Great! The lunch buffet was actually very good and everything was well stocked. I went on a whim and was just passing through. I WILL be back. The meats were cooked just right and the breads, dips, oils, etc were all very authentic. The candied carrots and raisins were spiced perfectly. I had some Korma and it was to die for. The service was outstanding besides the lack of english. Strip mall food is growing on me. =) It's located in a really nice neighborhood as well with convenience to many things. As being a CA native, I have had excellent Indian food and this stands up to it.
(4)
Merlin C.
The lunch buffet was passable. Good shrimp korma and chicken tikka masala. Terrible chicken tandoori -- very dry and tasteless. I'm downgrading a couple stars because of the lack of variety and the appallingly rude service. The lady manning the register yelled at me to use a new plate (no signs posted anywhere on this strange rule) and nothing resembling a "thank you" when I paid. I'd stay away.
(2)
Richard Y.
Now, living mostly in Cincinnati, I'm spoiled by the incredible selection of Indian food. However, one of my favorites I've ever been to is probably this little place in a strip mall in Lexington. Masala is quite the amazing place in terms of Indian food. It has the appearance of most Indian restaurants. The white tablecloths, free water, strange (read: amazing) smells. But what sets it apart is the complexity of flavors. Basically-their Indian food is from real spices, not curry pastes. Personally-others might differ-the first time I go to an Indian place I get the same thing every time-it's like the control in an experiment. This may be a bit judgmental, but I've found that I can usually determine from a dish or two, what I like about the restaurant. For me, that dish is the Chicken Makhani-and let me tell you, at Masala, it is splendid. T flavors were complex, and overall, it was simply amazing. I cannot really recommend this place enough. Seriously. It's amazing. And that's coming from a seasoned Indian veteran.
(5)
Jennifer M.
Excellent Indian cuisine!! I have only eaten at the lunch buffet once. However, I regularly (about once a week) order carryout off their menu. They are quick and the food is always delicious. This is not an establishment to which you visit for an evening of sophistication and swanky ambiance, but it is a place for some tasty Indian food.
(5)
Sean B.
Great food, I live in Richmond and was extremely happy when they opened one up here in town. My wife and I try to eat there two or three times a month. Good service, and again...great food.
(5)
Jim N.
Wonderful flavors; excellent buffet selection; every thing tasted was good; this place rocks! We will definitely return.
(4)
Wes F.
This is the best indian in town, and number 1 or 2 of top indian I've ever had. The staff is really nice as well. One night their credit card machine was down, and they could only take cash, they took whatever cash I had even tho it didn't totally cover the bill. The food is always fresh and the basil naan is my absolutely favorite. The portions are large, I always walk away with two for one meals and I eat quite a bit in general. Their buffet is always very well kept so don't be afraid to try it.
(5)
Ashley H.
This is my favorite Indian place so far. My boyfriend was visiting from Nashville, and it's almost become tradition for us to go to a couple of the Indian places when I visit him, so we decided to seek out one here. We ordered carryout so u can comment on a dining experience, but I will say that the staff was very friendly when we picked up our food. We both ordered the Tikka Masala, garlic naan, and a mango lassi each. I ordered the medium, while he ordered the Indian hot. When we for home and started eating? We both decided that THIS was our favorite Indian place even over our current two favorite Nashville places. The flavor was just so good, and it was honestly the best naan bread is ever had. As far as the spice levels, I'm honestly not one that could accurately review those. I will say that the medium at this place was spicier than the previous place I had eaten, and was the perfect amount of spice for me. The Indian hot was just too hot for me. But my boyfriend enjoyed it so much. Though he admitted that he'd probably just go for the hot next time rather than the Indian hot. I'm excited to try out the other dishes that they offer.
(5)
Tia T.
Went there for lunch.. Not very crowded. I usually love masala but it was sort of a miss for buffet For me that day. I guess bc I didn't try any meat dishes this visit but since I have been here multiple times, I will back again to try goat curry!!
(3)
Cory D.
This is a solid four star review. I really enjoyed the flavors of the various types of Indian curry dishes on the buffet. I must say the although, I have eaten here a few times this is my only experience with Indian food. The service was good, but every time I have eaten here I got the buffet.
(4)
Wes C.
The Good: the food, the prices, the wait staff, the buffet. The Bad: same old same old for Indian restaurant decor, service could be better, very cold in there. The Rundown: just to get this out of the way, it was cold in there, not see your breath cold, but keep your jacket on cold, what is up with that?! As far as Indian restaurants go, this one ranks up there as one of the better around. The food comes out pretty quick and tastes great. We ordered our food Indian Hot, which we can handle, but for the average joe, I wouldn't try this. The food is served in the traditional manner with the rice separate from the meat and sauce so you can make your own portion. Generally one dish should be enough for two people as well. Where they could improve is in their customer service, though I don't expect too much because every Indian restaurant I haver we been to is like this, standoffish, staring, curt, this just comes along with the territory. The decor is just like every other Indian restaurant as well, baron walls, mirrors, glass over the tablecloth, even red napkins. The Impression: as in the past I will come back for their food, after all that is why you go out to eat. There is nothing overwhelmingly amazing about it but I just really like Indian food. It would be nice if there was a little something different about them, something to make them stand out to bring more people in.
(4)
Christian S.
Best in I've been able to find in Lexington. While I'm new to the Indian food game, this is quickly becoming my favorite despite having to drive across town for it. Highly recommend the Gobi Manchurian - Not on the menu. Must ask for it. Also, my current favorite is the Dal Makhni. And don't forget the garlic naan! The staff is incredibly friendly and provides great service. Plus, it's always easy to walk in and order. Very high rankings from Health Department reviews as well.
(5)
Mike T.
Excellent Indian food at a good price! Average to below-average dining room experience but excellent for a quick lunch buffet.
(4)
Ron B.
It's hard to judge indian food in this area because I'm new and the restaurants I've been to so far aren't crowded ever. That said, I came here and ordered the tandoori chicken saag one evening when I didn't feel like cooking. It was cooked well, the chicken is truly from a tandoori situation and they don't ferret out the bones for you, so go into it knowing that so you (or someone you love) doesn't end up choking. Otherwise, it was a solid meal. I wasn't blown away, but it served it's purpose of a good meal, good service and was ready for takeout when I arrived.
(3)
D M.
Awesome Indian food. We came in a little skeptical just because it's hard to find good Indian food but wow. We got an appetizer and two entrees and even that was too much food for the two of us. The palak paneer was to die for. The chicken masala was great. The garlic naan is a must!!! I will definitely come here often.
(5)
Candace G.
Been here several times and everything I've tried has been excellent! The owners are here everyday and take great pride in the quality of the food and experience you have at the restaurant. You have to get bread with your meal, it is the perfect accent to any of the dishes and the garlic naan is my favorite. Also, when they say hot they truly mean it, so don't go with spicy unless you are in the mood for a sweat!
(5)
Rick M.
That was a pretty good buffet. It was not the biggest but everything on there was fresh and bursting with flavor. I was very surprised to see goat on the buffet on a weekday. It was on the bone and slow simmered in a curry until it was meltingly tender. I look forward to going some evening and ordering off the menu. If the buffet is this good, ordering from the kitchen is probably dynamite.
(5)
april w.
Great service! I had a huge take out order that I out in last minute, and they even gave me a free mango lassi when I was waiting for the food. They also packed everything nicely. The only thing is that the chicken jalfrezi was a little too spicy and the naan didn't taste as fresh. My Indian friends really likes theirs so it probably is very authentic Indian food.
(4)
Michael T.
I was in Lexington on business and decided to check this place out. I was very impressed with the quality of food. The place is pretty small and located in a strip mall, but very worth it. I ordered the Chicken Makhani with some garlic naan and it was simply the best meal I have ever had. The staff was very nice and the prices were great. I plan to return here when I come back in January.
(5)
Ashley S.
This is by far our favorite Indian food restaurant in the COUNTRY... And we travel weekly to different cities, with Indian food always on our agenda at least twice a week. The service is excellent & the food is phenomenal. They always remember us even if it's been months since our last visit. Just this week my husband had a request that wasn't on the menu & Sunny (the chef/owner) didn't even flinch at him.... He made the dish and it was SPOT ON! My personal fave is paneer makhani & garlic naan. I love their mango lassi as well. All around a great find!
(5)
Josh M.
This is quickly becoming one of my fav places in town. Eggplant Bhartha is wow. Soup I have had 1st two on the list and great on both. Also make sure you try the bread. The people are always very friendly and welcome to have you. Be nice, tip on!!!
(5)
Melissa L.
I was recently visiting family in Lexington for a wedding and my sister suggested Indian food (which I have never had) for dinner. It can be hard to find really good food that everyone likes as we have a few vegetarians in the house, but this place nailed it! The masala and naan were amazing! Melissa
(5)
Cathy B.
It might, indeed, be the best Indian food in town. But that isn't necessarily a ringing endorsement. As a visitor from out of town, I found this place really lack-luster. It was certainly popular among the erudite crowd; other tables were clearly filled with college faculty talking about poetry, liberation, and world travels. Which made for good eavesdropping. But that doesn't make up for re-heated food, limited spices, and sugared Kashmiri bread. (Sugared!?) Plus, the place was slightly grimy. (I say this as someone who has eaten from food carts in both north and south India, so, it's not like I'm super persnickety.) Tables sticky, plastic tumblers worn, no straws offered. But it was mostly the service that was odd. Well -- the service was off, and it was odd. The server checked on each table probably every 5 minutes, which was a bit disruptive and mildly insincere. I never felt like she actually wanted to do anything about any table's dining experience. And the man working the floor seated me at my table, confirmed that I was eating alone, and then just became flummoxed, eventually just shifting the other table setting over about 2 inches, instead of removing it completely. Oh, and because my stomach is a bottomless pit today, I actually was going to go ahead and order dessert, but they never gave me the chance and merely brought the bill. I dunno. Maybe they just wanted me and my magazine-reading, single-dining self out of there. I wouldn't bother returning, personally. Especially if you are an out of towner.
(2)
Andrew W.
This place is awesome. Best Indian food I've had. Shared the combination with my daughter. Started with chicken soup, seasoned perfectly. Next came the naan: fresh, "fluffy" best ever. Next was lamb josh rogan (very nice), chicken tikka, and chicken/sausage with onions and peppers on a hot stone. Very fresh testing, hint of spice, just right. Kheer for dessert. We walked away happy, very full... And less than $50 lighter in the wallet!
(5)
Nick W.
This place is no longer run by the same people (see my taste of India review). The food was not quite as good and a bit oily. The service was okay, but not great. Apparently, the owner is the same, it's just the staff that is all different. (See associated comment). It definately shows. Went back to give it another go. Yeah, I stand by my original review. This place has gone downhill. Food was cold when it showed up 30 min later (after they'd forgotten about us). They were very polite and apologetic and gave me 10% off, but still...there are better places.
(3)
Ekim E.
I had a few things to take care of in the area so I stopped by Masala for lunch. Seems everyone from the area loves this restaurant but I wasn't impressed very much. The lunch buffet is relatively small and besides the tikka masala nothing else has much of a taste. The naan is very fluffy as others have noted and tastes quite good and the rice pudding isn't bad either. Other than these, however, I don't think this place is worth visiting if you are looking for flavorful Indian food -BUT if you are in the area, are hungry and don't want to pay much for lunch, then Masala could be a good choice as it's impossible to beat the $7.95 lunch buffet deal.
(3)
Shoshanna G.
what a fantastic restaurant!! i wish they move to DC area. i've ordered Lamb tikka masala with garlic naan, I LOVED the Lamb tikka masala: it was in creamy tomato sauce w/ lots & lots of spices. i've ordered medium spicy and i could taste all the flavors w/ right amt of kick! naan was very fresh w/ just right amt of garlic flavor. it really enhanced the garlic aroma w/ the sauce!! i wish i've also tasted some of their samosas but didn't have the room for it :( gosh i'll visit KY again just to eat here!!
(5)
Joseph K.
Good indian food in the area. I had lamb tikha masala with rice along with papadum as appitizer and gulab jamun as my dessert. I have my lamb on mild.. Probably will be alot better if its medium or hot... ( i m travelling not risking upset stomach if i cant handle the spice) 1 order of lamb with rice will probably enough for 2 people to share... Good food, will return.
(4)
Julia N.
I came here with my family, a group of five people. Everyone loved what they ordered, and since we are a family that always tries what the others order, I can honestly say that everyone loved what everyone ordered. Delicious naan, samosas, and five entrees. No one left hungry, and two folks had full takeaway boxes. The waitress was amazingly attentive, sweet, and friendly. She played an Indian version of Happy Birthday over the loudspeaker when she heard it was my birthday. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone in the area that would like a tasty Indian meal. It was my first time here, and I will be back. We all will!
Wow! What a pleasant suprise! This goes on the list of some of the best Indian food we have had in a restaurant anywhere! It goes in the top five of the best we've tried in a restaurant in the US. The eggplant bhartha was amazing. Tasted like homemade. Loved the onion chutney. Papadums were super thin and crispy. Service was great. Staff was friendly. Restaurant was clean and had a 95 health rating. Will definitely be back next time we are in Lexington.
(4)
P B.
Skip the lunch buffet. It has no spice at all to satisfy the more casual and timid diner. Go instead for dinner and I dare you not to love it. Granted, the change in staff recently may have an impact, but so far so good in my opinion. I have a friend from Chicago who has eaten Indian food all over the country and Masala is his favorite of them all. The saag is deliciously creamy and spicy. Their garlic naan is my favorite bread ever. And the lamb rogan josh is my favorite dish of all time, no matter what cuisine we're talking about. The chicken tikka masala is killer too. We sometimes order the dinner for two, which comes with tandoori chicken, seekh kebab, soup (we get the chicken soup--awesome!), chicken curry, and lamb rogan josh. It's too much food for two people, but it's so hard to stop eating it. And if you like biryani, that's crazy good here too. I can't say enough good things about it. As long as the quality and service remain at a high level, this will remain my favorite place to eat in the world. One tip: order a little spicier than you might at other places. Medium here is consistently pretty mild so if you're looking for a kick, go spicy! Oh, and one more tip: you can stop at Liquor Barn across the parking lot and pick up a bottle of wine to bring in to Masala with you. It sounds a little weird, but trust me, a bottle of fairly sweet Riesling really works well with just about anything here. Liquor Barn doesn't have much in the way of chilled Rieslings, but it's worth a look--or just bring your own from home.
(5)
Shelly V.
Hot means hot here not some American-style hot. If you like a bit of kick keep with the mild, it's still not really mild. They have a large vegetarian selection and many vegan options. Overall a great choice for Indian food!!
(4)
Christopher L.
Changed name to 4 Spice. Best Indian restaurant I've found yet in Lexington. Seekh kebab was excellent, loved the pakora, very generous kheer portions. Great atmosphere and attentive staff, too. Highly recommended.
(5)
Joseph O.
Outstanding Indian Food. You wouldn't think some of the very best in Indian food would be found in a little strip mall on the outskirts of Lexington, but it is. The restaurant itself is clean, professional, and tries hard for a good atmosphere, but the star is the food itself. Every time I've eaten here I try something new, and I've never, ever been disappointed. The flavors are rich and varied, and the quality trumps far more expensive and pretentious Indian places. If you are looking for some very good Indian food, you will not go wrong trying out Masala.
