Other food plans let me down, but fortunately I have more than one plan, and I wandered over to…read morethis place on the edge of downtown Bethesda. It is on the smaller side, and one group was turned away for not having a reservation. I got a dumpling appetizer which delivered a mouthwatering array of vegetables, and a reasonably interesting fruity drink. The thing I came for, however, was a chole bhature. This fried bread and chickpea combination came with all the right accompaniments, and the chickpeas were richly flavored. It was a fantastic meal down to the last bite. It would not have been as good to go, and I recommend eating in. Service was a bit slow and they could have used another person working, but it was a clean and pleasant place to eat.

It is small and almost covert hiding on the ground floor of an older small office type building in…read moreBethesda. Don't be deterred by the outside. This was very good for a completely unplanned quick lunch (45min).The curry sauce was so good you could neglect the fig and paneer (which were good) and just eat the sauce with the rice. I've never felt that way about a curry sauce and I have had a fair bit of Indian food in a few trips around the sun. Versatile offerings; including things you don't get elsewhere along with the traditionals. Generous portions. Get the mango lassi with your meal. Polite sincere service. Stop in for lunch. The stars aren't lying about this one.

It honestly pains me to write this one-star review because I've been going to Kadahi for years and…read moreit's always been one of my favorite spots. Unfortunately, the last few visits haven't been great, and tonight was the worst it's ever been. I ordered the matar paneer and it was watery and almost completely flavorless, which is very unlike what I've had there before. The rice was even more disappointing -- it tasted old and was hardened into clumps, almost molded into the shape of the container instead of being individual grains. It was difficult to even break apart. The samosas were good, which was the one bright spot, but the garlic naan barely had any garlic on it. Normally their naan is amazing and very flavorful. I'm really disappointed because this used to be my go-to spot for Indian food. I'm hoping this was just a bad night, but after a few recent experiences that were also lacking in freshness and flavor, I may have to start looking for a new place.

I arrived shortly after they opened on a Sunday and this place was almost full of diners. They…read morefeature a $22 lunch buffet with around 10 items you can choose from. All of the food was fresh and delicious. I loved all of the seasoning and sauces. The tandoori chicken and goat were cooked perfectly. The meats were tender a juicy. There were a couple of parties that called prior and made reservations. The ambience was very warm and inviting. I saw some diners dining alone and many locals. There was also a large party of 12 dining here. The servers were attentive. My friend and I really enjoyed our dining experience here and will definitely be back to try out their dinner menu.

Amazing food and amazing atmosphere, you feel like you are in India and it's delicious and very…read morereasonable prices . We had the vegetarian sample highly recommended.

Incredibly disappointing experience. I ordered Passage to India from DoorDash and the food was just…read moreplain bad. The chicken kabobs were heavily seasoned dark meat though the image on DoorDash suggests white meat. It came with no dipping sauce, onions, pickle, or other accompaniments that almost all other Indian restaurants provide. The garlic naan was hard and unappetizing. The chana masala was completely flavorless, liquidy, and a small portion. Chickpeas are incredibly cheap, too. I didn't see batura, the deep fried bread that you eat chana masala with, and thy didn't have it on the menu! Even the rice was disappointing. I couldn't tell if it was basmati rice or another kind of rice. I wouldn't order from here again or recommend.

Came here for an early dinner on Sunday. It was all delicious! The spicy chicken soup was a great…read morestarter. The butter chicken is the best in Bethesda. It was filled with so much flavor. This was also the best naan I have had in a long time! I highly recommend this place!

Got some take out from Virraj because my daughters (10 and 12) had a taste for some Indian food for…read moredinner We ordered: - Palak Chaat (Crispy spinach) - Butter Chicken - Naan The girls loved the Butter Chicken and the Naan. The Palak Chaat did not go over well. We were introduced to Palak Chaat when we dined at Rasika West End when some friends came to town. IT was so good there that we had to get a 2nd order because the girls could not get enough. The Virraj Palak Chat was not as crispy as Rasika's and had more toppings that made it a little soggy. I suspect the expereince could have been better had we dined in at Virraj and not done takeout as I suspect that this is a dish that is best enjoyed soon after it's made. Overall I would recommend based on the other dishes but the Palak Chaat at Rasika's was much better. Also their online order menu and their website needs pictures of their dishes.

