The MasalaWala
(Now Closed)Indian Restaurant$$$$
Lower East Side, New York
102 Tips and reviews
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Jesse BagelsOctober 14, 2015If you meet the MasalaWala himself it would behoove you to be nice to him. He's as true and authentic as his restaurant's food. Highlights were the lamb ribs, chili cheese naan, and milk chai. 10/10
Kosha ShahOctober 15, 2014Had an amazing meal! Food was delicious! The staff was so nice too! The owner checked up on us several times to make sure we were doing good with all of our courses! Try the dahi puri and gobi app!!
Tamara JadeMarch 29, 2016Tried the palak paneer along with a chicken chettinad, both incredible ,and this is coming from 2 ppl who eat Indian atleast twice a week. We will be back to try the rest of the menu!Hopefully tmwr ;)
Mario LinDecember 7, 2016Dal tadka was amazing!! Service here is top notch, they replaced our meal free of charge cuz we couldn't handle the spice 😆😆
TomAugust 2, 2015Food is good & portions are big. Owner & staff is warm & welcoming. I came with a Gilt City deal and thought the offering was really generous. Not sure I would feel the same if I had paid full price.
simhskalSeptember 23, 2015The whole experience was really satisfying. The place is small but packed most of the evenings. The service was excellent (owner was super courteous) and the food was absolutely delicious.Coming back!
Cindy MaDecember 9, 2016good ass dal tadka, but got indian hot which was toooo spicy!!! owner hooked it up with a milder replacement for free! great tasting food with top of the notch service
DavDecember 10, 2015Samosa chaat is my fav! I've only tried their veg options and they're all delicious. Onion naan is the best. Can't wait to go back and try the non veg
lia bulaongMarch 30, 2012new instant neighborhood fave! the food is delicious, best indian i've ever had in manhattan. so glad to finally have a fantastic indian restaurant on the les.
Afro lynneOctober 3, 2013Amazing food, ESP the Manchurian cauliflower, mango lassi, shrimp dish, fish curry and many more. Friendly and attentive staff. Will definitely return!
Ernesto GutierrezJuly 2, 2016The Lamb biryani stole the show. Amazing blend of spices and flavor. There is no brunch nonsense here, so come anytime to enjoy some good Indian food.
Thomas HolmenMay 3, 2019One of the best New York experience I have had! Lovely staff, friendly and the food is amazing! Try the Samosa Chaat with a nice cold 1947 beer!
My favorites are the shahi korma and paneer saagwala. Garlic naan is always a nice addition too. But really, you can't go wrong with anything here.
Mary LyonsDecember 25, 2018Pani Puri chaat, Aloo Gobi, & Dal Tadka were all so flavorful and delicious (and vegan). Can’t wait to back to try more dishes!
Eliberty LopezMarch 7, 2015The BEST Indian food I have ever had! I'm especially a fan of the black lentils, chana masala, and mango lassi. Plus the service is great!
Edmund BoeyFebruary 7, 2017The staff is very friendly, and the food is great! Be warned that if you want your curries they can come pretty hot, totally worth it!
Calvin MultanenJanuary 19, 2015The food is great. Very affordable lunch specials, include choice of course with rice and side soup/salad. Service was a little slow. Not exactly a place for a quick lunch
JohannaSeptember 9, 2014The vindaloo is so good! But very spicy -- be sure to order some mango chutney and raita with it (it'll be more delicious overall too).
Cherry ChenApril 29, 2012Best India food so far in Manhattan! Definitely ask the waiters for recommendations if you can't decide what to get. Chicken 65 is the one dish you can't miss!
Johnny WonMay 11, 2015Fantastically spicy and wonderful service from the Masalwala himself. Vegetarian friendly but I'll say it again, next-level spicy.- Afro lynneNovember 30, 2014💗mango lassi is a must, manchurian cauliflower, samosa, pretty much everything is delish
Vivienne GucwaSeptember 4, 2014Excellent food with a nice balance of spices. Bonus: THE Masala Wala himself is sometimes there and love to interact with patrons.
