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    Chennai Hoppers

    4.3 (265 reviews)
    ModerateIndian
    Closed 11:30 am - 2:30 pm, 5:00 PM - 9:30 PM
    Updated 3 weeks ago

    Order Chennai Hoppers Takeout or Delivery

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    CHENNAI HOPPERS ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Romantic
    Classy
    Upscale
    Moderate noise

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    Recommended Reviews - Chennai Hoppers

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    Aadu Nei Chukka
    Amol W.

    As someone who grew up eating Indian food, it's hard to find places in Maryland that really capture the bold, punchy flavors it's known for. A lot of restaurants tone things down to fit American tastes. Chennai Hoppers is one of the few spots in MoCo that doesn't. I've been here a few times now, trying something different each visit. It's unapologetically authentic South Indian cuisine. The space is cozy with a rustic feel. On our most recent visit, we were seated promptly and service was excellent. We ordered a couple of apps and entrees to share. The Kaalan Manchurian was a great start. It's similar to Chicken 65 but with mushrooms. Spicy, savory, and tangy all at once. We also tried the Aadu Nei Chukka. As someone who loves lamb, this one stood out. It's a dry dish with an intense masala that's deeply spiced and full of flavor. For mains, we got the Goan Fish Curry and the Madurai Goat Pepper. The Goan Fish Curry was milder than the goat, but still had plenty of heat since we ordered it spicy. The coconut milk base gave it a smoother, more balanced profile that worked well with the fish. The Madurai Goat Pepper was the opposite. Bold, pepper forward, and dry. Easily one of the better goat dishes I've had. Chennai Hoppers does a great job showing how spices should be used. Nothing is watered down, but everything still feels balanced.

    Madras 65 Biryani
    Salma C.

    I've gotten MANY recommendations for this place for authentic South Indian food. Finally, I had the chance to come here. I made a dinner reservation on a Saturday as I wasn't sure how crowded it'd be. I got there right when it opened and got seated right away. The service was attentive and frankly the best I've had in this area. Everyone kept checking to ensure my water was filled, my thoughts on the food, if I need anything else, making sure I don't burn my hand with the biryani pot, etc. The interior is inviting and cozy. They have a nice Indian bench right by the entrance- I appreciated that detail. FOOD: It was VERY difficult to decide what to order. Since everyone kept raving about their dosas, I of course got their Mysore Masala Dosa as well as the Madras 65 Biryani. Pro tip: If you want to try the Kozhi 65 or Kozhi Lollipop appetizer, basically Kozhi 65 is within the Madras 65 biryani it's just seasoned rice comes with it which is a bonus. Overall, the food was delicious. I'm very critical about dosas as I love them, make them, and have had them in India itself. These dosas are definitely the best I've had in the DMV so far. The chutneys were nicely flavored and the potato filling was good. Me personally, I would've loved even more South Indian spice tempering added for more flavor, but I was still impressed! They say the dosa is spicy, but I wasn't phased. The Madras 65 Biryani is flavorful - the chicken is delicious! The raita I wish had more spices, but it was decent. Overall, I would come back to try more of their menu. I had amazing service, vibes, and food. Definitely come here for authentic dosa and South Indian cuisine!

    Cool décor
    Kathryn M.

    Both the food and the service were excellent. Would definitely come back. Two thumbs up

    Vendakkai mandi
    John B.

    The development that houses this restaurant is relatively new, built next to a highway exit that didn't exist when I lived in the area, an area which is not known as a culinary destination and an area which frankly I hate. You have to offer something good to get me to actually take that exit. This place is distinctive in its specificity, offering Tamil cuisine and a surprisingly upscale atmosphere. I got careful service. I've seen the place packed before but thankfully I found a table this time. The menu has only a few items that the casual American diner would even recognize, but trust me, this is the time to get adventurous. I eschewed the obvious choice of a dosa, the lentil-based crepe that some of the other tables had ordered, in favor of a mango chickpea salad. Apparently this is specialty food for a trip to the beach, and if you try this, you'll forget funnel cake. The mix of fresh flavors is both more interesting and more healthy. I also got an okra preparation, the description for which promises roasted spices. This still undersells the dynamic experience of hints of sweetness and sourness, but also the fiery heat that I asked for. If I had room for all of the vegetarian options on the menu, I'd probably have stuffed those down too. As it is, I'll have a little leftover chickpea salad for breakfast.

