Trying out another Indian spot that I drive by all the time. We got the staples that we always get and were very happy with the food. The samosas were large and had a nice tasty filling. Both the curries were great as well. The butter chicken had nice tender chunks of chicken in a creamy sauce that balanced the tomato and spices. You must get the garlic cheese naan to pair with the curry! Service was also very friendly and checked up on us often. Surprised by how quiet they were as the food and service is great! Apps: Samosa Entrees: Butter Chicken and Palak Paneer Sides: Garlic Naan and Garlic Cheese Naan read more

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We have been regular customers of Curry Mantra, and the samosa chaat has always been our favorite staple dish. However, our most recent takeout delivery order was a significant disappointment. In all our previous orders, the samosa chaat was packed in a black plastic container with the dry and wet components separated, allowing you to combine them right before eating so the texture remains fresh and crisp. This time, we ordered two portions, and both arrived completely pre-mixed in round soup containers. As a result, the dish was soft, mushy, and soggy. Additionally, it contained a whole star anise and a bay leaf--ingredients we have never encountered in this dish before. I called the restaurant to ask if the recipe or packaging protocol had changed. The staff member stated the recipe had not changed and that the packaging issue "shouldn't be," adding that they would check with the staff. I mentioned that I had taken a photo of the food and offered to share them, but the offer was not taken up. When I expressed hesitation about ordering this dish again due to the lack of consistency, I was told the person was too busy to continue the conversation. They ended the call without taking my name, contact details, or photos to follow up. The flavor was tolerable, but the texture and lack of quality control were disappointing, and the customer service did not resolve the concern. Given that other restaurants in the area serve samosa chaat, we will likely be ordering elsewhere moving forward. read more

Curry Mantra - Samosa chaat delivery - Indian Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

The food didn't taste good. Chikka tikka masala tasted sweet, but I ordered spicy. Even it doesn't taste like Chicken Tikka Masala, it was like butter chicken or something else. Because I know how a well cooked chikka tikka tastes like because I eat from other restaurants. kheer was also not cooked properly, it was like I am eating rice dipped in milk, not a well cooked kheer. I will never order again from this restaurant. read more

Curry Mantra - Indian Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

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We decided to try this restaurant again while we were in the area because it was our favorite. What happened???? The service is sorely lacking, the lassi has no flavor. The pakora barely has any vegetables and the tandoori meats are dry as a bone. At this rate they won't survive with all the other excellent Indian restaurants in the area read more

I'm not sure why this place has such high reviews. While the flavor is there, the spice is not. I've ordered takeout and delivery, this time I asked for extra hot for my lamb roganjosh and there is 0 spice. I mean nothing. I'm not sure if this is catered to the American palette but it definitely doesn't taste like the authentic Indian food I've had in Herndon. read more

Curry Mantra - Flavor is good but there is 0 spice. I wanted this dish to burn and was highly disappointed. - Indian Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

Curry Mantra is my go-to place for a lunch deal! I discovered them on Uber eats and was impressed with their biryani dish. You can gauge the spice but it is some of the best within the Fairfax area. The atmosphere itself is a quaint little location down Main Street. I usually call in the order or order through pickup but the service is friendly and efficient. I will say it can be a bit pricey depending what you order, which is why I sometimes suggest ordering through the app as they also have some buy one get one free deals on their butter chicken and other dishes. I love their Chana (chickpeas) the sauce it's in is so savory and flavorful. Combined with the soft fluffy biryani rice it is a delicious mix! read more

Curry Mantra - Goat Biryani - Indian Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

Been here a few times during weekday lunch over the past few years. Pretty quiet around that time, is a nice chill spot. Would be good for a more formal dinner too I bet. Food is delicious and the service is great too. We got Chicken Bryani & Paneer Tikka Masala. Mango Lassi is good too! read more

