RASA, D.C.’S GO-TO DESTINATION FOR INDIAN BOWLS, ENTERS THE HANDHELD GAME
Fast-casual Rasa adds stuffed wraps to the mix this spring, marking the local hitmaker’s first big menu makeover since its start in late 2017.
Three options (chicken tikka, spicy chicken, or tandoori paneer) are joined by lemon-turmeric rice, romaine, spiced chickpeas, chutneys, and sauces, all wrapped up in warm roti bread. The debut item drops today, Tuesday, April 23, across its five DMV-wide locations in D.C. (Navy Yard, Mount Vernon Triangle), Virginia (Fairfax, Arlington), and Maryland (Rockville). Order online for pickup or delivery ($11.55-$12.80).
Owners and Eater Young Guns (’18) Rahul Vinod and Sahil Rahman previously only specialized in a fork-required menu offering — build-your-own or premade Indian bowls — along with vegan soft serve, cardamom mint juleps, and spiked lassis sent out in a coconut.
Roti wraps were actually part of Rasa’s initial menu ideation when the brand was being formulated back in 2015. “Unfortunately, with everything that goes into the craziness of opening our first restaurant, we decided to punt on the wraps,” Vinod tells Eater.
After debuting its first location in Navy Yard, COVID-19 and a subsequent expansion fueled by a financing round proceeded to eat up most of the team’s energy and time, he adds. “After six years we felt it was the right time to launch this new menu category,” he says.
Rasa, honored by Nation’s Restaurant News as one of the country’s most exciting “Breakout Brands” in 2022, is long known for its vibrant bowls topped with all sorts of proteins like lamb kebab, shrimp, and spiced beef. Two best sellers from the start include the vegetarian Aloo Need Is Love bowl with sweet potato and chicken Tikka Chance on Me.