This family business pushes a modern approach to classic Indian dishes. Get playful with a child pleaser for kids an adults alike: the chicken cheese kebab. Boneless chicken breasts are marinated in cream cheese and yogurt, cooked in a clay oven, and served with fenugreek leaves. Don’t miss the gobhi pecorino kulcha, a leavened bread stuffed with cauliflower, cheese, cashew, almonds, raisins, and jalapeno.

Mumbai was still known as Bombay when restaurateur Asad Sheikh was growing up in India. At his Columbia Heights restaurant, he shares the thriving street food vendor scene from his childhood through favorites like Bombay palak chaat (a mixture of crispy fried spinach with spiced yogurt and chutney), bhel puri (puffed rice mixed with a medley of raw onion, tomato, and chutney), and vada pao (spiced potatoes with ginger, garlic, and cilantro chutney served with a roll). Follow up these snacks with the Bombay thali for two: an assorted platter that includes curries, vegetables, bread, and rice. Bombay Street Food 2 in Capitol Hill is offering the same menu.

A fixture in D.C. for almost two decades, Jyoti highlights a wide spectrum of Indian food. In particular, its fish section explores dishes from West Bengal and Kerala. Try one of their fish curries to get a taste of Goa — a most popular beach state full of Portuguese influences — or a spiced red snapper that’s roasted whole in a tandoori oven.

After making national headlines for its opulent take on Indian fine-dining, Punjab Grill is offering more than just takeout and delivery during the pandemic. A grocery shop offers assorted butcher and produce boxes, along with staples like eggs, milk, flour, oil, and sugar. For meals, consider a “Now and Later” deal: buy one entree and get the second half off. A Date Night option comes with a three-course meal for two. Signature dishes are also available a la carte.

Ashok Bajaj’s award-winning modern Indian restaurant in Penn Quarter is offering lunch and dinner for takeout or delivery seven days a week. Reservations are normally hard to come by, so to-go orders offer a good chance to try executive chef Vikram Sunderam’s cauliflower Bezule (with mustard seeds, green chilies, and curry leaves) and chicken tikka masala. An “Ayurvedic special” kichadi (rice and lentils) is a traditional cure for the common cold. 

Both locations, in Arlington and Northeast D.C., offer a 100 percent halal menu for carryout and delivery. With daily specials and meals for two, it’s an affordable spot worth revisiting for spot to grilled meats or creamy sauces.

A mix of traditional and modern, Kohinoor Dhaba highlights the best of North Indian food right by Crystal City. Try the fragrant goat biryani or keep it simple with one of its tandoor options. There’s also an extensive vegan menu.

For decades, a Chinese population has migrated to India for economic and spiritual reasons, and Indo-Chinese food has gained popularity worldwide. In Alexandria, Namaste serves gobhi Manchurian (fried cauliflower tossed in a spicy Manchurian sauce) and vegetarian chili momos (Nepali-style dumplings). Namaste also has all the Indian classics and an impressive naan list.