One of my favorite restaurants in DC! They have great plant-based options, and truly craveable foods with amazing "WOW"-factor flavor combinations. The place is surprisingly lively and full at all times I have been, given how large it is inside. Always feels cozy and "happening." read more

I came here on a random Wednesday and I think I was one of the first ones inside. We sat at the bar, where they offer happy hour prices for food. My friends and I shared the dosa and cauliflower 65. The dosa was wonderful although it wasn't my favorite. I got the garlic naan with butter chicken, which was great although I wasn't sure I was supposed to have it further grilled by the flame like others did or if that was another meal. The service was great. We chose to sit at the bar since the service was so great! The ambiance is great! There's great Indian music on in the background. Overall, definitely come here if you're in the area. read more

Tapori - Butter Chicken - Indian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Here's my thing for the 3/5 - it has to be 4+ for me to consider going back and this isn't it. Service 5/5: super great host and waitstaff, friendly and punctual and always there when you need Atmosphere 5/5: good amount of people in an early Saturday night but not too many to where it's loud. They also sat us in the busy area which I appreciate because I hate being alone in the corner Drinks 4/5: my husband thought the old fashioned was meh, martini was super savory if you like that and with pickled veg, daisy was 5/5 balanced Food: 2/5: butter chicken sauce was so underwhelming like maybe a lack of salt and tang?? - but the chicken was super tender, naan was also like unsalted or something and cooked too much idk, cauliflower was fine and so was pani puri read more

The food was good, but most of it was forgettable. I was surprised because I thoroughly enjoy India food! We got the masala dosa and it was good, but I couldn't help but compare it to the dosa at VEGZ and I prefer their food overall. The paneer chop was just OK to me. But the tandoori broccoli was superb!! Flavorful and not overcooked! Loved it! The rasmalai cheesecake is pretty, and yet, I wasn't a fan of the taste. The restaurant decor is beautiful and the service was good. Overall, it's doubtful that I'd eat here again. read more

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Great food and drink with friendly service. The only downside was slow service. This was my first visit to Tapori, but I was looking forward to great things. I stopped by for happy hour on a Thursday around 6 PM. A few people were at the bar and tables; the place was maybe 30% full. I tried the Marigold Daisy, Rangeela-Rita, and Tapori cocktails (all $12 on happy hour). They were all very good and had interesting flavors. My favorite was the Daisy due to its combination of smoky mezcal and herbal flavors; then the Tapori. To eat, the Cheese Kulcha ($5), Seekh Kebab ($10), and Podi Masala Dosa ($15). Again, all very good with great flavors. The kulcha reminded me of buttered popcorn at the movies, in a good way. The kebab was a chicken kebab and reminded me of chicken sausage. The bartender suggested eating it like a hotdog, which worked well. The Dosa was good, a little hard to eat, and I'm not sure why it was so much more expensive than the other dishes. I'd rather have the Kulcha + Kebab again for the same price as the Dosa. The only downside was it took forever to get food. We even saw the people next to us order a dosa after us and get it before us. They have a 20% auto-grat. They don't put their happy hour menu on their website (dumb) but usually post about it on Instagram. read more

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Food was delicious as were the drinks. Interesting flavors and different. All dishes were good! Cocktails are balanced, not too sweet. They also felt lighter abv so you can have two and not feel totally sloshed. Place was busy. Service was good too. read more

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Tapori exceeded expectations! We walked in on a Sunday night without a reservation as a party of two, and I think we were lucky to get seated because it was busy! The restaurant is beautifully decorated with artwork and dim lighting. We had a little secluded booth with beads draping around our table. We tried the ragda pattice, tapori naan, butter chicken and dum biryani. Everything was delicious. They did a table side torching of the butter onto the butter chicken dish. It was flavorful and filling! We had a great experience and will definitely recommend Tapori. read more

