By far the best Indian I've had. I've been coming here since I moved to the DMV area & even make the trek from Woodbridge because it is that good!
My inner fat kid loves that they also run a french bakery out of the store.
They just recently started not including Naan in the price of an entree. It's an extra $1.75 but totally worth it.
Such a gem of a place disguised as an unassuming, hole in the wall strip mall joint - Indaroma dishes the best bang for your buck curries, biryanis and chaats. I waited after two visits to weigh in as I didn't want to be disappointed. But everything I've had has been consistently fresh and well-prepared. And like the other Yelpers cite, spicy means spicy.
Samosas and puff pastry wrapped delicacies are all 2.50 a piece and deserve to be picked up. The chaats are all interesting in flavor and texture. The curries - both the meat and vegetable-based varieties -- are all killer and steals at $11 and under.
Online ordering is a great convenience.
I enjoy eating here. My plan was to try everything on the menu until I discovered my favorites. So far, I've had the Palak Paneer, Aam Palak Chaat, Vegetable Biryani, Red Velvet Cupcake, and Mango Lassi. Today on my third visit, I wanted something veggie, and spicy and asked the man behind the counter for his suggestions, Â He said any dish can be customized for spiciness, and suggested I try the Chana Masala. Â
I expected a warm spicy bowl of chick pea curry, served with warm Naan (bread) and Rice. However, the dish came without bread, but in its place, a very tiny salad, Later, I asked why no bread, my server politely pointed to a piece of paper at the counter which stated they were no longer offering bread with their curries as of February 3. Â Instead they were offering a healthy salad. She did say it was only $1.75 for Naan bread. Â Hmmm.
Let's just say I enjoy paying an additional $1.75 for Naan as much as I enjoy paying for white rice at a Chinese restaurant.
So don't let their on-line cafe menu which states "Curries served with Naan and Rice" or the recently outdated pictures on Yelp fool you.
-------
2/28/13 Edit: Â Their online menu now says "Served with Rice and Salad".
I recently discovered this little gem. I have been on the hunt for a good Chicken Tikka Masala and by golly, I've found it! It's a order-at-the-counter kind of thing, nothing fancy. Â When your food is ready, someone brings it to your table. Â The staff was very friendly. The decor is nice, reminiscent of Starbucks almost. It's the kind of place you can take a friend, or go alone and not feel like the creepy person eating by yourself. Several patrons were on laptops. I ordered my food spicy and was quite happy with the level of heat. Sometimes Indian food that claims to be "spicy" ends up seeming rather bland to me. So if you want it spicy, you will get what you ask for! Â The food was so fresh and the naan looked and tasted like it was just prepared. I will be returning many times in the future!
Review Source:Yum!
I have never seen an Indian cafe and this was so nice and clean!!
I ordered Paneer Makhni for $8.99 and it came with a bowl of rice and naan (bread) that was cut in fourths
It was delicious except the amount of paneer in the curry was very low.
I also wanted to order samosa chaat. But I realized that they only put 1 samosa in it, and their samosas are small.
Next time I go, I definitely want to try a pastry!
IndAroma was surprisingly good.
I made a last minute decision to stop by with a friend. We were surprised at how nice the interior looked; not your typical hole in the wall Indian Takeout restaurant at all.
We both ordered Butter chicken with a side of rice and a few pieces of bread and sat down. It was brought to our table and we both enjoyed it; when ordering they ask if you want it spicy, mild, or very spicy which is nice.
I had mine mild and my friend had his spicy; they were both delicious
Overall, I had a good experience. I would most likely go again; especially for dine in!
IndAroma has delicious chaat!  In fact, I've never had anything else when I've visited this cafe -- the way I see it, good chaat is hard to come by in this area, so if you can find it, enjoy it!  When we come, we generally make a meal of their samosa chaat, chaat papdi, bhel puri and vada pav.  I'm  not as much a fan of their pani puri, My  lone complaint is that the prices seem just a  tad high for the amount of chaat you  get  on your plate-- at least, higher than other places I've been. That being said, the quality is high and, also, the cafe itself is very cute -- so you're likely paying for that.  I If you've never been here, I definitely recommend stopping in here one day. And, if you have a sweet tooth, you can pick up a slice of beautiful cake at the end, too. How many cafes can say they offer both those things?
