On a block in Penn Quarter studded with other beloved restaurants, Bindaas Bowls and Rolls stands its own. From the owners of top-rated Rasika, Bindaas Bowls and Rolls is an Indian fast-casual concept. Open for lunch and dinner, I picked up takeout on a Friday evening. Here's my experience: 1) Food: Set up like a fast-casual restaurant, you watch the staff create your bowl or wrap in front of you. The salmon was well-prepared and the chicken tikka masala was slightly spicy and flavorful. Each dish comes with noodles/rice, a small salad and sides. The spinach and mushroom side was phenomenal. 2) Drinks: They have mango lasso, soda from India, cocktails in small glass bottles, juice and other drink options in a cold refrigerator. 3) Space: It's designed beautifully with several tables throughout. 4) Service: The staff were quick, friendly and remembered my large order! read more

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As a fan of Rasika, I had high hopes for Bindaas Bowls and Rolls, but this place did not impress. Of the Merzis (RIP Merzi), RASAs, and Spice 6's of the world, Bindaas falls to the bottom for me. Granted, we went at the end of the night so it was probably bottom of the barrel selection. The chicken looked like it had been sitting out all day, and there were only a few straggling lamb meatballs left to be served. The staff did provide a disclaimer that they were closed, and what you saw was what was available- no more food was being made. They have classic bowls you can choose from along with a build-your-own option. You get a grain base (rice, quinoa, or rice noodles), a protein (chicken, salmon, lamb, or paneer), and a cool cucumber salad (primarily cucumbers, also came with some tomatoes and onions). I went with the pre-set Chicken Tikka Masala bowl (rice, Tikka masala sauce, and chicken; $12.50). Everything else is a la carte. While the chickpeas are alluring, the $2 upcharge is not... but at least they warn you that it does cost extra before committing to the scoop. The serving size of the plate was adequate, but if the chickpeas were included with the bowl, I would have at least felt like I was getting a good value. The flavors just didn't do it for me. The rice was fine, but the chicken tasted as disappointing as it looked sitting under the heat lamp. The tikka masala sauce lacked any punch of flavor. If you want the good stuff, go to Rasika... maybe they were having an off night or perhaps the food is just best when fresh, but their fast casual concept does not translate. I did try the chicken curry puff ($6) and veggie samosas (one order comes with two samosas for $4). These were the standouts of the night. The samosas were tasty but on the small side. The curry puff was flaky (for the most part) and had good flavor, but it was a little soggy... but that just comes with the territory of taking a hot item to-go. Since it was close to closing (technically, I think they were closed but they stayed open a little longer to 1- accommodate customers that were still dining in and 2- try to sell the leftovers), we were unwelcome to dine-in and had to picnic elsewhere. While these street snacks were enjoyable, I probably won't be returning to Bindaas Bowls and Rolls. read more

Bindaas Bowls and Rolls - Chicken tikka masala classic bowl ($12.50) - Indian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

This is a welcome addition to my lunch rotation. Bindaas recently opened, I think in the location that was once Merzi, with a very similar concept. You choose your base, protein, and sauce and have Chipotle-style Indian food. There were a lot of options!! I got the coconut brown rice, chicken, and tikka masala sauce. I also got a side of spinach and corn (an additional charge) and cucumber salad. The chicken was moist and tender, which you find often find under heat lamps, and I very much liked the tikka masala sauce. The rice was alright, but kind of greasy - I'll try something else next time. They had so many options, including noodles and saffron rice. The spinach and corn was actually the star of my lunch - spicy and yet perfectly balanced in terms of flavor! I hadn't expected much and was blown away. Worth the additional upcharge. However, the cucumber salad was...well...not salad. It was cukes, a little tomato, and a lot of onion all mixed together, with nary a hint of salt, pepper, or other spice. Guys, I think a tiny hit of salt would do wonders. It feels a bit pricey for lunch, but so does everything else around Gallery Place these days. Bindaas, welcome to the neighborhood! read more

Bindaas Bowls and Rolls - Chicken tikka masala with spinach and corn. - Indian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Sorry no pics or check-in for this review. *insert sad face* However, I think I found a new lunch spot that I kind of wish I didn't find because now I'm a bit addicted. Bindaas is a fast casual Indian restaurant. They have a few entree options for you to choose from including chicken tikka masala and lamb vindaloo (in meatball form). You can get this entree as a bowl or in a wrap. I stuck to the basics this time and got the chicken tikka masala bowl. It came with rice and a little side salad. You have the option of adding extras for an additional cost. I ended up getting the mixed vegetables as an add on. I've been pretty good about bringing my own lunch to work but after my co-worker treated me to this spot, I am now a fan and look forward to going again. read more