I love this place. We usually go on the weekend for lunch and the place is almost always empty. We…read morelove the veggie thali, momo, naan, navratan korma. All so good. Service is great.

The butter chicken was sooo good! Very good flavor…read more The paneer tikka masala was ok. I wish it was a little spicier. The garlic naan was pretty good! The samosa chaat was also pretty enjoyable! The house special naan was alright- it had a good aftertaste note The vegetable samosa was horrible. It was like a blended mash consistency and tasted like freezer samosas - not even the good kind

Biryani City in North Bethesda is a wonderful Indian restaurant that consistently delivers…read morehigh-quality food, with every dish prepared to perfection. The flavors are authentic, balanced, and clearly made with care. The long-grain Basmati rice is a standout--aged, light, fluffy, and wonderfully aromatic. It has a delicate texture that makes it especially enjoyable and easy to digest. The tandoor-cooked naan is equally impressive: light, fresh, and perfectly prepared, with just the right texture and flavor. Overall, Biryani City is a reliable choice for delicious Indian food. The consistent quality and attention to preparation make it a place I'm happy to return to and recommend to others.

Yeah, I'm not gonna lie... this is some of the best Indian food I've had in the DMV…read more Restaurant is casual and mostly takeout-based, so busy with orders even on weekdays, and the prices are honestly one of the biggest reasons I keep comin back. I'm so sick of paying $25+ for a curry. This place is just a little cheaper ($13-$18 lol), but that difference adds up and makes me way more willing to order here regularly. The boneless chicken biryani puts me into the best food coma every time. It's SO flavorful, especially with all the little sauces on the side (Idk what they are called but I think one is the yogurt raita so yum). The saag paneer and butter chicken have never done me dirty either, and I'm so glad the chicken is actually tender and NOT dry. I order these three dishes as my holy trifecta all the time with a side of their garlic naan, which is some of the best I've had. I also love that they let you choose between Indian and American spice levels. Definitely appreciate having the option depending on my mood. If you plan to eat in, expect informal booth seating and Bollywood music videos playing on three different screens. Such a vibe, I highkey mess with it. My only con is that even if you dine in, they still serve everything in plastic takeout containers. That might actually be a plus for some people, but I've been trying to cut back on single-use plastic. Still... I can absolutely overlook it because the food is that good. I've highkey recommended this place to so many people and have put a bunch of friends onto it. I'll definitely keep coming back. :)

The restaurant inside is very nice. I would say elegant without being off-putting. We were seated…read morein the back at a nice table for two. White table cloth. When we were seated, the host lit a table candle. We immediately received water and a plate for sharing of crisp papadums with what I think was a mango chutney. The crackers were crisp and flavorful and the chutney was delicious. A great start. We ordered two appetizers to try them: Mulligatawny soup ($8.99) - a very nice portion came in a bowl accompanied with two cups/spoons. We each had at least two small cups of soup from the one portion. Excellent soup. Samosa Chaat - ($10.99) - another very nice sized portion for sharing. And also excellent. A bit spicy and very flavorful. Entrees: Lamb Shank - beautifully prepared. Accompanied by rice. We both were surprised it didn't come with some vegetables on the sauce (like a few carrots), but the lamb itself is very flavorful. Yellow Daal - it's good. I likely wouldn't get it again as it was fine, but not great. Nothing wrong with it, but everything else was so flavorful and distinctive that this just seemed "fine". Chilly Garlic Naan - should have gotten an order of regular naan or garlic naan. This was so spicy that it was unpleasant to eat. My partner and I both like spicy food, but the spiciness interfered with our enjoyment of our entrees. Again, it's not the fault of the item - it's more of a warning that the spiciness is overpowering. I assume other people like this, but I prefer something that complements as opposed to overpowers (to me). Service was excellent throughout the meal. Full from the appetizers, we took most of the entrees home. Probably will discard the naan, unfortunately. Again, maybe you'll like it. I'm really glad we came here and will be back again.