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Even though I live a mile away from this place, I had never tried it before today. I ordered lunch online: chicken biryani, chicken tikka masala, and garlic naan. When I asked the lady at the front for mint chutney and offered to pay for it, she graciously brought me two small containers for free. The two dishes tasted rich and flavorful, and the portions are amazing for the price. I used to drive 45 min to chantilly for my favorite biryani place, but now I don't have to! I will be back to try other dishes. I highly recommend this place. read more

I've driven past his place for years and tonight decided to check it out. I ordered the Samosa and Aloo Mater. It was all very good. I think I'll be working my way through their vegetarian menu items. Looking forward to trying the Mango Sabji. read more

Sadly, I must seriously downgrade this restaurant from my previous five-star reviews, given many years ago. TL;DR: The food is now just okay, and the service is quite sub-par. In the past several years, my wife and I had mostly gone to other restaurants, closer by, when we want Indian food. But on a recent Friday evening, we decided to go to Curry Mantra because we hadn't been there in a few years. There was only one other table of patrons (which we thought was odd for a Friday evening), though also a fairly steady stream of takeout orders. The server couldn't serve us wine or cocktails because she was underage. Fair enough, not her fault, and the restaurant can only afford to hire so many servers when there are so few in-person patrons. But then the other employee (there seemed to be just those two, other than the cooks), trying to figure out which bottle was the wine my wife had ordered, brought to the table a bottle of . . . Maker's Mark bourbon. I was tempted to tell her that yes, that's Cabernet Sauvignon (or whatever my wife had ordered), and pay glass-of-wine prices for even just a six-ounce pour of good bourbon... but we're too honest for that. (Yeah, sure, that's the reason, not that we'd both be too drunk to drive home!) Lesson for any restaurateurs reading: if you're going to have drinks on the menu, you NEED to have someone present who not only is of age so they can serve them, but can at least tell bottles of wine from bourbon! (One would think basic literacy and the knowledge that these are different things, maybe even what they actually are, would suffice. But apparently not.) Ideally someone who can actually *make* the cocktails. If you can't do that, take the unavailable items off the menu. Manage expectations. Eventually we got the food. (The appetizer was fairly quick, but the main took rather a long time.) Admittedly the portions were huge. The samosa and pakoras were fine, but the lamb and chicken in the mixed grill were dry and tough. The staff were also very slow about clearing any empty plates and glasses so that we had room to move anything around to share, and about bringing the check. I don't think they've yet recovered from the damage COVID did to restaurants. I hope they do, but it's looking unlikely. read more

This is a sad review for me to write, because I have been a loyal customer for more than ten years. I have left several 5 star reviews, and loved the goat biryani that Tom Seitsema also loved, and loved the tandoori chicken and wings, the lamb saagwala, anything with goat (even with the bones), and the service was always attentive. But two days ago I ordered online their lunch specials and some other items, and the 20% off coupon did not work, even though it was still featured on the website. The Lamb in the lamb saagwala and the goat in goat biryani and goat curry were tough--so tough that I knew they were just thrown in the dish without the long braise that is necessary to make lamb and goat tender. Even the tandoori wings had little of the expected taste. The bill for the lunch was $106 and they forgot to include the naan (that was supposed to be included in each luncheon special.) When I called later they refused to deliver the naan to our house (less than a half mile away) or issue a refund. After so many good experiences there (I have eaten there at least 50 times) I am so upset that I have to say that something is very wrong. New ownership? The one waitstaff was brand new, also. No one was eating there and there were no phone orders while I waited so they are not doing well. This is sad. Very sad. read more

Really enjoyed our meal here. Restaurant was relaxed and had good service. Food was excellent and plenty of vegan options too!

