Saturday 1/24/26 Made a re-visit today to use a $5 coupon I received, which I appreciate, but also I wanted to update my rating as I may have been a bit too quick to crown it in one of my previous reviews. Also, in roughly 9 months, prices have gone up nearly $2 for specific items that I had gotten previously, which isn't a good look. All in all, I still do believe that it's still up there for some of the best Indian food I've had in Maryland, but it's not worthy of the 5-star, as the 4-star fits it better. -- #issa.cheatday read more

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My go-to spot for Indian food has always been India Palace in Germantown, but I wanted to give SpiceLife a try. I'd skip the chicken biryani here -- it's boneless, but the rice is just plain white instead of the flavorful fried style you get at India Palace. India Palace still wins for overall taste, though SpiceLife does have better appetizers. The onion padakoor and chili paneer were both really good! I tried the chicken tikka ($18), but the portion was small and had a noticeable tomato aftertaste. India Palace's version has a richer flavor. The Chicken 65 was okay -- small chunks for $16. The poori was fine, and the bhatura came as four smaller triangles instead of one big piece like at India Palace, but the breads here are cheaper. After trying a bunch of dishes, I'd say India Palace is still my top pick for Indian food, but SpiceLife comes in a solid second place. read more

Spicelife Indian Fare - CknTM - Indian Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

When I heard about SpiceLife, I looked up their menu online and saw the standard Indian dishes, but what they don't tell you is that you can get a Buffet Bowl with all the rice and different toppings you'd like (lemon rice, Basmati rice, butter chicken, grilled chicken, channa masala, saag paneer, onion pakoda, all kinds of veggies and sauces). This is your opportunity to load up on Indian grub that tastes fantastic! And if the Buffet Bowl isn't enough for you, I recommend the Dosa, a HUGE roll of thin, lentil-based dough with a loaf of spiced potatoes inside. SpiceLife is a neat little find in Gaithersburg and one of the best Indian restaurants I've been to in a long time. I'm definitely going back to try some of the other items on the menu. read more

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Im updating my review! When you had a hectic Manic Monday...you do not wanna cook dinner. I love Indian food. However on this particular visit I was soo indecisive. Do I want butter chicken, Do I want tandoori or tiki masala?? But then something caught my eye! I saw Briyani and I had it many times before from my sister's group and I absolutely devour it. So , I took a chance. The nice young lady working there was so patient with me changing my mind. So I got lamb briyani, garlic naan, mango lassi, and Rasmalai.(dessert) My spice level has gone down through the years as my tummy cant take spice as it used too :( Had no idea it came with Raita ..a cool yogurt sauce. Similar to tzakiki. We took our dinner home.. and then lamb briyani ( rice dish ) was amazing! It was plentiful. I had leftovers the next day. If your indecisive and need dinner ideas, get this... get it with lamb. Lamb was flavorful and tender. 5 stars. read more

Spicelife Indian Fare - Delicious Chicken Briyani - Indian Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

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I still haven't had a bad meal at Spicelife Indian Fare. It's hard for me to try another Indian restaurant because the food always hits the mark. I love how you can watch the food being cooked hot and fresh right in front of you. Easy online ordering is available in their website. The service is fast and friendly and to go orders are packaged nicely. Lots of seating for those who wish to dine in and Bollywood hits are typically playing on the TVs. read more

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Great quick takeout Indian spot! There's a lunch combo option but we opted for full entrees to bring home. Big fan of all the dishes we ordered, which were concentrated in flavor and generously sized. The best was the aloo gobi and butter chicken. The palak paneer also gets a nod because it was thick and creamy, unlike some of the watery kind I've had elsewhere. All the entrees come with rice. Will definitely be back the next time we are craving Indian! read more

They really hiked the price of their Indian bowls from $10.95 to 14.95. And it's apparent by the amount of customers they had during lunch. The place only had 1 table. I got the bowl and it was still good servings can still be small if you don't ask them for extras. The butter chicken and palak chicken are still good. But again for a little more you can just get Indian buffet at Miyaji or Minerva for $17.99/$18.99 respectively. Would I go back at these prices? Probably not. read more