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My friend was very skeptical about Tapori, and it took me multiple tries to finally convince him to go with me. I really enjoyed their sister restaurant (Daru), so I was looking forward to my experience for Tapori. We made a reservation for a couple Monday evenings ago. While it wasn't too busy, we thought food came out slower than expected (e.g. asked for a side of basmati rice and waited for over 10 minutes). DAL MAKHANI - 9 Very good and incredibly buttery, excessively so. This had to be one of the best dal makhanis I've had, thanks to all the butter, which made it incredibly hearty and creamy. We ordered a side of basmati rice (+4) to enjoy this. TAPORI BUTTER CHICKEN - 25 This came with a piece of naan, which was not enough to enjoy the butter chicken, but fortunately, we did order the side of rice. Butter chicken was great, also very buttery. We would've gotten a different curry option, but the butter chicken seems to be the only option on their menu. No regrets though! DUM BIRYANI - 32 This was the worst thing we ordered. The rice was really most and mushy, and most of the goat pieces were mainly bone with very little meat. Flavor was pretty bland and underwhelming, lacking seasoning and spice. Definitely not worth it. Overall, food was hit-or-miss and incredibly pricy. We paid $95 total (after 20% service fee and tax) for one app, one side, and two entrees, which is kind of wild. The service was a bit awkward and not the most friendly. Unfortunately, we both agreed we probably won't be back (since it's also not the easiest to get to by public transportation), but it was worth a try. read more

Made reservations and were given a comfortable booth seating closer to their kitchen which was busy throughout the night! Our server, Nishita, who also happened to be from Bombay, was full of energy and enthusiasm, and it was a no-brainer for us to stick with Nishi's recommendations for our order. Our order consisted of Lotus Root Chaat ($14) which is something that we'd highly recommend, Spicy Seekh Kebab, Podi Masala Dosa ($22), Achari Macchi Kebab ($28), and Dum Biryani ($34). The Macchi Kebab is made with Salmon - and in my opinion, even Indian spices fall short of making salmon drop its rather fishy and strong taste - a wonderful dish though! The Dum Biryani is tasty, although does lack enough meat pieces. Packed with flavor though. For dessert we got the Rasmalai Cheesecake ($12) and Nishi was kind enough and very friendly towards our little one, and got him a Gulab Jamun ($12) on the house. The Cheesecake might be enjoyable for those who like a cheesecake and were curious to see an Indian take on it. Food overall matched our expectations, was flavorful, and we had a fantastic experience. Food arrived within 20 mins of ordering and as it was ready. Specific shout out to Nishita for excellent service! We will definitely recommend this place to our friends and family and will visit again whenever we are in DC! read more

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This is my favorite Indian restaurant in DC. I like other Indian restaurants in DC, they have great selection of food from various parts of India. We were here to celebrate our friend's 40th birthday party. Most of us in the group were here for the first time. We ordered almost everything on their menu to share and taste everything. Podi masala dosa and cauliflower 65 are my favorites. I liked it so much that I came here the next day during their happy hours. For entrees, definitely recommend the whole tandoori chicken and shrimp kitchdi. Kitchdi is Indian style porridge. It's very delicious as it's made with rice and lentils. I was so full for desserts. I tried a little of kulfi. It was alright. Highly recommend this place. The service was phenomenal. I don't remember the name of our server, but she was so energetic and matched our vibes. Great recommendation for cocktails and food. read more

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Another awesome visit to Tapori. It was a friend's birthday and they kindly brought us a comped dessert with a candle. Service was excellent overall, and we enjoyed all the food. Food: Some veggie patty with dal, don't remember what it was called but it was delicious Dosa: didn't taste but looked good Veggie kulcha: amazing Butter chicken: reported to be amazing Paneer chop: huuuge piece of cheese. Sooo tasty but prob better for sharing! Squash: really unique dish! Delicious! Loved the pumpkin sauce Kulfi dessert: such an unusual thing for me, tasted incredible Galub jamun: small but really delicious Small place, better for small parties and make sure to get a reservation. It was COMPLETELY full. read more

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Tapori absolutely nailed it! The modern Indian small plates concept is executed beautifully -- every dish was bursting with bold, vibrant flavors and creative twists. We were celebrating a double birthday, and the experience felt extra special thanks to Nishita. She was energetic, genuinely engaged, and incredibly attentive all evening & catered impeccably to our gluten free request . The sweetest surprise? Desserts and pani puri on the house -- such a thoughtful touch that made our celebration unforgettable. She even got the head chef Baburam to meet us so we could give our candid feedback Amazing food, impeccable service, and the perfect celebratory vibe -- Tapori is officially a favorite! read more

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FABULOUS. What really blew us away was the dosa AND the galub jalum. The dosa was thin and crispy and its paired with an assortment of rich sauces on the side. I could not tell you what those sauces were, but they were gone in less than 5 minutes that's how delicious they were. The cool lemongrass icecream drizzled with chocolate on top of the rose water soaked cake paired with the crunch of whatever was underneath was something special. Lovely ambiance, incredible service, easy reservations. Honestly an all around great experience. read more

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The spread was amazing. The service was great. It had a bustling atmosphere, family style seats in the middle and the bar was packed with people there. read more