This place was once wildly popular and under different ownership has gotten quiet. There's no reason why. The decor is still lovely. The service is formal and perfect, and the food is fantastic. Garlic naan and Kulcha hot fresh and flavorful, curries are spicy if desired and delicious, side are large servings of excellent veggie dishes. The tandoori chicken and shrimp here come out steaming and spicy: some of the best comfort food in Nova. The place works for a nice date night, take out dinner and there's a decent lunch buffet during the week. Try it again. It's really good. read more

The food was so good I took some to go for my husband. The samosas are a bit pricey, but I loved them, especially the one with the toppings. I ordered the extra spciey chicken shwarma, and it was amazing! Cons: I ordered a mojito, and they didn't have any. Then i ordered a margarita, and it was so salty, and i couldn't taste the alcoho. Also, the online orders are not the same. I ordered food during the week and had the butter chicken, and it was watery and tasted like tomato sauce. I also ordered it extra spicey, and it wasn't even mild. read more

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Ownership is horrible. Robbed me on $120. I tried to reason with them, but I am not sure whats wrong with their service. Middle manager maybe? read more

very cute cozy restaurant with great service! we ordered the mango lassi, chicken saagwala, and butter chicken with cheese naan on the side. the lunch menu from 11am-3pm was pretty worth it. the portion size may look big but don't be fooled! however, it does fill you up very fast. i really enjoyed the creaminess of the chicken saagwala. it's my favorite desi dish. the chicken in both our curry orders were incredibly tender and not dry at all. the two samosa came with a sweet chutney and green chutney sauces on the side. pairs very well. it was a bit dry, but the fillings were very full and tasty nonetheless. aaand the mango lassi was ok. will have to come back ! read more

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Not so hidden gem. Need less to say. 5s highly recommended. Good food, service and serving portions are satisfying. read more

Curry Mantra - Need less to say. 5s - Indian Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

It's awesome the butter chicken is elite everything was great!!! The mango lassie is great we love the friendly service. I like the decor as well ! Curry mantra is definitely recommended read more

Curry Mantra - Chana Masala and Chicken Tikki Chicken Tikka Masala (Britain's National Dish) with Garlic Naan smells so delicious! - Indian Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

An Indian restaurant just outside of Fairfax City, Curry Mantra is a pleasant place, with pretty decor and friendly staff. We had Garlic Naan, Kadai Chicken and Chana Masala, all of which were good, and spiced as ordered. read more

Curry Mantra - Garlic Naan, Kadai Chicken and Chana Masala - Indian Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

Excellent Indian food - my fav now after trying them out during FfxCity restaurant week. Cozy but pretty ambiance, service tad slow with one hostess/waitress but very friendly. Chai tea was delish too; complimentary Nan bread - yummy all around. read more

Had a really bad experience with a takeout order from this place. One of the items we ordered was the wrong dish, so I called back to let them know I got the wrong order and told them I was on my way back to change out the wrong item for the right one. But when I got there they had not prepared the replacement and only put in the order after I walked in the door and had to wait 5 minutes to get their attention. When I asked to talk to the manager they were not at the restaurant so the server gave me their cell phone. I sent a text which they read but did not respond. When I retexted the next day they said they responded that they would call me but they never did. Had been a loyal customer for over a year but now they have lost a customer and I will find a new Indian restaurant for the future. read more

This was the best decision my sister and I made EVER! We happened to be in the area of this restaurant and decided to try it! We both love Indian food and can say without a doubt the food here was absolutely delicious! The service was impeccable. We cannot say enough good things about our experience! This will be a staple in our dining choices from now on! read more

I met a new friend here for a quick lunch together... I ordered my Chicken Tikka Masala SPICY and it came out medium spicy. No big deal.... The food was still yummy regardless. She looked cute, and ordered something vegetarian from the daily special menu, but I don't remember what it was. I remember that she liked it. The decor is here is a little bit intense, maybe a little too much RED. read more

Curry Mantra - RED Interior - Indian Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

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The food is super delicious. It took a little while to come out when the restaurant was empty but it was worth the wait. Also a great lunch special read more

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Service was fantastic and really on top of waters. Everything we ordered is on the receipt- all was delicious, especially the goat curry. read more

Curry Mantra - What we ordered - Indian Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

