I love everything at RASA. The fresh ingredients and perfect spice combinations make every dish special. The decor is hand picked and curated by the owners and this gives a special atmosphere beyond fast casual. In every way, RASA surprises and delights. It's a playful take on Indian food that acts as an ambassador to the culture, aware that patrons may need to be eased in gradually or the experienced can dive in, all the way. I love the dishes with jackfruit, shrimp, or chicken. For the uninitiated, the chicken tiki is a great start and is still one of my faves. But let me tell you about a few alternatives you may not have considered. The mango lassi yogurt is delicious. They have spiced chocolate chip cookies that are to die for. And they have some incredible alcoholic drinks and Indian beer for a wonderful compliment to dinner. So the basics stuff: you enter and walk to the line to order. There are pre designed dishes and also you can make your own as you proceed through what is at this point a familiar, pick what you want, line. Afterwards, take your drink and select a table. They have great outdoor seating in the summer, too. The chairs at the front are great for relaxing or dining, especially when they open the front windows in good weather. read more

I love Indian flavors and places with plenty of vegan options and clear labeling of their menu items. So naturally, Rasa is a gem in my book. Build-your-own bowl or go with one of their recommended options. There's sweet potato tikis (think falafel, but sweet potato & Indian spice), and pulled jackfruit which are both very good. There's also a cauliflower and tofu "protein" option. The additional veggie toppings are so hard to choose from. I always get either charred eggplant or brussels but they also have sauteed spinach (didn't realize it was vegan as I'm used to there being paneer or cream at a lot of places) and tossed green beans. The toppings like mango salsa and lentil crisps bring it all together for a party in your mouth. Since it's so close to the ballpark, they also have beer, wine, and cocktails available. This is a great place to check out in the summer when they open the folding windows! Also props to them for the cloth to-go bags, reusable bowls and cutlery for meals eaten in-restaurant, and paper straws :) read more

Rasa is cozy and refreshing! Great options for vegetarians, meatataraians, and chutney fanatics too :) Personal favorites were the homemade gin & tonic and the kulfi (ice cream) push pops. read more

RASA - Mango Lassi and Homemade Gin & Tonic! - Indian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Amazing food and people! I came with a group and everything we got was incredible. Plus, the people were incredibly nice. Such great service!!! The kulfi pops are a great dessert!!! read more

RASA - Indian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I feel so happy and accomplished every time I eat here. To take a different direction from the typical lunch choices around my job, Rasa is like a vacation for my mouth. The bags that your food come in would cost $15 at Forever 21, it only adds to how cool I feel when I leave there after sitting in the wonderful wicker swinging chairs on the patio. Everything I've had is delicious. I always split my meat in half and get half chicken and shrimp. I always want to try the other restaurants close by but Rasa seems to win every time. I think I just talked myself into going right now. read more

I love this place! The bowls are so tasty and I love being able to customize it to fit what I want. I also love the drinks, samosas, and soup. read more

What a welcome addition to the Navy Yard fast-casual scene. Rasa has been on my 'to eat' list for quite some time. I finally made it over here for an early Sunday night dinner. I ordered the Open Sesame (lamb kebabs in peanut sesame sauce) and my boyfriend ordered the Tikka Chance on Me (chicken tikka in tomato garlic sauce). Every component of the dish was made with care, I was especially impressed by the vegetables - the charred eggplant was perfect! My only complaint is that there did not seem to be a lot of turnover with the mains & vegetables. I received the last few lamb kebabs and my boyfriend ended up substituting the sautéed spinach for brussels sprouts, since they had run out and were still mid-cook for the next batch. Will be back soon, and definitely making my own bowl next time - I have my heart set on sweet potato tikki and mango salsa. I can only hope this restaurant gains popularity and we start seeing more locations around the DMV! read more