(5)
Peter C.
We went here for their lunch buffet! Reasonably priced, servings were unlimited! Many wonderful dishes with variety of spice. Spicy chicken was fairly spicy and tasted delicious. Refill on the waters could have been a little faster. Room temperature was a bit too cold. Overall, we both had a wonder lunch together.
(3)
Jenny H.
This place is pretty great. We usually come here for lunch buffet, which is a great deal, but have also been here for dinner also. The buffet is always good - but the items will vary, so if you have something on their menu that you absolutely love, it may not always be there. They almost always have chicken tikka - sometimes have palak paneer, and once had my favorite, the mushroom and peas matar. They have naan also in the buffet which was delicious. No samosas though. They also usually have a red bbq rub chicken drumsticks - which is wonderful. Only real time I wasn't happy was one time I went late (almost 2 pm) wtih some friends and the food wasn't terribly hot, just warm. The dinner is great, but a little more than I'm used to paying for Indian food. The chicken tikka is great. Their garlic naan and mango smoothie is absolutely delicious. But again, it is much more expensive to go here for dinner, but you can get a lot more things that you don't get from the buffet, like lamb for instance.
(4)
Steve R.
This is a nice Indian restaurant with very good food. There are plenty of selections. Unlike some other Indian restaurants, Masala has several varieties of Naan bread, which was nice. This place would be a 4 star for me if the service were more efficient.
(3)
Kevin M.
The food was excellent. I've eaten at many Indian restaurants and the good is usually very good but it seems like the service sometimes lacks. This place can get very busy but the works work very hard at keeping up and it is a small cozy restaurant that has a very good atmosphere for a friends night out or date night. They don't charge you for every little thing you want extra of like rice or sauce. Very pleased with this place and I will be back!
(5)
A G.
I love Indian food, and for the longest time the best place in Lexington for Indian was Tandoor. However, when Sunny, the former GM of Tandoor, left to start his own restaurant Masala in the Beaumont Center, we happily gave it a try. The food is just as fantastic at Masala as it was during his tenure with Tandoor, and the small restaurant is cozy and inviting without the feeling you're going to put your elbow in your neighbor's nose, like you might at other "cozy" restaurants. The staff are friendly and polite, and once they get to know your favorites, you needn't look over a menu, they'll ask you which of your favorites you'd like. The vegetable samosas are fantastic - crispy fried outsides filled with curried potatoes and peas, served with delicious tamarind sauce. The chicken korma is rich with cashews and spiced just right. The chicken tikka - marinated chunks of tender chicken breast cooked in the tandoor oven - is an attention-grabbing dish served on a hot plate of peppers and onions, and the best "go to" dish for introducing spice-shy friends and guests to Indian cuisine. The chana masala is some of the best comfort food around - a richly spiced tomato sauce and chickpeas served over fragrant basmati rice. And did I mention the tangy raita, chocked full of carrots and fresh cucumbers? A creamy treat, especially with the chewy-on-the-inside-crisp-on-the-outside, buttery naan bread. You can't go wrong with Masala, whether you're an old hand at Indian cuisine, or just starting out on your culinary adventure.
(5)
Robert F.
This place is really good. The buffet--a baragin-- includes some standouts, such as the tandoori chicken, the onion chutney and the salad. Buffet or off the menu, you get consistently good Indian food Suburban strip mall ambiance, but so what? If it tastes as good as this, it could be a dim, greasy dive--which it is not, by the way--and it would stil be worrth eating there.
(4)
Jeff R.
I've done the buffet twice. It's fine. Typical fare. Yet another buffet with the rice syrup balls for desert. Please turn up the AC in the summer.
(3)
Andrea S.
I have been here several times with my family and each experience has been great. My mother, who swore she wouldn't like Indian food, even loves it! My only complaint is price. I just moved to KY from the Indo-Pak neighborhood in Chicago where you can pick up a samosa, some veg briani and a piece of chapati for under 4 dollars. So paying $3.50 for one piece of naan is a bit hard to swallow. Overall the service and quality of the food is worth the trip.
(4)
J. W.
I ate at Masala for 2 of the 4 meals I had while visiting the area. For the first meal, I ordered carryout. I started with the cucumber/tomato/onion salad and had Lamb Rogan Josh for dinner. The salad wasn't great, the chunks of onion were very large and as a result, a bit overpowering. Plus, the tomatoes were tasteless. The entree was quite good. The lamb was tender and the sauce had a great flavor. On day 2 I tried the lunch buffet. For $9 it was pretty darn good, the chicken dishes were the best. I guess my only complaint was that they didn't have any identifying markers to let me know what dishes I was enjoying. At the end of the day, as long as it tastes good, who cares...
(4)
Stella J.
This is the Original Masala in the Beaumont Centre. There have already been several glowing reviews, and some backstory dished out by some previous reviewers, so I will just leave my review to contributing different information. This Masala (compared to her sister restaurant off Nicholasville road) is much more casual in atmosphere, even bearing in mind cloth napkins and tablecloths. Masala has about a dozen authentic Indian beers, half dozen other imports, and about a half dozen domestic beers. Try one of the Indian beers called "Sunny Beaches" it is an amazing accompaniment to the food!! The lunch buffet is also very good (perhaps one of the only buffets I will eat-- buffets generally suck!) and changed out very frequently, kept very hot. Love Masala!!
(5)
Gordon F.
Best indian food in town. Definitely go for the lunch buffet if at all possible, it is a great deal. The palak paneer (spinach and cheese) is to die for, and the fresh naan is very good. The only thing that could be improved is a few more dishes at the buffet to give better variety. But what is there is excellent.
(5)
Sean F.
Consistenly OK for lunch buffet. A bit better when eating from the dinner menu. Buffet is just a small hair above your average "indian" buffet on most days, some days better, some worse.
(3)
Myke D.
I used to love this place but will probably never be back.. I took a date out to dinner here and receieved the worst service in recent memory. It had been a couple years since my last visit and and the experiences were like night and day- it was as if we weren't welcome there despite having one other table in the whole place. The food is good but not good enough to put up with their weird attitude. I get better service and more smiles from drive thru windows- gimme a break!
(2)
Betty H.
Came back for the buffet recently and the food was not as good.
(3)
Ben P.
The last time I was here I told myself I would not be back. The service wasn't very good and there were flies everywhere. I had been here once or twice prior where the service was ok but no flies. The food was average indian food. Nothing that blew me away.
(2)
Amanda H.
Very tasty and reasonably priced. Lots of vegetarian dishes, too.
(4)
Brad C.
Masala is a five star option in Lexington. The service is good. The ambience is middling. What is excellent is the food. I have no idea how authentic the food is. What I will say is that Sunny and his employees will bring you extremely spicy food extremely quickly. And that is what I want from an Indian restaurant. Protip: Get the Lamb Rogan Josh, Indian Hot, to go. While you are waiting, go pick up a bottle of Stone Ruination IPA at Liquor Barn across the street. Go home, enjoy them together. Spice + Cream + Lamb + Hops is an amazing combination.
(5)
Gordon M.
Tasty Indian food at a reasonable price. The Naan is soft and fresh. Try the Shrimp Pakora from the appetizer selection. I've ordered both the Saag Gosht (Lamb) and the Goat Curry and was very pleased. Excellent service.
(5)
Mike S.
This is a favorite of mine in Lexington. If you like Indian, it is definitely worth visiting.
(4)
Jeremy G.
coming from san francisco I've been spoiled with good indian and masalas holds up to the best of the west!
(5)
AM M.
Decent find for Indian food in Lexington. Pappadums were a nice complimentary appetizer. Chicken curry was ordered medium, tasted mild. Palak paneer was okay although somewhat bland. A good amount of cheese, ordered mild, tasted mild. Actually better reheated almost a week later as the ingredients had time to meld together, making it more flavorful. Ample amount of rice served with entrees, which was nice as this not always the case at restaurants. Naan was more bready than naan elsewhere, and burnt on the bottom. Taj Mahal beer was a bottled beer served in a chilled glass. It tasted similar to Miller Genuine draft with a bit more of a bite to it. Budweiser was also bottled, yet served in room-temperature glass, mitigating the pleasure of an ice cold brew. The service was mediocre. Setting was pretty quiet despite the large open room with most tables filled. Total was around $40 for the two entrees, naan, two beers, tax and gratuity. Might go back for lunch buffet but dinner was not good enough to warrant another trip.
(2)
Brad F.
I am a frequent customer of Coliseum Liquors owned by my good friend Shirish, and over the years he has never recommended as place like he recommends Masala. "It's the best Indian food in town." Sit down here, and you'll notice that the usual clientele is about half Indian locals. That's always a sure-fire sign of fine regional cuisine. Not nearly as fancy as Tandoor or as cozy as Bombay Brazier, but the food is fantastic, and comes highly recommended among local Indian folks.
(4)
adam C.
I can't figure out why this place is so popular. This is really dumbed-down Indian food. The main dishes have no real spice or flavor, and the nan is easily some of the worst I've ever had - tough, chewy, luke warm. I'd go with Tandoor over this place any day.
(2)
adam s.
Great food. great service. Went back again the next night. A family place that takes pride in quality
(5)
Jeff J.
In my experience, Masala serves the best Indian food in town. Their lunch buffet is consistently good, and I find myself regularly craving their chicken tikka masala. The restaurant is in a relatively new strip mall off Harrodsburg. Masala is clean, has some nice murals, and consistently attentive servers.
(4)
Denise B.
love the lunch buffett! so many good dishes...great food at a great price!
(5)
Sarah V.
The food can be hit or miss here. The latest dish I got, I ordered online via LexEatIn. I got the chicken tikka which was listed on LexEatIn's website as coming with rice and dal makhani. When it arrived, there was only chicken and rice with some lightly cooked onions and peppers. Plain, dry chicken; plain, barely cooked onions and peppers that tasted like they were raw. I've had dal makhani on the buffet before and enjoyed it, so I wish it had come with my meal. I don't know if LexEatIn's website was wrong or if Masala just forgot to give it to me. I would not order this dish again. The chicken patia is much tastier and actually has flavor. Past dishes I've gotten here are the only reason it's getting as high as a three star rating right now.
(3)
Wout V.
Second visit and this time Masala was quiet, and tasteful. Had the Dahl and spicy eggplant. Vegetarians should love this place!
(5)
Maegan E.
Masala is my favorite Indian restaurant in Lexington. Actually, it's probably the best place serving Indian cuisine that to I've been to so far. I have tried multiple items on the menu without being disappointed yet. If I have to suggest a dish I would say to try the Lamb Tiki Masala. I have honestly never been a fan of lamb until Masala. It's cooked to perfection. The staff there are also exceptional. Always smiling and very polite. Seriously. It's a must try.
(5)
Vishal B.
Worst Indian I have ever been in my life. Bad food, bad presentation. No courtesy at all.
(1)
Jesica L.
This was my favorite Indian restaurant in town but after having their lunch buffet today it makes me rethink my previous assessment. I always order the lunch buffet but the mushroom paneer tasted old and my go to all time favorite of chicken tikka masala was not as tasty as I remembered. The basmati rice was barely warm and they ran out of pita and didn't seem in a hurry to restock everything. Hopefully the next time I come the options will taste fresher but it was just alright today, and not worth the drive all the way out there.
(4)
Samantha R.
This is food that you think of before, during, and after the meal. Each dish is always filled with meats, veggies, and plenty of sauce (if your dish is sauce-based). They provide four "heat" choices: mild, medium, hot, and Indian hot...and they are true to label. My go-to meal is the Chicken Makhani. It is filled with more chicken than I could ask for and my favorite part is the thinly sliced bell peppers and onions throughout. The rice and naan is also always good. I have never liked a meal so much from a restaurant that I have to restrain myself from getting it too much, but this place definitely has that type of food! The price of the meals are very fair, and you get a very good amount with each meal. Also, the owners and workers here are extremely polite, and even during peak rush hours where you can see some stress creeping in, they are still very thorough and helpful. Best Indian food, hands down.
(5)
Vaishali B.
Average Indian food, nothing too special. The vegetables that we ordered were quite oily and didn't stand out in taste. Yellow daal tasted good. Pakoras in the assorted appetizer plate seemed hard and stale. You are not missing out on anything by not visiting this place.
(2)
Philip B.
Great Indian food. Truly only place in Lexington to have decent Indian. Decor is typical strip-mall Indian. Like every other place you've been. Service is acceptable. Nothing more. And then the food. Excellent spices. Order it hot and it's still spicy, not heat for the sake of heat. Eggplant is incredible. Etc etc.
(4)
Jess F.
I've been eating here for years, and it's still one of my favorites. The lunch buffet is a GREAT deal, and I love that they offer it on the weekends. I don't know the names of all the items, but I can say that I've tried everything on the buffet and like them all! I can't give them 5 stars because I have had better Indian food (Deep India in Cincinnati - OMG YUM!). But for Lexington this is the place to go. The one thing I don't like about this restaurant is the perfume smell. The last few times I've gone there has been a perfume/air freshener/incense?? smell that is WAY too strong. It was so strong once that I thought I was going to have to leave. Like so strong you can't taste your food. This restaurant has changed management since the beginning of the year. I miss the older man who was always so friendly, but the food has not changed at at. (Only the new fragrance has changed.)
(4)
Gianne T.
Masala is hands down my favorite Indian restaurant of all time. My boyfriend and I have been regulars since the past two years, and we never get tired of it. We average going at least twice a month....so we know what we're talking about. First, the service is amazing - very friendly, give great recommendations, and of course awesome, mouthwatering food. We crave Masala! We usually order the chicken tikka masala, eggplant bharta, palak paneer, lamb rogan josh, garlic naan, or we get the dinner for two. I also enjoy the lunch time buffet which has all of the delicious Indian staples. And who can forget the warm and sweet gulab jamun! If anyone hasn't had it yet, you are missing out! It is a ball of dough soaked in a sweet syrup with rose water I believe. I could be wrong but heck it's delicious. Also the mango lasse is refreshing and so are the myriad of imported beers. Highly, highly recommend!
(5)
Sarah H.
Accidentally ended up here about 15 minutes before they re-opened for dinner hours but they still opened the door and let us come in and even order food before they opened their doors to the public. Even if the food hadn't been any good, I still would have had to give them at least a 3 star rating just for that. BUT the food was amazing! I've only ever eaten at one other Indian restaurant, so I'm not a connoisseur by any stretch of the imagination, but I was pretty convinced that my other Indian place could not be beat. I was wrong. I got the chicken tikka masala and a garlic naan, which is pretty standard Indian fare, but they knocked my socks off. The naan was fluffier than the ones I'd had before but i loved it. And the tikka masala (even though I ordered mild because I am a pansy) still had a little zing that made me want to keep shoveling it into my face. Between the food and the excellent customer service we received the entire time, Masala definitely merits a 5 star review and will definitely merit many many more return trips.
(5)
Slewis J.
Excellent. The food and service are superb. The best Indian food I've had in a long time. Lots of vegetarian options.
(5)
Sean B.
Great food, I live in Richmond and was extremely happy when they opened one up here in town. My wife and I try to eat there two or three times a month. Good service, and again...great food.