Review Source:We were heading to the Indian grocery store next door when we spotted this place. Â We were starving, so we figured we would try it out, and boy I'm so glad we did. Â It's a Indian Bakery that serves all kinds of Indian snack food - my most favorite kind. Â They also have main entrees. Â We decided to start off with their am palak chat and WOW. Â It was good, too good. Â DH & I inhaled it in a manner of a few minutes. Â We were fighting for the last bite. Â The dish is basically a spin off a traditional chat, with fried spinach, mango, cilantro, onions, chutney's, and a drizzling of yogurt. Â It had a nice sweet, crunchy, sour, spicy, and salty taste all in one bite. Â Mind blowing. Â You must get this if you come here. Â For our entrees DH ordered the chicken manchurian kati roll, and I got the butter chicken. Â They were very good, and a decent sized serving as well. Â The kati roll was served with some raita, and my butter chicken came with rice and two pieces of nan. Â For dessert we got the Kalla Jungle or a spin off a black forest cake. Â Instead of cherries, they use gulub jamun! Â It was damn good, we will definitely be back to this place again & again.
Review Source:I thought this was just a bakery, i.e. for desserts and things, but today I stopped in after having my hair done at Shear Shack next door and was happy to find non-desserty items as well! Perfect for a quick lunch! I got 2 veggie puffs and 1 samosa. My total was $4.99, can't beat that! Both items were very tasty and after I ordered, I realized they have a full menu of entrees, too. I can't wait to head back and try out some of their other food some time!
Review Source:First time trying this restaurant because hubby is away so I can eat Indian food. Â I ordered the Shrimp Tikka Masala with extra rice and a somosa. The food was excellent. Â Very tasty. Â Great flavor. Â I got 7/8 shrimps for $11.95. Â The extra rice was $1.50 and the somosa was $1.25. Â My lunch cost $15.48 which is a bit on the high side. I will go back again when hubby is out of town.
Review Source:I like this place, and my chicken biriyani was ok. However, it would be nice if the drinks were cheaper. Â I was so blind that I didn't see the free water dispenser so we will just get water next time. Â I thought the portion was just right for me, but my husband thought his dish was small. Â He's used to the Indian lunch buffets of Raaga and Aroma, so he did not like this place. Â I was surprised that it was so empty during noon yet that had so many employees in the back. Â I will never come back here again.
Review Source:Indian food doesn't have to be fancy schmancy or intimidating. Â This is a hidden gem in NoVa. Â Great Indian food at affordable prices in a casual (order at counter and take laminated number to table), friendly atmosphere. Â Based on your recommendations, I tried their aam palak chaat. Â I have never been to Rasika, so I cannot compare their versions of this dish. Â However, I can say IndAroma's is very flavorful -- sweet (mango), sour (tamarind), spicy, cool (yogurt), and crispy (fried spinach). Â Yum! Â The spinach's texture was like that of chips, so I would even go so far as to call this dish Indian nachos. Â Try it and you'll understand. Â
Other dishes ordered included the manchurian chicken kati roll (basically a wrap) and rogan josh (came with basmati rice and naan). Â Both were good, but I would probably not order the kati roll again since the Indian take on Chinese food is not my cup of tea. Â The rogan josh had large chunks of tender lamb in a spicy, tomato-y sauce that was the perfect dip for the accompanying naan. Â
As mentioned by others, this place is also a bakery. Â I tried their paneer and chicken tikka puffs. Â Very average because filling was minimal (20% of puff). Â I will opt for a dessert next time to complete my meal. Â That almond cream cannoli-like dessert looks amazing!
I've been on an Indian food kick the past few days that started this past Friday afternoon. My craving led me to this place and I was very pleased with the results!
