Botiwalla fires up Indian street food in Tenleytown
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Botiwalla brings char-grilled kebabs and Indian street food to Tenleytown. Photo: Courtesy Botiwalla
Char-grilled kebabs, crunchy chaats, and boozy slushies are spicing up Tenleytown with Botiwalla's Wednesday opening.
Why it matters: Sister restaurant Chai Pani brought its James Beard-winning Indian street food to Union Market last year. Now, its casual sibling is bringing the heat — and a taste of India's late-night food culture — to Northwest D.C.
Dig in: The counter-service restaurant at Upton Place is chef Meherwan Irani's ode to the bustling tea and kebab houses of his childhood.
- The 105-seat restaurant mixes vintage Bollywood memorabilia, family photos and colorful Indian artwork.
- The star attraction is the sigri, a North Indian charcoal grill that turns out smoky kebabs like chicken tikka, lamb or paneer — served on skewers, wrapped in buttery naan or piled onto rice bowls and salads.
Don't miss: Chai Pani favorites like crispy okra fries and masala smashed potatoes. Plus, street snacks like bhel puri or lamb pav (sliders) topped with slaw and chutney.
- Wash it down with a frozen tamarind or lime slushie, which you can spike with tequila.
The intrigue: Naan meets the nugget crowd. The "Lil' Walla" kids' menu includes malai chicken bites, cheesy breads and pint-sized okra fries.
What's next: Sister brand Spicewalla opens a Georgetown spice shop in November.
If you go: Botiwalla. 4000 Wisconsin Ave. NW. Open daily, 11am–9pm