RASA - Open Sesame - Indian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Updating review as one of the owners reached out to me with a sincere apology and tried to remedy the situation. Although I wasn't able to go back I appreciate their willingness to be so open and sincere in their response. The next time I'm in DC I will check them out! read more

I came here on Saturday afternoon after a meeting at WeWork. I was actually headed to Roti, but decided to try this place instead. I like that they have curated recipe options to choose from as well as custom options. I went with custom because I like to be mixxy (mixy-matchy, not fast lol). I settled on a lemon-rice base, with chicken, and combo of sauces. You can basically just go down the line and choose whatever you want like Cava or Chipotle. It's a little pricey for lunch. I spent around $15. But that's because I got a lemonade...but you HAVE to get the lemonade. Mmmk? The food was ok. I'd be interested in trying different combinations, or one of the curated combinations. Not to be overlooked, the space is also super cute. read more

RASA - Indian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

SO much food and it's SO good! I love any place that allows you to create you own with whatever you're feeling that day. This takes the normal "Chipotle" style ordering and pairs it with Indian. Everything tends to be a little spicier than normal, so be prepared for that before you dig in too quickly. There is a cool, hip atmosphere with hanging one seater chairs for a unique eating experience. Must add the brussels and chicken to whatever combo you choose! read more

Nothing better than rasa on a nice afternoon. I work close by and noticed myself getting obsessed with the multitude of options and the beverages (my favorite is kombucha )but they even have a happy hour that is very enticing and affordable for a quick casual drink and meet. Not to mention the vibrant colors and designs that rasa has it gives a great social atmosphere to enjoy your meal and food company. One of the best brands in the neighborhood and they are a small company and so you know you're supporting a new and evolving brand and not a machine. I hope to see rasa in storefronts all over the city one day! It's that's good and competitive and comparable with big names like chipotle and cava, just a tad bit spicier and modern. It's the F1rst and only quick casual dining restaurant that is mainstreaming quick and casual Indian cuisine. Thanks! read more

I enjoyed my first experience at Rasa. The food was tasty and good. The interior was lovely and felt modern. The restaurant is a casual and fast chipotle style ordering process which is convenient. The food was not heavy and was pretty filling. The ingredients tasted great and they also had many interesting juice options available. They're juices are spiked with different Indian spices that give each of them an interesting and unique taste. The spices used in the ingredients also give the food lots of flavor. The many different types of flavors worked really well with each other so I didn't have to worry too much about which toppings to get. read more

RASA - Indian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I thought I really liked spice 6 and then I came here and I said wow!!! I went to Indique for brunch and I immediately loved the food! (Try the cookie butter crepe with vanilla ice cream - g a m e c h a n g e r) Then I found out that RASA is owned by the sons of the Indique owners and I had to give it a try! It is so good in every way and whatever you get will be bursting with flavor! You also get a nice vibe from the restaurant! I would def check it out and I know I will continue coming here! I met one of the owners and he was suppeerrrrr chill! Great restaurant with great staff! Get creative when making a bowl! read more

Food tastes bland. It does not taste like Indian food even remotely.

This resturant is fast casual indian eatery . Food was delicious. Staffs are nice and friendly. I had a great experience.

Our go-to place for sit-down Indian is Bombay Club; but if you want great fast casual Indian, this place absolutely fits the bill. Very nice ambiance, good good, reasonably priced. Nice attention to detail. read more

This place is a cool "fast food" trendy Indian restaurant! Super fun decor and ambiance. This is my second time here and I tried a variety of things so I could find "my meal." I ordered a create your own bowl, with half yellow and half white rice, half chicken curry and half jackfruit with the hot sauce, green beans with a cucumber tomato side. I really liked everything I tried, but probably will get all white rice and all chicken next time - Idefinitely will be back! I almost forgot, you get a super cute takeaway bag when you take your food to go! read more