This is the best chicken Tikka Masada I have ever eaten! Sorry I I ate half before even thinking of writing a review. . read more

Bindaas Bowls and Rolls - Chicken bowl Chicken Bowl - Indian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Friends I don't have a yelp account but I created one for this restaurant. The service was just unexceptable. It felt like the staff was annoyed to have me there. I also saw them gaslight another customer over allergies telling her she should have warned them about her allergies. Most restaurants I've been to waiters ask for dietary preferences and point out or ask about potential allergies. They didn't even apologize. Don't go here unless you'd like to be disrespected or made to feel like you should leave. It's disappointing because the food was actually good, sadly the experience includes horrible service. read more

underwhelmed. salty. disliked tone of service. expensive for what it was. simply not great.

A few coworkers and I popped in here for lunch last week (two had been before, the other 3 of us were first-timers). The restaurant is pretty casual, great for a lunch spot. The idea is sort of like CAVA, but with Indian food: you pick a base, protein, and sauce. (They do have pre-set meals, but I love a build-your-own) I got the saffron basmati rice, with the paneer-sweet potato-spinach kofta and tikka masala sauce. The rice was good and the sauce was delicious, but the real star, in my opinion, were the kofta! They were so flavorful and the texture was lovely. The portion size was good and I would say it was a good bang for your buck, given the quality. Would definitely come back for another lunch! read more

Bindaas Bowls and Rolls - Bowl with saffron rice, vegetarian kofta (paneer, sweet potato, spinach) and tikka masala sauce. - Indian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

The service was just awful. If you make a mistake just fix it and move on. If you feel like you didn't still fix it and move on. But don't argue with the a customer just to prove a point. Be professional. read more

NGL, I think Rasa is better options wise. For the same price I can get a side of vegetables but as Bindaas it's $2 for some Chana or peas and carrots? Na no thanks. Especially since their salad comes standard. If I'm in a rush and need a quick bite, I'll def come back to Bindaas but other wise, I'll take the nice 20-min stroll to K st and visit Rasa. read more

REALLY glad I checked this new spot out in Penn Quarter. For those of you looking for a quick bite, Bindaas Bowls and Rolls is a must. Their Chicken Tikka was probably my favorite - it was $12.50 + an extra $2 for sides. Don't sleep on the chicken curry puff either. The filling's so hearty and flavorful, and the exterior's flaky as can be. Other musts include their mango-cardamom cheesecake (REALLY good) and of course, their mango lassi. Definitely excited to add this place into my usual lunch rotation. 10/10 recommend. read more

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Breath of fresh air in Penn Quarter, as fast food options are limited. I was excited to hear about this place and went ASAP; next day and I'm back again. The food is prepared and waiting, but it's fresh and taste delicious. Fast service and the ladies on the front line are great! I just wish they had naan but you can ask for this wheat "roti," As an extra treat, they have craft cocktails that have just the right punch! I suggest the Manhattan for more kick. read more

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I've dined here twice this week. It's like an Indian version of chipotle. Very flavorful, in comparison. I also like the macros on it.

First visiting this location for lunch and it is fantastic. Walked into a beautiful smelling aroma. The employees were very patient and polite with me since it was my first time. I got half chicken tika over saffron basmati rice and spiced lamb over brown rice. On the side was the season vegetables (corn, mushrooms, greens) and a nice side salad. Looking forward to returning. read more

Bindaas Bowls and Rolls - Chicken tika over saffron rice and spiced lamb over brown rice. Side seasonal vegetables and salad. - Indian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Fast casual delicious Indian food. Had a vindaloo bowl, a lamb rotii wrap, saffron rice pudding, mango lassi.. delicious and filling nestled among a bunch of higher end restaurants. read more

Their lunch bowls are phenomenal! Relatively expensive, but good, sizable portions - you could easily split into two meals. Also, the customer service was excellent. I'm looking forward to returning and trying more menu items! read more

Really good and decently priced Indian food to go. I really like Bindaas in foggy bottom but I do believe this place is better just given the pricing and the quantity AND quality of the food you get. The chicken tikka masala is $12.50 and the additional side vegetables were an extra $2-3. The gunpowder masala fries were $5. My boyfriend also got the lamb kathi roll. In all honesty, you should just got a bowl and maybe a side. Anything else is really not worth the price. This is a really yummy spot and I have already gone back twice! read more