Spicelife Indian Fare - Indian Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

Solid Value!! Food 1.5/2 - I want to start out by saving that this place is definitely filled with value options. Getting such a large bowl of fresh curries and toppings for this price is ridiculously affordable. That being said, the taste was not bad either. I would come back here for a quick meal. Get in and out in just 15 minutes. I also appreciated that they had as many vegetarian curries as non-veg options. Even had a paneer curry for a bowl. Setting 1/2 - Setting can be worked on but the place was clean and inviting. The decor could be improved along with the layout but other than that it was fine. Service 1/1 - nothing to complain about all the nice people working here. They're friendly and helpful. Always serving with a smile. read more

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This is the only Indian bowl spot I've tried, and honestly, I love it. This place has become one of my go to spots now. What I love is that you can add as much as you want. There are no limits like some of the other build your own bowl places. You can literally throw everything in there, and it still works. The flavors are solid all around. Also, the Bullet Naan is so good.It's got this perfect little kick from the tiny jalapeño bits (I think?), whatever it is, it works. Parking is very spacious because there is a garage right behind the restaurant. 10/10 would recommend. read more

Solid place for curries and the staff looked Nepali they are great. I ordered frequently whenever I am in the area and they make it spicy for me and the price is good, other indian places have overly inflated their prices. The malabari lamb or chicken are my new favorites I used to order chettinad it has a more peppery profile, malabari is a good gravy based for dipping their garlic naan in. The restaurant is big and I ate there once they had indian mtvs and movies playing, it's spacious and comfortable. read more

Is it the best indian food in terms of quality and flavor? No. Was it the best in terms of enjoyment? YES. Ive never had fast casual indian food, and I loved the chipotle/cava style. 10.95 to customize a bowl with a side of naan, being able to eat a little bit of everything was awesome. The fresh veggies were so refreshing and paired wonderfully with the rich sauces. Now in terms of quality, the butter chicken was pretty dry and tough but the sauces made up for it. The bullet naan was also a bit dry but again, with the sauces it was wonderful. The tomato chutney had a slight kick and was rich and delicious, the yoghurt sauce was pretty light and provided a good balance. Ive been wanting to try this place forever, hearing so many great things. I was not disappointed. read more

Spicelife Indian Fare - Indian Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

It's time for an updated review. I was here with a group of ladies. This was the first time visiting this restaurant for all of them. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed their experience here. Everyone opted for entrees appetizers instead of bowls. You ordered at the register and they will bring the food out to you. Service was great. Dosa was definitely a hit with everyone. It was huge! Salmon Tikka appetizer was well prepared. Alu Gobi- yum! Mutter paneer, tikka masala, tandoori chicken- you can't go wrong with any of these choices. read more

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The create your own bowl is where it is at. A great price, amazing taste, and fun experience. The ambiance is nice for a fast casual spot. The service was very nice. read more

Spicelife Indian Fare - Indian Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

Came back and once again, it never disappoints! Every time we eat here, we just can't get over how delicious every bite of every dish is. Today, we had the Malabari with shrimp, chicken 65, tandoori chicken & garlic naan. Everything was amazing. Perfect amount of spice & flavor in every dish. We love the ambiance and the workers. It's never too full of customers where you don't have a place to sit or sit too close to customers and the workers are always friendly and helpful. We love this place so much! read more

Spicelife Indian Fare - Tandoori chicken, Malabari with shrimp, chicken 65 & garlic naan - Indian Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

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Good food, I ordered from the menu and Good service! Chicken Korma and Dosa were really good.

We ordered garlic naan, aloo paratha , mutter paneer spicy and mango lassi . Every thing was ok , except mutter paneer was mild even though we had asked for spicy mutter paneer. Delivery service was on time. read more

Spicelife is my favorite Indian spot in the area. They do all the classics right, and the food is consistently delicious and comforting. The staff is always friendly, and it's my go-to for takeout -- especially in the winter when you want something warm and satisfying. read more

I have consistently had good biryani from here other than one time ordered right before close. My other favorite Indian spot raised prices, and Spice Life has kept the same price, with a high quality lamb and goat biryani. Also the chipotle style bowls are a huge hit. read more