Rasa is amazing. The fast casual scene in LA is awesome and one of the best in my opinion, but when I came back to visit DC, Rasa blew me out of the water. I usually don't care too much about ambience, but Rasa has created a trendy, welcoming, and homey vibe. The decorations throughout the place are really interesting and unique. The food as Rasa is incredible. It's similar to the Chipotle method of walking through a line in which the employees build your meal in front of you while you make choices. There are so many choices though - which I love. Of course there are recommended pre-designed bowls for those that don't like making decisions. I've had every meat base there and they're all juicy and delicious - especially the shrimp. The add ons to the bowls are the best part. You can get unlimited toppings which is so awesome. And there's all different kinds - it's not traditional Indian but like a new age American-influenced / fusion addons, so there's an assortment of options (healthy and trendy too). Also there's mad sauces too! Basically, you could probably build a new bowl every time you go with so many options. Not sure how they afford to offer so many add ons... Oh and the cookies, those are banging!! Not sure how they're so soft and moist after being in a bag... I think the best part is you got a lot of food - so it's a great deal - and the food doesn't feel very heavy like traditional Indian food. You can easily build your bowl to be light and fresh to keep you active for the day rather than a food coma - but you still get plenty of food! Overall, really awesome place! Ambience great and food is even better. Juiciness, quality, optionality, freshness, healthiness and economics are all there! 5 of out 5 and hope they open in LA one day! read more

My favorite of the many fast casual options in DC. To sum up my experiences, I wrote the following haiku: Vibrant hues and tastes infinite variations What is jackfruit? read more

Their lemonade are delicious and super refreshing, I love the fact that they aren't too sweet. We tried the Tumeric Ginger Lemonade and the Mint Cardamom lemonade which was my favorite....and they have free refills on them Definitely will recomend it to anyone read more

RASA PLEASE COME TO VIRGINIA BEACH, VA!! I recently visited with my husband while visiting DC. The food was so delicious! I love the concept of customizing your bowl. The dining area was beautiful, and the staff was patient and friendly. I love the swings/hanging chairs. I wish this was a local restaurant, I would be a frequent visitor. I have told several of my friend who plan to visit DC for a National game to stop by Rasa. read more

Great fast casual food with wonderful customer service and a great business model. I ordered a bowl with tofu and vegetables, which they were out of but cooking more of in the back, and had to wait longer than expected. The staff was incredibly generous and offered me a free drink while I waited (which wasn't even that long). These people are literally the nicest staff I've interacted with at a place like this. After all that, the food was delicious, fresh, and packed with flavor. Cannot recommend this place more. read more

Absolute gem. Great service, unique and tasty chow. This place has become a carry out go-to for the neighborhood.

Beautiful space, beautiful food, beautiful people. I make sure to go here every time I'm in the Navy Yard area - so excited for the other locations to open soon. Tons of vegetarian and vegan options! read more

RASA - Indian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Colorful restaurant with the pod hanging chairs that everyone wants to sit in. It was our first time so we tried a little bit of everything - some rice and vermicelli, some chicken and beef and eggplants and condiments. one bowl had the spicy sauce and other had the peanut sauce. Overall, everything tasted really good loved the eggplants! And the thai spicy sauce that was available on the side. The mini samosas were average they were too dry and needed some mint sauce. I dont know what I ordered but ended paying over $30 (two la croix) which I expected less from the fast casual bowl restaurant. read more

RASA has done a great job within the community. They were extremely quick to implement city restrictions during the COVID outbreak, the owners and managers are responsive, understanding, and helpful, and the staff is pretty awesome. It helps that the food is great too. Hopefully they continue to be a staple in the neighborhood. read more