(5)
Shoshanna G.
what a fantastic restaurant!! i wish they move to DC area. i've ordered Lamb tikka masala with garlic naan, I LOVED the Lamb tikka masala: it was in creamy tomato sauce w/ lots & lots of spices. i've ordered medium spicy and i could taste all the flavors w/ right amt of kick! naan was very fresh w/ just right amt of garlic flavor. it really enhanced the garlic aroma w/ the sauce!! i wish i've also tasted some of their samosas but didn't have the room for it :( gosh i'll visit KY again just to eat here!!
(5)
Gianne T.
Masala is hands down my favorite Indian restaurant of all time. My boyfriend and I have been regulars since the past two years, and we never get tired of it. We average going at least twice a month....so we know what we're talking about. First, the service is amazing - very friendly, give great recommendations, and of course awesome, mouthwatering food. We crave Masala! We usually order the chicken tikka masala, eggplant bharta, palak paneer, lamb rogan josh, garlic naan, or we get the dinner for two. I also enjoy the lunch time buffet which has all of the delicious Indian staples. And who can forget the warm and sweet gulab jamun! If anyone hasn't had it yet, you are missing out! It is a ball of dough soaked in a sweet syrup with rose water I believe. I could be wrong but heck it's delicious. Also the mango lasse is refreshing and so are the myriad of imported beers. Highly, highly recommend!
(5)
Sarah H.
Accidentally ended up here about 15 minutes before they re-opened for dinner hours but they still opened the door and let us come in and even order food before they opened their doors to the public. Even if the food hadn't been any good, I still would have had to give them at least a 3 star rating just for that. BUT the food was amazing! I've only ever eaten at one other Indian restaurant, so I'm not a connoisseur by any stretch of the imagination, but I was pretty convinced that my other Indian place could not be beat. I was wrong. I got the chicken tikka masala and a garlic naan, which is pretty standard Indian fare, but they knocked my socks off. The naan was fluffier than the ones I'd had before but i loved it. And the tikka masala (even though I ordered mild because I am a pansy) still had a little zing that made me want to keep shoveling it into my face. Between the food and the excellent customer service we received the entire time, Masala definitely merits a 5 star review and will definitely merit many many more return trips.
(5)
Slewis J.
Excellent. The food and service are superb. The best Indian food I've had in a long time. Lots of vegetarian options.
(5)
Christian S.
Best in I've been able to find in Lexington. While I'm new to the Indian food game, this is quickly becoming my favorite despite having to drive across town for it. Highly recommend the Gobi Manchurian - Not on the menu. Must ask for it. Also, my current favorite is the Dal Makhni. And don't forget the garlic naan! The staff is incredibly friendly and provides great service. Plus, it's always easy to walk in and order. Very high rankings from Health Department reviews as well.
(5)
Mike T.
Excellent Indian food at a good price! Average to below-average dining room experience but excellent for a quick lunch buffet.
(4)
Ron B.
It's hard to judge indian food in this area because I'm new and the restaurants I've been to so far aren't crowded ever. That said, I came here and ordered the tandoori chicken saag one evening when I didn't feel like cooking. It was cooked well, the chicken is truly from a tandoori situation and they don't ferret out the bones for you, so go into it knowing that so you (or someone you love) doesn't end up choking. Otherwise, it was a solid meal. I wasn't blown away, but it served it's purpose of a good meal, good service and was ready for takeout when I arrived.
(3)
Betty P.
Wow! What a pleasant suprise! This goes on the list of some of the best Indian food we have had in a restaurant anywhere! It goes in the top five of the best we've tried in a restaurant in the US. The eggplant bhartha was amazing. Tasted like homemade. Loved the onion chutney. Papadums were super thin and crispy. Service was great. Staff was friendly. Restaurant was clean and had a 95 health rating. Will definitely be back next time we are in Lexington.
(4)
P B.
Skip the lunch buffet. It has no spice at all to satisfy the more casual and timid diner. Go instead for dinner and I dare you not to love it. Granted, the change in staff recently may have an impact, but so far so good in my opinion. I have a friend from Chicago who has eaten Indian food all over the country and Masala is his favorite of them all. The saag is deliciously creamy and spicy. Their garlic naan is my favorite bread ever. And the lamb rogan josh is my favorite dish of all time, no matter what cuisine we're talking about. The chicken tikka masala is killer too. We sometimes order the dinner for two, which comes with tandoori chicken, seekh kebab, soup (we get the chicken soup--awesome!), chicken curry, and lamb rogan josh. It's too much food for two people, but it's so hard to stop eating it. And if you like biryani, that's crazy good here too. I can't say enough good things about it. As long as the quality and service remain at a high level, this will remain my favorite place to eat in the world. One tip: order a little spicier than you might at other places. Medium here is consistently pretty mild so if you're looking for a kick, go spicy! Oh, and one more tip: you can stop at Liquor Barn across the parking lot and pick up a bottle of wine to bring in to Masala with you. It sounds a little weird, but trust me, a bottle of fairly sweet Riesling really works well with just about anything here. Liquor Barn doesn't have much in the way of chilled Rieslings, but it's worth a look--or just bring your own from home.
(5)
Shelly V.
Hot means hot here not some American-style hot. If you like a bit of kick keep with the mild, it's still not really mild. They have a large vegetarian selection and many vegan options. Overall a great choice for Indian food!!
(4)
D M.
Awesome Indian food. We came in a little skeptical just because it's hard to find good Indian food but wow. We got an appetizer and two entrees and even that was too much food for the two of us. The palak paneer was to die for. The chicken masala was great. The garlic naan is a must!!! I will definitely come here often.
(5)
Candace G.
Been here several times and everything I've tried has been excellent! The owners are here everyday and take great pride in the quality of the food and experience you have at the restaurant. You have to get bread with your meal, it is the perfect accent to any of the dishes and the garlic naan is my favorite. Also, when they say hot they truly mean it, so don't go with spicy unless you are in the mood for a sweat!
(5)
Rick M.
That was a pretty good buffet. It was not the biggest but everything on there was fresh and bursting with flavor. I was very surprised to see goat on the buffet on a weekday. It was on the bone and slow simmered in a curry until it was meltingly tender. I look forward to going some evening and ordering off the menu. If the buffet is this good, ordering from the kitchen is probably dynamite.
(5)
Cathy B.
It might, indeed, be the best Indian food in town. But that isn't necessarily a ringing endorsement. As a visitor from out of town, I found this place really lack-luster. It was certainly popular among the erudite crowd; other tables were clearly filled with college faculty talking about poetry, liberation, and world travels. Which made for good eavesdropping. But that doesn't make up for re-heated food, limited spices, and sugared Kashmiri bread. (Sugared!?) Plus, the place was slightly grimy. (I say this as someone who has eaten from food carts in both north and south India, so, it's not like I'm super persnickety.) Tables sticky, plastic tumblers worn, no straws offered. But it was mostly the service that was odd. Well -- the service was off, and it was odd. The server checked on each table probably every 5 minutes, which was a bit disruptive and mildly insincere. I never felt like she actually wanted to do anything about any table's dining experience. And the man working the floor seated me at my table, confirmed that I was eating alone, and then just became flummoxed, eventually just shifting the other table setting over about 2 inches, instead of removing it completely. Oh, and because my stomach is a bottomless pit today, I actually was going to go ahead and order dessert, but they never gave me the chance and merely brought the bill. I dunno. Maybe they just wanted me and my magazine-reading, single-dining self out of there. I wouldn't bother returning, personally. Especially if you are an out of towner.
(2)
Andrew W.
This place is awesome. Best Indian food I've had. Shared the combination with my daughter. Started with chicken soup, seasoned perfectly. Next came the naan: fresh, "fluffy" best ever. Next was lamb josh rogan (very nice), chicken tikka, and chicken/sausage with onions and peppers on a hot stone. Very fresh testing, hint of spice, just right. Kheer for dessert. We walked away happy, very full... And less than $50 lighter in the wallet!
(5)
Joseph K.
Good indian food in the area. I had lamb tikha masala with rice along with papadum as appitizer and gulab jamun as my dessert. I have my lamb on mild.. Probably will be alot better if its medium or hot... ( i m travelling not risking upset stomach if i cant handle the spice) 1 order of lamb with rice will probably enough for 2 people to share... Good food, will return.
(4)
Nick W.
This place is no longer run by the same people (see my taste of India review). The food was not quite as good and a bit oily. The service was okay, but not great. Apparently, the owner is the same, it's just the staff that is all different. (See associated comment). It definately shows. Went back to give it another go. Yeah, I stand by my original review. This place has gone downhill. Food was cold when it showed up 30 min later (after they'd forgotten about us). They were very polite and apologetic and gave me 10% off, but still...there are better places.
(3)
Ekim E.
I had a few things to take care of in the area so I stopped by Masala for lunch. Seems everyone from the area loves this restaurant but I wasn't impressed very much. The lunch buffet is relatively small and besides the tikka masala nothing else has much of a taste. The naan is very fluffy as others have noted and tastes quite good and the rice pudding isn't bad either. Other than these, however, I don't think this place is worth visiting if you are looking for flavorful Indian food -BUT if you are in the area, are hungry and don't want to pay much for lunch, then Masala could be a good choice as it's impossible to beat the $7.95 lunch buffet deal.
(3)
april w.
Great service! I had a huge take out order that I out in last minute, and they even gave me a free mango lassi when I was waiting for the food. They also packed everything nicely. The only thing is that the chicken jalfrezi was a little too spicy and the naan didn't taste as fresh. My Indian friends really likes theirs so it probably is very authentic Indian food.
(4)
Michael T.
I was in Lexington on business and decided to check this place out. I was very impressed with the quality of food. The place is pretty small and located in a strip mall, but very worth it. I ordered the Chicken Makhani with some garlic naan and it was simply the best meal I have ever had. The staff was very nice and the prices were great. I plan to return here when I come back in January.
(5)
Ashley S.
This is by far our favorite Indian food restaurant in the COUNTRY... And we travel weekly to different cities, with Indian food always on our agenda at least twice a week. The service is excellent & the food is phenomenal. They always remember us even if it's been months since our last visit. Just this week my husband had a request that wasn't on the menu & Sunny (the chef/owner) didn't even flinch at him.... He made the dish and it was SPOT ON! My personal fave is paneer makhani & garlic naan. I love their mango lassi as well. All around a great find!
(5)
Josh M.
This is quickly becoming one of my fav places in town. Eggplant Bhartha is wow. Soup I have had 1st two on the list and great on both. Also make sure you try the bread. The people are always very friendly and welcome to have you. Be nice, tip on!!!
(5)
Melissa L.
I was recently visiting family in Lexington for a wedding and my sister suggested Indian food (which I have never had) for dinner. It can be hard to find really good food that everyone likes as we have a few vegetarians in the house, but this place nailed it! The masala and naan were amazing! Melissa
(5)
Julia N.
I came here with my family, a group of five people. Everyone loved what they ordered, and since we are a family that always tries what the others order, I can honestly say that everyone loved what everyone ordered. Delicious naan, samosas, and five entrees. No one left hungry, and two folks had full takeaway boxes. The waitress was amazingly attentive, sweet, and friendly. She played an Indian version of Happy Birthday over the loudspeaker when she heard it was my birthday. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone in the area that would like a tasty Indian meal. It was my first time here, and I will be back. We all will!
Changed name to 4 Spice. Best Indian restaurant I've found yet in Lexington. Seekh kebab was excellent, loved the pakora, very generous kheer portions. Great atmosphere and attentive staff, too. Highly recommended.
(5)
Joseph O.
Outstanding Indian Food. You wouldn't think some of the very best in Indian food would be found in a little strip mall on the outskirts of Lexington, but it is. The restaurant itself is clean, professional, and tries hard for a good atmosphere, but the star is the food itself. Every time I've eaten here I try something new, and I've never, ever been disappointed. The flavors are rich and varied, and the quality trumps far more expensive and pretentious Indian places. If you are looking for some very good Indian food, you will not go wrong trying out Masala.
(5)
Peter C.
We went here for their lunch buffet! Reasonably priced, servings were unlimited! Many wonderful dishes with variety of spice. Spicy chicken was fairly spicy and tasted delicious. Refill on the waters could have been a little faster. Room temperature was a bit too cold. Overall, we both had a wonder lunch together.
(3)
Jenny H.
This place is pretty great. We usually come here for lunch buffet, which is a great deal, but have also been here for dinner also. The buffet is always good - but the items will vary, so if you have something on their menu that you absolutely love, it may not always be there. They almost always have chicken tikka - sometimes have palak paneer, and once had my favorite, the mushroom and peas matar. They have naan also in the buffet which was delicious. No samosas though. They also usually have a red bbq rub chicken drumsticks - which is wonderful. Only real time I wasn't happy was one time I went late (almost 2 pm) wtih some friends and the food wasn't terribly hot, just warm. The dinner is great, but a little more than I'm used to paying for Indian food. The chicken tikka is great. Their garlic naan and mango smoothie is absolutely delicious. But again, it is much more expensive to go here for dinner, but you can get a lot more things that you don't get from the buffet, like lamb for instance.
(4)
Steve R.
This is a nice Indian restaurant with very good food. There are plenty of selections. Unlike some other Indian restaurants, Masala has several varieties of Naan bread, which was nice. This place would be a 4 star for me if the service were more efficient.
(3)
Kevin M.
The food was excellent. I've eaten at many Indian restaurants and the good is usually very good but it seems like the service sometimes lacks. This place can get very busy but the works work very hard at keeping up and it is a small cozy restaurant that has a very good atmosphere for a friends night out or date night. They don't charge you for every little thing you want extra of like rice or sauce. Very pleased with this place and I will be back!
(5)
Sean F.
Consistenly OK for lunch buffet. A bit better when eating from the dinner menu. Buffet is just a small hair above your average "indian" buffet on most days, some days better, some worse.
(3)
Myke D.
I used to love this place but will probably never be back.. I took a date out to dinner here and receieved the worst service in recent memory. It had been a couple years since my last visit and and the experiences were like night and day- it was as if we weren't welcome there despite having one other table in the whole place. The food is good but not good enough to put up with their weird attitude. I get better service and more smiles from drive thru windows- gimme a break!
(2)
Betty H.
Came back for the buffet recently and the food was not as good.
(3)
Ben P.
The last time I was here I told myself I would not be back. The service wasn't very good and there were flies everywhere. I had been here once or twice prior where the service was ok but no flies. The food was average indian food. Nothing that blew me away.
(2)
Amanda H.
Very tasty and reasonably priced. Lots of vegetarian dishes, too.
(4)
Stella J.
This is the Original Masala in the Beaumont Centre. There have already been several glowing reviews, and some backstory dished out by some previous reviewers, so I will just leave my review to contributing different information. This Masala (compared to her sister restaurant off Nicholasville road) is much more casual in atmosphere, even bearing in mind cloth napkins and tablecloths. Masala has about a dozen authentic Indian beers, half dozen other imports, and about a half dozen domestic beers. Try one of the Indian beers called "Sunny Beaches" it is an amazing accompaniment to the food!! The lunch buffet is also very good (perhaps one of the only buffets I will eat-- buffets generally suck!) and changed out very frequently, kept very hot. Love Masala!!
(5)
Gordon F.
Best indian food in town. Definitely go for the lunch buffet if at all possible, it is a great deal. The palak paneer (spinach and cheese) is to die for, and the fresh naan is very good. The only thing that could be improved is a few more dishes at the buffet to give better variety. But what is there is excellent.
(5)
Chris P.