Spicelife Indian Fare - Where did they learn to make biryani? - Indian Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

I'm disappointed to see that grilled chicken has been removed from the hot bar. Many of us prefer lighter options over heavier dishes like butter chicken. Additionally, between the recent price increase and the total turnover in staff, the restaurant has lost the welcoming, neighborhood feel it used to have. It's starting to feel more like a generic chain than the local spot I used to love. read more

The build your own bowl option at Spicelife is the deal of the century! I visited Spicelife on my lunch break and could not believe how much was packed in my bowl for just under $12! Spicelife has a large indoor seating area and a menu with entrees. You can also choose to build your own bowl only when you order in person. They have plenty of vegan options such as Chana masala, pakora, cucumber salad, and sauces. I cannot believe how many items I got to add to my bowl at such a low price! The staff was extremely friendly and knowledgeable about vegan food. I sadly cannot eat the naan as it is buttered and they double checked all the sauces so I knew which ones were dairy free. I will definitely be back to Spicelife to rebuild this bowl for lunch. I also recommend this business for a group lunch because their dining area was empty and should be filled up with food this good! read more

Spicelife Indian Fare - Vegan bowl - Indian Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

The food was decent and the setup reminded me of a CAVA style service, but it wasn't as flavorful as I expected, especially for Indian cuisine. The ambience was nice, the location was clean, and the staff were friendly. I wouldn't return because I'm looking for something with more flavor, but it may be a better fit for someone with a palette that prefers less spice. read more

I can never turn down the pick your own entree bowl, such a great price for so much food (less than $11). This time we also got a dosa (vindaloo) and it was so spicy (I could feel the heat lingering) but I still loved it. Next time I will try a different one. We also got the samosa chat and it was very flavorful. The place gets busy in the evening but you can always find a place to sit. read more

Spicelife Indian Fare - Vindaloo Dosa - Indian Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

I've never had Indian curry buffet style before! I really liked that I could get all of the curries and toppings on my bowl with a side of naan! You can choose 2 sauces as well. I liked the different varieties of curries, but I don't know if I have a favorite yet because I found them all delicious. Also, I got the garlic naan and I loved it, I most definitely can eat the garlic naan by itself. I'll definitely come back! The pictures I took don't do the food justice and I should have took a better picture to highlight the curries. I'll do a better post/edit when I'm back in the area. Friendly staff and good restaurant to eat inside or to-go. read more

Spicelife Indian Fare - Buffet style bowl - Indian Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

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The service is honestly not great. The times we've been they've either been rushing us or taking forever with our bread order while our bowls get cold. BUT I will say the food tastes great and the prices are reasonable. read more

Have always been a fan of this place and its $11 make-your-own bowl. This time, not only did I get a bowl, but also Chicken Tikka Masala and Baingan Bharta (eggplant). I love the bowl because you can mix in different flavors and toppings to create a different texture than just sauce over rice. The veggie toppings and the pakora gives it a nice fresh crunch. The two other entrees were both good and flavorful and came with a quart of fluffy basmati. Sometimes I wish the eggplant was chopped up and not pureed to give it a different texture; but its great, nonetheless. The 'spicy' heat level wasn't hot enough, so will try extra spicy next time. Butter naan was also very good when fresh and warm, but tough to reheat to the same fluffiness. I love that we have good Indian food in our neighborhood and one day will venture back to try other menu items. read more

This has got to be my go to restaurant for when I want Indian food to go! I love that they have the "build your own bowl" option so that I can choose multiple options. The portion sizes are so worth the money you pay for. Staff are super friendly, and their food is so tasty! read more

We had to wait 40 minutes for a simple order. No explanation for the wait was given. I won't be returning and wouldn't recommend this place.