I practice flying trapeze in the Navy Yard area. When I first started practicing, it was like a food desert. There was absolutely nowhere to eat. That was 2012. Fast forward to today and you will see that the transformation there is amazing. They've even built the fast casual mecca of DC complete with Cava Mezze Grill, Roti, Taylor Gourmet, Chop't, Chipotle, and Rasa. You may recognize all of those except Rasa because this is Rasa's first location. Founded by the sons of chefs at Indique, one of my old favorite restaurants, and Bombay Bistro, this has quickly become my favorite fast casual restaurant in DC and you know that I don't give praise generously. It's been open for a few months, but I was skeptical. One of my trapeze teachers came to me raving about this Indian restaurant and telling me they had vegan options, but I only half believed her. I took a look at their menu online and wondered if the "v" designation next to certain items meant "vegan" or "vegetarian." A quick call confirmed it meant "vegan." So, I went over one night after trapeze. Their menu concept is similar to most fast casual restaurants in our area, but what's different is that 83% of their menu is vegan. Oh yes. You choose a base: spinach, romaine lettuce, sexy greens, supergrains, basmati rice, or South Indian rice noodles. All bases are vegan. Then, you pick a main of which three are vegan: sweet potato tikki, green jackfruit, or tofu and cauliflower. Then, a sauce of which three are vegan: tamarind chili, coconut ginger, or peanut sesame. Then, you can pick one veggie and all are vegan: charred eggplant, tossed green beans, sauteed spinach, or roasted Brussels sprouts. And they have lots of vegan toppings as well! Meals are priced from $9 - $11 each. It was a little overwhelming so I went with one of the preset meals--the Aloo You Need is Love. That is so cute. On top of supergrains is sweet potato tikki, charred eggplant, masala beets, and pickled radish topped with coconut ginger sauce. They actually forgot my masala beets. But, as I was checking out, I introduced myself to one of the owners, Sahil, and that made it all better. The meal was fantastic. The supergrains were absolutely delicious as was the soft, yet crispy sweet potato and pea patties. My favorite though was the charred eggplant--unbelievably good. And that coconut ginger sauce--more, please! Sahil told me about how he and his partner traveled to India to do their research before opening the restaurant. It's like fine fast casual, he said, and I agree. He brought me a sampler plate of a bunch of vegan items and the flavors took my taste buds away! Surprisingly to me, the jackfruit was my favorite. I don't usually enjoy jackfruit, but the way they cooked it is exceptional! The sauteed spinach was also exceptional as was the tofu and cauliflower. Honestly, it was all good. I asked if they had hot sauce and they actually make their own really good hot sauce and are experimenting with a hotter sauce. I got to try the new formula and I love it. I also love that they not only serve beer and wine, but a Masala Gin & Tonic too. I just had to try it and it was pretty good! Sahil also let me know that the samosas were vegan, but the mint sauce they serve them with is not, which is why they aren't labeled as vegan. So he brought me the samosas to try with a tamarind chutney. They were incredibly flaky--like pastry and really fresh. They have to be some of the best samosas I've ever had. Watching Sahil break open a coconut for a customer was also quite entertaining. It was so good that I returned the next week and ordered another bowl, but this time I built the bowl myself. I ordered the sexygreens with jackfruit, tofu and cauliflower topped with peanut sesame sauce. For my veggie, I ordered sauteed spinach and I topped it with cucumber cubes and pickled onion. This bowl was even better than the first! That peanut sesame sauce is so rich and creamy--it draped all of the vegetables creating a flavor explosion! You won't go wrong if you order this combo, that's for sure. Oh, and the decor is really bright and beautiful. Rasa is a combination of the owner's names and also means "all emotions." The artwork inside is meant to represent all emotions. It's very colorful. So, I'm a big fan. It's been a while since a place got me this excited. Highly recommended. read more

Obsessed! Omg love it here so much! So delicious and fresh! Love the chill atmosphere and vibe you feel right at home! Super nice employees and owner! Would definitely recommend hands down! read more