Highly recommend this restaurant! Food was awesome! Just wouldn't recommend the lamb as it was extremely tough! The ground lamb was delicious! read more

Curry Mantra - Mixed grill lamb, chix ground lamb and shrimp! The spinach was very spicy! The lamb was tough! Butter chix was great! - Indian Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

Ordered a vegan dish. It wasn't until I received the bill that it was discovered it wasn't vegan. Waitress didn't understand the issue ("it's just a little cream- dairy intolerance) and did nothing else. Did not apologize, offer to do anything, just looked at me. If someone had a dairy allergy and ate here, it could lead to a severe reaction. Don't eat here if you have dietary needs. read more

Had some delicious food here! One of the best Indian/Nepali restaurants in the area. They have delicious naan and great portions of a variety of entres. I also very highly recommended the samosas for an appetizer. Great space with plenty of tables. Wonderful service. read more

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Great food!! Especially loved the vindaloo. Great lunch specials at a reasonable price.

Wonderful fusion of culture on the pallet. You will feel welcomed. Food very delicious. We were very pleased w the meal and attention. Smallish, intimate place in an unexpected locale. Solid portions. Good for dine in and great for take out as well. read more

Great place, DELICIOUS FOOD, wonderful ambiance and service. We stopped in for dinner and are glad we did. Very nice experience! We will be back. Thank you! read more

Go here - really. Ambiance: Tastefully furnished, quiet and a good place for nicer night out Service; Friendly and helpful. Really nice people here. Food: Probably some of the best Indian I've had in DC, and I'm pretty picky. I had the Chicken Malai Kabob which was ridiculously tender and flavorful. And plenty of it - I took enough home for seconds and more. My friend had the Chicken Tikka Masala which was also excellent. Another real surprise was the naan which was fresh, chewy and perfect. Price: Excellent value for money Worth the ride out to the 'burbs just for this. read more

Curry Mantra - Sizzling chicken malai kabob - Indian Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

We usually get carry-out from here. It is normally good, but last night my husband got the fried chicken appetizer and it wad inedible. Also, I ask for mild and yet my dish is always too hot. I love Indian food and don't have that problem at other restaurants. read more

We used to love this place. My mom is vegan and we would order aloo gobi for her, butter chicken for me, and tandoori salmon or lamb for my daughter. We even went there for my mom's birthday. The last two times we ordered, in the past 2 weeks, it has been inedible. Aloo Gobi is brown with no sauce, just clumpy brown curry something on it. I didn't order the butter chicken but tried the lamb chops. They were charred to a crisp and not even recognizable as lamb or meat. Too tough and charred to cut or eat. My daughter still liked the tandoori salmon. Naan is now gummy and like a pancake, not like bread. Overall they must have changed chefs or changed ownership. We will not order again. read more

The food is good but if you are looking for real Indian this isn't what I would think of first. It's heavily sauce based. The place is nice and clean. read more

Bland. Under seasoned. Not fresh. There are so many other places that are so much better and worth the money. This place went down hill...it used to be good. What happened?? I got the samosa chaat and the chicken 65. Both were absolutely terrible. :-( read more

One of the best Indian restaurants in Northern Virginia area. This location has pretty good hygiene and the quality of food is outstanding. The server is amazing, and the prices are also great. read more

I have ordered delivery from Curry Mantra several times now and each time has been a deliciously positive experience. The spice levels are true to advertisement and the portions are respectable particularly given the pricing. The meat-I've tried lamb and chicken dishes-has always been tender; although, most recently , I thought the portion of chicken in the vindaloo was on the smaller side. The biryanis are flavorful too. Delivery has always been quick and accurate. We will definitely continue to order from Curry Mantra, our go-to Indian restaurant in our area. read more

Great food. Was our go-to place for Indian for many years while we lived in Fairfax. I was particularly fond of the Paneer Makhani.

This restaurant used to be fantastic, but they must have changed the chef as everything we order arrives in the same brown watery sauce. Very disappointing read more