Herbivore Indian Cuisine (Vegetarian & Non-Vegetarian) — Restaurant in Washington

Herbivore is still around, still going strong from the old days operating out of the gurudwara near the Cathedral. I haven’t yet found evidence that there’s better Indian food at this price range in central-ish DC.

This is the place to go a little tiny bit out on a limb and order some things that aren’t exactly the usual Indian takeout suspects. Malai kofta, chili paneer, daal makhani are always winners. Of course, even the classics (saag paneer for sure) are great. Nothing isn’t great. (Note that like the name I’m a herbivore so can’t speak for their meat dishes. But expand beyond chicken tikka masala! You can do it!)

Since they moved to Georgetown, a few recipes have changed a bit - daal makhani has a bit more tomato and uses chana as well as the classic black urad, for example. Biriyani portions are a bit smaller. But again, nothing isn’t great.

Don’t sleep especially on their appetizers and desserts. A restaurant that sells pani puri, what? That never happens. (Hot take, I’m not general the biggest fan of pani puri. Prefer samosa chaat. My mother would be so ashamed.) It’s especially so rare to see real sweets on a menu beyond kheer and maybe gulab jamun. Homemade jalebi? You kidding? (Sometimes it comes hot when sent out for delivery. Chef’s sticky-sweet kiss.) And ras malai??? This place sells liquid gold friends, if you haven’t tried it you might not want to unless you’re a fan of addiction.

Apparently business is good so they’re not going to give me another heart attack anytime soon like the last time they temporarily closed to move to the current location. Phew. I’ll be your fan for...

DO NOT EAT HERE, THEY SERVE SPOILED FOOD AND DRINKS I can in the morning and was serviced. I got two things beans with rice and a mango lassi (both which I purchased). The lady a the register told me to grab my lassi out the fridge which I did. I tasted it and it tasted spoiled. I inform her of this and she gave me another from under the register. That was also spoiled. I inform her of this and ask to get something else to drink, the price didn’t matter, I just didn’t want anything spoiled. I suggested a chai tea which was 5.50 (I think), the lassi was 5.75 (I think). She said that she can’t do that since 1. she already gave a replacement drink (the original one was thrown away) and 2. because it would take time to prepare the tea. I asked can I then get a soda, and she said no because of reason 1, I told her the drinks were spoiled and she claimed it was freshly made that morning. Either she’s lying or the used spoiled milk or yogurt. I told her this is not how it supposed to taste (I’ve drunk this drink many times before, so I know how it tastes) but she claims that they make it like this. Now, I know different establishments makes their things a little differently but it overall taste and SMELL the same. DO NOT COME EAT HERE. Based on other comments they apparently serve frozen food, I am going to see if I can report them because serving spoiled/expired...

I recently dined at Herbivore, and I must say, it was an exceptional experience from start to finish. As someone who loves Indian cuisine, I was excited to try their innovative vegetarian menu, and it exceeded all expectations.

The ambiance was warm and inviting, with a modern yet cozy decor that made for a relaxed dining experience. The staff were friendly, attentive, and eager to explain the dishes, which is always appreciated when exploring new flavors.

Now, onto the food: the dishes were absolutely stellar. Herbivore takes classic Indian flavors and elevates them with fresh, high-quality ingredients. The Paneer Tikka was perfectly seasoned and grilled to perfection, while the Malai Kofta was rich and flavorful, with just the right amount of spice. Their dal was soul-comforting, and the naan was warm and fluffy, the perfect vehicle for soaking up all the delicious sauces.

The standout, however, was their unique spin on traditional Indian desserts. The mango kulfi was refreshing and not too sweet, rounding out the meal beautifully. For anyone who enjoys flavorful, plant-based cuisine or wants to explore vegetarian Indian food, Herbivore is an absolute must.

I’ll definitely be returning to try more of their menu, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a satisfying, flavorful, and wholesome...