RASA - Indian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I was in DC for a leadership conference, and I came to Rasa because of trusty Yelp reviewers who praised this restaurant for its contemporary yet homey ambiance, the friendliness of its owners, and its innovative spin on the fast-casual eatery. Rasa lives up to all of these accolades and more. From the moment I stepped through the bold blue door of the restaurant, I was impressed by its little details. I fell in love at first sight. I loved that the walls were lined with books (and real ones, not the hollow type that some restaurants purchase as decor). It was an interesting and whimsical collection, and it was clear that the owners had put thought into curating it; a few that stuck out to me were Yann Martel's The Life of Pi, Michael Pollan's The Omnivore's Dilemma, Atul Gawande's Being Mortal, and a collection of poetry by Rumi. The round wicker pod swing chairs, colorful paintings on the back wall, and pop music playing in the background added an electic touch to the restaurant. I was also smitten with the sauce bottles which were labeled "hot AF," the punny names on the menu, and the reusable tote bags which had cute phrases such as "Curry Me Home" and "Spice Spice Baby." If you're a millennial (or not), perhaps you will be pleased to discover that Rasa carries Kombucha, Misfit juices, and fresh coconuts. It was clear to me that this restaurant is on top of every trend. The food did not disappoint! We got a DIY bowl ($9.32) and the "Tikka Chance on Me" bowl ($9.32). I was pleased by the number of different options on the menu - you can choose greens or supergrains as a base, in addition to turmeric and basmati rice. I got the turmeric ginger shrimp, which were an extra $3, but they were cooked to perfection. My favorite element of the bowl was probably the grilled eggplant, which was crispy and savory. It was also great to be able to add unlimited vegetable toppings, which ranged from microgreens to beets to mango salsa. Although I typically find Indian food too greasy and rich, I did not any guilt about eating my Rasa bowl; on the contrary, I felt good for consuming mostly lean protein and vegetables. Every bite was bursting with flavor, and the meal was satisfying. A fellow Yelper Sara M., said that "Sahil Rahman is Good People...The kind who is brilliant, thoughtful, and a great business owner." Sara is spot-on, but I would like to add that Rahul Vinod is awesome too. Rasa is a true family affair: it is ran by Sahil, Rahul, and their fathers. I had the privilege of meeting the entire team when I ate here today. They patiently answered all of my questions, let me pose for pictures with them, and sent me off with delicious chai masala chocolate chip cookies (soft and chewy with a subtle chai flavor - perfection!). Their warmth and kindness made a deep impression on me. I've been to plenty of Asian fusion, fast casual restaurants before, which served everything from sushi burritos to Korean bbq bowls to "taco" baozi (Chinese bread/dumpling buns), but Rasa blew me away with its incredible food, atmosphere, and people. If you're in the area, be sure to check out this amazing restaurant. I can't wait to see Rasa bring Indian food to not only my hometown but also the rest of America. Beyond excited for this restaurant's continued growth. read more

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First time trying today with co-workers. Ordered outside of the box by trying Rasa and the food was amazing. Very rich in taste and depending on your toppings can be spicy. I did the create your own bowl with lamb, spinach, Brussel sprouts and cilantro read more

RASA - Create your own bowl with lamb. - Indian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

This chic-cozy-homely restaurant is owned and operated by these incredibly talented young men. They have brought their traditional ancestors recipes to a whole different level ! Can't wait to go again and hoping for another one in NY city !! Highly recommend to go with family and friends..their custom beer and tamarind margarita is delicious !! And top off with chai cookies at the end !! read more

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Tucked away in the nationals stadium near the new Wharf district, Rasa has captured much attention and social media presence of late. When you approach Rasa, you are greeted by this big beautiful blue door. The paintings on the wall are vibrant, bright and conversation inspiring. The layout of the store is very open, with these unique wicker pod chairs that are freely suspended from the ceiling. The style is like a Cava or Chipotle, aka, pick ingredients, put into bowl, mix, bowl, eat. Except with an indian flare. I would say overall I enjoyed the flavors and quality of food, but it was too full (I never thought I would say that). The bowl was too filling and did not look that presentable as everything looked mashed and soft. I still will give this place a solid 3.5-4.0 stars but in my mind, I like to eat with my eyes as well. Still worth a shot to come back and give it another go around, but may not be the first place I jump to. read more