Bindaas Bowls and Rolls - Chicken tikka masala with vegetable sides and gunpowder fries - Indian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I get it's DC but the portion does not match the price. Assembly line employee could be a little more friendly. Taste is average for being Indian. One and done for me. read more

The food was ok I guess for a fast food restaurants. $17 for a plate and the salad looked like it was made couple of days ago. Don't think I will go back. read more

Bindaas Bowls and Rolls - Salad - Indian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Think of this as a Chipotle-style Indian fast casual. The food is consistently decent and the location is great. The only complaint is that they're over priced. Indian food made in mass quantities like this should not be this expensive. They up charge for adding a veggie side which makes no sense to me. read more

The entire staff were just HORRIBLE. Extremely rude, condescending, and disrespectful. Did appear like they do take the extra effort to harass customers. Pity that the food was actually decent. In fact we went twice during our visit. The second time, the b!tchy attitude was twice that of the first. Either its poor staff selection or something going on between the management and staff. read more

An elevated Indian Chipotle! You pick your base, protein, and sauce (add vegetables for additional $2). We got basmati rice with chicken and tikka sauce. We were recommended these, and they were unsurprisingly delicious!! I do wish the chicken were cut smaller. I LOVED the spinach with mushrooms. It was a bit pricey to be honest tho. The saffron rice pudding was not bad, but not for me. The saffron was way too strong... I could only take 2 bites and be done. read more

Bindaas Bowls & Rolls on 7th Street in DC is a great place to go for all things delicious and fresh bowls and much more. I really like the location and everything on their menu. The staff here is very friendly and efficient at getting everything together. I have been impressed every time I have been here. read more

Bindaas Bowls and Rolls - Bindaas Bowls & Rolls - Indian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

The service is horrible and rude! Ambience is made terrible by the people who work. We asked if there was something kid size for two little kids we were traveling with and they literally replied with "nothing". We also did not get any info about nut free menus when we asked for it and any clarification needed was met with rude retorts. This is not the only indian place in town and anyone seeking to have good Indian food should find a better and more customer friendly place! read more

Chicken tikka masala was awful. Had a burnt taste. Decent portion size. Chicken Tikka Masala read more

Bindaas Bowls and Rolls - Indian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I stumbled upon Bindaas coming from jury duty, and what a treat. I love Indian food so I couldn't wait to compare it to other spots I frequent. They did not disappoint. However I'm rarely on this side so I can't say when I will be back but the food and the customer service is great! read more

Bindaas has Rasika quality tikka masala and for the quality it's super affordable. I go multiple times a month and they never let me down. My go to is the tikka masala, samosas, with the side salad and the raita and it's unreal every time. My #1 place in DC. read more

Loved the ambience and food. Cute little spot. A short walk from the metro center Marriott.

I used to really like this place but it is clear that since the pandemic quality has gone down. Today I paid $21 for a container of mango lassi and a bowl that had less than a cup of brown rice, 5 chunks of chicken, sauce, and a plain heap of spinach/lettuce "salad". You used to be able to get warm sides with the meal but now they charge $2 for the "seasonal vegetables" which looked sad, watery and unappetizing. Such a shame, the concept really had potential. read more

I was excited to try this spot. I don't like to report I was underwhelmed, but I was. The meal was tasty. But I think it's overpriced. I have more satisfying bowls at Cava. Also, the service was a bit odd. I walked in on a Sunday, late morning. I was the only person in there. I told the servers it was my first time there and asked how it worked. They explained it. I thanked them and then asked a couple of questions as we went to learn more. The answers were short with no smile or anything. Felt like I was bothering them. Five minutes later, a couple came in and these servers were effusive and eager. When I left and was throwing away my stuff, one of the servers watched me. We made eye contact. No "Thanks for coming, hope you'll come back," or the like. There are a lot of fast casual places these days. If you're going to be on the high end of price scale, at least make customers feel welcome. Especially if it's the first time in your establishment. read more

I'm not that familiar with Indian food but really thought the chicken Tika masala bowl was very good. I thought the chicken, the sauce and side salad was pretty filling. The one thing I didn't care for was the saffron rice. But overall it was good and I'll be back. ​​ read more

love. the staff was so accommodating of my large group of people for lunch. everyone thoroughly enjoyed their food. my favorite is the chicken tikka kathi roll. my friends reported enjoying the biryani, paneer kathi roll, and lassi read more

Pleasant ambience. Clean. Good if you're looking for a quick meal. The food was sufficient. The chicken tikka masala didn't taste like any I've ever had before (slightly Mexican mole-ish tasting). All the food seemed slightly too salty to me. The service was quick but the food is kept in warming ware which gives all the proteins a "catered event" texture. read more