Tapori - Loved this! - Indian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Really fun atmosphere! Sat at the bar but loved the community table option. Cocktails were great and bartender was SO friendly. Everything we tried was delicious. Slightly on the pricey end but HH made it reasonable. Would happily return! read more

Amazing! We tried four dishes and cocktails: -I had the pineapple daiquiri, which was delicious; the Tapori wasn't quite as good (we couldn't agree on whether it was too sweet or too bitter, oddly enough) -Cauliflower 65 was my favorite dish -Butter chicken was also great, and the presentation with a torch to melt a garlic butter lollipop was super fun -wagyu momos were good but not great - I would probably try something else next time -duck was maybe a little overcooked, it was just okay - but the accompanying sauce and potatoes were really nicely done Service was very good, and I'd absolutely recommend a visit! read more

Spectacular happy hour. They're good any time of day, but the happy hour deals are phenomenal. I'm not sure I would have ever come in had I not saw those deals, so kudos to them for crafting an attractive selection that catches the eye. As of my visit, the deals are till 6.30, including Saturday. The space is quite large, but I sat at the bar. The deals include food and drink specials, a key to a great happy hour, and the selection is varied. The cocktails were $3 off, essentially 20% off. The remember the mango, which showcases rye whiskey with a spiced syrup, vermouth, amaro, and mango, was a complex mix but perfectly balanced. Very unique and worth trying. You'll find a martini at any bar in the city, but you won't find this anywhere else. I'm intrigued to come back to try more of their creations. For food, I was just snacking, but the cauliflower 65 and lotus root chaat were both excellent. The place seemed full of happy diners, always a good sign. It was a good vibe all around, I would highly recommend it. Their other location, Daru, is right down the block and is also excellent, with very different options. read more

A delicious dinner and cocktail spot on H St. my friends and I came here as a walk-in and lucked out with bar seating. We shared the pani puri, chapli kebab, jhol momos, and achari macchi kebab. The pani puri was very flavorful and perfect snack to share. The jhol momos had a delicious broth chili and the wagyu was very well seasoned. If you're a lamb fan, you definitely need to get the chapli kebab which comes on top of saffron naan. My favorite dish was the achari maachi kebab. The salmon was perfectly cooked and the skin was delightfully crispy. It came with pickled vegetables and quinoa (not your average quinoa), which paired so well with the salmon. So glad this new concept from the owners of Daru opened up. read more

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As a South Indian, I adore this restaurant. It mixes all of the flavors well. The service is great and creates a very welcoming environment. I have gone alone multiple times for a solo happy hour, a girls night and small group dinner and I'm satisfied every time. read more

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Had such a good time here! The food is great and the drinks are strong. We got the Dum Biryani (portion size is large, so we had plenty of leftovers), the butter chicken (one of the better ones I've had in DC)! I wish the seating for 2 people was larger but overall had a good time. Service was a bit spotty. read more

Tapori - Butter Chicken and Dum Biryani - Indian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Tapori delights as usual. We went to the happy hour. Our martini and Manhattans were chilled with liquid nitrogen. Wow. Our bartender/server was like an old friend and he knows everything. He was fantastic. We even got to go back into their kitchen to see their dosa batter mill, which was amazing and allowed us to meet the chefs. The food was top notch as usual, but at happy hour prices so we get to sample all sorts of treats. The restaurant is beautiful as ever and we will be returning again soon. read more

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Amazing Indian food. Thank you EJay Very awesome Indian restaurant near Union Market. Manager Ejay was the man. Great drink selection and the food was totally better than expected. Strong indian flavors and cooked the right way (i.e - the butter chicken was made with tandoori chicken, not the "easier way"). Will certainly come back. read more

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

Superbly crafted food in a warm and inviting environment. We particularly loved the wagyu beef dumplings, lamp chops, and goat biryani. The service was impeccable--swift, friendly, attentive, and informed. read more

Tapori - Gorgeous and warm! - Indian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Tapori was our fifth indian dining spot during our trip but arguably should have been number one! The menu is progressive and within budget, the food and drinks are works of art, and the ambience is inviting. Don't mistake this place for a street food kinda spot - it has an eclectic vibe with top notch food options and craft cocktails that'd make your day. Shoutout to EJ at the bar & the chefs - true food artists making this a must stop for desi food done right! read more

