We visited Spice Circle in Ashburn and fell in love with the food from the very first bite—honestly, it felt like pahla pahla pyaar all over again.
I’ll admit, after reading a few negative reviews in this group, I was a bit nervous when my wife suggested trying it for lunch. I gently hinted that maybe we should go somewhere else, but choosing that battle on a cool, cloudy weekend didn’t seem wise—so off we went.
The restaurant is only five minutes from our place, and we reached in no time. Parking was plentiful, and the elegant look of the restaurant—with a “baggi” (horse cart) right out front—made a great first impression. Another peek inside revealed a fine-dining vibe.
As soon as we entered, we noticed a small prayer area by the door with a mat laid out, and a cozy sofa to the right. We walked in and were invited to sit anywhere since it wasn’t too busy. The bright, clean ambiance won us over instantly, and we settled at table number 8.
Menus arrived quickly, bound in rich leather—one of the few times you should judge a book by its cover 🙂. The selection was impressive: a variety of karhais, tandoori items, haleem, nihari, lachha paratha, even omelettes.
While we browsed, Abdus Samad Nouman bhai stopped by to take our drink order. My younger one loves mango lassi, so that was a must. Since it was our first time, we asked for his recommendation on which karhai to try. He didn’t hesitate: Desi Chicken Karhai. We added that and Nihari to our order. He kindly warned us that the karhai takes 40 minutes because it’s made fresh, which we appreciated. He also offered us chai on the house.
The lassi and chai arrived quickly. The chai came in one of those little kettles like you see on the streets of Pakistan (or at Toosso), enough for 3–4 cups. The first sip instantly raised our expectations—strong, perfectly brewed, exactly the color a proper chai should be. While still sipping, we were served a thoughtful salad: not just the usual lettuce and onions, but also olives, chickpeas, kidney beans, and even a pickled pepper like those from Arab restaurants. It reminded me of the Olive Garden salad, just plated instead of served in a bowl.
We chatted about our upcoming trip and nibbled on the salad, not even realizing 30 minutes had passed. Then our Nihari, Desi Chicken Karhai, and three hot naans arrived. The visuals alone were enough to get us excited—the aroma was even better.
I started with the Nihari. Thick, rich, authentic gravy. A squeeze of lime, some ginger, and that first bite confirmed it tasted great. My older son suggested adding a pinch of salt; once I did, the flavor jumped to the next level. I still love the Nihari from Toosso, but this one could definitely compete. The beef was melt-in-your-mouth perfection.
Feeling optimistic now, I moved on to the Desi Chicken Karhai—and that first bite delivered a full-on WOW. Rich, flavorful, perfectly spiced, with a subtle kick of black pepper and incredibly tender, juicy chicken. Every bite tasted freshly made.
We thoroughly enjoyed our weekend brunch. The bill came to about $85 with tax and tip, and we still had enough leftovers for dinner and the next day. My only regret? This place is only five minutes away… which means I’ll probably be handing over a good chunk of future paychecks here. They also offer a Friday night buffet for $35 with live music, which we’re planning to try after our vacation.
Everything we tried—Desi Chicken Karhai, Nihari, and the fluffy naan—was spot on. Great service, excellent food, lovely ambiance. Finally, a Pakistani restaurant in the area that delivers amazing flavors and an experience you’d be proud to...
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