Great! The lunch buffet was actually very good and everything was well stocked. I went on a whim and was just passing through. I WILL be back. The meats were cooked just right and the breads, dips, oils, etc were all very authentic. The candied carrots and raisins were spiced perfectly. I had some Korma and it was to die for. The service was outstanding besides the lack of english. Strip mall food is growing on me. =) It's located in a really nice neighborhood as well with convenience to many things. As being a CA native, I have had excellent Indian food and this stands up to it.
(4)
Merlin C.
The lunch buffet was passable. Good shrimp korma and chicken tikka masala. Terrible chicken tandoori -- very dry and tasteless. I'm downgrading a couple stars because of the lack of variety and the appallingly rude service. The lady manning the register yelled at me to use a new plate (no signs posted anywhere on this strange rule) and nothing resembling a "thank you" when I paid. I'd stay away.
(2)
Richard Y.
Now, living mostly in Cincinnati, I'm spoiled by the incredible selection of Indian food. However, one of my favorites I've ever been to is probably this little place in a strip mall in Lexington. Masala is quite the amazing place in terms of Indian food. It has the appearance of most Indian restaurants. The white tablecloths, free water, strange (read: amazing) smells. But what sets it apart is the complexity of flavors. Basically-their Indian food is from real spices, not curry pastes. Personally-others might differ-the first time I go to an Indian place I get the same thing every time-it's like the control in an experiment. This may be a bit judgmental, but I've found that I can usually determine from a dish or two, what I like about the restaurant. For me, that dish is the Chicken Makhani-and let me tell you, at Masala, it is splendid. T flavors were complex, and overall, it was simply amazing. I cannot really recommend this place enough. Seriously. It's amazing. And that's coming from a seasoned Indian veteran.
(5)
Jennifer M.
Excellent Indian cuisine!! I have only eaten at the lunch buffet once. However, I regularly (about once a week) order carryout off their menu. They are quick and the food is always delicious. This is not an establishment to which you visit for an evening of sophistication and swanky ambiance, but it is a place for some tasty Indian food.
(5)
A G.
I love Indian food, and for the longest time the best place in Lexington for Indian was Tandoor. However, when Sunny, the former GM of Tandoor, left to start his own restaurant Masala in the Beaumont Center, we happily gave it a try. The food is just as fantastic at Masala as it was during his tenure with Tandoor, and the small restaurant is cozy and inviting without the feeling you're going to put your elbow in your neighbor's nose, like you might at other "cozy" restaurants. The staff are friendly and polite, and once they get to know your favorites, you needn't look over a menu, they'll ask you which of your favorites you'd like. The vegetable samosas are fantastic - crispy fried outsides filled with curried potatoes and peas, served with delicious tamarind sauce. The chicken korma is rich with cashews and spiced just right. The chicken tikka - marinated chunks of tender chicken breast cooked in the tandoor oven - is an attention-grabbing dish served on a hot plate of peppers and onions, and the best "go to" dish for introducing spice-shy friends and guests to Indian cuisine. The chana masala is some of the best comfort food around - a richly spiced tomato sauce and chickpeas served over fragrant basmati rice. And did I mention the tangy raita, chocked full of carrots and fresh cucumbers? A creamy treat, especially with the chewy-on-the-inside-crisp-on-the-outside, buttery naan bread. You can't go wrong with Masala, whether you're an old hand at Indian cuisine, or just starting out on your culinary adventure.
(5)
Robert F.
This place is really good. The buffet--a baragin-- includes some standouts, such as the tandoori chicken, the onion chutney and the salad. Buffet or off the menu, you get consistently good Indian food Suburban strip mall ambiance, but so what? If it tastes as good as this, it could be a dim, greasy dive--which it is not, by the way--and it would stil be worrth eating there.
(4)
Jeff R.
I've done the buffet twice. It's fine. Typical fare. Yet another buffet with the rice syrup balls for desert. Please turn up the AC in the summer.
(3)
Andrea S.
I have been here several times with my family and each experience has been great. My mother, who swore she wouldn't like Indian food, even loves it! My only complaint is price. I just moved to KY from the Indo-Pak neighborhood in Chicago where you can pick up a samosa, some veg briani and a piece of chapati for under 4 dollars. So paying $3.50 for one piece of naan is a bit hard to swallow. Overall the service and quality of the food is worth the trip.
(4)
J. W.
I ate at Masala for 2 of the 4 meals I had while visiting the area. For the first meal, I ordered carryout. I started with the cucumber/tomato/onion salad and had Lamb Rogan Josh for dinner. The salad wasn't great, the chunks of onion were very large and as a result, a bit overpowering. Plus, the tomatoes were tasteless. The entree was quite good. The lamb was tender and the sauce had a great flavor. On day 2 I tried the lunch buffet. For $9 it was pretty darn good, the chicken dishes were the best. I guess my only complaint was that they didn't have any identifying markers to let me know what dishes I was enjoying. At the end of the day, as long as it tastes good, who cares...
(4)
Gordon M.
Tasty Indian food at a reasonable price. The Naan is soft and fresh. Try the Shrimp Pakora from the appetizer selection. I've ordered both the Saag Gosht (Lamb) and the Goat Curry and was very pleased. Excellent service.
(5)
Mike S.
This is a favorite of mine in Lexington. If you like Indian, it is definitely worth visiting.
(4)
Jeremy G.
coming from san francisco I've been spoiled with good indian and masalas holds up to the best of the west!
(5)
AM M.
Decent find for Indian food in Lexington. Pappadums were a nice complimentary appetizer. Chicken curry was ordered medium, tasted mild. Palak paneer was okay although somewhat bland. A good amount of cheese, ordered mild, tasted mild. Actually better reheated almost a week later as the ingredients had time to meld together, making it more flavorful. Ample amount of rice served with entrees, which was nice as this not always the case at restaurants. Naan was more bready than naan elsewhere, and burnt on the bottom. Taj Mahal beer was a bottled beer served in a chilled glass. It tasted similar to Miller Genuine draft with a bit more of a bite to it. Budweiser was also bottled, yet served in room-temperature glass, mitigating the pleasure of an ice cold brew. The service was mediocre. Setting was pretty quiet despite the large open room with most tables filled. Total was around $40 for the two entrees, naan, two beers, tax and gratuity. Might go back for lunch buffet but dinner was not good enough to warrant another trip.
(2)
Brad F.
I am a frequent customer of Coliseum Liquors owned by my good friend Shirish, and over the years he has never recommended as place like he recommends Masala. "It's the best Indian food in town." Sit down here, and you'll notice that the usual clientele is about half Indian locals. That's always a sure-fire sign of fine regional cuisine. Not nearly as fancy as Tandoor or as cozy as Bombay Brazier, but the food is fantastic, and comes highly recommended among local Indian folks.
(4)
adam C.
I can't figure out why this place is so popular. This is really dumbed-down Indian food. The main dishes have no real spice or flavor, and the nan is easily some of the worst I've ever had - tough, chewy, luke warm. I'd go with Tandoor over this place any day.
(2)
adam s.
Great food. great service. Went back again the next night. A family place that takes pride in quality
(5)
Jeff J.
In my experience, Masala serves the best Indian food in town. Their lunch buffet is consistently good, and I find myself regularly craving their chicken tikka masala. The restaurant is in a relatively new strip mall off Harrodsburg. Masala is clean, has some nice murals, and consistently attentive servers.
(4)
Denise B.
love the lunch buffett! so many good dishes...great food at a great price!
(5)
Brad C.
Masala is a five star option in Lexington. The service is good. The ambience is middling. What is excellent is the food. I have no idea how authentic the food is. What I will say is that Sunny and his employees will bring you extremely spicy food extremely quickly. And that is what I want from an Indian restaurant. Protip: Get the Lamb Rogan Josh, Indian Hot, to go. While you are waiting, go pick up a bottle of Stone Ruination IPA at Liquor Barn across the street. Go home, enjoy them together. Spice + Cream + Lamb + Hops is an amazing combination.
(5)
Jim N.
Wonderful flavors; excellent buffet selection; every thing tasted was good; this place rocks! We will definitely return.
(4)
Wes F.
This is the best indian in town, and number 1 or 2 of top indian I've ever had. The staff is really nice as well. One night their credit card machine was down, and they could only take cash, they took whatever cash I had even tho it didn't totally cover the bill. The food is always fresh and the basil naan is my absolutely favorite. The portions are large, I always walk away with two for one meals and I eat quite a bit in general. Their buffet is always very well kept so don't be afraid to try it.
(5)
Ashley H.
This is my favorite Indian place so far. My boyfriend was visiting from Nashville, and it's almost become tradition for us to go to a couple of the Indian places when I visit him, so we decided to seek out one here. We ordered carryout so u can comment on a dining experience, but I will say that the staff was very friendly when we picked up our food. We both ordered the Tikka Masala, garlic naan, and a mango lassi each. I ordered the medium, while he ordered the Indian hot. When we for home and started eating? We both decided that THIS was our favorite Indian place even over our current two favorite Nashville places. The flavor was just so good, and it was honestly the best naan bread is ever had. As far as the spice levels, I'm honestly not one that could accurately review those. I will say that the medium at this place was spicier than the previous place I had eaten, and was the perfect amount of spice for me. The Indian hot was just too hot for me. But my boyfriend enjoyed it so much. Though he admitted that he'd probably just go for the hot next time rather than the Indian hot. I'm excited to try out the other dishes that they offer.
(5)
Tia T.
Went there for lunch.. Not very crowded. I usually love masala but it was sort of a miss for buffet For me that day. I guess bc I didn't try any meat dishes this visit but since I have been here multiple times, I will back again to try goat curry!!
(3)
Cory D.
This is a solid four star review. I really enjoyed the flavors of the various types of Indian curry dishes on the buffet. I must say the although, I have eaten here a few times this is my only experience with Indian food. The service was good, but every time I have eaten here I got the buffet.
(4)
Jesica L.
This was my favorite Indian restaurant in town but after having their lunch buffet today it makes me rethink my previous assessment. I always order the lunch buffet but the mushroom paneer tasted old and my go to all time favorite of chicken tikka masala was not as tasty as I remembered. The basmati rice was barely warm and they ran out of pita and didn't seem in a hurry to restock everything. Hopefully the next time I come the options will taste fresher but it was just alright today, and not worth the drive all the way out there.
(4)
Wes C.
The Good: the food, the prices, the wait staff, the buffet. The Bad: same old same old for Indian restaurant decor, service could be better, very cold in there. The Rundown: just to get this out of the way, it was cold in there, not see your breath cold, but keep your jacket on cold, what is up with that?! As far as Indian restaurants go, this one ranks up there as one of the better around. The food comes out pretty quick and tastes great. We ordered our food Indian Hot, which we can handle, but for the average joe, I wouldn't try this. The food is served in the traditional manner with the rice separate from the meat and sauce so you can make your own portion. Generally one dish should be enough for two people as well. Where they could improve is in their customer service, though I don't expect too much because every Indian restaurant I haver we been to is like this, standoffish, staring, curt, this just comes along with the territory. The decor is just like every other Indian restaurant as well, baron walls, mirrors, glass over the tablecloth, even red napkins. The Impression: as in the past I will come back for their food, after all that is why you go out to eat. There is nothing overwhelmingly amazing about it but I just really like Indian food. It would be nice if there was a little something different about them, something to make them stand out to bring more people in.
(4)
Sarah V.
The food can be hit or miss here. The latest dish I got, I ordered online via LexEatIn. I got the chicken tikka which was listed on LexEatIn's website as coming with rice and dal makhani. When it arrived, there was only chicken and rice with some lightly cooked onions and peppers. Plain, dry chicken; plain, barely cooked onions and peppers that tasted like they were raw. I've had dal makhani on the buffet before and enjoyed it, so I wish it had come with my meal. I don't know if LexEatIn's website was wrong or if Masala just forgot to give it to me. I would not order this dish again. The chicken patia is much tastier and actually has flavor. Past dishes I've gotten here are the only reason it's getting as high as a three star rating right now.
(3)
Wout V.
Second visit and this time Masala was quiet, and tasteful. Had the Dahl and spicy eggplant. Vegetarians should love this place!
(5)
Maegan E.
Masala is my favorite Indian restaurant in Lexington. Actually, it's probably the best place serving Indian cuisine that to I've been to so far. I have tried multiple items on the menu without being disappointed yet. If I have to suggest a dish I would say to try the Lamb Tiki Masala. I have honestly never been a fan of lamb until Masala. It's cooked to perfection. The staff there are also exceptional. Always smiling and very polite. Seriously. It's a must try.
(5)
Vishal B.
Worst Indian I have ever been in my life. Bad food, bad presentation. No courtesy at all.
(1)
Samantha R.
This is food that you think of before, during, and after the meal. Each dish is always filled with meats, veggies, and plenty of sauce (if your dish is sauce-based). They provide four "heat" choices: mild, medium, hot, and Indian hot...and they are true to label. My go-to meal is the Chicken Makhani. It is filled with more chicken than I could ask for and my favorite part is the thinly sliced bell peppers and onions throughout. The rice and naan is also always good. I have never liked a meal so much from a restaurant that I have to restrain myself from getting it too much, but this place definitely has that type of food! The price of the meals are very fair, and you get a very good amount with each meal. Also, the owners and workers here are extremely polite, and even during peak rush hours where you can see some stress creeping in, they are still very thorough and helpful. Best Indian food, hands down.
(5)
Vaishali B.
Average Indian food, nothing too special. The vegetables that we ordered were quite oily and didn't stand out in taste. Yellow daal tasted good. Pakoras in the assorted appetizer plate seemed hard and stale. You are not missing out on anything by not visiting this place.
(2)
Philip B.
Great Indian food. Truly only place in Lexington to have decent Indian. Decor is typical strip-mall Indian. Like every other place you've been. Service is acceptable. Nothing more. And then the food. Excellent spices. Order it hot and it's still spicy, not heat for the sake of heat. Eggplant is incredible. Etc etc.
(4)
Jess F.
I've been eating here for years, and it's still one of my favorites. The lunch buffet is a GREAT deal, and I love that they offer it on the weekends. I don't know the names of all the items, but I can say that I've tried everything on the buffet and like them all! I can't give them 5 stars because I have had better Indian food (Deep India in Cincinnati - OMG YUM!). But for Lexington this is the place to go. The one thing I don't like about this restaurant is the perfume smell. The last few times I've gone there has been a perfume/air freshener/incense?? smell that is WAY too strong. It was so strong once that I thought I was going to have to leave. Like so strong you can't taste your food. This restaurant has changed management since the beginning of the year. I miss the older man who was always so friendly, but the food has not changed at at. (Only the new fragrance has changed.)
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : Yes Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
India is the birth place of Chicken Tikka Masala and Curries. Indian foods are prepared with a blend of finely mixed spices quite popular across the region. The spices develop the rich taste in Indian food enough to boggle your mind. The ever-increasing fan base of Indian food around the New York city is steadily increasing because of the large number of Indians who traveled to the land of dreams. The Indians also brought their very own vibrant, colorful, and aromatic authentic dishes for the people in the West. While most of the Indian population is Vegetarian, Indian food is great for people who are looking for vegan or vegetarian food option. If you are a Meat lover, don't get disappointed yet. Indian food also boasts of some popular non-vegetarian dishes too. Few examples are the famous Butter Chicken, Mutton Biryani and Tandoori Chicken are enough to satisfy your taste buds.
