Curry Z Opens and Biryani Grill Plans Entry as Indian Dining Expands in Germantown
Germantown's South Asian dining scene gained momentum in 2026 with the summer opening of Curry Z, a family-owned Indian and Himalayan restaurant on Clopper Road, and the announcement that Biryani Grill, a Virginia chain, is preparing its first Maryland location just a few miles away. The arrivals reflect rising demand for regional South Asian cuisine in Montgomery County.
🍛 Curry Z Opens Indian and Himalayan Kitchen at Clopper Road
A new family-owned restaurant named Curry Z officially opened in Germantown in July 2026, offering a distinctive combination of Indian and Himalayan cuisine at 13525 Clopper Rd., Germantown, MD 20874. The restaurant took over a space previously occupied by Bitez, a halal eatery that had operated there from July 2025 before closing in January 2026 after roughly six months of business. Curry Z shares a shopping center with Mamma Lena and Rio Grande Bar & Grill. According to the restaurant, the menu combines traditional Indian favorites with dishes inspired by the Himalayan region, and the kitchen also prepares Indo-Chinese specialties. Signature offerings include classic curries, tandoori specialties, handmade momos, and a selection of street food, with additional items available exclusively through the storefront. Handmade momos — the steamed dumplings closely associated with Nepal and Himalayan communities across South Asia — are among the dishes that distinguish Curry Z from most Indian restaurants in the area. The family-owned restaurant brings a personal culinary identity to the Clopper Road location, drawing on both Indian and Himalayan culinary traditions to serve a range of dishes that Montgomery County diners may not commonly find under one roof. The opening fills the gap left by Bitez and adds a new dimension of South Asian culinary diversity to the Germantown corridor. [2]
🍛 Biryani Grill to Bring Virginia Chain's First Maryland Location to Germantown Commons
Biryani Grill, which already operates locations in Aldie, Ashburn, and Chantilly in Virginia, announced plans in April 2026 to open its first Maryland location at the Germantown Commons shopping center, taking over the former Cafe Hong Kong space at 13038 Middlebrook Road. The expansion represents the brand's first step into Maryland after building a following across Northern Virginia. The menu is built around traditional Indian cuisine, with signature biryanis at its center, offered in mutton (goat), chicken dum, and paneer varieties, each slow-cooked with basmati rice and aromatic spices using the dum technique that seals flavors inside a covered pot. Tandoor specialties include paneer tikka, fish tikka, and hariyali chicken, while the curry section features chicken tikka masala, goat curry, and paneer lababdar among its rich, savory options. The restaurant's Instagram handle, @biryanigrill_va, offered a preview of the menu and the brand's visual identity ahead of the planned opening. The MoCo Show, which reported the plans in April 2026, noted that a follow-up update on the opening timeline would be forthcoming as more details became available. For Germantown residents already familiar with Biryani Grill from visits to Northern Virginia, the new location would eliminate the need to cross state lines for the chain's signature biryani offerings and full menu. [3]
Sources: [2] The MoCo Show - · [3] The MoCo Show -