closer to 2:30. It's fine because we just got a drink while we waited. As for the food, my favorite thing was the okra fries (who knew?) They were so good I couldn't stop eating them. 2nd favorite is probably a tie between the tots and the disco bhel. I also got the short ribs which were good but almost too rich with all the sauce. Tried two cocktails... the jeera cup edged out the tamarind margarita for me. I feel like I got to sample a good amount of things on my first visit here but there's still more on the menu I'd love to try. Just make sure you make a reservation when the books open! read more

I've been trying for a month to snag a reservation with no success so I decided to try takeout. The takeout menu is a lot smaller but there's still a good variety of items to choose from. Not to be basic, but I really enjoyed the butter chicken. I'd highly recommend getting a side of their fluffy naan bread to dip into the sauce. The wild mushroom uttapam was fine but I felt like I couldn't really taste the mushrooms? And the mango lassi was a nice refreshingly fruity way to cut through the heaviness of the whole meal. It was a little pricier than I would've liked but I'd probably still order from here again or try to eat at the actual restaurant. read more

Chai Pani - Wild mushroom uttapam, butter chicken, 2 servings of naan, mango lassis, and green chutney - Indian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Between Marcus DC and this spot, Union Market is really winning in the culinary scene right now. I only discovered Chai Pani because I'd planned a date at the Umbrella Arts Fair not realizing it had moved Downtown with this restaurant taking it's place. The aesthetic is so, so good with vibrant colors, great music, and cultural iconography throughout. We didn't have reservation on a fully booked Saturday evening, so the wait was about an hour. There's a front area and merch store for you to pass the time while you want. There's also great vibes outside if you're looking for a photo op. For food, we ordered the chicken appetizer, ribs, lamb shank, and tandoori chicken. Eveything was absolutely delicious with great balance of authentic flavors. The menu was super diverse in terms of protein, vegan and vegaterian options, so there's definitely something for everyone. Hospitality of service staff was awesome. I can't remember our server's name, but she was super funny and attentive. Would highly recommend Chai Pani for dinner night, dinner with friends, or a celebration. read more

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There's been a lot of hype in D.C. around this Asheville-born, award-winning Indian restaurant behind Union Market. Reservations go quickly, so I was happy to have snagged a table for four for my wife and two friends for a Saturday dinner double date. Here's our experience. 1) Food: The entire menu looks delicious so it's hard to resist not ordering everything. Our server let us know the food is meant to be shared and comes out once it's ready. With that mind, we ended up ordered the right amount to fully feed four adults. Here's what we ordered organized with our favorites at the top. -Kale Pakora Chaat- it's eaten like nachos and every bite is an explosion in the mouth with the sweet yogurt, chutney, tamarind, and more. We almost ordered it again! -Chili Chicken- it's boneless chicken with lots of delicious flavor. -Cheese Uttapam- it's like an Indian pancake with the texture of a Korean one. The cheese is hot and gooey. -Lamb Kala Masala- I don't like lamb, but this was excellent. It's not very gamey and falls off the bone into the curry. -Butter Chicken- if you're used to creamy, nor sweet butter chicken, this isn't it. It's dark and doesn't taste like butter chicken from other places. We wouldn't order this again. -Naan- it's a thicker texture than the fluffy naan found at other spots. For dessert, we ordered the Gulab Jamun and it as delicious! It comes in a serving of three. 2) Drinks: Each cocktail was excellent, but I especially liked the tamarind margarita. I ordered two and then a chai for dessert, which was worth it. They also sell Indian beer and other drinks. 3) Service: For being busy, our server was attentive and came with good energy. She guided us through the menu flawlessly. 4) Space: Its beautiful from start to finish. There's a large outdoor area where you'll find a pani puri cart to snack on as you wait. There's dining room is smaller than expected, but it works. The decorations are beautiful and they sell swag in the indoor waiting area. 5) Neighborhood: It's near Union Market so come prepared to fight for parking. Luckily, there are three parking garages in newer buildings that offer free parking for three hours. Another option is walking from the NoMa Metro. read more

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Stumbled on this spot during my recent DC trip. Great vibes, cordial staff and service along with some really good food. The place has a hop modern decor and vibe. Tried a few things off the menu and everything hit the mark, definitely coming back when I'm in town next time. read more

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