Came for a casual Friday night dinner after an evening of trick or treating in the Crown neighborhood. The pakoras and samosas were good so was the Goat curry. We also tried the ground lamb kabob which we did not like because the kebobs did not taste like meat. All dishes have generous portions. I have not tried their bowls but saw others ordering them so I do believe those are good and inexpensive options. It's a fast casual restaurant and there weee a lot of Indian patrons which always is a good sign. read more

Quick and excellent service with great quality food. Along with their in-house service, they are very well known for their takeout food and we have had the opportunity to take advantage of both. This place is highly recommended. read more

Great place! Their samosa chat is bomb! I usually like their food. I took off 1 star because of the chicken biryani I got this time. Bland taste Well, Biryani I got was more like tomato flavored pulao. Rest of the dishes are good ! read more

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Mainly went there, cause heard good things about its street food. Tried tikki chaat, paneer makhani, daal makhani, chilly chicken . Average food, ambience for comparable price read more

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Good bowls for very less price. They have a great variety in food as well. Overall a great place to eat.

I have been wanting to try Hakka food for awhile and was super excited to see it on the menu here. I ordered the Chilly Chicken and Veg samosa. The chilly chicken had a slight tangy flavor to it, but was mostly overpowered by the spiciness. I think the dish was okay. I really enjoyed the samosas! They were crispy on the outside and had a generous amount of filling. I'd like to come back and get the build your own bowl and some other dishes on the menu! read more

Spicelife Indian Fare - Veg Samosa - Indian Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

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They use a lot of MSG in their food preparation - and I called to verify that the following day after ordering takeout the prior evening. Although the food was good I ended up incredibly tired, nauseous, and with a headache about two hours afterwards from the effects of large amounts of MSG flavoring. I think if your food is good, with quality ingredients, then MSG should not need to be added. They should also list on their menus and website that they use MSG additive because not everyone tolerates it well. read more

The chicken tikka masala, rice, and garlic naan are just so classic and go perfectly together here. I ordered carry out and it was quickly prepared and ready to go when I got there. And it ended up being so delicious. While I felt it was pricey, it ended up being worth it. I thought the restaurant itself had a good amount of seating and is in a really cute area full of shops. Parking was easy on a Sunday afternoon- both street and garage parking are available. This is definitely a place I am excited to go back to read more

Spicelife Indian Fare - Chicken Tikka Masala, White Rice 16oz, Garlic Naan - Indian Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

I previously had Spicelife at a friend's place and enjoyed the food so I returned to try different dishes. Spicelife has fast casual bowl options for about $11, as well as entrees like tandoori chicken, biryani, and curry. There are so many options. I got the chicken palak, chicken tikka masala, and garlic naan. The food was delicious. I especially loved the chicken palak. Everything was so flavorful. It's not a big restaurant. It was mostly packed when I went. There's a parking garage and metered street parking. read more

Ahhhhh seriously the best food ever!!! There chicken biryani!!! It was sooooo delicious and super tasty It literally like my mom's homemade biryani. It also came with raita. I was greeted as soon as I walked through the door. My order was ready in 20minutes. They did an Amazing job!! Thank you Chef!!! Amazing food, amazing service and love your food!! read more

Spicelife Indian Fare - Chicken biryani!! You have got to try this!! It's so flavorful and spicy and delicious - Indian Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

I am a regular customer for this restaurant. Their food is quite nice and acceptable. However I am utterly disappointed by their lacha paratha and also aloo paratha. they are not parathas but just naans with a bit of oil. Never ever order them !! and the management should seriously take them off their menu. read more

This is where I go for enlightenment and clarity. The level of spice and flavor of their biryani is unmatched and at a relatively affordable price. Chicken biryani is $15, which is on the lower end for this area. And they don't skimp on portions either. Ever since I first had biryani in 2020, then tried spicelife in 2021. From then to now in 2024, I've been going around trying out biryanis everywhere in moco. But I keep coming back to spicelife, because no one else reaches my soul like them. You can play around with all the other spots, we all have to have our own journey to find our meaning in life. To fill the dark void that is our existential dread. But when all is said and done, this is the only way to the life of spice. join us when you're ready. read more

Came back again and ordered some of my favorite dishes: spice bowl, masala dosa, and AAM Palak Chat. They were all good, but I have to point out that AAM Palak Chat wasn't as pungent as I had before. Each time the flavor was a little bit different. The quality and flavor of the dish depends on the chefs on duty. I wish the flavor was more consistent. However this is still one of my favorite restaurants. I can see myself coming back again and again. read more

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