    Uthiri Onion Pakoda
    Min Z.

    We were blown away by the food, service, and cozy vibe. Even with a full house, the wait was short and the service was fantastic. Every dish was terrific. We enjoyed Dum Goat Biryani and Kozhi 65 the most. Great prices, zero hidden fees. Highly recommend!

    Madurai Goat Pepper
    Philip L.

    Come here for some spice. The food is jampacked with flavor. It is not for quantity but for quality. We just decided to come here without any plans and we were impressed by the decor, the service, and the attention to detail. They have a good amount of selections from modern classics like butter chicken to more unique offerings like Appam. But one thing is for sure: the flavor level is high. A lot of their dishes are very flavorful to the point that one server asked if we needed bread to each all the curry that we ordered. We ordered the appam instead of the naan and thinking back, we probably should have ordered the naan basket. There was a good bit of curry left that would have been best used by eating it with naan. I can see why it was busy during lunch. It's pretty good. Pricey, but good.

    Curry leaf shrimp
    Rahul D.

    Not bad! I will say the real challenge was to secure a reservation. My family and I originally came here on a rather slow evening, but we were unable to ask for a table, and even if we were to get one, they were not able to connect two tables for our party of four. Aside from that, the food was very flavorful. Be mindful that if you're going to ask for medium spicy, it is quite spicy so much so my scalp was sweating. So for beginners, definitely ask for mild. But I will give them points for not lacking on flavor. Members of my family were either vegetarian or non-vegetarian. For vegetarians, we got a Paneer Lababdar- rather sweet for our taste. I think next time we are going to try the Banarasi Biryani. This place in particular specializes in more non-veg South Indian dishes- so if you're up to try something other than your typical chicken tikka masala, this place is for you! Some highlights- Karachi Paneer Tikka, Reshmi Kabob, Chicken Ghee Roast (incredibly rich!) The staff was quite nice, although we've had to repeat our orders a few times to make sure that they got out/incorrect as there was some confusion. I would also recommend trying out their dessert list. They have some very unique flavors that are not found in any other Indian restaurants. I would recommend the Nannari Kulfi. Basically Indian sarsaparilla root ice cream (the same flavor for Root beer). You can also get the traditional dosa. Yeah, she saw a party of six order one large dose of for the whole table, that's a site to see! Overall, though it was a nice experience.

    Garlic naan, butter chicken, tikka masala, Tandoori Lamb Chops
    Chixie L.

    Amazing food and service! Did not make a reservation as I did not know that is advised and Lolita was extremely sweet. She took us to our table in less than 2 minutes. Edwin was very attentive and had wonderful customer service! Tandoori lamb chop is a must but warning it is a little spicy. Absolutely love the garlic naan! 100/10 recommend and will definitely return to try their biryani and dosa!

    Amazing food
    Rick K.

    Absolutely outstanding experience! The food was bursting with authentic Indian flavors -- every dish was fresh, perfectly spiced, and beautifully presented. The service was equally impressive -- warm, attentive, and genuinely welcoming from start to finish. You can really feel the passion in both the kitchen and the hospitality. Raj the manager was exceptional and polite. Great staff and sincerely super amazing experience. If you love great Indian cuisine, this place is a must-visit. I'll definitely be coming back again soon!

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    Page 1 of 7

    Ask the Community - Chennai Hoppers

    Are there any options for people who can only tolerate a very little bit of spicy?

    You can always ask the staff to make your food as mild as possible and they will accommodate you. 😉

    Is there outdoor seating?

    Yes

    How spicy are the sambhar and coconut chutney?

    Not spicy at all. A bit of a let down really.

    Is the chicken halal?