Met with relatives who live in the area and wanted someplace elegant and w good reviews. Place was…read morevery nicely decorated though chairs by the bar made it difficult to walk down the aisle to the restroom. Server was very attentive. We started w drinks, pappadam, pani puri, had some samosas, and then 4-5 entrees - which included chicken tikka, lamb vindaloo (spicy), malai kofta, chana masala, cucumber raita and several orders of garlic naan. Food was good, not the best Indian food i have had, but good. Would consider trying again when in the area.

My brother was hosting a football watch party and ordered the peri peri spicy chicken and a halal…read moremeat lovers pizza with turkey bacon, pepperoni and sausage for pick up. IT WAS PHENOMENAL OMG !!!! The food was so good I had to hurry and take a picture of it before it was all gone. I will be back because this pizza has created an obsession. I love that they have some many different pizza varieties and it's perfect for a group of friends or party.

As a native New Yorker, I've heard all the buzz about the specialty pizzas here, so I had to see…read morewhat the hype was about for myself. I was greeted by a super friendly, cheerful guy, and the place was small, clean, and welcoming. I ordered the samosas and the spicy chicken curry pizza, and both had great flavor. The crust was thin, which I really enjoyed. My only critique? I'm a serious sauce-and-cheese enthusiast, so I was hoping for a pizza with a little more "ooey-gooey" action. It leaned a bit on the dry side for my taste, but that's an easy fix--next time I'll just ask for extra sauce. Overall, it was a tasty experience, and I'm definitely coming back to work my way through more of the specialty pizzas. The pizza tour continues :)

Service staff were great, we were greeted right when we walked in and seated. They came to check on…read moreus at all the right times and we did not have to wait long for the food at all. Restaurant was clean. I would say though the food could have been better overall: Butter naan: 3/5. on the dry side and was not the kind of buttery, warm, freshly made kind of naan that hit the spot Chicken tika masala: 3/5 on the bland side so much so that it almost tasted more sweet. Chicken was tender though. Lamb kadai: 5/5 was the best dish. Lamb chinks were tender, spices were just right. I'm a fan of lamb and this one is worth a try. Overall, there so many Indian cuisine establishments in the area that I'm not sure I'd be back for one, expect maybe to come try the lunch buffet if we're in Bethesda row again.

Tikka Masala is a charming looking restaurant. The food is delicious, and I was excited to…read moreintroduce it to a special friend. We had a wonderful reunion as we enjoyed appetizers, entrees and wine. By a little after 9:00pm, the restaurant was clearing out. We were in a different section and did not notice until at 9:15 pm, the owner basically asked us to leave! Perhaps it was his bedtime. Located in Bethesda, the restaurant has a lot of competition , and although I think the food is good, I will not return. I have eaten in many restaurants, casual and formal, and never experienced such rudeness. No wonder people are not lined up at the door.

My first time here and I thoroughly enjoyed the meal and quiet, cozy atmosphere. Menu has lots of…read moretraditional dishes to choose from, inckuding many I don't see typically on offer. I had the chole bhatura and some masala tea, with a side of homemade (carrot) achar. A nice little gem and reasonably priced. Highly recommend.

Kids and I enjoyed a feast of both Northern and Southern Indian food, the food was authentic,…read morefresh, and pleasantly mild. The crispy Masala Dosa and Saag Paneer Dosa was on point (the Masala and Saag Paneer were served on the side). While the spinach Saag Paneer was tasty, the Masala paired a bit better with the dosa than the Saag. The Paneer Makhani hit the spot! It had a mild spicy kick and despite its name, it had a different curry than Daal Makhani and tasted similar to creamy tomato sauce Paneer Tikka. The Daal Makhani tastes like the daal my mom makes at home. It was really nice and appreciated that I could get a side portion of both the daal and the paneer makhani. It was a great way to try the dishes without committing to a large portion. The Garlic Naan was good and great for mopping up the curry, it just wasn't that bubbly and fluffy. The service was stellar and very accommodating with my rowdy young kids. Admittedly, we made a mess and the kids stuff another booth the lady was super nice and patient. While there are so many Indian restaurants around the corner, this was a stand-out for both Northern and Southern Indian food.