Indian food has gained reputation all over the world especially in the United States. You can find many places serving the appetizing Indian food across all major cities in the US. India is a diverse country with different food culture originated from different parts of the country. While the Northern region boasts tandoori dishes and korma offering royal taste, the Western Ghats offers sea foods that is made in naturally sweet tender coconut milk. The South Indian food servers a quality of different dishes made from rice accompanied with spicy chutneys, curries and famous sambhar. Also, the Indian sweets are a delight to relish. If you ever want to have a burst of sugar syrup in mouth, don't forget to try few Bengali Sweets. Be it spicy, tangy, or sweet flavor, you can find everything in the Indian cuisine. Be assured that the melody of spices will surely bring delight to you.
Chris P.
Great! The lunch buffet was actually very good and everything was well stocked. I went on a whim and was just passing through. I WILL be back. The meats were cooked just right and the breads, dips, oils, etc were all very authentic. The candied carrots and raisins were spiced perfectly. I had some Korma and it was to die for. The service was outstanding besides the lack of english. Strip mall food is growing on me. =) It's located in a really nice neighborhood as well with convenience to many things. As being a CA native, I have had excellent Indian food and this stands up to it.
(4)Merlin C.
The lunch buffet was passable. Good shrimp korma and chicken tikka masala. Terrible chicken tandoori -- very dry and tasteless. I'm downgrading a couple stars because of the lack of variety and the appallingly rude service. The lady manning the register yelled at me to use a new plate (no signs posted anywhere on this strange rule) and nothing resembling a "thank you" when I paid. I'd stay away.
(2)Richard Y.
Now, living mostly in Cincinnati, I'm spoiled by the incredible selection of Indian food. However, one of my favorites I've ever been to is probably this little place in a strip mall in Lexington. Masala is quite the amazing place in terms of Indian food. It has the appearance of most Indian restaurants. The white tablecloths, free water, strange (read: amazing) smells. But what sets it apart is the complexity of flavors. Basically-their Indian food is from real spices, not curry pastes. Personally-others might differ-the first time I go to an Indian place I get the same thing every time-it's like the control in an experiment. This may be a bit judgmental, but I've found that I can usually determine from a dish or two, what I like about the restaurant. For me, that dish is the Chicken Makhani-and let me tell you, at Masala, it is splendid. T flavors were complex, and overall, it was simply amazing. I cannot really recommend this place enough. Seriously. It's amazing. And that's coming from a seasoned Indian veteran.
(5)Jennifer M.
Excellent Indian cuisine!! I have only eaten at the lunch buffet once. However, I regularly (about once a week) order carryout off their menu. They are quick and the food is always delicious. This is not an establishment to which you visit for an evening of sophistication and swanky ambiance, but it is a place for some tasty Indian food.
(5)Sean B.
Great food, I live in Richmond and was extremely happy when they opened one up here in town. My wife and I try to eat there two or three times a month. Good service, and again...great food.
(5)Jim N.
Wonderful flavors; excellent buffet selection; every thing tasted was good; this place rocks! We will definitely return.
(4)Wes F.
This is the best indian in town, and number 1 or 2 of top indian I've ever had. The staff is really nice as well. One night their credit card machine was down, and they could only take cash, they took whatever cash I had even tho it didn't totally cover the bill. The food is always fresh and the basil naan is my absolutely favorite. The portions are large, I always walk away with two for one meals and I eat quite a bit in general. Their buffet is always very well kept so don't be afraid to try it.
(5)Ashley H.
This is my favorite Indian place so far. My boyfriend was visiting from Nashville, and it's almost become tradition for us to go to a couple of the Indian places when I visit him, so we decided to seek out one here. We ordered carryout so u can comment on a dining experience, but I will say that the staff was very friendly when we picked up our food. We both ordered the Tikka Masala, garlic naan, and a mango lassi each. I ordered the medium, while he ordered the Indian hot. When we for home and started eating? We both decided that THIS was our favorite Indian place even over our current two favorite Nashville places. The flavor was just so good, and it was honestly the best naan bread is ever had. As far as the spice levels, I'm honestly not one that could accurately review those. I will say that the medium at this place was spicier than the previous place I had eaten, and was the perfect amount of spice for me. The Indian hot was just too hot for me. But my boyfriend enjoyed it so much. Though he admitted that he'd probably just go for the hot next time rather than the Indian hot. I'm excited to try out the other dishes that they offer.
(5)Tia T.
Went there for lunch.. Not very crowded. I usually love masala but it was sort of a miss for buffet For me that day. I guess bc I didn't try any meat dishes this visit but since I have been here multiple times, I will back again to try goat curry!!
(3)Cory D.
This is a solid four star review. I really enjoyed the flavors of the various types of Indian curry dishes on the buffet. I must say the although, I have eaten here a few times this is my only experience with Indian food. The service was good, but every time I have eaten here I got the buffet.
(4)Wes C.
The Good: the food, the prices, the wait staff, the buffet. The Bad: same old same old for Indian restaurant decor, service could be better, very cold in there. The Rundown: just to get this out of the way, it was cold in there, not see your breath cold, but keep your jacket on cold, what is up with that?! As far as Indian restaurants go, this one ranks up there as one of the better around. The food comes out pretty quick and tastes great. We ordered our food Indian Hot, which we can handle, but for the average joe, I wouldn't try this. The food is served in the traditional manner with the rice separate from the meat and sauce so you can make your own portion. Generally one dish should be enough for two people as well. Where they could improve is in their customer service, though I don't expect too much because every Indian restaurant I haver we been to is like this, standoffish, staring, curt, this just comes along with the territory. The decor is just like every other Indian restaurant as well, baron walls, mirrors, glass over the tablecloth, even red napkins. The Impression: as in the past I will come back for their food, after all that is why you go out to eat. There is nothing overwhelmingly amazing about it but I just really like Indian food. It would be nice if there was a little something different about them, something to make them stand out to bring more people in.
(4)Christian S.
Best in I've been able to find in Lexington. While I'm new to the Indian food game, this is quickly becoming my favorite despite having to drive across town for it. Highly recommend the Gobi Manchurian - Not on the menu. Must ask for it. Also, my current favorite is the Dal Makhni. And don't forget the garlic naan! The staff is incredibly friendly and provides great service. Plus, it's always easy to walk in and order. Very high rankings from Health Department reviews as well.
(5)Mike T.
Excellent Indian food at a good price! Average to below-average dining room experience but excellent for a quick lunch buffet.
(4)Ron B.
It's hard to judge indian food in this area because I'm new and the restaurants I've been to so far aren't crowded ever. That said, I came here and ordered the tandoori chicken saag one evening when I didn't feel like cooking. It was cooked well, the chicken is truly from a tandoori situation and they don't ferret out the bones for you, so go into it knowing that so you (or someone you love) doesn't end up choking. Otherwise, it was a solid meal. I wasn't blown away, but it served it's purpose of a good meal, good service and was ready for takeout when I arrived.
(3)D M.
Awesome Indian food. We came in a little skeptical just because it's hard to find good Indian food but wow. We got an appetizer and two entrees and even that was too much food for the two of us. The palak paneer was to die for. The chicken masala was great. The garlic naan is a must!!! I will definitely come here often.
(5)Candace G.
Been here several times and everything I've tried has been excellent! The owners are here everyday and take great pride in the quality of the food and experience you have at the restaurant. You have to get bread with your meal, it is the perfect accent to any of the dishes and the garlic naan is my favorite. Also, when they say hot they truly mean it, so don't go with spicy unless you are in the mood for a sweat!
(5)Rick M.
That was a pretty good buffet. It was not the biggest but everything on there was fresh and bursting with flavor. I was very surprised to see goat on the buffet on a weekday. It was on the bone and slow simmered in a curry until it was meltingly tender. I look forward to going some evening and ordering off the menu. If the buffet is this good, ordering from the kitchen is probably dynamite.
(5)april w.
Great service! I had a huge take out order that I out in last minute, and they even gave me a free mango lassi when I was waiting for the food. They also packed everything nicely. The only thing is that the chicken jalfrezi was a little too spicy and the naan didn't taste as fresh. My Indian friends really likes theirs so it probably is very authentic Indian food.
(4)Michael T.
I was in Lexington on business and decided to check this place out. I was very impressed with the quality of food. The place is pretty small and located in a strip mall, but very worth it. I ordered the Chicken Makhani with some garlic naan and it was simply the best meal I have ever had. The staff was very nice and the prices were great. I plan to return here when I come back in January.
(5)Ashley S.
This is by far our favorite Indian food restaurant in the COUNTRY... And we travel weekly to different cities, with Indian food always on our agenda at least twice a week. The service is excellent & the food is phenomenal. They always remember us even if it's been months since our last visit. Just this week my husband had a request that wasn't on the menu & Sunny (the chef/owner) didn't even flinch at him.... He made the dish and it was SPOT ON! My personal fave is paneer makhani & garlic naan. I love their mango lassi as well. All around a great find!
(5)Josh M.
This is quickly becoming one of my fav places in town. Eggplant Bhartha is wow. Soup I have had 1st two on the list and great on both. Also make sure you try the bread. The people are always very friendly and welcome to have you. Be nice, tip on!!!
(5)Melissa L.
I was recently visiting family in Lexington for a wedding and my sister suggested Indian food (which I have never had) for dinner. It can be hard to find really good food that everyone likes as we have a few vegetarians in the house, but this place nailed it! The masala and naan were amazing! Melissa
(5)Cathy B.
It might, indeed, be the best Indian food in town. But that isn't necessarily a ringing endorsement. As a visitor from out of town, I found this place really lack-luster. It was certainly popular among the erudite crowd; other tables were clearly filled with college faculty talking about poetry, liberation, and world travels. Which made for good eavesdropping. But that doesn't make up for re-heated food, limited spices, and sugared Kashmiri bread. (Sugared!?) Plus, the place was slightly grimy. (I say this as someone who has eaten from food carts in both north and south India, so, it's not like I'm super persnickety.) Tables sticky, plastic tumblers worn, no straws offered. But it was mostly the service that was odd. Well -- the service was off, and it was odd. The server checked on each table probably every 5 minutes, which was a bit disruptive and mildly insincere. I never felt like she actually wanted to do anything about any table's dining experience. And the man working the floor seated me at my table, confirmed that I was eating alone, and then just became flummoxed, eventually just shifting the other table setting over about 2 inches, instead of removing it completely. Oh, and because my stomach is a bottomless pit today, I actually was going to go ahead and order dessert, but they never gave me the chance and merely brought the bill. I dunno. Maybe they just wanted me and my magazine-reading, single-dining self out of there. I wouldn't bother returning, personally. Especially if you are an out of towner.
(2)Andrew W.
This place is awesome. Best Indian food I've had. Shared the combination with my daughter. Started with chicken soup, seasoned perfectly. Next came the naan: fresh, "fluffy" best ever. Next was lamb josh rogan (very nice), chicken tikka, and chicken/sausage with onions and peppers on a hot stone. Very fresh testing, hint of spice, just right. Kheer for dessert. We walked away happy, very full... And less than $50 lighter in the wallet!
(5)Nick W.
This place is no longer run by the same people (see my taste of India review). The food was not quite as good and a bit oily. The service was okay, but not great. Apparently, the owner is the same, it's just the staff that is all different. (See associated comment). It definately shows. Went back to give it another go. Yeah, I stand by my original review. This place has gone downhill. Food was cold when it showed up 30 min later (after they'd forgotten about us). They were very polite and apologetic and gave me 10% off, but still...there are better places.
(3)Ekim E.
I had a few things to take care of in the area so I stopped by Masala for lunch. Seems everyone from the area loves this restaurant but I wasn't impressed very much. The lunch buffet is relatively small and besides the tikka masala nothing else has much of a taste. The naan is very fluffy as others have noted and tastes quite good and the rice pudding isn't bad either. Other than these, however, I don't think this place is worth visiting if you are looking for flavorful Indian food -BUT if you are in the area, are hungry and don't want to pay much for lunch, then Masala could be a good choice as it's impossible to beat the $7.95 lunch buffet deal.
(3)Shoshanna G.
what a fantastic restaurant!! i wish they move to DC area. i've ordered Lamb tikka masala with garlic naan, I LOVED the Lamb tikka masala: it was in creamy tomato sauce w/ lots & lots of spices. i've ordered medium spicy and i could taste all the flavors w/ right amt of kick! naan was very fresh w/ just right amt of garlic flavor. it really enhanced the garlic aroma w/ the sauce!! i wish i've also tasted some of their samosas but didn't have the room for it :( gosh i'll visit KY again just to eat here!!
(5)Joseph K.
Good indian food in the area. I had lamb tikha masala with rice along with papadum as appitizer and gulab jamun as my dessert. I have my lamb on mild.. Probably will be alot better if its medium or hot... ( i m travelling not risking upset stomach if i cant handle the spice) 1 order of lamb with rice will probably enough for 2 people to share... Good food, will return.
(4)Julia N.
I came here with my family, a group of five people. Everyone loved what they ordered, and since we are a family that always tries what the others order, I can honestly say that everyone loved what everyone ordered. Delicious naan, samosas, and five entrees. No one left hungry, and two folks had full takeaway boxes. The waitress was amazingly attentive, sweet, and friendly. She played an Indian version of Happy Birthday over the loudspeaker when she heard it was my birthday. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone in the area that would like a tasty Indian meal. It was my first time here, and I will be back. We all will!
(5)Steve B.
Outstanding. Reasonably priced, consistently delicious, friendly staff. Highly recommend.
(5)Betty P.
Wow! What a pleasant suprise! This goes on the list of some of the best Indian food we have had in a restaurant anywhere! It goes in the top five of the best we've tried in a restaurant in the US. The eggplant bhartha was amazing. Tasted like homemade. Loved the onion chutney. Papadums were super thin and crispy. Service was great. Staff was friendly. Restaurant was clean and had a 95 health rating. Will definitely be back next time we are in Lexington.
(4)P B.
Skip the lunch buffet. It has no spice at all to satisfy the more casual and timid diner. Go instead for dinner and I dare you not to love it. Granted, the change in staff recently may have an impact, but so far so good in my opinion. I have a friend from Chicago who has eaten Indian food all over the country and Masala is his favorite of them all. The saag is deliciously creamy and spicy. Their garlic naan is my favorite bread ever. And the lamb rogan josh is my favorite dish of all time, no matter what cuisine we're talking about. The chicken tikka masala is killer too. We sometimes order the dinner for two, which comes with tandoori chicken, seekh kebab, soup (we get the chicken soup--awesome!), chicken curry, and lamb rogan josh. It's too much food for two people, but it's so hard to stop eating it. And if you like biryani, that's crazy good here too. I can't say enough good things about it. As long as the quality and service remain at a high level, this will remain my favorite place to eat in the world. One tip: order a little spicier than you might at other places. Medium here is consistently pretty mild so if you're looking for a kick, go spicy! Oh, and one more tip: you can stop at Liquor Barn across the parking lot and pick up a bottle of wine to bring in to Masala with you. It sounds a little weird, but trust me, a bottle of fairly sweet Riesling really works well with just about anything here. Liquor Barn doesn't have much in the way of chilled Rieslings, but it's worth a look--or just bring your own from home.
(5)Shelly V.