Ugh so good, divine scents, super flavorful pav bhaji, masala chai was also good. Fries were also stellar! Love the interior too and how the food is ready, making it super accessible. read more

Good but not filling for $18. There are other fast food Indian food In walking distance from this location. Probably won't return in the near future. read more

Bindaas Bowls and Rolls - Good but not filling and notn - Indian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

We got a chicken bowl & a paneer+kofta bowl. The sauces were very acidic which ruined everything else. Everything else seems very expensive and not that tasty either. read more

Rolls are extremely spicy. They list ingredients such as cucumbers, tomatoes, red onion, cilantro. Sounds ok, right? One ingredient not mentioned: very hot chili peppers! I ain't going back. read more

Food was excellent but the service was awful. I was with a friend who wanted to grab something to go and eat outside. We thought this place being fast casual would let us get something quick and we could take the food elsewhere to eat. We got in at 9pm (which we didn't realize was their closing time when we walked in). There was just one Hispanic woman behind the counter that was taking orders and making the bowls. She told us in a loud voice in broken English that we could only do to-go because they were closing. We were ok with that because we had planned to take our food out anyways. I ordered the Lamb Vindaloo, and the woman put the bowl together and then asked/pointed if I wanted spinach and chickpeas(?), and I asked for spinach. I paid for my food, and while I had been ordering, my friend went to the bathroom. She came out and told me they had no toilet paper and paper towels. She then went to the counter while looking at the menu options. The same Hispanic woman that made my bowl kept yelling unintelligible things at my friend, but I think she was trying to tell her to hurry her up, again in very broken English. She was really turned off by the yelling and decided not to order, and we left...a little awkward because I had food but she didn't, and she was hungry too. I gave this 2 stars because the Lamb Vindaloo was delicious, but the woman behind the counter clearly doesn't know how to communicate. This place should have people working out front who can actually speak English fluently and are not rude to customers. I will likely not return and will just stick to Rasika for fast casual Indian food from now on. read more

The best fast food dine in/take out in Penn Quarter ! Everything is delicious and fresh , and the Kathi rolls , both lamb and chicken, are fantastic. My favorite thing ( if I'm not eating there !) is to be able to get wonderful take-out after a day of museums and meeting friends for lunch . Dinner at home becomes a lot easier and more special. I love Bindaas Bowls and Rolls! read more

Nandi Tonge-Gabremedhin just now NEW Take out | Lunch | $10-20 I think the food Risika and the "fast food" place Bindaas is really good, HOWEVER the attitude I mostly receive from management is very unsettling. I'm sure you readers are thinking why do you go back. Well let me tell you. I'm a picky/healthy eater and these are some of the best choices near my job. If I leave my home working my business and have no time to prepare food I would run in right before work and grab a meal. My latest favorite from them was the chicken tikki masala wrap. I've purchased at least 9 and sometimes two at a time. They are very flavorful but unfortunately they place raw veggies inside that die from the heat of sauce, other ingredients and of course being wrapped. Recently I've come in and they have them sitting on a warmer ready to go. That makes the veggies even worse because it's been sitting and they become wilted and slimy. Who's wants that after paying $13 plus tax. Yesterday I went in and the women who work the front are always kind, greet me and provide great customer service. I walked up greeted her in return and asked for a chicken wrap to be made Fresh because I knew the one on the warmer would reflect what it had in the past. She said ok and kindly went to the back to get it done. Then the manager who NEVER and I mean NEVER SAYS SHIT. Came to tell me no. To get the one on the warmer. I gently explained why I wanted a fresh one and this man said no. Like it was nothing. I was soooo hungry and now angry and his LACK of customer service. I'm convinced that has I been a white women or man who made this request he was have not come to the front he would have just done it. Maybe I'm wrong but this establishment and the others have given we this "ASS TO KISS" energy. They giving me that Ghandi bulls shit. Colonized thinking shittint on themselves and definitely anyone darker. I'm angry and tired of the bullshit. I simply wanted to be valued as a customer and my dollars appreciated. Where was his customer service. The only thing he should have said was ABSOLUTELY! It's time for me to get back to making my own food because the attitude and price isn't worth it. Black and brown ppl be ware of the foolishness Risika and Bindaas are serving. My intuition is all the way on point so keep the GASLIGHTING TO YOURSELF. I/WE SEE AND FEEL YOU. FOH Nandi Gabremedhin read more