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    Desi Chowrastha - Herndon

    3.3 (45 reviews)
    Open 8:00 am - 11:00 pm

    Order Desi Chowrastha - Herndon Takeout or Delivery

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    DESI CHOWRASTHA - HERNDON ATMOSPHERE

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    My meal: dragon cauliflower, rice pilaf, drink
    Marc L.

    Finished a business meeting 6:15 in Herndon, I want dinner before the drive back to Maryland. I see Indian places on the map. I stop at on vegetarian place, not to my liking, so I drive around the corner. Never heard of Chowrastha and (uncharacteristically) did not read Yelp review in advance. Cheerful fun interior. I tell the counter guy I'm vegetarian and ask for his recommendations. We settle on Dragon Cauliflower and I add samosas and rice, and a soft drink. Super efficient. A bit pricey, $22 for that, so not cheap fast food (compare to Chipotle). Food took awhile to come, and worth the wait. Really good. The rice pilaf was good, and the cauliflower was delicious: crunchy spicy , a bit of gooey, really flavorful and well prepared. I will definitely return to try more dishes! Scores: location 4, ambiance 4, service 5, food 4, value 3, for overall score of 4.

    Poori with Goat curry
    Vineela G.

    Ambiance: This is a place you go for good food. Restaurant has very simple aesthetics, and the seating is tightly packed. You pay ahead and this is more of a self service restaurant with disposable plates and cutlery. Food: Posting this review after few visits to this place. Onion pakora: Crispy and freshly made,it's delicious. Chicken 65 : just has too much food color but tastes yummy Poori Goat curry: A must try at this place, flavors are amazing Plain dosa: Very dry and was not roasted properly Rava Onion dosa: A must try, and the peanut chutney is really good. Chicken Tandoori: cooked to perfection; can be a little more flavorful, it was on the bland side Schezwan noodles: flavorful and very close to street style Indian noodles. On our next visit we had the same schezwan noodles, this time they had a strong smell of starch, almost like the smell of soaking noodles in water. We could not eat as the smell was over powering..reported the situation to the staff, they replaced it with a biryani which was very mediocre. Parking: There is ample parking in the plaza

    Chicken Chettinad  Goat Fry Biryani
    Eastie T.

    Tried Chicken Chettinad which was just OK and it's not "Chicken Chettinad". We ordered the Biryani Spicy, it was literally some Mirchi/Spice powder mixed with the meat and added to rice. That said, the Goat was fresh and cooked well, the place is new so would visit again to try the PaniPuri which everyone's raving about

    Menu
    Sweta G.

    Ambience - It was okay not a special occasion worthy . Service - self service except pani puri Food - lip smacking food . Loved their variety . Everything was good except pani puri . Guys be ware of tea it's good but really heavy compare to our Indian tea. They got 5 star just based on their food . We couldn't stop eating . I will go their again and will def recommend for a nice , relaxing brunch for weekend .

    Samosa Chaat
    Victoria R.

    DELICIOUS!!!!!!! I fell in love with their Chicken Dosa. I also ordered tasty samosa and I enjoyed an Indian canned soda. Will return a million times ! Close, convenient and professional. Ambiance was suitable for lunch.

    Danny D.

    Dirty! Just bad all around. You ask for extra MILD they give you food so spicy it's hard to eat! They don't give rice with $15+ entrees unless u pay extra, first time for everything I guess. The tables are super dirty with hair and old food particles. Even though you ask to dine-in everything is served in to-go containers. You have to grab your own plastic plate and silverware and serve your own food, defeats the purpose of dining in. This place is ran like a third world country restaurant. Bad and will never return.

    Butter Chicken(Boneless) Curry, Chicken Dum Biryani, Chicken 65.

    Desi Chowrastha in Herndon has amazing, freshly made authentic food. Chef Krishna makes everything to order and it is served very quickly. Definitely the best butter chicken I've ever had. They have so many options and a variety of food choices. We definitely had to get some butter chicken, cashew chicken, chicken dum biryani, chicken 65, and goat haleem to go as well. So many options definitely can't wait to come back and try more.

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    1 year ago

    This place is hustling and bustling even after 9pm at night. Great vibe, and tasty food.

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    3 years ago

    Only tried one thing which was the paneer pulav but that was a huge hit. We had to get it twice in a week!

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Food was great. Service is bit slower, given this is self service and takeout not much preference on ambiance but it is ok.

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    3 years ago

    Food is average and tables were dirty. Irani chai is really good though. Pastries are overpriced for the average taste.

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    2 years ago

    Food took forever and taste is pretty average. Ravva dosa we ordered took almost 30 minutes. The chutneys were frozen.

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    2 years ago

    Chicken nawabi biryani - worst... too much oil, portion size of starters is too little. i would not recommend.

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    3 years ago

    By far the best South Asian food in the area. Only place around here with a proper biriyani and chicken curry.

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    4 years ago

    Unclean and unhygienic place. Stay away if possible. Very oily food and had lots of acidity

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    3 years ago

    Never expected this bad for Hyderabad Dum Biryani, just yellow rice with 2 pieces of chicken. Wish there was 0 stars.