I ordered the Butter Chicken plate, because I like to start with something familiar when I go to a new place. I was VERY happy with what I got--the plate comes out with the main dish in a bowl, a whole piece of fresh naan cut in half, and a generous helping of plain rice. Everything was delicious and the price ($11.99, I think?) was perfect! Nice and piping hot, too. (I prefer my food to be too warm for me to eat immediately so that I can let it cool to a temperature that I'm comfortable with. To me, this is far better than being served something it is luke-warm or cold.) I didn't ask, but it all seemed fresh made by the way it tasted.
I thought it was cool that you could order online from inside the restaurant, specify your table number, and they'd just bring your food out. Pretty neat--I may try that in the future.
I did not have any of the bakery items, so my review is not meant to cover those. I plan to give them a try next time when I have some more room in my stomach!
I did, however, have some fresh watermelon juice that was squeezed probably 5 minutes before I got there. It was amazing!
My two things that are keeping this from 5 stars are as follows:
- This is not a full-service restaurant. It is seat yourself, get your own silverware, etc. So, why is are there only bottled sodas? There should be a soda machine available. If fast food joints can do that, this place should be able to make it happen. I didn't get a soda because I didn't want to pay for a single bottle. Come on, fountain soda is cheap.
- The owner/manager (? - not sure, maybe both) came along when I was asking the super helpful and super friendly girls at the register about items on the menu (they have Indian wraps, and I wanted to know if the wrap was in naan or a tortilla) and spoke over them to answer my question (for the record, the wraps come on tortillas, which is kind of disappointing). I appreciated the answer, but the girls clearly knew the menu and had already answered another question and - again - were very polite. It was rude and awkward of him to speak over them. Manager guy needs to back off and trust his staff, who obviously have the courtesy thing down already!
I just bumped this place up one star. Why? Friendly new staff! Now, I don't have to deal with the owner's rather grouchy demeanor. Yayyyyy. That aside, Indaroma is still the boy I fell head over heels for. You can still find consistently good food--from the entrees to the desserts. I visited this place two days in a row this week, so that should probably tell you just how much I adore Indaroma.
I tend to always order the alu tikki chaat but I decided it was very unlike me to be so safe and unadventurous, so I ordered the gobi Manchurian kati roll today, to mix it up, and it was, like everything else here, very good. And like all other items sold in this bakery/cafe, it was super cheap. It only set me back $5.50 for a perfectly portioned wrap with a complex and satisfying blend of Rumali roti, fried cauliflower, tomatoes and onions.
They have two glass cases on each side of the register. Look to the left and you'll see an array of cakes and pastries to satisfy your sweet craving. To the right are assorted savory pastries and salads, including veggie puff pastry and corn salad (simple and refreshing). With the new faces working the register, Indaroma is the whole package.
If I had written my review after my first visit, I would have given IndAroma 5 stars. I couldn't stop raving about it. Everything about it was great. I had a hard time deciding what to order and the owner happened to be behind the counter. He asked me what I liked about Indian food and whether I wanted something vegetarian or with meat. After I answered a few of his questions, he just had the chef make me something without telling me what it was. I ended up with Palak Chana (spinach and chickpeas) with a nice level of spice and it really hit the spot. <a href="http://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=UkiaI4PP-_GRtD2MAj__4Q&userid=eqeIvuHRTp8ezyfqWPVxlw">http://www.yelp.com/user…</a> I also ordered the Aam Palak Chaat (crispy fried spinach, with diced mangos, cilantro, sweet yogurt, mint, and tamarind sauce). <a href="http://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=sj0wVUP_oYUkkTIgcbiPxg&userid=eqeIvuHRTp8ezyfqWPVxlw">http://www.yelp.com/user…</a> The mixture of flavors and textures was lovely. The curries are all served with rice and naan which is a nice change from most other Indian restaurants that charge extra for the naan. So, as I said at the start of this review, if I had written this after that visit, it would have been a definite 5 star. Then I went back on a Sunday and was so disappointed in the service that I considered not going back again (I've since been back on a Friday and an additional Sunday).
