Masala Authentic Indian Cuisine — Restaurant in Banff

The Indian restaurants in Banff have so many good reviews that piqued my curiosity. I had to check out the two best reviewed restaurants of the three in town. I normally end to stay away from Indian restaurants when I am traveling simply for the reason that I like experiencing local cuisines. Thankfully Banff did not have much by way of Canadian cuisine and it is not easy to get reservations at the only fondue place in town. The good reviews for Masala definitely caught my interest so much so that I have been eagerly waiting to check this place out.

Wanted to lunch at this on our way to lake louise village since we were living there during our trip and we were in no mood to drive down to banff just to eat dinner. Unfortunately we got pulled over by a cop and by the time we reached banff, we were politely told by the waitress that they are closed for lunch. We did a takeout at the nearby Saffron Indian Bistro (amazing food!) and vowed to check out Masala on our way back. Loved the ambience from whatever we saw during our first visit.

We did manage to reach the restaurant on time for lunch on our way back to Calgary. A well-dressed Indian gentleman politely informed us that they are serving buffet for lunch. He quickly recited what's for lunch that day and explained that the buffet would be served at our table. Now I like buffets since they give you a chance to try everything and it's cheaper on the wallet. Seated us next to the big beautiful windows (yay!). The lunch buffet menu changes everyday. On the day we visited, we had veg spring rolls, alu matar, kadhi and butter chicken served alongside butter nan, salad and plain basmati rice. Can't complain about the taste and aroma. This place (along with Saffron) can easily give most GTA restaurants a run for their money. The kadhi was the best I ever ate and the butter nans were just perfect. The alu mutter has my mouth watering even after a week when I write this. In case, you needed to be told explicitly, Masala surely meets the hype... except for a couple of things.

They use food coloring liberally - the yellow stains on our fingers would not go away even after couple of handwashes. The chicken pieces in the butter chicken was too succulent that I enjoyed until I realised later that the restaurant may have been using meat tenderizer that restaurants usually use on hard meat like beef and mutton. And for the vegetarians trying the buffet, you will have to test your luck for a paneer dish on the day you visit. My vegetarian friend was quite disappointed to make do with alu matar that's considered basic in North Indian kitchens. To the management - please fix this. A paneer is to a vegetarian what a chicken is to a non-vegetarian.

Also, it's an extremely limited buffet. While they do serve the curries in liberal portions and do not mind doing a refill (smaller portions than the first batch), this serve-at-the-table buffet does not have a soup or a dessert. Just the main course with a vegetarian starter. Not even a non-vegetarian starter for a kebab lover like me :(

Still, I would say it's a great value for money especially considering how expensive eating out in Banff could get. The lunch buffet was $18 pp. Most of the a la carte dishes are priced very moderately by GTA standards. They also let you pack any remaining food and provide take-out boxes.

A word about the service. The staff are all hard-working and pleasant to deal with. This is the first time I have seen caucasian hostess at an Indian restaurant and I was impressed at how she got the pronunciation of the dishes (almost) right. I later learnt that she is from Czechoslovakia and fell in love with Banff (I mean, who doesn't?!) when she came visiting on a Ski trip.

Happy to see a lot of Indians and foreigners enjoying Indian food. If I was living in Calgary, I'd visit this place at every...

I recently had the pleasure of dining at masala Indian restaurant that truly blew me away with its exceptional food and atmosphere. From the moment I walked in, I could tell that this place was something special. The ambiance was warm and inviting, with a perfect balance of traditional Indian decor and modern touches that made it feel both elegant and cozy.

The menu was extensive, showcasing a wide array of authentic Indian dishes, and I was immediately impressed by the variety and depth of flavors. I started with the samosas as an appetizer, and they were perfectly crispy on the outside with a delightful spiced potato filling that was not too heavy, just the right amount of seasoning.

For the main course, I opted for the butter chicken—a dish that, if done wrong, can feel too creamy and lack authenticity. But here, the butter chicken was a revelation. The chicken was tender and cooked to perfection, and the gravy was rich but balanced, with a smoky, slightly sweet flavor. It had the perfect amount of heat that didn’t overwhelm, and the spices were wonderfully layered.

The lamb rogan josh was another highlight—falling off the bone with ease and bursting with deep, complex flavors. The sauce was rich and aromatic, the perfect combination of cumin, coriander, and garam masala, providing a delightful balance without being too heavy.

The naan bread was perfectly fluffy and soft, served hot and fresh. I especially loved the garlic naan, which complemented the curries brilliantly. The biryani was fragrant, beautifully spiced, and had that perfect balance of heat and flavor, each grain of rice infused with the taste of the spices and tender meat.

To finish, I couldn’t resist trying the gulab jamun, and it was absolutely divine. Warm, syrup-soaked, and just the right amount of sweetness to round off the meal.

What truly stood out, beyond the quality of the food, was the level of authenticity. Every dish had the distinctive, genuine flavors that come only from years of perfecting recipes handed down through generations. It was clear that the chefs take great pride in crafting dishes with attention to detail and using the freshest ingredients.

The service was top-notch—attentive without being overbearing, and the staff made sure that we felt welcome and well taken care of throughout our entire meal. The restaurant itself was clean, well-maintained, and beautifully laid out.

Overall, this was one of the best Indian dining experiences I've ever had. The food was nothing short of a five-star experience, and I will definitely be returning to explore more of their menu. If you're a fan of authentic Indian cuisine, this place is an...

A chance recommendation can sometimes lead to the most memorable experiences, and our visit to Masala Indian Restaurant in Banff was exactly that. On the advice of a friendly car rental agent at the Calgary airport, who hailed it as the best Indian food in town, we set our sights on Masala for our first dinner upon arriving in the breathtaking mountain town. That suggestion turned out to be the best souvenir we could have asked for. For our first meal, we opted for familiar comforts: Butter Chicken and Dal Makhani. Traveling with our eight-year-old, we requested a mild spice level, often a gamble that can lead to bland, uninspired dishes. At Masala, this couldn't have been further from the truth. The food was incredibly flavorful and aromatic, proving that their mastery of spices doesn't rely solely on heat. The chicken in the butter chicken was so exceptionally tender it practically melted, easily breaking apart with a piece of fresh naan—no knife needed. Our son was so enchanted he immediately demanded a return visit the next day. Unfortunately, we discovered they are closed on Mondays. Our attempt to satisfy our craving at another local spot, Saffron, was deeply disappointing and only highlighted how truly special Masala was. We knew we had to go back to cleanse our palate. Our second dinner at Masala solidified its place as our favorite Banff restaurant. We started with the Chicken Tikka Nawabi (Tandoori), which was succulent and perfectly cooked, followed by a rich and creamy Paneer Lababdar, accompanied by Tandoori Roti and Garlic Naan. The quality was just as outstanding as our first visit—fresh ingredients, consistent taste, and that signature tender chicken. Beyond the phenomenal food, the hospitality at Masala is warm and genuine. The staff was incredibly caring and happy to accommodate our request for customization, making it a stress-free experience for a family with a picky child. I’m not sure what the online reviews say, but our personal experience was flawless. For anyone in Banff craving authentic, delicious Indian cuisine, we would recommend Masala over any other option without a moment's hesitation. It’s a true gem, and we will certainly be back on our next trip to...