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    4 years ago

    Excellent food and must visit for typical South Indian food. Everything including chai is awesome

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    Maharani Palace

    Maharani Palace

    4.3
    (167 reviews)
    0.4 mi
    Luxury
    Free parking

    Happy to have referred two friends to this lovely restaurant! I went two different times once to…read moreorder a la carte and the second time to experience the buffet. Before Maharani Palace I will admit Indian food was not on my radar. Not on purpose; I live closer to other cuisine. I share this detail as context behind why I might have been so impressed with the buffet. An opportunity to try many wonderful popular Indian dishes I have heard before. The chicken tandoori was my favorite. Moreover, the customer service was wonderful. I never had to hunt anyone down to get my water refill. Lastly, this is a great restaurant to go to if you are looking for a place that isn't too noisy. Would return!

    This review is specifically for the weekday lunch buffet, which runs around $25-$30. If your…read morestrategy is to skip breakfast and show up hungry, you'll definitely get your money's worth. The buffet offers a huge variety of dishes, which is probably why the place is usually packed at lunchtime. The staff are attentive, friendly, and somehow manage to keep everything running smoothly despite the crowds. As for the décor, "subtle" is not a word that applies here. Think bold, gold, and more gold. If a palace and a chandelier had a baby, this restaurant would be the result. It's definitely memorable. Food-wise, I would rank it solid mid-tier Indian food. Nothing that completely blew me away, but plenty of tasty options and enough variety that everyone can find something they like. The buffet selection is really what earns the extra star for me. Overall, it's a great lunch spot when you're in the mood for variety, good service, and enough food choices to make at least three trips back to the buffet before convincing yourself you're done.

    Photos
    Smaller selection of Desserts
    Smaller selection of Desserts
    Full Bar
    Full Bar
    Absolutely fantastic!!! Garlic Naan, Saag Paneer, Lamb Biryani, Butter Chicken

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    Absolutely fantastic!!! Garlic Naan, Saag Paneer, Lamb Biryani, Butter Chicken
    A2B Indian Vegetarian Restaurant

    A2B Indian Vegetarian Restaurant

    3.3
    (199 reviews)
    1.0 mi
    $$

    My experience was so bad that I didn't even take my usual pictures to show the dishes…read more This review will be slightly different than my usual as I want to focus more on the customer service aspect rather than the food. To start with, they have a dedicated Jain Menu so we picked this place for some of the family members who can't eat onion and garlic. However, when we drove an hour plus to get here, they stated they're so "busy" that they may not be able to take any "Jain" orders. Well "busy" to them means less than 30% of the seating because the place was more than half empty. They stated after our questioning that they will try to get Jain orders for us so we all set down (group of 10+). Again, the place was mostly empty and had many tables that were already setup with napkins, forks, spoons, and glass cups. But when we set down, we had none of it. The waiter came and asked us if we were okay with plastic cups since glass ones will take more time as they don't have many right now. Again, they had more than enough on all other empty tables. Afterwards placing our order, we received may be 6 spoons and 6 forks and 2 napkins for 10+ of us. It almost seemed they didn't want us to be there. At least that's the vibe I got from all these things that kept happening. Another issues was that right where my wife was sitting, the ac kept dripping water from the ceiling. And while we were eating they were right next to us trying to get something out of some wooden box or working on some set of furniture. This could have waited until after we were done with our meals. Or at least they could have been courteous enough and just let us know that they had to work on something and will be making noises. To the end, lastly on the food, it was nothing too special to talk about. We did get a bowl of Rasam with a long piece of hair that my daughter caught and was disgusted with. The hair alone makes this a one star review. We came to this location for the first time since we had great experiences at the NJ location, but my experience was bad enough that I wouldn't even come back here.

    I ordered the Vada and Masala Dosa They were both delicious…read moreand I go back and order the same thing everytime I go! Service is excellent and the staff is very friendly and quick to get orders out Great vibes overall

    Photos
    A2B Indian Vegetarian Restaurant
    A2B Indian Vegetarian Restaurant
    A2B Indian Vegetarian Restaurant

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    Sai Saravana Bhavan

    Sai Saravana Bhavan

    4.2
    (43 reviews)
    1.3 mi

    Sai Saravana Bhavan is an Indian Restaurant which is INSIDE THE LOTTE in Herndon at Elden St. When…read moreyou go inside Lotte, stick to the left and you'll see it sooner than later They have quite an extensive menu and everything I've had so far is awesome! I would personally recommend the Chili Paneer and Singapore Style Noodles. They're truly fantastic you don't even notice it's vegetarian because it's that good The staff is friendly, service is quick and efficient - call ahead and just go pick it up, couldn't be any easier. Especially if you're already planning on shopping at Lotte. This is a hidden gem!