The first Sunday that I visited I arrived about an hour and 15 minutes before closing. There were two young guys and an older gentleman behind the counter. The younger guys were manning the registers and could barely be bothered to stop talking long enough to take my order. If I hadn't been craving Indian I would have walked out. I ordered the Samosa Chaat <a href="http://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=oUU0dICIqhWlzrytTmh35w&userid=eqeIvuHRTp8ezyfqWPVxlw">http://www.yelp.com/user…</a> and the Chicken Tikka Masala (spicy). <a href="http://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=dDNndNt19w-nlnbwnbws_w&userid=eqeIvuHRTp8ezyfqWPVxlw">http://www.yelp.com/user…</a> The Tikka Masala arrived two minutes after the Samosa Chaat, which means I had only taken two bites of the chaat. So I asked the server to take away the chaat. He looked at me and asked "why?" I told him that because they served the Tikka Masala so quickly I wouldn't be able to eat the chaat before the samosa got soggy or else I'd have to eat that first and the Tikka Masala would be cold. He rolled his eyes at me and told me that the chaat was supposed to be a snack. I replied that I knew that and that is why I expected it to come out first, with plenty of time to eat it before my main dish. He rolled his eyes again and stomped off. The other young guy from behind the counter was now sitting with a table of young girls and yelled across the restaurant to the older gentleman that he was taking his break. The Samosa Chaat was simply ok and despite requesting that the Tikka be spicy, it wasn't. Don't get me wrong, it was still really tasty but when I request that something be spicy I would appreciate it if the person taking my order (and my money) listen to me.
I've been back twice since, once on a Friday and then again on a Sunday. The Friday visit was once again wonderful with great service and food. I ordered the Chana Masala and asked that it be made spicy. <a href="http://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=lDSZ_iGTOWjCNtnZdm9H7g&userid=eqeIvuHRTp8ezyfqWPVxlw">http://www.yelp.com/user…</a> The woman behind the counter asked me how spicy I wanted it to be and when I confirmed that I liked spicy food, she nodded and put in my order. The Chana Masala arrived and just looking at it I knew it was going to have some heat - it was much redder than normal. <a href="http://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=lLp4h5T0FMyJgIJlHH16Tw&userid=eqeIvuHRTp8ezyfqWPVxlw">http://www.yelp.com/user…</a> It was perfect, so spicy my nose started to run a bit, which is exactly the way I like it.
My most recent visit was yesterday (Sunday) and once again the service was dismal. A young girl and young guy were behind the counter talking and I had to interrupt them to get them to take my order. This time I tried the Dal Makhani. I requested it spicy. <a href="http://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=2wpBHpAkwwLRop8B5__yig&userid=eqeIvuHRTp8ezyfqWPVxlw">http://www.yelp.com/user…</a> It wasn't. It was good, but how difficult is it to pay attention for the two minutes it takes to place an order?
I give IndAroma 5 stars for the food but 2 for the service on Sundays. If it wasn't for the great service I have received on other days I may have given IndAroma a two star overall, but the food and the weekday service bumps it to a 3. Oh quick side note - the naan is good, fluffy, hot, buttery - the rice is just ok.
I will go back again, but I've learned from my four visits that Sunday is not the day to go for good service.
What can I add about the Aam Palak chat that has not already been said? I will tell you now - It is BETTER than what Rasika does! There.. I said it! Rasika set the bar super high and these people have trumped it for me! :)
Nothing beats that plate of crispy goodness, spicy and tangy at the same time. I came here JUST for the chat, and every time, I want to lick the plate clean - just the disapproving looks from my friend deter me! :p
Now that I am done raving, let us move on to the other menu items.
The Good -
- The mango lassi is AMAZING! Always get that!!
- The Kathi roll - yummy!
- Pao Bhaji - spot on Punjabi flavors! We always end up asking for more bread with it, just to finish the pao bhaji!
- Butter chicken - Yummilicious, but really, a heart attack waiting to happen!
- Puffs - They have a huge variety. They are all yummy, but not always consistent. Sometimes, they have the perfect amount of filling, and sometimes, there is VERY less filling, which I hate! Always ask them to heat it up for you. Â They taste way better then!
- Spicy Chicken Wings - Oh my god good! Tender chicken, perfect marinade and then perfcetly spiced and cooked! Loved it. Blue cheese dressing all the way! Wish they did like an indian mint chutney with it too!
