Masala Waves Indian and Nepali Cuisine — Restaurant in Huntington Beach

Yaaayy I'm so happy to have finally found a restaurant in Huntington Beach with delicious Indian food!

Full disclosure - they almost automatically started with 4 stars because we placed an order on their website. Upon arriving to pick it up, we found out that it hadn't gotten "approved" on their end of the system by anyone and therefore had not even been started. They promptly began our order, but said it'd be a bit of a wait. That was not ideal. THEN, one of the employees came over to us with a tray and insisted that we take a seat at a table to enjoy some complimentary bamboo and black-eyed pea soup (like sambar) to make up for the inconvenience. That was a really kind gesture and showed excellent customer service. 5 stars reinstated.

Once we got home, we noticed that all the notes had been read and fulfilled (e.g. request for chili sauce, onions and chilis on the side). A very good sign. Speaking of chili sauce, my husband said "I like that a lot. Wow, that's tasty." The chicken biryani received a "Yes, that's authentic. Very good. Yep. Yep," with plenty of head nods. The momos with roasted tomato sauce were also very good. The Butter Chicken was delicious and flavorful! It was not too sweet (like other local Indian restaurants) and had a good meat to sauce ratio. Wonderful sauce. The garlic naan smelled incredible and was soft and pillowy. Happy with all the portions and prices.

Overall, Masala Waves was a total hit and has our vote for best Indian food in HB. We can't wait to come back and try other dishes. I will definitely return and recommend to others. The  only thing that could make them even  better is a buffet on...

Food/Menu: The food here is very very good! Love the selection on the menu, they have all my favorites and just a lot of great options. Love that you can choose the spice levels...mild/med/spicy. But most importantly the flavor and quality of the food is very good! The butter chicken is fantastic!

Also, the prices are quite affordable for the quality of the food. At first we weren't sure if the amount of food was enough, but two dishes between two ppl was plenty and we still had some left over.

Service: The service was also great! Everyone was very friendly, welcoming and attentive without being overly pushy or up in your business (whichI appreciate.) Our server was happy to answer questions and give suggestions. The food was brought out quickly...although we were there when it wasn't that busy so that could've helped.

Atmosphere: I really like the atmosphere. It's not too casual or too formal, although a little more on the casual side. It felt comfortable, with plenty of tables and booths. I appreciated the lighting level and decor, and overall 'vibe' of the restaurant.

There aren't a lot of restaurants that I choose to 'dine in' that often, but this is a place that will definitely become a regular to eat out for me...

Cost Efficiency

One meal take out, multiple servings: $12 for one lunch order, stretched into four lunches → effectively $3 per lunch.

Shared portions: By splitting with my wife, we avoid over-ordering.

BYO item: Bringing your own cup for soup and tortillas at home, helps make the meal more filling without extra cost.

Nutrition & Variety

Soup as a base: Hydrating and filling.

Tortillas: Add carbs for energy.

Shared entrée: Balanced protein/veggie source depending on the dish.

You’re basically creating a “mini buffet” out of one order.

Practical Benefits

Less food waste: You eat everything instead of throwing away leftovers.

Time savings: No need to cook four separate lunches.

Portion control: Smaller, steady portions can be healthier than one big meal.

✅ Key Point: You’re turning one restaurant portion (often oversized in the U.S.) into several balanced meals. That’s economical, reduces waste, and still feels like a treat.

So with that is why we...