    This is really an amazing carryout/pickup restaurant that has a unique and tasty approach to Indian…read morecuisine. The cuisine spans all of India and even includes Indo-Chinese. The location is within the grocery store Lotte. There's no seating area, it's literally just a counter with a kitchen in the back. Yet, out of that small, humble, and clean kitchen they prepare some of the best Indian cuisine I've had. The pictures I took really don't do the food justice. The food was hot and visually appealing; unlike the pics I took. The colors of the food were actually vibrant; the palak paneer being a brighter green. The malai kofta was in a yellow gravy not the beige that my camera captured. The naan was steaming, moist and adorned w/fresh cilantro and garlic. The Aloo (potato) had a perfect peppery crust garnished with cuts of green onion. And the mushroom mafia had mushrooms and capsicum blended into a tasty Masala gravy. Everything was prepared and packaged well. You can order online, by phone or through any of the popular food delivery services. Don't think twice, this place is great at what they do and it's shockingly economical. They have some great bulk ordering options like the Family Package and a daily/weekly tiffin bundle. I hope they always stay true to their values, truly amazing food!

    Photos
    Experience the taste of tradition like never before!  At #SaiSaravanaBhavan, we bring you authentic flavors crafted with love
    Experience the taste of tradition like never before! At #SaiSaravanaBhavan, we bring you authentic flavors crafted with love
    Craving something warm, fluffy, and packed with flavor? Treat yourself to our delicious Garlic Naan
    Craving something warm, fluffy, and packed with flavor? Treat yourself to our delicious Garlic Naan
    Crunchy delights in every bite! Savor the perfection of our Masala Vada. Order online now at #SaiSaravanaBhavan.

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    Crunchy delights in every bite! Savor the perfection of our Masala Vada. Order online now at #SaiSaravanaBhavan.
    Tiffin Hut

    Tiffin Hut

    4.3
    (56 reviews)
    0.9 mi
    $$

    On a hunt for the best dosa in the area, and so far this place wins…read more The inside is warm and inviting, with nice tables and decor that give it a modern feel. It can get crowded and loud, but we were there for the dosas, not the vibe. The idli was okay, but the dosa is where it shines. Crispy and flavorful, though a little thicker than I prefer. The sambar and chutney were excellent, so flavorful and well balanced. It also came with a peanut chutney, which was not for me, but the core trio of dosa, sambar, and chutney totally delivered. They also have ice cream, but skip it. The mango lassi, however, was pretty good. I've been back here at least 5 times and counting. It's worth the drive!

    Among a bevy of Indian options in this suburban region, this place offers something different. It…read moreis a dosa shop, but they explain that their specialty, called a benne dosa, is slightly thicker than the typical South Indian crepe (but still thinner than an uttapam). The menu is small, vegetarian, and in addition to the dosa selection includes idli, vada, and if you want something that's not rice and lentil based, poori and some buns. They also have beverages and house ice cream. The vast majority of people here appeared to be Dravidian, which is typically a sign that the restaurant knows what it's doing. My dosa was indeed a bit thicker than usual, but no less crispy and tasty. As is often the case, the accompaniments were more than the dosa could sustain, but I enjoyed the peanut chutney in particular. Ordering a chai with saffron was a nice accompaniment. When you consider the slightly sour fermented batter, the savory onion and potato mix, some salty sambar, the spicy podi mixture I got to coat my dosa, and the hint of sweetness and spice with the chai, it was just a fantastically diverse flavor combination, as befits South Indian cuisine. Despite the dosa being their signature item, I was able to view the idli and poori from afar and they looked mouthwatering. The food comes on disposable paper plates and it is not a fancy ambiance, but the place was packed, and it probably remains so a lot of the time.

    Photos
    Seating
    Seating
    Ghee thatte idli combo
    Ghee thatte idli combo
    Outside

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    Outside
    Mirch Dhamaka

    Mirch Dhamaka

    4.1
    (87 reviews)
    1.0 mi
    $$

    We ordered the desi chicken tikka, tandoori naan, mango coconut naan, chicken dum biryani, and…read morebatti murgh makhanwala -- and every single item was delicious. Service was great and ambience similar to Indian fine dining. The desi tikka stood out immediately: incredibly soft and juicy, with a perfect balance of flavors. The tandoori naan was soft and beautifully made, and the mango coconut naan was an instant hit with my toddler. The batti murgh makhanwala has quickly become a household favorite. Overall, a fantastic meal -- we'll definitely be back!​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

    I got takeout, and it was ready faster than I expected. I like to get a spread of different…read morecuisines within the broad Indian umbrella, and in this case, I got some channa poora, idli with spiced powder, a manchow soup, and okra. The flavors were strong all around. The idli were the best thing I got, and had ample curry leaves and texturally diverse spices. Idli come with an array of chutneys and sambar by default, but in this case I had trouble even using those because the flavor starts out so strong. My chickpeas and okra were also delicious, if on the indulgent side. Getting manchow soup to go turned out not to be a great decision, as the crispy noodles had become soggy by the time I got around to unpacking my soup. Overall, high on salt and oil, but a diverse and interesting set of tastes.

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    Tandoori Salmon
    Tandoori Salmon
    Curd rice

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    Curd rice

    Desi Chowrastha - Herndon - indpak - Updated June 2026

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