Masala

«Wonderful Vegetarian/​Vegan Dishes Here!»
Fantastic vegan/​vegetarian Indian food! Extremely flavorful and spicy, we ate here three times during our stay in London, and we would have gone back more if we had stayed longer. All the vegetarian dishes are on one side of the case so it was easy to order just by pointing at what you wanted. I tried a different dish every time I went and each one was better than the last. The owner was very friendly and gave us good advice on other places to eat inside and outside of Earl’s Court. There’s a similarly named Indian chain called Masala Zone and he suggested we try there, kind of hinting that once we did, we’d be back at his place. Wink, wink. We thought about comparing the two, but then didn’t even bother, we were delighted with his food!

I had a great meal here on my last day in London. Service was quick, the food was flavorful and the man working went out of his way to make me feel welcome.
It is more of a takeout place, but you can have your meal to eat in as well. Yes, they do reheat your food for you, but you get what you pay for. If you’re looking for a plate made to order and the price that goes with it, you’re better off somewhere else.

More of buffet style, but the flavor is all there, without the waiting for 20 – 30 minute for your dish to come out. It’s London, so Indian is the it, and it can’t go wrong. Pick what you want and they usually just reheat to hot. Though I wish they would offer a sample if someone wants to taste the dish. Not everyone’s palate is yet known all the Indian dishes. I usually know what I like, anything with lamb and spicy. Easy eating.

As a big fan of Mughal cuisine my mother told me that London was the place to experience it.
This place was a little different that most Indian places I’ve been to in the States. The dishes are prepared and presented in a case near the entrance. We received menus, ordered and our items were scooped up and warmed in a microwave. The naan was made to order in the kitchen and brought to us. They seem to do quite a brisk business from walk in take-​away traffic.
Everything was satisfactory here and on met my expectations based on the Indian cuisine that I have grown to love at my home in central Iowa. Good value, and some friendly local patrons made for an enjoyable experience.

Is it common for Indian cuisine to be served the way this place does?
Maybe I just didn’t know about it?
Can someone explain?
Everything is already cooked and sits in the case at the front of the restaurant. Your order will be plated by a person who takes your order, he then sticks them in a microwave, which is right behind the counter, and few minutes later, he delivers them to your table.
What would be the difference buying a prepared packaged and sealed Indian dinner from Sainsbury, heat it up yourself at home, or eating at Masala?
You probably clean your hands before touching your food.
I gave one star for Kingfishers.

I ordered a curry based dish with rice. The dish was acceptable. Masala is one of those pre-​prepared restaurant/​take-​aways that reheats food in a microwave. As a person who values freshness and made-​to-​order meals, this is a rather disappointing practice that has been embarrassed by Indian and Middle Eastern restaurants throughout London.
On the positive side, Masala does have a friendly staff that works quickly making Masala a very convenient take-​away choice for Indian food in Earl’s Court.

Got take out from here while staying at hotel nearby. The dining space was quite basic. Got the feeling that it was more of a takeout place. Chicken tikka masala and lamb korma was quite good as was the aubergine dish. I forget what it is called. All the food is basically pre-​prepared and they nuke it for you right there. Because of this the naan and the samosa were also pre-​made and cold. (The blatant microwave on the counter was a shocker. You don’t normally see that in the U.S. They hide it in the back and pretend that your food was freshly made) All in all it was fine since curry and rice reheat well.
Curries were very nice. Portions were decent. If I had a oven to reheat it properly, I might even order the samosa again. I would go back.

We tried this place based on the reviews and the proximity to our hotel, and it was really good.
The service was fast and we had no complaints about the meal. As stated in another review, the food was microwaved for us when we ordered it. The restaurant was very small and cozy, but obviously popular (unlike the other Indian restaurant across the street).
The Masala tea was fantastic.

First trip here, but highly recommended. Good food, friendly, quick and efficient service. If I was a local, I’d make it a regular stop.

Just solid and fresh food. The restaurant is great with kids. The service is attentive without being pushy. I know that this is a chain but if they could add just a couple more decent bottles to the wine list that would be great.

Walking up and down Brick Lane is always an experience. Apparently the men standing outside the restaurants are all old friends who want to buy me drinks if I come inside their restaurants! You have to take their enticing offers with a grain of salt– only once was the promise of discounts honored for me when I ventured over to Brick Lane. And that would be here, in Masala.
I don’t have a favorite eatery here simply because there are so many to choose from and I want to try as many out as I can first. However, Masala is creeping up close to having the title. The food was absolutely delicious and amazingly didn’t send me straight to the bathroom downstairs (usually a sign of a delicious curry). From what I remember, the staff was much more attentive and pleasant than I was expecting. I think our server may have even made a joke!
The upstairs area isn’t as decorative as the restaurant below, with people seated close together in an almost cafeteria style setting. It’s all right, though. It’s a nice little cove and might be where where the discounters are shuffled to. I’ll gladly sit up here again if my bill comes out to what it did the night I went. We were given a decent, free bottle of wine and shockingly, a slight reduction in price on our food, too. We walked out of there tipsy, curried up, and happy we had an extra 20 quid in our pockets we weren’t expecting to have.
Okay. Now I want curry… Watch out Masala, I’ve been on a diet, I’m starving, and you’re going to have me on your hands soon!

Good Indian cuisine in Earl’s Court, just a couple hundred feet away from the tube stop. Used to come here at least once a week when I was living in South Kensington. Can’t say anything bad about any of the dishes I’ve had here. The only thing that I found strange, as an American, was their use of the microwave out in the open, to heat food. I later saw this at another restaurant I went to near by as well. Regardless the curry is still very good and worth a go. Also try their Masala tea.