Hot means hot here not some American-style hot. If you like a bit of kick keep with the mild, it's still not really mild. They have a large vegetarian selection and many vegan options. Overall a great choice for Indian food!!
(4)Christopher L.
Changed name to 4 Spice. Best Indian restaurant I've found yet in Lexington. Seekh kebab was excellent, loved the pakora, very generous kheer portions. Great atmosphere and attentive staff, too. Highly recommended.
(5)Joseph O.
Outstanding Indian Food. You wouldn't think some of the very best in Indian food would be found in a little strip mall on the outskirts of Lexington, but it is. The restaurant itself is clean, professional, and tries hard for a good atmosphere, but the star is the food itself. Every time I've eaten here I try something new, and I've never, ever been disappointed. The flavors are rich and varied, and the quality trumps far more expensive and pretentious Indian places. If you are looking for some very good Indian food, you will not go wrong trying out Masala.
(5)Peter C.
We went here for their lunch buffet! Reasonably priced, servings were unlimited! Many wonderful dishes with variety of spice. Spicy chicken was fairly spicy and tasted delicious. Refill on the waters could have been a little faster. Room temperature was a bit too cold. Overall, we both had a wonder lunch together.
(3)Jenny H.
This place is pretty great. We usually come here for lunch buffet, which is a great deal, but have also been here for dinner also. The buffet is always good - but the items will vary, so if you have something on their menu that you absolutely love, it may not always be there. They almost always have chicken tikka - sometimes have palak paneer, and once had my favorite, the mushroom and peas matar. They have naan also in the buffet which was delicious. No samosas though. They also usually have a red bbq rub chicken drumsticks - which is wonderful. Only real time I wasn't happy was one time I went late (almost 2 pm) wtih some friends and the food wasn't terribly hot, just warm. The dinner is great, but a little more than I'm used to paying for Indian food. The chicken tikka is great. Their garlic naan and mango smoothie is absolutely delicious. But again, it is much more expensive to go here for dinner, but you can get a lot more things that you don't get from the buffet, like lamb for instance.
(4)Steve R.
This is a nice Indian restaurant with very good food. There are plenty of selections. Unlike some other Indian restaurants, Masala has several varieties of Naan bread, which was nice. This place would be a 4 star for me if the service were more efficient.
(3)Kevin M.
The food was excellent. I've eaten at many Indian restaurants and the good is usually very good but it seems like the service sometimes lacks. This place can get very busy but the works work very hard at keeping up and it is a small cozy restaurant that has a very good atmosphere for a friends night out or date night. They don't charge you for every little thing you want extra of like rice or sauce. Very pleased with this place and I will be back!
(5)A G.
I love Indian food, and for the longest time the best place in Lexington for Indian was Tandoor. However, when Sunny, the former GM of Tandoor, left to start his own restaurant Masala in the Beaumont Center, we happily gave it a try. The food is just as fantastic at Masala as it was during his tenure with Tandoor, and the small restaurant is cozy and inviting without the feeling you're going to put your elbow in your neighbor's nose, like you might at other "cozy" restaurants. The staff are friendly and polite, and once they get to know your favorites, you needn't look over a menu, they'll ask you which of your favorites you'd like. The vegetable samosas are fantastic - crispy fried outsides filled with curried potatoes and peas, served with delicious tamarind sauce. The chicken korma is rich with cashews and spiced just right. The chicken tikka - marinated chunks of tender chicken breast cooked in the tandoor oven - is an attention-grabbing dish served on a hot plate of peppers and onions, and the best "go to" dish for introducing spice-shy friends and guests to Indian cuisine. The chana masala is some of the best comfort food around - a richly spiced tomato sauce and chickpeas served over fragrant basmati rice. And did I mention the tangy raita, chocked full of carrots and fresh cucumbers? A creamy treat, especially with the chewy-on-the-inside-crisp-on-the-outside, buttery naan bread. You can't go wrong with Masala, whether you're an old hand at Indian cuisine, or just starting out on your culinary adventure.
(5)Robert F.
This place is really good. The buffet--a baragin-- includes some standouts, such as the tandoori chicken, the onion chutney and the salad. Buffet or off the menu, you get consistently good Indian food Suburban strip mall ambiance, but so what? If it tastes as good as this, it could be a dim, greasy dive--which it is not, by the way--and it would stil be worrth eating there.
(4)Jeff R.
I've done the buffet twice. It's fine. Typical fare. Yet another buffet with the rice syrup balls for desert. Please turn up the AC in the summer.
(3)Andrea S.
I have been here several times with my family and each experience has been great. My mother, who swore she wouldn't like Indian food, even loves it! My only complaint is price. I just moved to KY from the Indo-Pak neighborhood in Chicago where you can pick up a samosa, some veg briani and a piece of chapati for under 4 dollars. So paying $3.50 for one piece of naan is a bit hard to swallow. Overall the service and quality of the food is worth the trip.
(4)J. W.
I ate at Masala for 2 of the 4 meals I had while visiting the area. For the first meal, I ordered carryout. I started with the cucumber/tomato/onion salad and had Lamb Rogan Josh for dinner. The salad wasn't great, the chunks of onion were very large and as a result, a bit overpowering. Plus, the tomatoes were tasteless. The entree was quite good. The lamb was tender and the sauce had a great flavor. On day 2 I tried the lunch buffet. For $9 it was pretty darn good, the chicken dishes were the best. I guess my only complaint was that they didn't have any identifying markers to let me know what dishes I was enjoying. At the end of the day, as long as it tastes good, who cares...
(4)Stella J.
This is the Original Masala in the Beaumont Centre. There have already been several glowing reviews, and some backstory dished out by some previous reviewers, so I will just leave my review to contributing different information. This Masala (compared to her sister restaurant off Nicholasville road) is much more casual in atmosphere, even bearing in mind cloth napkins and tablecloths. Masala has about a dozen authentic Indian beers, half dozen other imports, and about a half dozen domestic beers. Try one of the Indian beers called "Sunny Beaches" it is an amazing accompaniment to the food!! The lunch buffet is also very good (perhaps one of the only buffets I will eat-- buffets generally suck!) and changed out very frequently, kept very hot. Love Masala!!
(5)Gordon F.
Best indian food in town. Definitely go for the lunch buffet if at all possible, it is a great deal. The palak paneer (spinach and cheese) is to die for, and the fresh naan is very good. The only thing that could be improved is a few more dishes at the buffet to give better variety. But what is there is excellent.
(5)Sean F.
Consistenly OK for lunch buffet. A bit better when eating from the dinner menu. Buffet is just a small hair above your average "indian" buffet on most days, some days better, some worse.
(3)Myke D.
I used to love this place but will probably never be back.. I took a date out to dinner here and receieved the worst service in recent memory. It had been a couple years since my last visit and and the experiences were like night and day- it was as if we weren't welcome there despite having one other table in the whole place. The food is good but not good enough to put up with their weird attitude. I get better service and more smiles from drive thru windows- gimme a break!
(2)Betty H.
Came back for the buffet recently and the food was not as good.
(3)Ben P.
The last time I was here I told myself I would not be back. The service wasn't very good and there were flies everywhere. I had been here once or twice prior where the service was ok but no flies. The food was average indian food. Nothing that blew me away.
(2)Amanda H.
Very tasty and reasonably priced. Lots of vegetarian dishes, too.
(4)Brad C.
Masala is a five star option in Lexington. The service is good. The ambience is middling. What is excellent is the food. I have no idea how authentic the food is. What I will say is that Sunny and his employees will bring you extremely spicy food extremely quickly. And that is what I want from an Indian restaurant. Protip: Get the Lamb Rogan Josh, Indian Hot, to go. While you are waiting, go pick up a bottle of Stone Ruination IPA at Liquor Barn across the street. Go home, enjoy them together. Spice + Cream + Lamb + Hops is an amazing combination.
(5)Gordon M.
Tasty Indian food at a reasonable price. The Naan is soft and fresh. Try the Shrimp Pakora from the appetizer selection. I've ordered both the Saag Gosht (Lamb) and the Goat Curry and was very pleased. Excellent service.
(5)Mike S.
This is a favorite of mine in Lexington. If you like Indian, it is definitely worth visiting.
(4)Jeremy G.
coming from san francisco I've been spoiled with good indian and masalas holds up to the best of the west!
(5)AM M.
Decent find for Indian food in Lexington. Pappadums were a nice complimentary appetizer. Chicken curry was ordered medium, tasted mild. Palak paneer was okay although somewhat bland. A good amount of cheese, ordered mild, tasted mild. Actually better reheated almost a week later as the ingredients had time to meld together, making it more flavorful. Ample amount of rice served with entrees, which was nice as this not always the case at restaurants. Naan was more bready than naan elsewhere, and burnt on the bottom. Taj Mahal beer was a bottled beer served in a chilled glass. It tasted similar to Miller Genuine draft with a bit more of a bite to it. Budweiser was also bottled, yet served in room-temperature glass, mitigating the pleasure of an ice cold brew. The service was mediocre. Setting was pretty quiet despite the large open room with most tables filled. Total was around $40 for the two entrees, naan, two beers, tax and gratuity. Might go back for lunch buffet but dinner was not good enough to warrant another trip.
(2)Brad F.
I am a frequent customer of Coliseum Liquors owned by my good friend Shirish, and over the years he has never recommended as place like he recommends Masala. "It's the best Indian food in town." Sit down here, and you'll notice that the usual clientele is about half Indian locals. That's always a sure-fire sign of fine regional cuisine. Not nearly as fancy as Tandoor or as cozy as Bombay Brazier, but the food is fantastic, and comes highly recommended among local Indian folks.
(4)adam C.
I can't figure out why this place is so popular. This is really dumbed-down Indian food. The main dishes have no real spice or flavor, and the nan is easily some of the worst I've ever had - tough, chewy, luke warm. I'd go with Tandoor over this place any day.
(2)adam s.
Great food. great service. Went back again the next night. A family place that takes pride in quality
(5)Jeff J.
In my experience, Masala serves the best Indian food in town. Their lunch buffet is consistently good, and I find myself regularly craving their chicken tikka masala. The restaurant is in a relatively new strip mall off Harrodsburg. Masala is clean, has some nice murals, and consistently attentive servers.
(4)Denise B.
love the lunch buffett! so many good dishes...great food at a great price!
(5)Sarah V.
The food can be hit or miss here. The latest dish I got, I ordered online via LexEatIn. I got the chicken tikka which was listed on LexEatIn's website as coming with rice and dal makhani. When it arrived, there was only chicken and rice with some lightly cooked onions and peppers. Plain, dry chicken; plain, barely cooked onions and peppers that tasted like they were raw. I've had dal makhani on the buffet before and enjoyed it, so I wish it had come with my meal. I don't know if LexEatIn's website was wrong or if Masala just forgot to give it to me. I would not order this dish again. The chicken patia is much tastier and actually has flavor. Past dishes I've gotten here are the only reason it's getting as high as a three star rating right now.
(3)Wout V.
Second visit and this time Masala was quiet, and tasteful. Had the Dahl and spicy eggplant. Vegetarians should love this place!
(5)Maegan E.
Masala is my favorite Indian restaurant in Lexington. Actually, it's probably the best place serving Indian cuisine that to I've been to so far. I have tried multiple items on the menu without being disappointed yet. If I have to suggest a dish I would say to try the Lamb Tiki Masala. I have honestly never been a fan of lamb until Masala. It's cooked to perfection. The staff there are also exceptional. Always smiling and very polite. Seriously. It's a must try.
(5)Vishal B.
Worst Indian I have ever been in my life. Bad food, bad presentation. No courtesy at all.
(1)Jesica L.
This was my favorite Indian restaurant in town but after having their lunch buffet today it makes me rethink my previous assessment. I always order the lunch buffet but the mushroom paneer tasted old and my go to all time favorite of chicken tikka masala was not as tasty as I remembered. The basmati rice was barely warm and they ran out of pita and didn't seem in a hurry to restock everything. Hopefully the next time I come the options will taste fresher but it was just alright today, and not worth the drive all the way out there.
(4)Samantha R.
This is food that you think of before, during, and after the meal. Each dish is always filled with meats, veggies, and plenty of sauce (if your dish is sauce-based). They provide four "heat" choices: mild, medium, hot, and Indian hot...and they are true to label. My go-to meal is the Chicken Makhani. It is filled with more chicken than I could ask for and my favorite part is the thinly sliced bell peppers and onions throughout. The rice and naan is also always good. I have never liked a meal so much from a restaurant that I have to restrain myself from getting it too much, but this place definitely has that type of food! The price of the meals are very fair, and you get a very good amount with each meal. Also, the owners and workers here are extremely polite, and even during peak rush hours where you can see some stress creeping in, they are still very thorough and helpful. Best Indian food, hands down.
(5)Vaishali B.
Average Indian food, nothing too special. The vegetables that we ordered were quite oily and didn't stand out in taste. Yellow daal tasted good. Pakoras in the assorted appetizer plate seemed hard and stale. You are not missing out on anything by not visiting this place.
(2)Philip B.
Great Indian food. Truly only place in Lexington to have decent Indian. Decor is typical strip-mall Indian. Like every other place you've been. Service is acceptable. Nothing more. And then the food. Excellent spices. Order it hot and it's still spicy, not heat for the sake of heat. Eggplant is incredible. Etc etc.
(4)Jess F.
I've been eating here for years, and it's still one of my favorites. The lunch buffet is a GREAT deal, and I love that they offer it on the weekends. I don't know the names of all the items, but I can say that I've tried everything on the buffet and like them all! I can't give them 5 stars because I have had better Indian food (Deep India in Cincinnati - OMG YUM!). But for Lexington this is the place to go. The one thing I don't like about this restaurant is the perfume smell. The last few times I've gone there has been a perfume/air freshener/incense?? smell that is WAY too strong. It was so strong once that I thought I was going to have to leave. Like so strong you can't taste your food. This restaurant has changed management since the beginning of the year. I miss the older man who was always so friendly, but the food has not changed at at. (Only the new fragrance has changed.)
(4)Gianne T.
Masala is hands down my favorite Indian restaurant of all time. My boyfriend and I have been regulars since the past two years, and we never get tired of it. We average going at least twice a month....so we know what we're talking about. First, the service is amazing - very friendly, give great recommendations, and of course awesome, mouthwatering food. We crave Masala! We usually order the chicken tikka masala, eggplant bharta, palak paneer, lamb rogan josh, garlic naan, or we get the dinner for two. I also enjoy the lunch time buffet which has all of the delicious Indian staples. And who can forget the warm and sweet gulab jamun! If anyone hasn't had it yet, you are missing out! It is a ball of dough soaked in a sweet syrup with rose water I believe. I could be wrong but heck it's delicious. Also the mango lasse is refreshing and so are the myriad of imported beers. Highly, highly recommend!
(5)Sarah H.
Accidentally ended up here about 15 minutes before they re-opened for dinner hours but they still opened the door and let us come in and even order food before they opened their doors to the public. Even if the food hadn't been any good, I still would have had to give them at least a 3 star rating just for that. BUT the food was amazing! I've only ever eaten at one other Indian restaurant, so I'm not a connoisseur by any stretch of the imagination, but I was pretty convinced that my other Indian place could not be beat. I was wrong. I got the chicken tikka masala and a garlic naan, which is pretty standard Indian fare, but they knocked my socks off. The naan was fluffier than the ones I'd had before but i loved it. And the tikka masala (even though I ordered mild because I am a pansy) still had a little zing that made me want to keep shoveling it into my face. Between the food and the excellent customer service we received the entire time, Masala definitely merits a 5 star review and will definitely merit many many more return trips.