The BAD--
Let me begin by saying, their bakery items are SUPER pretty! But they are not always fresh or yummy :( Super unhappy about that. Tried the almond canoli, the mouse cake - none were yummy.
- Frankie - disappointingly under seasoned and over stuffed :(
- Aloo tikki chaat - so so
- Falooda Kulfi - The faluda was grossly under done both times I had it, but the pistachio flavor is real yum
- Chicken tikki Masala - pretty decent, too much artificial coloring though!
- Dahi Batata puri - pretty forgettable! Nothing great about it.
Now that I have a few favorites in order, I love coming back to have these! The Aam Palak chat especially! :) :) Which is what gets them the 5 stars! That one dish is SO good, I refuse to down grade a star for the dishes that missed the mark!
Oh and the fact that they are very decently priced and love their seating. The sofas are so comfy! :)
I had lunch here today because it was the first option to populate into my yelp app when I searched for Indian food. I was craving chicken tikka masala, so I hurried as soon as my navigation lady began talking.
The restaurant itself is cozy and cute but freezing, and they took forever getting my hot tea ready. The server was still very friendly though. They have a variety of pastry treats that looke really tasty. Unfortunately, I thought the chicken tikka masala was just ok. I've had better. It wasn't gross, so I finished it all. What I did like about it was that it came with naan. That was nice. There were also no napkins and when I asked for some, I was pointed to the empty napkin dispenser that I had checked in the first place.
The next time I have an Indian food craving that I need to satisfy and I am not in Philly, I'm going to have to try a different place.
I miss India. Â A lot. Â I miss authentic Indian food possibly even more. Â I miss, at the very least, living close to Indian food that is good enough to quench my Indian food desires.
One thing I do not miss is chaat, and that is because I discovered IndAroma; my chaat yearnings have been met and I now know where to get my fix!
I originally found IndAroma when Yelping kati rolls, but after drooling over pictures of the aam palak chaat, I had to get that first. Â What a beautiful melody of chutneys and dahi mixed with chopped mango, onion and cilantro upon a bed of fried spinach. Â It's a melody that would have fit well into a Bollywood song and dance: girl loves chaat, but the relationship cannot be, for her eyes are bigger than her stomach. Â Enter backup dancers. Â Cue the dhol.
Ruth and I picked the dal makhani (my go to) and the lamb rogan josh. Â The curries seem slightly over priced (some are $12) considering it's a stand up to order your meal kinda place, but do not be detoured: for that price you get a sizable portion of rice *and* naan. Â With one chaat and two curries, we had enough left over to take home for an extra meal. Â They weren't the freshest tasting, but it seemed like they mixed in some fresh herbs before serving. Â The appeal here is definitely the snacky items, and most of the desis around us were eating wraps, which are huge and come with a side of chips.
But what is this? Â Dost my eyes deceive me? Â The menu says the kati rolls are made with roomali rotis. Â How did I not see that when I was in the cafe? Â I've only found roomali rotis in one Indian restaurant in the US, and even had a difficult time finding them in India, so this is quite huge news. Â Bollywood post-intermission: girl is pulled towards her second love. Â What will she do? Â Which dish will win her over? Â Insert fan for wind-blown hair. Â Zoom in for SRK-esk look of raised eyebrow and quivering lips.
Rumor has it the grocery store next door, which is owned by the same people, has mangoes imported from India. Â I will definitely be back to try the kati rolls and samosa chaat, and will find out about the mangoes! Â Maybe then I will find out how the Bollywood ends.
5 stars for taste, 3.5 stars for romantic ambiance.
Come here for the food, absolutely heavenly. Â I just returned from 2 years in Pakistan (and use to live in Afghanistan) and the food at IndAroma beats anything I've had while travelling in the South Asia region. Â Not much more I can say.
This is a cafeteria-bakery style restaurant where you order at the counter. Â Clean, modern, and cute but not somewhere you want to impress a date who likes LV bags and Gucchi shades.
Mmmmmm......Aam Palak Chaat. An absolutely brilliant salad with deep fried spinach leaves and mango with topped with a trio of sauces. A wonderful mix of flavors and textures. This dish would be a standout anywhere.
