Hard to get
Karma Modern Indian
Indian · Penn Quarter · $$
4.4(1,121)
Indian · Penn Quarter, Washington, DC · $$$
Rasika, which is derived from Sanskrit meaning “flavors,” is the award-winning modern Indian restaurant owned by Ashok Bajaj. Bajaj was recently named by both Washingtonian and Washington City Paper as “Restaurateur of the Year” and nationally, he is a ten-time James Beard Foundation nominee for “Restaurateur of the Year”. The restaurant was designed by Harry Gregory of ARA Design, London, UK. Rasika is a modern Indian restaurant which takes its inspiration from an age-old approach to dining. This approach allows you to choose a variety of appetizers and entrees to share with your dining companions. To enhance your dining experience, our sommelier will be happy to pair appropriate wines with your food selections. At Rasika, You can enjoy different dining venues including a showcase open kitchen where you can see our chefs cooking on the Tawa (griddle) and sigri (bar-b-que), a relaxing bar and lounge area, a community dining table, the main dining room or a private dining room. All of our staff looks forward to welcoming you at Rasika.
“Rasika is truly one of the best Indian restaurants in Washington, D.C. The food is outstanding, authentic yet beautifully presented, and every dish has a perfect balance of flavors. The ambience is elegant, the service is warm and professional, and the overall experience feels very special. A special thanks to the staff for accommodating me as a walk-in, even though the restaurant usually works with prior reservations. Their hospitality and flexibility made the experience even better. Their vegetarian options are excellent, and the famous palak chaat is a must-try. It is rare to find an Indian restaurant that combines taste, presentation, hospitality, and consistency so well. Rasika is definitely one of the finest Indian dining experiences in D.C.”
“I came here because it was recommended by my favorite Netflix travel show “Somebody feed Phil”. Honestly it was so good. I rarely have Indian food and Rasika did not disappoint me. PALAK CHAAT (crispy spinach) was amazing and I could eat that all day. GOSHT AHUNA was great too. The lamb was so tender and flavorful. My server was very warm and kind, he made sure the experience was worth it. Highly recommend it!”
“I recently visited Rasika in Penn Quarter to celebrate my wife’s birthday, and overall it was a memorable experience with a small hiccup. This Michelin-recognized Indian restaurant is clearly very popular—busy even late into the night—so reservations are essential. Unfortunately, we faced a technical issue while reserving our table. Despite creating a profile and attempting multiple times (even at the restaurant), the system kept looping through phone/email prompts without confirming the booking. Thankfully, we were accommodated after about an hour, but this is something management should address to avoid inconvenience for guests. That said, everything else exceeded expectations. The ambiance has a slightly classic/old feel but is elegant and comfortable. The staff were extremely warm, humble, and attentive—they made us feel genuinely welcomed. For my wife’s birthday, they surprised us with a thoughtful dessert, which was a lovely touch. The highlight, without a doubt, was the food. As vegetarians, we were happy to find a good variety of options. The food was fresh, authentic, and deeply flavorful—easily among the best Indian food I’ve had in the U.S. The quality and portion sizes were excellent, and the dishes felt light yet satisfying. Even our kids, who usually don’t enjoy Indian food much, loved it so much that we reordered one of the dishes. It’s clear why the restaurant attracts such a diverse crowd, including many Americans—the quality truly stands out. Overall, aside from the reservation system issue, Rasika delivers an outstanding dining experience. Definitely worth the price and a must-visit for authentic Indian cuisine in Washington, DC.”
“The restaurant had a really nice vibe. The decor was simple yet elegant, and it created a great atmosphere to talk and enjoy each other’s company. The food was good, but not amazing. I’ve definitely had better Indian food, so I didn’t feel like the flavors fully justified the price. The staff was professional, but there wasn’t anything particularly standout about the service.”
“I had a disappointing experience at Rasika on D Street. I gave my card to the server (Rahoul) and asked him to pass it to the chef so the plates could be presented nicely for photos and videos for our Instagram page. The server was super nice and understood the request 😊 Two minutes later, the manager came over with a very serious face and told me he is not giving anything for free and that I am not allowed to take any footage of the restaurant except the plate. I never asked for anything free and I never said I wanted to film the restaurant 😅 It was surprising to see this kind of attitude in such a well known place. Good restaurants grow when they understand hospitality, communication, and how people share their experiences today. Sadly, this was not the case here 😕”
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