(5)Slewis J.
Excellent. The food and service are superb. The best Indian food I've had in a long time. Lots of vegetarian options.
(5)Sean B.
Great food, I live in Richmond and was extremely happy when they opened one up here in town. My wife and I try to eat there two or three times a month. Good service, and again...great food.
(5)Shoshanna G.
what a fantastic restaurant!! i wish they move to DC area. i've ordered Lamb tikka masala with garlic naan, I LOVED the Lamb tikka masala: it was in creamy tomato sauce w/ lots & lots of spices. i've ordered medium spicy and i could taste all the flavors w/ right amt of kick! naan was very fresh w/ just right amt of garlic flavor. it really enhanced the garlic aroma w/ the sauce!! i wish i've also tasted some of their samosas but didn't have the room for it :( gosh i'll visit KY again just to eat here!!
(5)Gianne T.
Masala is hands down my favorite Indian restaurant of all time. My boyfriend and I have been regulars since the past two years, and we never get tired of it. We average going at least twice a month....so we know what we're talking about. First, the service is amazing - very friendly, give great recommendations, and of course awesome, mouthwatering food. We crave Masala! We usually order the chicken tikka masala, eggplant bharta, palak paneer, lamb rogan josh, garlic naan, or we get the dinner for two. I also enjoy the lunch time buffet which has all of the delicious Indian staples. And who can forget the warm and sweet gulab jamun! If anyone hasn't had it yet, you are missing out! It is a ball of dough soaked in a sweet syrup with rose water I believe. I could be wrong but heck it's delicious. Also the mango lasse is refreshing and so are the myriad of imported beers. Highly, highly recommend!
(5)Sarah H.
Accidentally ended up here about 15 minutes before they re-opened for dinner hours but they still opened the door and let us come in and even order food before they opened their doors to the public. Even if the food hadn't been any good, I still would have had to give them at least a 3 star rating just for that. BUT the food was amazing! I've only ever eaten at one other Indian restaurant, so I'm not a connoisseur by any stretch of the imagination, but I was pretty convinced that my other Indian place could not be beat. I was wrong. I got the chicken tikka masala and a garlic naan, which is pretty standard Indian fare, but they knocked my socks off. The naan was fluffier than the ones I'd had before but i loved it. And the tikka masala (even though I ordered mild because I am a pansy) still had a little zing that made me want to keep shoveling it into my face. Between the food and the excellent customer service we received the entire time, Masala definitely merits a 5 star review and will definitely merit many many more return trips.
(5)Slewis J.
Excellent. The food and service are superb. The best Indian food I've had in a long time. Lots of vegetarian options.
(5)Christian S.
Best in I've been able to find in Lexington. While I'm new to the Indian food game, this is quickly becoming my favorite despite having to drive across town for it. Highly recommend the Gobi Manchurian - Not on the menu. Must ask for it. Also, my current favorite is the Dal Makhni. And don't forget the garlic naan! The staff is incredibly friendly and provides great service. Plus, it's always easy to walk in and order. Very high rankings from Health Department reviews as well.
(5)Mike T.
Excellent Indian food at a good price! Average to below-average dining room experience but excellent for a quick lunch buffet.
(4)Ron B.
It's hard to judge indian food in this area because I'm new and the restaurants I've been to so far aren't crowded ever. That said, I came here and ordered the tandoori chicken saag one evening when I didn't feel like cooking. It was cooked well, the chicken is truly from a tandoori situation and they don't ferret out the bones for you, so go into it knowing that so you (or someone you love) doesn't end up choking. Otherwise, it was a solid meal. I wasn't blown away, but it served it's purpose of a good meal, good service and was ready for takeout when I arrived.
(3)Betty P.
Wow! What a pleasant suprise! This goes on the list of some of the best Indian food we have had in a restaurant anywhere! It goes in the top five of the best we've tried in a restaurant in the US. The eggplant bhartha was amazing. Tasted like homemade. Loved the onion chutney. Papadums were super thin and crispy. Service was great. Staff was friendly. Restaurant was clean and had a 95 health rating. Will definitely be back next time we are in Lexington.
(4)P B.
Skip the lunch buffet. It has no spice at all to satisfy the more casual and timid diner. Go instead for dinner and I dare you not to love it. Granted, the change in staff recently may have an impact, but so far so good in my opinion. I have a friend from Chicago who has eaten Indian food all over the country and Masala is his favorite of them all. The saag is deliciously creamy and spicy. Their garlic naan is my favorite bread ever. And the lamb rogan josh is my favorite dish of all time, no matter what cuisine we're talking about. The chicken tikka masala is killer too. We sometimes order the dinner for two, which comes with tandoori chicken, seekh kebab, soup (we get the chicken soup--awesome!), chicken curry, and lamb rogan josh. It's too much food for two people, but it's so hard to stop eating it. And if you like biryani, that's crazy good here too. I can't say enough good things about it. As long as the quality and service remain at a high level, this will remain my favorite place to eat in the world. One tip: order a little spicier than you might at other places. Medium here is consistently pretty mild so if you're looking for a kick, go spicy! Oh, and one more tip: you can stop at Liquor Barn across the parking lot and pick up a bottle of wine to bring in to Masala with you. It sounds a little weird, but trust me, a bottle of fairly sweet Riesling really works well with just about anything here. Liquor Barn doesn't have much in the way of chilled Rieslings, but it's worth a look--or just bring your own from home.
(5)Shelly V.
Hot means hot here not some American-style hot. If you like a bit of kick keep with the mild, it's still not really mild. They have a large vegetarian selection and many vegan options. Overall a great choice for Indian food!!
(4)D M.
Awesome Indian food. We came in a little skeptical just because it's hard to find good Indian food but wow. We got an appetizer and two entrees and even that was too much food for the two of us. The palak paneer was to die for. The chicken masala was great. The garlic naan is a must!!! I will definitely come here often.
(5)Candace G.
Been here several times and everything I've tried has been excellent! The owners are here everyday and take great pride in the quality of the food and experience you have at the restaurant. You have to get bread with your meal, it is the perfect accent to any of the dishes and the garlic naan is my favorite. Also, when they say hot they truly mean it, so don't go with spicy unless you are in the mood for a sweat!
(5)Rick M.
That was a pretty good buffet. It was not the biggest but everything on there was fresh and bursting with flavor. I was very surprised to see goat on the buffet on a weekday. It was on the bone and slow simmered in a curry until it was meltingly tender. I look forward to going some evening and ordering off the menu. If the buffet is this good, ordering from the kitchen is probably dynamite.
(5)Cathy B.
It might, indeed, be the best Indian food in town. But that isn't necessarily a ringing endorsement. As a visitor from out of town, I found this place really lack-luster. It was certainly popular among the erudite crowd; other tables were clearly filled with college faculty talking about poetry, liberation, and world travels. Which made for good eavesdropping. But that doesn't make up for re-heated food, limited spices, and sugared Kashmiri bread. (Sugared!?) Plus, the place was slightly grimy. (I say this as someone who has eaten from food carts in both north and south India, so, it's not like I'm super persnickety.) Tables sticky, plastic tumblers worn, no straws offered. But it was mostly the service that was odd. Well -- the service was off, and it was odd. The server checked on each table probably every 5 minutes, which was a bit disruptive and mildly insincere. I never felt like she actually wanted to do anything about any table's dining experience. And the man working the floor seated me at my table, confirmed that I was eating alone, and then just became flummoxed, eventually just shifting the other table setting over about 2 inches, instead of removing it completely. Oh, and because my stomach is a bottomless pit today, I actually was going to go ahead and order dessert, but they never gave me the chance and merely brought the bill. I dunno. Maybe they just wanted me and my magazine-reading, single-dining self out of there. I wouldn't bother returning, personally. Especially if you are an out of towner.
(2)Andrew W.
This place is awesome. Best Indian food I've had. Shared the combination with my daughter. Started with chicken soup, seasoned perfectly. Next came the naan: fresh, "fluffy" best ever. Next was lamb josh rogan (very nice), chicken tikka, and chicken/sausage with onions and peppers on a hot stone. Very fresh testing, hint of spice, just right. Kheer for dessert. We walked away happy, very full... And less than $50 lighter in the wallet!
(5)Joseph K.
Good indian food in the area. I had lamb tikha masala with rice along with papadum as appitizer and gulab jamun as my dessert. I have my lamb on mild.. Probably will be alot better if its medium or hot... ( i m travelling not risking upset stomach if i cant handle the spice) 1 order of lamb with rice will probably enough for 2 people to share... Good food, will return.
(4)Nick W.
This place is no longer run by the same people (see my taste of India review). The food was not quite as good and a bit oily. The service was okay, but not great. Apparently, the owner is the same, it's just the staff that is all different. (See associated comment). It definately shows. Went back to give it another go. Yeah, I stand by my original review. This place has gone downhill. Food was cold when it showed up 30 min later (after they'd forgotten about us). They were very polite and apologetic and gave me 10% off, but still...there are better places.
(3)Ekim E.
I had a few things to take care of in the area so I stopped by Masala for lunch. Seems everyone from the area loves this restaurant but I wasn't impressed very much. The lunch buffet is relatively small and besides the tikka masala nothing else has much of a taste. The naan is very fluffy as others have noted and tastes quite good and the rice pudding isn't bad either. Other than these, however, I don't think this place is worth visiting if you are looking for flavorful Indian food -BUT if you are in the area, are hungry and don't want to pay much for lunch, then Masala could be a good choice as it's impossible to beat the $7.95 lunch buffet deal.
(3)april w.
Great service! I had a huge take out order that I out in last minute, and they even gave me a free mango lassi when I was waiting for the food. They also packed everything nicely. The only thing is that the chicken jalfrezi was a little too spicy and the naan didn't taste as fresh. My Indian friends really likes theirs so it probably is very authentic Indian food.
(4)Michael T.
I was in Lexington on business and decided to check this place out. I was very impressed with the quality of food. The place is pretty small and located in a strip mall, but very worth it. I ordered the Chicken Makhani with some garlic naan and it was simply the best meal I have ever had. The staff was very nice and the prices were great. I plan to return here when I come back in January.
(5)Ashley S.
This is by far our favorite Indian food restaurant in the COUNTRY... And we travel weekly to different cities, with Indian food always on our agenda at least twice a week. The service is excellent & the food is phenomenal. They always remember us even if it's been months since our last visit. Just this week my husband had a request that wasn't on the menu & Sunny (the chef/owner) didn't even flinch at him.... He made the dish and it was SPOT ON! My personal fave is paneer makhani & garlic naan. I love their mango lassi as well. All around a great find!
(5)Josh M.
This is quickly becoming one of my fav places in town. Eggplant Bhartha is wow. Soup I have had 1st two on the list and great on both. Also make sure you try the bread. The people are always very friendly and welcome to have you. Be nice, tip on!!!
(5)Melissa L.
I was recently visiting family in Lexington for a wedding and my sister suggested Indian food (which I have never had) for dinner. It can be hard to find really good food that everyone likes as we have a few vegetarians in the house, but this place nailed it! The masala and naan were amazing! Melissa
(5)Julia N.
I came here with my family, a group of five people. Everyone loved what they ordered, and since we are a family that always tries what the others order, I can honestly say that everyone loved what everyone ordered. Delicious naan, samosas, and five entrees. No one left hungry, and two folks had full takeaway boxes. The waitress was amazingly attentive, sweet, and friendly. She played an Indian version of Happy Birthday over the loudspeaker when she heard it was my birthday. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone in the area that would like a tasty Indian meal. It was my first time here, and I will be back. We all will!
(5)Steve B.
Outstanding. Reasonably priced, consistently delicious, friendly staff. Highly recommend.
(5)Christopher L.
Changed name to 4 Spice. Best Indian restaurant I've found yet in Lexington. Seekh kebab was excellent, loved the pakora, very generous kheer portions. Great atmosphere and attentive staff, too. Highly recommended.
(5)Joseph O.
Outstanding Indian Food. You wouldn't think some of the very best in Indian food would be found in a little strip mall on the outskirts of Lexington, but it is. The restaurant itself is clean, professional, and tries hard for a good atmosphere, but the star is the food itself. Every time I've eaten here I try something new, and I've never, ever been disappointed. The flavors are rich and varied, and the quality trumps far more expensive and pretentious Indian places. If you are looking for some very good Indian food, you will not go wrong trying out Masala.
(5)Peter C.
We went here for their lunch buffet! Reasonably priced, servings were unlimited! Many wonderful dishes with variety of spice. Spicy chicken was fairly spicy and tasted delicious. Refill on the waters could have been a little faster. Room temperature was a bit too cold. Overall, we both had a wonder lunch together.
(3)Jenny H.
This place is pretty great. We usually come here for lunch buffet, which is a great deal, but have also been here for dinner also. The buffet is always good - but the items will vary, so if you have something on their menu that you absolutely love, it may not always be there. They almost always have chicken tikka - sometimes have palak paneer, and once had my favorite, the mushroom and peas matar. They have naan also in the buffet which was delicious. No samosas though. They also usually have a red bbq rub chicken drumsticks - which is wonderful. Only real time I wasn't happy was one time I went late (almost 2 pm) wtih some friends and the food wasn't terribly hot, just warm. The dinner is great, but a little more than I'm used to paying for Indian food. The chicken tikka is great. Their garlic naan and mango smoothie is absolutely delicious. But again, it is much more expensive to go here for dinner, but you can get a lot more things that you don't get from the buffet, like lamb for instance.
(4)Steve R.
This is a nice Indian restaurant with very good food. There are plenty of selections. Unlike some other Indian restaurants, Masala has several varieties of Naan bread, which was nice. This place would be a 4 star for me if the service were more efficient.
(3)Kevin M.
The food was excellent. I've eaten at many Indian restaurants and the good is usually very good but it seems like the service sometimes lacks. This place can get very busy but the works work very hard at keeping up and it is a small cozy restaurant that has a very good atmosphere for a friends night out or date night. They don't charge you for every little thing you want extra of like rice or sauce. Very pleased with this place and I will be back!
(5)Sean F.
Consistenly OK for lunch buffet. A bit better when eating from the dinner menu. Buffet is just a small hair above your average "indian" buffet on most days, some days better, some worse.
(3)Myke D.
I used to love this place but will probably never be back.. I took a date out to dinner here and receieved the worst service in recent memory. It had been a couple years since my last visit and and the experiences were like night and day- it was as if we weren't welcome there despite having one other table in the whole place. The food is good but not good enough to put up with their weird attitude. I get better service and more smiles from drive thru windows- gimme a break!
(2)Betty H.
Came back for the buffet recently and the food was not as good.
(3)Ben P.
The last time I was here I told myself I would not be back. The service wasn't very good and there were flies everywhere. I had been here once or twice prior where the service was ok but no flies. The food was average indian food. Nothing that blew me away.
(2)Amanda H.
Very tasty and reasonably priced. Lots of vegetarian dishes, too.
(4)Stella J.