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Such a unique, but smart experience! As someone who grew up eating Indian food in the States, my mother would often mix cuisines becuse my sisters and i are often times picky eaters. Rasa does an amazing job blending traditional Indian food with slight touches of other cuisine. I love the fast-casual chipotle style. As for drinks, i highly recommend the tamarind margarita. Simply perfect! read more

RASA - Aloo Need is Love, tamarind margarita - Indian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

The food taste pretty good. Traditional Eastern Indian cuisine. Really funky decor. Simple but eye catching. I really liked the coconut curry sauce it was creamy and had just enough coconut flavor to where it wasn't over bearing. I ordered the stingier shrimp with coconut curry sauce and loose green beans. The shrimp was okay but nothing that really had that melt in my mouth deliciousness reaction. The staff was polite. I did not like the tea. It tasted like a musty smell. I just didn't like it. Hey did give a really cool bag for take home. Overall it's an okay place to grab lunch. I may not revisit but I usually don't eat a lot of eastern foods either. This may be cool for those who like this kind of cuisine. read more

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This is my third time to Rasa and I can say that the food quality is going down. I visited the location last night and I was a bit shocked by the lack of hot food. My food was cold and I and asked if there was going to be any more hot food choices put out... and the answer was "NO". The jackfruit was extremely dry. I ordered the garlic naan and it was cold and hard. I went back up to the cashier and asked for another one that was hot and I had a to wait for an extended period for the warm naan. The issue that I have is that the restaurant was extremely slow and it wasn't closing time. So, as a paying customer there should be hot food and fresh food for the patrons if you are still open for business. Both my dish and my friend's dish were a No-Go... My advice to the staff is make sure that the food is hot and fresh at 7:00 PM if you are still open until 9 or 10 o clock at night. We both had the tamarind margaritas and they were too sweet. It seemed more like a lemonade vs a margarita. I am always open to trying new food and Indian food is one of my favorites, but Rasa missed the mark last night. The restaurant is a beautiful space and the employees were pretty nice. I hope this was a fluke and a hiccup this past night . . . read more

Went to RASA for the first time last night & I will definitely be returning. The food was great!! Such a unique mix of flavors and tastes that is hard to find for a solid price. The decor of the place is definitely warm & spirited too. I am excited to return to try other bowls, and to order a cup of chai & study. I tried the shrimp bowl, would 10/10 recommend. The mix of ginger and timeric was so perfect, and the mango was a good touch. RASA please open up some more locations! read more

RASA - Shrimp bowl - Indian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I work near this place. It's referred to as a Chipotle with an Indian twist. It's not. What's different is the quality of food, service and atmosphere. It's about the same price depending on what you get. However, the entire experience is uniquely different in a better way. It's high end dining on a budget. That's what I'm about. Don't miss this spot ! read more

Loved the place. The food tastes authentic and I liked the idea of having it all in one bowl. The decor and ambience is very vibrant and full of color! I sure would go back when I visit DC. read more

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I love this place. I get something different every time and am never disappointed. Last time I went, I went out of my way to go. That's how much I like it. At Rasa, they have house made recipes or you can make your own. I've done both and never gone wrong. They let you try things too! You get a ton of food too! I have added so many toppings and left completely stuffed! read more

My husband and I regularly get takeout from Rasa and enjoy it. I've only had two of the bowls - the chicken tikka and shrimp one - but liked both, as well as the samosas. The bowls are a good size and very filling and the ingredients meld together nicely. I do wish that the food was a bit more flavorful. I'm not sure if they are not using bold flavors to appeal to a larger audience but I feel like the food could use some more kick. Keeping the chicken in the sauce might be a good start as well as adding butter or ghee to the naan. Adding a star for the fact that it's the nicest decorated fast casual restaurant I've ever seen. read more