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

So far I've been here twice and both experiences were great. Good for 1:1 or medium size groups. Service is really good. The vibe and interior is lovely! And the food is delicious. I think their strength is their appetizers and smaller dishes. The pani puri is a must! So is the masala chai. Second time I went we tried the crab but...it was not what we were expecting ha I thought it would be a bigger dish. A whole crab. It was almost a flatbread type of dish. So just read the menu or ask about the dish prior to ordering. The paneer was a very good entree! So far that is the only one I would recommend and apart from that, the apps and small dishes are the way to go. read more

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

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Solid spot - service and ambiance are great, albeit a bit loud/crowded. They have a good drink menu. Loved the cauliflower, fried lotus, and dumplings. However, did not like the chicken and paneer mains at all. For the price, there are better options. read more

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The happy hour here was absolutely wonderful! I loved the cauliflower in particular - such a great spice level and so crispy! The dosa was delicious and again had that great crispy/soft contrast. We loved the butter chicken and naan, and we dipped the cheesy kulcha in it as well, which was a winning move. I'm so glad I ordered the ragda pattice. The texture of the patty was so good and the lentils were super filling. The vada pav was good but I just wish it came with a sauce (onions were great though). The kebab was the only item we didn't love taste-wise, but the rest were a home run and we'll be back for sure! I left absolutely stuffed and I thought the prices were more than reasonable for the amount of food I ate (I could have easily brought soke home but I liked it too much). Service was a little slow but everyone was super nice. The decor is gorgeous and I like the dim, cozy vibe. I'm curious about some of the mains but honestly I would come back just for the happy hour! read more

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What a vibe!! Fun place to come for modern South Asian/Indian-ish street food and cocktails. If you love Daru, come here for a funky time! Highly recommend making reservations. Our server had a strong personality. She was fun and cracked jokes, but could come off a bit aggressive. However, the bartender was super friendly and hospitable. Honestly, I think I enjoyed everything we got: Cauliflower 65, Lotus Root Chaat, Jhol Momo (drank the broth DRY), Mushroom Pulao, Vada Pav, Boti Kebab, and Roast Duck Kulcha (least fav, but still delicious). Everything had fun flavors and was done so well and creatively. The Malai Kulfi is fun and yummy, but it is literally one popsicle stick (and for $10) so can be hard to share, but definitely not impossible! read more

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wow! we ordered almost everything on the menu and everything was a hit. the dishes were unique in presentation and combination-- from wagyu momos to the nilgiri scallops (my personal favorite). the one con is that for large parties, there is a central dining space which can be hard to get your own space, but at least they accommodate large parties! our server was lovely as well. read more

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Great happy hour situation. Yummy food and very friendly staff. We've been several times.

I went to Tapori and thought it was really great overall. The vibes were awesome from the start. It has a fun, energetic atmosphere that makes the whole experience feel special. Part of the seating is at long shared tables, so we had to sit next to strangers, but it honestly wasn't too bad. It kind of added to the lively feel of the place. The food was good. It was really flavorful and well done, but it's definitely on the expensive side. It's not somewhere I'd go for a casual weeknight dinner. It feels more like a place you go for a fun night out or a special occasion. Overall, it's definitely worth checking out. I wouldn't go all the time, but it's a great spot when you're in the mood for something a little more elevated and fun. read more

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

So good! Every dish we got was incredible. Perfect amount of spice. And there's a ton of gluten free options including the dosa! I can't wait to go back! read more

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If you love Indian food or award-winning Daru (or both), pop into Tapori, the creators of Daru's new elevated Indian street food restaurant. On the same block as Solid State Books (highly recommend), Tapori creates a funky environment for guests to retreat into. My friend and I dined at Tapori. Here's our experience. 1) Food: The menu is diverse with vegetarian options and more. To feed two, we ordered the Cauliflower, Laal Naan, Lotus Root Chaat, Mushroom Biryani, Meen Pollichathu, and Malai Kulfi. Everything tasted great, but the winners were the Cauliflower, Lotus Root Chaat, and Mushroom Biryani. Both used flavors that you'd expect, but with a few twists to make the dishes stand out. As a complimentary starter, Panipuri was brought out. It was very good! 2) Cocktails: The beverage menu is robust and has wine, beer, and more. Enjoying more sweet and sour drinks, I enjoyed the Pineapple Daiquiri and the Guava Mint Swizzle. 3) Service: With an open kitchen, you see it all. Staff are friendly, passionate, and efficient. 4) Space: It's beautiful with a mural on one wall, a long table, booth seating, interesting art, and more. If you love Indian food, go here! read more