This is the Original Masala in the Beaumont Centre. There have already been several glowing reviews, and some backstory dished out by some previous reviewers, so I will just leave my review to contributing different information. This Masala (compared to her sister restaurant off Nicholasville road) is much more casual in atmosphere, even bearing in mind cloth napkins and tablecloths. Masala has about a dozen authentic Indian beers, half dozen other imports, and about a half dozen domestic beers. Try one of the Indian beers called "Sunny Beaches" it is an amazing accompaniment to the food!! The lunch buffet is also very good (perhaps one of the only buffets I will eat-- buffets generally suck!) and changed out very frequently, kept very hot. Love Masala!!
(5)Gordon F.
Best indian food in town. Definitely go for the lunch buffet if at all possible, it is a great deal. The palak paneer (spinach and cheese) is to die for, and the fresh naan is very good. The only thing that could be improved is a few more dishes at the buffet to give better variety. But what is there is excellent.
(5)Chris P.
Great! The lunch buffet was actually very good and everything was well stocked. I went on a whim and was just passing through. I WILL be back. The meats were cooked just right and the breads, dips, oils, etc were all very authentic. The candied carrots and raisins were spiced perfectly. I had some Korma and it was to die for. The service was outstanding besides the lack of english. Strip mall food is growing on me. =) It's located in a really nice neighborhood as well with convenience to many things. As being a CA native, I have had excellent Indian food and this stands up to it.
(4)Merlin C.
The lunch buffet was passable. Good shrimp korma and chicken tikka masala. Terrible chicken tandoori -- very dry and tasteless. I'm downgrading a couple stars because of the lack of variety and the appallingly rude service. The lady manning the register yelled at me to use a new plate (no signs posted anywhere on this strange rule) and nothing resembling a "thank you" when I paid. I'd stay away.
(2)Richard Y.
Now, living mostly in Cincinnati, I'm spoiled by the incredible selection of Indian food. However, one of my favorites I've ever been to is probably this little place in a strip mall in Lexington. Masala is quite the amazing place in terms of Indian food. It has the appearance of most Indian restaurants. The white tablecloths, free water, strange (read: amazing) smells. But what sets it apart is the complexity of flavors. Basically-their Indian food is from real spices, not curry pastes. Personally-others might differ-the first time I go to an Indian place I get the same thing every time-it's like the control in an experiment. This may be a bit judgmental, but I've found that I can usually determine from a dish or two, what I like about the restaurant. For me, that dish is the Chicken Makhani-and let me tell you, at Masala, it is splendid. T flavors were complex, and overall, it was simply amazing. I cannot really recommend this place enough. Seriously. It's amazing. And that's coming from a seasoned Indian veteran.
(5)Jennifer M.
Excellent Indian cuisine!! I have only eaten at the lunch buffet once. However, I regularly (about once a week) order carryout off their menu. They are quick and the food is always delicious. This is not an establishment to which you visit for an evening of sophistication and swanky ambiance, but it is a place for some tasty Indian food.
(5)A G.
I love Indian food, and for the longest time the best place in Lexington for Indian was Tandoor. However, when Sunny, the former GM of Tandoor, left to start his own restaurant Masala in the Beaumont Center, we happily gave it a try. The food is just as fantastic at Masala as it was during his tenure with Tandoor, and the small restaurant is cozy and inviting without the feeling you're going to put your elbow in your neighbor's nose, like you might at other "cozy" restaurants. The staff are friendly and polite, and once they get to know your favorites, you needn't look over a menu, they'll ask you which of your favorites you'd like. The vegetable samosas are fantastic - crispy fried outsides filled with curried potatoes and peas, served with delicious tamarind sauce. The chicken korma is rich with cashews and spiced just right. The chicken tikka - marinated chunks of tender chicken breast cooked in the tandoor oven - is an attention-grabbing dish served on a hot plate of peppers and onions, and the best "go to" dish for introducing spice-shy friends and guests to Indian cuisine. The chana masala is some of the best comfort food around - a richly spiced tomato sauce and chickpeas served over fragrant basmati rice. And did I mention the tangy raita, chocked full of carrots and fresh cucumbers? A creamy treat, especially with the chewy-on-the-inside-crisp-on-the-outside, buttery naan bread. You can't go wrong with Masala, whether you're an old hand at Indian cuisine, or just starting out on your culinary adventure.
(5)Robert F.
This place is really good. The buffet--a baragin-- includes some standouts, such as the tandoori chicken, the onion chutney and the salad. Buffet or off the menu, you get consistently good Indian food Suburban strip mall ambiance, but so what? If it tastes as good as this, it could be a dim, greasy dive--which it is not, by the way--and it would stil be worrth eating there.
(4)Jeff R.
I've done the buffet twice. It's fine. Typical fare. Yet another buffet with the rice syrup balls for desert. Please turn up the AC in the summer.
(3)Andrea S.
I have been here several times with my family and each experience has been great. My mother, who swore she wouldn't like Indian food, even loves it! My only complaint is price. I just moved to KY from the Indo-Pak neighborhood in Chicago where you can pick up a samosa, some veg briani and a piece of chapati for under 4 dollars. So paying $3.50 for one piece of naan is a bit hard to swallow. Overall the service and quality of the food is worth the trip.
(4)J. W.
I ate at Masala for 2 of the 4 meals I had while visiting the area. For the first meal, I ordered carryout. I started with the cucumber/tomato/onion salad and had Lamb Rogan Josh for dinner. The salad wasn't great, the chunks of onion were very large and as a result, a bit overpowering. Plus, the tomatoes were tasteless. The entree was quite good. The lamb was tender and the sauce had a great flavor. On day 2 I tried the lunch buffet. For $9 it was pretty darn good, the chicken dishes were the best. I guess my only complaint was that they didn't have any identifying markers to let me know what dishes I was enjoying. At the end of the day, as long as it tastes good, who cares...
(4)Gordon M.
Tasty Indian food at a reasonable price. The Naan is soft and fresh. Try the Shrimp Pakora from the appetizer selection. I've ordered both the Saag Gosht (Lamb) and the Goat Curry and was very pleased. Excellent service.
(5)Mike S.
This is a favorite of mine in Lexington. If you like Indian, it is definitely worth visiting.
(4)Jeremy G.
coming from san francisco I've been spoiled with good indian and masalas holds up to the best of the west!
(5)AM M.
Decent find for Indian food in Lexington. Pappadums were a nice complimentary appetizer. Chicken curry was ordered medium, tasted mild. Palak paneer was okay although somewhat bland. A good amount of cheese, ordered mild, tasted mild. Actually better reheated almost a week later as the ingredients had time to meld together, making it more flavorful. Ample amount of rice served with entrees, which was nice as this not always the case at restaurants. Naan was more bready than naan elsewhere, and burnt on the bottom. Taj Mahal beer was a bottled beer served in a chilled glass. It tasted similar to Miller Genuine draft with a bit more of a bite to it. Budweiser was also bottled, yet served in room-temperature glass, mitigating the pleasure of an ice cold brew. The service was mediocre. Setting was pretty quiet despite the large open room with most tables filled. Total was around $40 for the two entrees, naan, two beers, tax and gratuity. Might go back for lunch buffet but dinner was not good enough to warrant another trip.
(2)Brad F.
I am a frequent customer of Coliseum Liquors owned by my good friend Shirish, and over the years he has never recommended as place like he recommends Masala. "It's the best Indian food in town." Sit down here, and you'll notice that the usual clientele is about half Indian locals. That's always a sure-fire sign of fine regional cuisine. Not nearly as fancy as Tandoor or as cozy as Bombay Brazier, but the food is fantastic, and comes highly recommended among local Indian folks.
(4)adam C.
I can't figure out why this place is so popular. This is really dumbed-down Indian food. The main dishes have no real spice or flavor, and the nan is easily some of the worst I've ever had - tough, chewy, luke warm. I'd go with Tandoor over this place any day.
(2)adam s.
Great food. great service. Went back again the next night. A family place that takes pride in quality
(5)Jeff J.
In my experience, Masala serves the best Indian food in town. Their lunch buffet is consistently good, and I find myself regularly craving their chicken tikka masala. The restaurant is in a relatively new strip mall off Harrodsburg. Masala is clean, has some nice murals, and consistently attentive servers.
(4)Denise B.
love the lunch buffett! so many good dishes...great food at a great price!
(5)Brad C.
Masala is a five star option in Lexington. The service is good. The ambience is middling. What is excellent is the food. I have no idea how authentic the food is. What I will say is that Sunny and his employees will bring you extremely spicy food extremely quickly. And that is what I want from an Indian restaurant. Protip: Get the Lamb Rogan Josh, Indian Hot, to go. While you are waiting, go pick up a bottle of Stone Ruination IPA at Liquor Barn across the street. Go home, enjoy them together. Spice + Cream + Lamb + Hops is an amazing combination.
(5)Jim N.
Wonderful flavors; excellent buffet selection; every thing tasted was good; this place rocks! We will definitely return.
(4)Wes F.
This is the best indian in town, and number 1 or 2 of top indian I've ever had. The staff is really nice as well. One night their credit card machine was down, and they could only take cash, they took whatever cash I had even tho it didn't totally cover the bill. The food is always fresh and the basil naan is my absolutely favorite. The portions are large, I always walk away with two for one meals and I eat quite a bit in general. Their buffet is always very well kept so don't be afraid to try it.
(5)Ashley H.
This is my favorite Indian place so far. My boyfriend was visiting from Nashville, and it's almost become tradition for us to go to a couple of the Indian places when I visit him, so we decided to seek out one here. We ordered carryout so u can comment on a dining experience, but I will say that the staff was very friendly when we picked up our food. We both ordered the Tikka Masala, garlic naan, and a mango lassi each. I ordered the medium, while he ordered the Indian hot. When we for home and started eating? We both decided that THIS was our favorite Indian place even over our current two favorite Nashville places. The flavor was just so good, and it was honestly the best naan bread is ever had. As far as the spice levels, I'm honestly not one that could accurately review those. I will say that the medium at this place was spicier than the previous place I had eaten, and was the perfect amount of spice for me. The Indian hot was just too hot for me. But my boyfriend enjoyed it so much. Though he admitted that he'd probably just go for the hot next time rather than the Indian hot. I'm excited to try out the other dishes that they offer.
(5)Tia T.
Went there for lunch.. Not very crowded. I usually love masala but it was sort of a miss for buffet For me that day. I guess bc I didn't try any meat dishes this visit but since I have been here multiple times, I will back again to try goat curry!!
(3)Cory D.
This is a solid four star review. I really enjoyed the flavors of the various types of Indian curry dishes on the buffet. I must say the although, I have eaten here a few times this is my only experience with Indian food. The service was good, but every time I have eaten here I got the buffet.
(4)Jesica L.
This was my favorite Indian restaurant in town but after having their lunch buffet today it makes me rethink my previous assessment. I always order the lunch buffet but the mushroom paneer tasted old and my go to all time favorite of chicken tikka masala was not as tasty as I remembered. The basmati rice was barely warm and they ran out of pita and didn't seem in a hurry to restock everything. Hopefully the next time I come the options will taste fresher but it was just alright today, and not worth the drive all the way out there.
(4)Wes C.
The Good: the food, the prices, the wait staff, the buffet. The Bad: same old same old for Indian restaurant decor, service could be better, very cold in there. The Rundown: just to get this out of the way, it was cold in there, not see your breath cold, but keep your jacket on cold, what is up with that?! As far as Indian restaurants go, this one ranks up there as one of the better around. The food comes out pretty quick and tastes great. We ordered our food Indian Hot, which we can handle, but for the average joe, I wouldn't try this. The food is served in the traditional manner with the rice separate from the meat and sauce so you can make your own portion. Generally one dish should be enough for two people as well. Where they could improve is in their customer service, though I don't expect too much because every Indian restaurant I haver we been to is like this, standoffish, staring, curt, this just comes along with the territory. The decor is just like every other Indian restaurant as well, baron walls, mirrors, glass over the tablecloth, even red napkins. The Impression: as in the past I will come back for their food, after all that is why you go out to eat. There is nothing overwhelmingly amazing about it but I just really like Indian food. It would be nice if there was a little something different about them, something to make them stand out to bring more people in.
(4)Sarah V.
The food can be hit or miss here. The latest dish I got, I ordered online via LexEatIn. I got the chicken tikka which was listed on LexEatIn's website as coming with rice and dal makhani. When it arrived, there was only chicken and rice with some lightly cooked onions and peppers. Plain, dry chicken; plain, barely cooked onions and peppers that tasted like they were raw. I've had dal makhani on the buffet before and enjoyed it, so I wish it had come with my meal. I don't know if LexEatIn's website was wrong or if Masala just forgot to give it to me. I would not order this dish again. The chicken patia is much tastier and actually has flavor. Past dishes I've gotten here are the only reason it's getting as high as a three star rating right now.
(3)Wout V.
Second visit and this time Masala was quiet, and tasteful. Had the Dahl and spicy eggplant. Vegetarians should love this place!
(5)Maegan E.
Masala is my favorite Indian restaurant in Lexington. Actually, it's probably the best place serving Indian cuisine that to I've been to so far. I have tried multiple items on the menu without being disappointed yet. If I have to suggest a dish I would say to try the Lamb Tiki Masala. I have honestly never been a fan of lamb until Masala. It's cooked to perfection. The staff there are also exceptional. Always smiling and very polite. Seriously. It's a must try.
(5)Vishal B.
Worst Indian I have ever been in my life. Bad food, bad presentation. No courtesy at all.
(1)Samantha R.
This is food that you think of before, during, and after the meal. Each dish is always filled with meats, veggies, and plenty of sauce (if your dish is sauce-based). They provide four "heat" choices: mild, medium, hot, and Indian hot...and they are true to label. My go-to meal is the Chicken Makhani. It is filled with more chicken than I could ask for and my favorite part is the thinly sliced bell peppers and onions throughout. The rice and naan is also always good. I have never liked a meal so much from a restaurant that I have to restrain myself from getting it too much, but this place definitely has that type of food! The price of the meals are very fair, and you get a very good amount with each meal. Also, the owners and workers here are extremely polite, and even during peak rush hours where you can see some stress creeping in, they are still very thorough and helpful. Best Indian food, hands down.
(5)Vaishali B.
Average Indian food, nothing too special. The vegetables that we ordered were quite oily and didn't stand out in taste. Yellow daal tasted good. Pakoras in the assorted appetizer plate seemed hard and stale. You are not missing out on anything by not visiting this place.
(2)Philip B.
Great Indian food. Truly only place in Lexington to have decent Indian. Decor is typical strip-mall Indian. Like every other place you've been. Service is acceptable. Nothing more. And then the food. Excellent spices. Order it hot and it's still spicy, not heat for the sake of heat. Eggplant is incredible. Etc etc.
(4)Jess F.
I've been eating here for years, and it's still one of my favorites. The lunch buffet is a GREAT deal, and I love that they offer it on the weekends. I don't know the names of all the items, but I can say that I've tried everything on the buffet and like them all! I can't give them 5 stars because I have had better Indian food (Deep India in Cincinnati - OMG YUM!). But for Lexington this is the place to go. The one thing I don't like about this restaurant is the perfume smell. The last few times I've gone there has been a perfume/air freshener/incense?? smell that is WAY too strong. It was so strong once that I thought I was going to have to leave. Like so strong you can't taste your food. This restaurant has changed management since the beginning of the year. I miss the older man who was always so friendly, but the food has not changed at at. (Only the new fragrance has changed.)
(4)