South Riding Welcomes Spice & Slice and Apna Pizza as Indian Dining Scene Expands
The South Riding and Chantilly area is welcoming two new Indian-influenced dining options as local development brings fresh restaurant tenants to the community. The arrivals follow the closure of the seven-year-old Aago Indian-Nepalese Restaurant and mark a new chapter for South Asian cuisine in western Loudoun County, where the Desi population has grown steadily in recent years.
🍛 Spice & Slice takes over former Aago Indian-Nepalese Restaurant space
A new restaurant called Spice & Slice is set to open at The Shoppes at East Gate in the Chantilly/South Riding area, stepping into the space formerly occupied by Aago Indian-Nepalese Restaurant, which closed after approximately seven years in business. The location sits at the intersection of Route 50 and Tall Cedars Parkway, near Royal Farm, Zaxby's, and Valvoline. Spice & Slice describes its concept as a blend of authentic Indian cuisine, innovative Asian fusion, and Himalayan street eats delivered with a contemporary edge. The menu includes Chicken Lollipops, Spring Rolls, Vegetable Samosas, Beef Singapore Rice Noodles, Shrimp Kung Pao, Butter Chicken, Chicken Momo, and a range of chicken wings in flavors such as Buffalo, Spicy Garlic, and Lemon Pepper. The restaurant's website states: 'We bring together authentic Indian cuisine, innovative Asian fusion, and Himalayan street eats. We give these time-honored recipes and street traditions a sharp, contemporary edge.' No opening date had been announced at the time of reporting. The arrival means the Chantilly/South Riding area retains an Indian-inspired dining anchor despite the Aago closure, with the expanded pan-Asian menu potentially broadening the appeal beyond the existing South Asian customer base. [1]
🍛 Apna Pizza brings Indian-style pies to new South Riding retail center
A new retail center under construction at 43341 Defender Drive in the South Riding area is set to include Apna Pizza, which will mark the brand's first Northern Virginia location. The center will also house Cold Stone Creamery, Smoothie King, Haraz Coffee House, and Forefathers, an American fusion concept. Apna Pizza currently operates one location in Rockville, Maryland, and specializes in Indian-style pies such as Chicken Tikka Pizza and Butter Chicken Pizza. The brand's expansion into Loudoun County reflects growing demand for Indian-flavored food concepts in the region. The retail center at 43341 Defender Drive is situated adjacent to a Taco Bell and across from a Chick-fil-A and McDonald's, creating a dense restaurant corridor that will soon serve surrounding South Riding neighborhoods. Apna Pizza's format — combining the accessibility of pizza with bold South Asian flavors — represents an approachable entry point for Indian cuisine that may attract both longtime Desi food lovers and newer customers unfamiliar with Indian cooking. No opening date for the center had been confirmed at the time of the report, though construction was already visible at the site. [3]
🪔 Little River Elementary closes for Eid al Fitr holiday
Little River Elementary School in South Riding announced that school would be closed for students and staff on Friday, March 20, 2026 in observance of Eid al Fitr. The Loudoun County Public Schools notification was issued on March 18, 2026, providing families with advance notice of the holiday. Eid al Fitr is the celebration marking the end of Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting and reflection, and is one of the most important occasions in the Muslim religious calendar. The school holiday closure at Little River Elementary reflects the demographic diversity of the South Riding community and broader Loudoun County, which includes a sizable Muslim population with South Asian and other backgrounds. Recognizing the holiday with a full school closure — rather than treating it as an optional absence — signals institutional acknowledgment of its importance to the families the school serves. Little River Elementary is located at 43464 Hyland Hills Street in South Riding and is led by Principal Kevin Murphy. The decision follows a broader trend across Northern Virginia school districts to add Muslim holidays to official school calendars in step with population shifts in communities like South Riding, where the Desi presence has grown substantially over the past decade. [4]
Sources: [1] The Burn · [3] The Burn · [4] Loudoun County Public Schools