Neil KumarSeptember 5, 2014Malai Kofta and Chicken tikka masala are awesome. One of the best I've had.
Christina ChinFebruary 9, 2018The food here is spicy, even for mild! Owner and servers are very attentive and friendly- simhskalSeptember 23, 2015About the food: Gobi Manchurian , Paneer Tikka Masala with Garlic / Peshawari Naan and Pani Puri. End it with Mango Lassi - your life is good :)
Paola MontelongoNovember 25, 2015The spicy salmon masala was amazing! The owner stayed open an extra hour for us to eat! Very hospitable. Great service!
Henry YuanOctober 10, 2015It's places like this that reminds me why I wouldn't want to move out of NYC. The cheese chili naan (it's vegetarian) is so simple, I don't know how it's not more available. A must-try!
Xanthe TravlosOctober 18, 2015The owner, the Masala wala, is such a wonderful fella. So friendly. And the food was delicious. Try the samosa chaat.- My absolute favorite Indian in NYC. Best part about this place is the owner: kind, warm, welcoming. Personal fav is the paneer saagwala
- Maxime BuryMarch 16, 2015Lamb rolls are awesome. All the curries I've tried were fantastic. The owner is the friendliest guy!
Chris BraithwaiteMay 5, 2014I'm an English guy who eats a lot of Indian food. This is the best I've ever eaten. Absolutely amazing.
- James MarshallOctober 16, 2015Very solid straightforward Indian food. Love the spicy naan. Curries, vindaloos, all excellent.
Millie SDecember 22, 2015Manchurian Cauliflower, Aloo Chaat, Indian Milk Tea and anything Lamb. Skip the Biryanis though, they pale in comparison to everything else.
CarolynSeptember 8, 2012Crazy good food and supremely friendly service. The dal is perfect and the chicken tikka roll is way above standard. Fabulous
Joseph TerranellaAugust 2, 2015The poori and the malai kofta are amazing. Good eat that malai kofta sauce everyday.
Vadim DrobininJune 4, 2015Aloo gobi and garlic naan are really good, though that's a pity they don't cook a cheese garlic one.
Michelle C.December 11, 2011Tasting table recommends: Indian Milk Chai with potato and pea samosa, Masala Chai with pan-fried kofta and Kashmir Pink Chai
Tyger MadendaNovember 8, 2011The owner and staff are extremely polite and friendly. He gave myself and another waiting customer samples of the Mango Lassi, which were delicious!
LaineyLouDecember 8, 2012Fantastic Indian food. Try the Gobi Manchurian appetizer - never thought cauliflower could taste so good!
Enrica CaliriAugust 16, 2014Awesome place and food!! Let the waiter give you advices: he knows what he's talking about😍
Jose CaballeroMarch 20, 2015The navratan (vegetarian) korma is not on the menu, but it can be ordered and it's good.
Sandeep PinnapureddyMarch 21, 2016Great for lunch, dahi puri was on point. Extremely reasonable prices.
Arjun Shivanand KannanSeptember 23, 2015Make sure to try the cauliflower manchurian and the garlic naan!
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The MasalaWala is a chic South-Asian spot offering rare street-side delicacies like Chaat, Pani-Puri etc. while boasting traditional items like Tikka Masala, Jalfrezi, and Tandoor (Clay Oven) Specialties like Kebabs. Intimate setting with free Wi-Fi and voted "best Chai in the City"!
Permanently closed (Show more)
- Mon–Sun
- Noon–Midnight
(212) 358-9300
Features
Credit Cards
Yes (incl. Discover & Visa)
Wi-Fi
Yes
Outdoor Seating
Yes
Food & Drink
Menus
Brunch, Happy Hour
Drinks
Full Bar
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- 8.4
"Solid lunch buffet, take it to go and it's the best deal in the neighborhood. Tasty, predictably consistent food. Can't go wrong!"
Nikolai Chowdhury - 8.0
"Great place for really yummy Kati rolls. Try the chicken tikka roll"
Calvin Multanen - 8.0
"BEST Indian food anywhere, ever. Not fancy and not expensive, but soooo good. Worth a trip on the A."
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