Dharani, Herndon

You could visit Dharani for dinner every night for three months straight and still not make your way through the entire menu—it’s just that big. Specializing in the rich, aromatic cuisine of South India, cooks here prepare more than 100 halal dishes using authentic ingredients such as gongura leaves, tender goat, and coconut gravy. But beyond just whipping up the dosas and tandoori-cooked meats of India, they also branch out into the realm of India Chinese with a variety of fried rices and noodle dishes. And lest vegetarians feel left out, there’s nearly 20 herbivore-friendly specialities, including mango curry, palak paneer, and a masala with cooked chickpeas and fresh ginger in a tomato sauce.