    Yes, we get only halal meat. Thank you.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Royal Tandoor

    Royal Tandoor

    4.3
    (318 reviews)
    3.1 mi
    $$

    This is just an awesome place! Beautifully decorated -- with the absolute most gorgeous ceiling…read morearound! -- you sit on stately seating and receive superb service. Sometimes, there is just so much to say that one is left agog -- and so it is for me with this place! I've been several times and to say I've never been disappointed with anything here at all would be an extreme understatement. I just don't quite know how to best sum it all up, so I have hesitated and put off writing this review. It is a place I know I can go to with much anticipation and have my high expectations upheld. The name is very fitting! Some places may say they are royal, and you could be left feeling ... less than that. This is not that kind of place. You will be made to feel like royalty here! The delicious dishes and their presentation is ... just wow! Nothing here is ordinary. Everything here is spectacular! I've tried so many things, I cannot remember them all -- but I do know that I love the Dal Makhani! It's one of my all-time faves, being so rich and creamy, mmm .... The Mango Lassi comes beautifully presented and literally dripping in dark orange goodness against the lighter milky-mango look of yoghurted-up blended mango ripeness! (Don't worry, the drips are all inside the glass!) The starter crunchy rice crips are very fun and tasty, as well. It's overall just really exquisite, what can I say? Very highly recommended -- a total, all-around Yay! :-D

    Came with the family over the weekend. Great food and even better service. Loved the big chairs…read morethat looked like thrones. Kids had a great time. Peshwari naan was great along with the butter chicken, palak paneer, lamb and aloo ghobi. Plenty of food to take back. They had a good dessert that's yellow and creamy with cardamom and saffron. so yummy. We'll be back!

    Photos
    Dining area
    Dining area
    Pre-meal snacks that were given.
    Pre-meal snacks that were given.
    Dining area

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    Dining area
    Royal Durbar

    Royal Durbar

    4.9
    (48 reviews)
    8.0 mi
    Family-owned & operated
    Locally owned & operated

    I ate buffalo and I liked it!…read more Appetizers: * Mustang Aloo - fried potato wedges were a hit * Alo ko ashar - a bit spicy but also good * Momo buff - my favorite dish of the evening Entrees: * Thukpa chicken noodle soup - so much flavor and absolutely wonderful *Buff sukuti - the meat was tough and chewy but at least we tried it! We really enjoyed the rich Nepalese flavors from the himalayas and fantastic hospitality. Servers were super helpful with menu selections and extremely friendly.

    We stopped by for lunch on a relatively quiet day. After being introduced to amazing Nepali food…read morewhile staying near Baltimore, I was highly motivated to try this spot. The restaurant has nice decor and a promising selection of menu items, but the execution of the traditional dishes fell short of my expectations. The Highlights: Timmur Chicken Wings: Absolutely amazing. The flavor profile was excellent and easily the best part of the meal.The Disappointments: Thukpa: I have very fond memories of this dish, but this version was highly disappointing. They altered standard ingredients and added fish oil, which is definitely not characteristic of traditional Nepali Thukpa. Momo: While the dumplings themselves were okay, they were let down by the sauce. What makes a Nepali momo superior is the specific, vibrant momo sauce (achar), but the sauce served here looked and tasted like a generic, store-bought version. Overall Verdict:While the menu features an appealing variety, the execution misses the mark on authentic Nepali cuisine. It has great potential, but they need to stick to their authentic basics.

    Photos
    Kumar
    Kumar
    Ganesh
    Ganesh
    Himalayan

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    Himalayan
    House of Curry

