Masala Restaurant — Restaurant in London

I haven't actually had a lot of Indian food in London and I was keen to try more so I came to this place with some friends who were visiting in town on a Friday night. I made a reservation a few hours prior just in case it was busy and it was very busy indeed with customers going in and out the whole time we were there.

One of my friends has gluten intolerance so we were careful to check the dishes before ordering. On the menu literally every section says "all dishes are gluten free" so my friend was very happy but when we checked with a staff member whether poppadoms were gluten free he replied saying no so then we challenged and asked him why the menu wasn't updated which he didn't address. Then we knew we had to just ask them for every dish we were interested in ordering since the menu had obviously not been updated to reflect. We found out loads of dishes weren't actually gluten free after all so for those who have gluten intolerance out there please don't blindly trust just ask the staff to make sure.

After checking a few dishes with the staff, we decided to go with the lamb samosa as a starter, tandoori mixed grill and chana masala as mains and then chicken tikka biryani as a side. Everything was amazing I have to say - lamb samosas were hot throughout and very flavorful so a great starter indeed to stimulate our appetites, chana masala was a good portion with a mini spiced curry which went well with the biryani. My personal favourite was the tandoori mixed grill - it's such a massive portion for its price and everything was so tender and savoury with the right amount of marinate. The chicken and lamb were juicy and not dry at all and even though the bottom of the sizzling plate was oily, for some reason it was really easy to keep eating without tasting the oil. We genuinely enjoyed the food a lot. Just to note the tandoori mixed grill wasn't actually gluten free so my friend couldn't have any of it.

Service was fine, I gave them a 4-star because of the confusion with the menu items as we had to constantly prompt them about the gluten issue otherwise they wouldn't have paid attention at all. Nonetheless, it's good overall. It's very loud and noisy inside the restaurant with the table next to us talking extremely loudly and the background music was too much as well so again 4-star for the atmosphere.

Happy to come back here but also equally happy to try all the other places along Brick Lane since there are so many...

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Masala, and I must say, it was an unforgettable culinary experience. From the moment I stepped in, I was transported to the vibrant streets of India.

The ambiance was delightful, with warm, inviting decor that set the perfect mood for our evening. The staff were incredibly attentive and knowledgeable, guiding us through the extensive menu with genuine enthusiasm.

As for the food, it was nothing short of exceptional. We started with the samosas, and they were perfectly crispy with a delicious filling. The butter chicken was rich and creamy, while the biryani was a fragrant masterpiece. The flavors in each dish were harmonious, and the spice levels were just right, catering to a variety of palates.

But what truly stole the show was the naan. Freshly baked and served piping hot, it was the ideal accompaniment to the mouthwatering curries. We couldn't resist ordering seconds!

Overall, Masala exceeded my expectations in every way. It's a place where you can savor the authentic taste of India in a cozy, welcoming atmosphere. I'll definitely be returning to explore more of their menu. If you're a fan of Indian cuisine, this restaurant is a must-visit!

In summary, this restaurant provides an exceptional culinary journey through India's flavors, combined with excellent service and a warm atmosphere. I highly recommend it for an unforgettable dining experience.

ps. the food also gets rolled out in this lovely cart allowing the waiters to bring all our food out at once. Would definitely be coming again. Highly...

Located almost opposite the Brick Lane Mosque, Masala is a Bangladeshi/Indian subcontinent restaurant offering a wide selection of curries. The restaurant has a long interior layout and large glass doors that open up during the warmer months, creating a pleasant, open feel. As is common on Brick Lane, there’s a man stationed outside encouraging diners to come in—often with offers of discounts, sometimes up to 50% off your meal, which makes it a great spot for value.

We arrived at 9 PM on a Thursday, and the place was reasonably busy. The lamb bhuna was extremely hot—definitely one for those who enjoy spicy food, though the meat itself was served in fairly average-sized cubes and wasn’t especially tender. The prawn dish with lentils was an unusual combination, but surprisingly it worked well together. The pilau rice was standard, nothing exceptional.

Among the highlights were the crisp, clean naan and the poppadoms served with chutneys to start, which helped tide us over until the mains arrived. Beers were served in long pint or half-pint glasses.

Service was average. While the staff were friendly and made an effort, there were some communication issues. It might be helpful for the restaurant to ensure that tables are served by staff who have sufficient English to explain the menu and respond to basic queries.

Overall, Masala offers very good value for money, especially if you take advantage of the promotional deals. The food has its hits and misses, but for a casual night out on Brick Lane, it’s a...