But yeah, indaroma is our go to neighborhood Indian restaurant. Great prices and tasty food. Chicken tiki masala, Rogan josh, Palak paneer, and Chicken biryani are all very good.
I was liking this place for awhile but lately I've notice that they have really gotten stingy on the sizes. Â
For example. The chicken Tikka Masala only has like four small pieces of chicken, it's almost all sauce. For over $8 give me some more chicken. I mean there is nothing else to this dish. The taste is good and I really like how they can go very hot but I stopped going because I don't think it's worth the cost $9 for some sauce.
Indaroma stands for the swirling smell of Indian spices and baked goods. Â Its really difficult to describe but it works.
I didn't partake in any of the pastries on my visit but they all look delicious. Â I ordered the lamb curry (around $11) and it was served with a bowl of rice and soft na'an. Â The na'an isn't as good as Jaipur but it does the job. Â The lamb comes out in a wonderful curry that has even levels of heat and flavor. Â The meat was soft and tender and it wasn't long before every grain of rice was swimming in the curry pool.
The portions weren't huge but I walked away satiated. Â I think the price point is slightly higher than what it should be considering the portion size but if you're craving Indian and in the area, this place is legit.
This place smells like curry and cupcakes. Amazing.
The food is good too. Some of my favorites include the chickken tikka wrap, the kati rolls, and the aam palak chaat (fried spinach, mango, mint, yogurt), Â The Chaat reminded me of Rasika's; I thought it was that good. The mango lassi is also very tasty. Somehow I have not ordered any sweets, so I'll have to rectify that upon my next visit. They all looked beautiful and ranged from the very trendy cake pop to a more traditional tiramisu. You can dine in for a casual meal or order take-out. They cater as well.
I've seen some people on laptops, so they likely have free wireless too. I don't know if I could work here though--the enticing smell would drive me mad!
Restaurants are all about value. Â Otherwise you're comparing apples and oranges. Â For the price you pay at IndAroma, it is WELL worth it. Â
First, the curries come standard with rice and plenty of naan, and they are all under 10 bucks. Â
Here's my recommendation:
1. Order the palak chaat -- it's just about as good as Rasika. Â No joke.
2. Get Paneer Makhni for some buttery tomato gravy with rice and naan, yum
3. Top it all off with a slice of Vanilla Chocolate cake and a Mango Lassi
4. Begin food coma
Despite living in DC, I make trips out to IndAroma constantly. Â Try it! Â SO much better than most Indian restaurants in DC proper.
Finally decided to stop by and try out this place located close to work. Â The cafe is small and cozy with not too many seats. Â They offers baked goods, kabobs, wraps, sandwiches, and some dishes with an Indian flair to it. Â It's very hodge podge from the menu. Â I had the chicken tikka marsala. Â It was just okay for lunch. Â It came with a side of naan bread which was the best part of the meal. Â I just wish they gave me more rice.
The service was fast for take out so I can't complain there. Â I'd come back and try their other offerings again in the future.
LDecent spot. Â I will come here again. Â Food was decent. Â Tried the Curry. Â Not bad, for ne the curry had a good level of spice. Any more would have been too much, but it was just right.
The Chicken Tikka Achari was on special. Â I thought the meat was great. Â Fresh and tender.
The people here were very nice. Â Friendly, chill people, that's nice.
Wow what a surprise. Â The Aam Palak (Mango) Chaat gets the Popeye chuckle of goodness. Why Popeye? Â It's star is Spinach!
"Aam Palak Chaat .........................................$5.90
Crispy fried spinach, served with IndAroma chaat mix,
diced mango, cilantro, sweet yogurt, mint & tamarind sauce"
This is a destination appetizer!
Like most people who have moved away from Cincinnati, I am on a seemingly never-ending quest to find Indian food that measures up to Ambar and Amol India. Sometime last year, my quest led me to IndAroma. After many lunches, I can safely say that at the very least, I never leave IndAroma disappointed. The food is tasty. The restaurant is clean and comfortable, and the owner is a super nice guy.
Favorites include: Palak Paneer, Chana Masala, Aam Palak Chaat, Chicken Tikka Kabob
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