    House of Curry

    4.6
    (36 reviews)
    9.1 mi

    My bride and I stopped by last Saturday at 7pm and had a fantastic meal at House of Curry…read more Our first time here, so after finding it on Yelp, we kind of combed the shopping center looking for it. It's not fancy on the outside, but the food and service were just first rate. We started out with a delicious mango lassi and pretty good chai hot tea, then launched into an apps round of chicken momos and veggie samosas. I was very excited to see they served momos, as we've both been big fans at other Himalayan restaurants for a few years; these were just as good, being light dumplings with a savory filling and served with that deeply flavored yellow chutney sauce. The samosas were better than most we've had, with a lighter envelope and less potatoes in the filling. Included were the sweet dark chutney and the green cilantro-based chutney. We also tried the rosemary garlic naan and the onion kulcha, both fresh, soft and hot. Our mains were the lamb saag and Madras chicken curry, both excellent -- the lamb tender in a creamy thick spinach sauce, and the chicken curry big chunks of white meat in a memorable savory stew. We didn't specify spice levels, and the curry was zippy but perfectly palatable for both of us. This was a lot of food, and we continued to enjoy it as leftovers for the next few days. For all of this, our bill came to only about $75 before tip. The restaurant was quiet when we were there, with one other large table occupied. The service was quick and attentive. The atmosphere is spare but clean. We'll be back!

    We did a carry-out out order and it was our first visit. We ordered a variety of dishes. We like…read morespicy but this time we ordered mild for two of the dishes so we can taste the flavor; however, the chili chicken and chili paneer were both SOOOO spicy that it was painful to eat. The noodle dish and the wins were less spicy than the chili chicken and chili paneer. The garlic naan and wings were both good. Perhaps we need to give it another try.

    Photos
    Our Indo-Chinese specialties.
    Our Indo-Chinese specialties.
    Butter Chicken
    Butter Chicken
    Vindaloo Spicy Chicken

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    Vindaloo Spicy Chicken
    Silk Road Choyhona

    Silk Road Choyhona

    4.3
    (514 reviews)
    1.1 mi
    $$

    I can't begin to say enough good things about this place. My bf is from Uzbekistan and I wanted an…read moreauthentic place to take him to. This place didn't disappoint. He was even happy to speak in Russian to them the whole time. Their ambience and service is wonderful. Food choices are very authentic and full of flavor. Even if you've never eaten Russian/Uzbek food, I highly recommend you try it out. Their portion sizes are great as well. And they have so many choices. You can even tell that all is made fresh. We ordered plov, manti, tashkent salad, kompot, kebobs and their potato salad (i forget the name of this dish) and their bread. It was all wonderful. Definitely worth the drive.

    The first time I tried Silk Road Choyhona, I had just watch a Youtube video about Uzbek food and…read morehad a craving for something I had never eaten before. To my luck, we had great Uzbek food less than 15 mins away! It was a while ago but we ordered the samsa, manti, kutabi, plov, and chohohbli, and I can't recall what else but we loved it! Last night my husband and I decided to dine in. The restaurant is beautifully decorated with cultural artifacts and art. This may just be a me thing but the serveware was envy worthy. It was gorgeous. I'm obsessed with beautiful dishware. There were only two people taking orders and serving food for an almost full dining room so we were understanding of a bit of a wait time. The staff were very friendly and checked in on us when they could. We ordered the khachipuri, samsa, oxtail, chohobli, steamed rice, pilmeni, and hot tea. Both the khachipuri and samsa were flaky pastries: khachapuri filled with a salty stretchy cheese with a cheese pull that tasted better than it was Instagram-able and samsa filled with a savory meat/onion mixture served with a tomato based sauce. Get one per person because you will not want to share. We ordered fried mini dumplings which are filled with meat and also served with same tomato based sauce that came with the samsa. They were delicious but afterwards I saw that you can get them steamed in a broth, I told myself I have to get that next time. The slow-cooked, tender oxtail was served over the best crispy, fat-fried potatoes I've ever had. The chohobli (chicken stew) was fall off the bone into a delicious tomato-based stew. We ordered the rice to sop up the delicious stew. The tea really helped to cut the richness of all the delicious food. I have not shut up about this place since we had this meal. I will rave about it to just about anyone that will listen in hopes that they will come with me next time so we can order more dishes to share.

    Photos
    Spacious dining room
    Spacious dining room
    Assortment of Pickled Vegetables
    Assortment of Pickled Vegetables
    Inside

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    Inside

    Chennai Hoppers - indpak - Updated July 2026

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