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Tapori has such a fun vibe and some truly delicious food. The inside is a bright riot of color and texture where there isn't a bad seat in the house- there's a fun communal table right down the middle, but we got a booth in the back near the kitchen. Our server, Nishi, was so fun- she had great recommendations and truly made our night. We started off with the lotus root chaat- this was a favorite for our table and is such a gorgeous and interesting presentation. We also really enjoyed the vada pav, which came with two slider-sized potato sandwiches- the slaw on the side was excellent. The bison pav bhaji was very good as well- you assemble your own essentially small sandwich with ground bison, and the kitchen was nice enough to provide extra bread for our party so that we could all try some (I believe it came with three buns). We split the paneer chop and the salmon as entrees, and we loved both. The paneer chop is essentially one large piece of paneer, so very easy to share, and the accompaniments were all excellent. We were shocked at how much we loved the salmon, which can sometimes be overcooked or bland- this was cooked perfectly and the glaze that came on top of it was so good. It was hard to save room for dessert, but I have to recommend at least ordering the rasmalai cheesecake. I'm not a big cheesecake person and this was one of the best I've ever had. The texture was so light, it was beautifully spiced, and it came with the most incredible berry compote. A really lovely way to end an excellent meal! read more

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Fantastic service and excellent food! Ambiance was great too. The waitstaff and hosts were amazing and make you feel so welcome and at home!

I loved the cocktails here, especially the Rangeel-a-rita. It was so delicious and not overly sweet. I'm still thinking about that rita. I also had the lakhan old fashioned and can't say I would order again--the garam masala was not strong and it felt like something was missing. On to the food, the pani puri was of course amazing. A great start to the meal! My personal favorite was the lasooni palak and the vada pav. The latter was absolutely perfect. It was maybe all of two bites, but it was served hot, had a bit of heat, and just set the right tone following the pani puri. The lasooni palak was also so delicious. It was paired so well with tapori and laal naan. I was not disappointed, but didn't think u would be considering I am a big fan of Daru. The vibe here is very chill and I would love to go back and order cocktails at the bar. The imagery is very unique and really works to create a very outgoing and comfortable vibe. Service was also IMPECCABLE! Highly recommend! read more

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The uttapam was actually incredible. Would come back just for that. The biryani was inventive as well. Chaat was a disappointment, good flavors but the sauce should have been distributed throughout and it didn't really taste like lotus root. Great decor. read more

I recently went here for a weeknight dinner with a friend and had a great experience! We were able to get a reservation at one of the community tables and were seated immediately. Tapori was extremely loud-my friend and I had to raise our voices to have a conversation. The prices for the main dishes for the mains were reasonable, although charging $10-$16 for small appetizers of dishes branded "street food" seemed the opposite of the point of the dishes. Otherwise, everything else was fantastic. Despite Tapori being extremely busy, we received outstanding service, worth every bit of the automatic 20 percent service fee. Our dishes came quickly and our server went above and beyond in explaining dishes, answering questions, and having a good rapport with my friend and I. My friend and I split the following dishes, which ranged from fine to outstanding: Lotus Root Chaat: My favorite dish of the night. The lotus root was crunchy, flavorful, and a good blend of sweet and salty. Pani Puri: An interesting dish with a great presentation-a quick bite with liquid that you pour in. Lentils: An OK dish, but nothing distinctive. Bison Pav Bhaji: This dish was disappointing. The bison tasted like oversalted taco meat, the bun tasted like it came out of a package, and the other flavors were underwhelming. Tandoori Broccoli: Some of the best broccoli I have ever had at a restaurant. The broccoli had a good crunch without being undercooked, and deliciously spiced and seasoned. Laal Naan: A solid naan, although not distinctive from most other naans. Cheese Kulcha: An extremely delicious naan, with good heat, freshly baked, and tons of delicious cheese. For dessert, my friend and I split the Malai Kulchi, which was good but nothing special. I would highly recommend Tapori for a nice date night! read more

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Incredible - the vibes, cocktails, service, and food. I loved how the cocktails all were unique to the cuisine, and they were well made. The food was delicious, and I appreciated how it was separated by region. We shared the pani puri, pav bhaji, dosa (my favorite), and paneer chop. We had the rasmalai cheesecake for dessert and I enjoyed everything. read more

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Food is five stars. Service was kinda bad, but I'm giving them a pass since I visited their opening day. Recommendations: Cauliflower Tapori naan Lamb biryani Quail Remember the mango cocktail We already booked another reservation in a few weeks to try more from their menu! It's so good! I'm sure the service will also improve in time. read more