Desi Flavors — Reno's New Build-Your-Own Indian Bowl Spot Is Already Tracking 4.4 Stars (New & Hot)
By Ask Reno
There's a new way to eat Indian food in Reno — and it doesn't involve a sit-down dinner with three courses and a wine list. Desi Flavors quietly opened in the former Rick's Deli space on Double R Boulevard with a deceptively simple premise: take Chipotle, swap the burrito bar for butter chicken, tikka masala, and goat curry, and let people walk out the door with a $12 bowl in eight minutes.
Early reviews say it's working.
The Quick Read
Get Reno's best picks weekly
Plus exclusive subscriber offers from eligible local businesses
- What it is: Build-your-own Indian bowls, fast-casual, no waiter, no tip pressure, ready in under 10 minutes.
- Where: 9475 Double R Blvd, Ste 1 — south Reno, in the old Rick's Deli space.
- Phone: (775) 519-0441
- Instagram: @desi_flavors775
- Current rating: 4.4 stars (early days — under 30 reviews so far, but skewing strongly positive).
- Best for: Quick weekday lunch, healthy-ish takeout, a first-Indian-food experience for someone who's nervous about ordering off a sit-down menu.
How It Works
Pick a protein, pick a base, layer on toppings, top it with a sauce. It's Chipotle's format — and that's exactly what early reviewers are calling out:
*"Friendly, quick, healthy, and on a track record to overtake Chipotle if I have anything to do with it."*
The difference is what's in the trays. Instead of carnitas and barbacoa, you're looking at butter chicken simmering in cream-tomato gravy, chicken tikka masala with that smoky char on the edges, slow-cooked goat curry, and a chickpea channa masala if you're going meatless.
The Menu — What to Order
Proteins - Butter Chicken — $12.50. Creamy, rich, the gateway dish for anyone new to Indian food. Get this first. - Chicken Tikka Masala — $14.30. Smokier, more assertive spice, bigger flavor punch. Locals are favoring this one. - Chicken Tikka — Marinated, grilled, lighter than the masala. Good if you don't want a sauce-heavy bowl. - Goat Curry (+$3.99) — Slow-simmered, rich, the most "this isn't a Chipotle copy" dish on the menu. - Channa Masala — $6.99. Chickpeas in tomato-onion gravy. The vegetarian default. - Aloo Gobi — Potatoes and cauliflower, perfectly seasoned. Add it as a side or run the whole bowl meatless.
Sides on the bar Masala corn · pickled red onion · cilantro · house chutney · "creamy tartilla" chips · shredded cheese. The masala corn is the sleeper play — sweet-spicy, gets along with everything.
The Desi Fire Sauce House-made, advertised as "try if you dare." The Elite Yelp reviewer Melissa A. put it best: "There was a slight kick at the end, but nothing overwhelming — just enough to keep things interesting." If you tolerate medium salsa, you'll be fine. If you don't, ask for it on the side.
Drinks - Mango Lassi — $5.99. Reviewers are already calling it out specifically: "definitely has a different flavor (in a good way) than most of the eateries in town. House made without the fluff." - Chai — $5. One reviewer questioned the price-to-portion ratio. Stick with the lassi.
Sides worth adding - Samosas with mint chutney. "Crispy — don't forget the mint chutney." - Garlic Naan. Mentioned by name in multiple reviews, soft + buttery + griddled-edge.
What Locals Are Actually Saying
*"Quick and fresh! Man this stuff is savory! The proteins are really well seasoned and tender, fresh veggies, and the samosas are crispy (don't forget the mint chutney!)"*
*"Great food! Great service! Great recommendations! Definitely telling everyone to come and returning myself :)"*
*"From the moment I walked in, the staff made a strong impression. Super helpful, patient, and genuinely willing to answer questions without making you feel rushed."* — Melissa A. (Yelp Elite '26)
*"I ended up ordering a bowl with a chicken option that's not even on the menu yet (pro tip: ask about it). It wasn't breaded, just perfectly seasoned and cooked to perfection."*
A staffer named Jas keeps getting name-checked in reviews for spot-on recommendations. If you're new to Indian, just tell him what level of spice you're comfortable with and let him build the bowl.
The Room
It's a quick-eats spot, not a date-night spot — and Desi Flavors isn't pretending otherwise. "Spacious little diner-like environment, single TV, menu on the wall, buffet-style non-self-serving setup. It's pretty straightforward." You order at the counter, watch them build the bowl, sit at a table for 15 minutes, and you're back to your afternoon.
For south-Reno residents and anyone working out near the Double R corridor, this is now the highest-quality lunch option within a 5-minute drive. For everyone else, it's worth a Saturday afternoon detour the first time, then you'll be back.
The Bottom Line
Reno already has great sit-down Indian. What it didn't have, until now, was a place where you could get genuinely good butter chicken in under 10 minutes for under $13. Desi Flavors fills that gap — and based on the early review velocity, it's doing it well.
Order first time: Butter Chicken bowl over basmati + masala corn + pickled red onion + mint chutney on the side + a mango lassi. Don't skip the samosas.
The reservation note that isn't a reservation: No reservations needed. They're fast-casual. But the lunch rush is hitting harder every week — show up at 11:30 or after 1:15 to avoid the line.
Follow them on Instagram: @desi_flavors775.
Found a new Reno spot worth covering in the next Ask-Reno Weekly? Tag us — we read every reply.
Browse more: Best Indian food in Reno · Best restaurants in Reno · What to do in Reno today