Stopped by for the lunch buffet after colleagues had raved about it. My first time trying Indian ever and wow! I decided to try a little bit of everything and was so impressed. Can’t wait to go again!
C. B.
To me, this is the best restaurant in Iowa City. Lately this is the only place I like to bring guests and go for special occasions! The food is fantastic every time, the portions are amazing for the price, and the service is wonderful. Everything I’ve tried here is delicious. The lunch buffet is AMAZING!!!! Masala has won me over as a lifelong fan.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Garlic Naan, Chicken Tikka
Michael Kreiser
NOT Indian food. ordered sag paneer which was more brown than green. the rice was eatable, but bland. utter disappointment. NEVER again.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 2
Kim Sinton
This restaurant has pretty basic decor but a few of the dishes are really good.I personally love the Coconut curry and the Garlic Naan bread. The coconut curry is more of a Punjabi style coconut curry.Considering how good the food is… I felt the pricing was quit reasonable:Vegetarian options: They offer several very good vegetarian dishes.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Garlic Naan
Stefan Chippeaux
Great food, service was a slow start but got better towards the end. We were definitely shown appreciation for being there and enjoying a meal. Highly recommended!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Garlic Naan
Lynne H.
Waited an hour and 20 minutes for food to be served. Food was decent but the place smells like tobacco smoke coming from the back room.
Marissa W.
I always come into Iowa City for them, love their chana masala and mango lassi. The service isn't always the best but the food more than makes up for it.
Tom W.
A sad place for lunch. The interior is dingy, the seating cramped, and the lunch buffet was disappointing. Only about six entrees, no naan, the tikka masala chicken was a pan full of broth with hardly any chicken, the tandoori chicken was undercooked (to me). won't be back.
Jenni H.
I find Indian cuisine to be very intimidating so I've put off visiting this gotta-try in downtown Iowa City until just last night. It's been around for over 30 years which in a college town says something. I popped in a Thursday at 6ish. We were seated right away. We ordered the vegetarian platter, chicken tikki masala and garlic naan. OMG. Delish. The samosas were my favorite on the platter-- they were piping hot and so flavorful. The two chutneys on the table were great with them; cilantro-mint and tamarind. The naan was perfection. Piping hot, the perfect amount of garlic. Chicken tikki masala was melt in your mouth good, though we asked for medium spicy and it was not spicy at all. Service was quick and polite. Pricing was on point. Masala is available for dine in, pickup and delivery via CHOMP-- open every day except Sunday. Get your Indian fix at Masala today!
Our visit was in November of 2023. The place was dirty and dingy. Staff was not very attentive and not personable. We ordered medium spice level and everything was hot hot hot. Like we could barely eat it hot.
Landon Crippes
The lunch buffet is unbeatable. The perfect options for a fantastic price!
Food: 5
Service: 5
Kayla Bills
I would never eat here again unless things drastically change. The service and atmoshpere-fine, no problems here. The food, almost inedible. Everything was sweet. Literally ever dish, salad, meat, entree, curry-was sweet. This is very unusual for authentic indian cuisine. No spices, no aromatics were tasted. I would not recommend.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 4
R Dean Roberson
The best in the area. Affordable, quality food providing excellent meals to all.
Christina Bornsen
I hate to leave bad reviews but this place was not good. Seemed dirty, took forever and the food was bland. I don’t recommend.
Stopped by for the lunch buffet after colleagues had raved about it. My first time trying Indian ever and wow! I decided to try a little bit of everything and was so impressed. Can’t wait to go again!
To me, this is the best restaurant in Iowa City. Lately this is the only place I like to bring guests and go for special occasions! The food is fantastic every time, the portions are amazing for the price, and the service is wonderful. Everything I’ve tried here is delicious. The lunch buffet is AMAZING!!!! Masala has won me over as a lifelong fan.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Garlic Naan, Chicken Tikka
NOT Indian food. ordered sag paneer which was more brown than green. the rice was eatable, but bland. utter disappointment. NEVER again.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 2
This restaurant has pretty basic decor but a few of the dishes are really good.I personally love the Coconut curry and the Garlic Naan bread. The coconut curry is more of a Punjabi style coconut curry.Considering how good the food is… I felt the pricing was quit reasonable:Vegetarian options: They offer several very good vegetarian dishes.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Garlic Naan
Great food, service was a slow start but got better towards the end. We were definitely shown appreciation for being there and enjoying a meal. Highly recommended!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Garlic Naan
Waited an hour and 20 minutes for food to be served. Food was decent but the place smells like tobacco smoke coming from the back room.
I always come into Iowa City for them, love their chana masala and mango lassi. The service isn't always the best but the food more than makes up for it.
A sad place for lunch. The interior is dingy, the seating cramped, and the lunch buffet was disappointing. Only about six entrees, no naan, the tikka masala chicken was a pan full of broth with hardly any chicken, the tandoori chicken was undercooked (to me). won't be back.
I find Indian cuisine to be very intimidating so I've put off visiting this gotta-try in downtown Iowa City until just last night. It's been around for over 30 years which in a college town says something. I popped in a Thursday at 6ish. We were seated right away. We ordered the vegetarian platter, chicken tikki masala and garlic naan. OMG. Delish. The samosas were my favorite on the platter-- they were piping hot and so flavorful. The two chutneys on the table were great with them; cilantro-mint and tamarind. The naan was perfection. Piping hot, the perfect amount of garlic. Chicken tikki masala was melt in your mouth good, though we asked for medium spicy and it was not spicy at all. Service was quick and polite. Pricing was on point. Masala is available for dine in, pickup and delivery via CHOMP-- open every day except Sunday. Get your Indian fix at Masala today!
It was
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 3
Service: 2
Restaurantji Recommends
Our visit was in November of 2023. The place was dirty and dingy. Staff was not very attentive and not personable. We ordered medium spice level and everything was hot hot hot. Like we could barely eat it hot.
The lunch buffet is unbeatable. The perfect options for a fantastic price!
Food: 5
Service: 5
I would never eat here again unless things drastically change. The service and atmoshpere-fine, no problems here. The food, almost inedible. Everything was sweet. Literally ever dish, salad, meat, entree, curry-was sweet. This is very unusual for authentic indian cuisine. No spices, no aromatics were tasted. I would not recommend.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 4
The best in the area. Affordable, quality food providing excellent meals to all.
I hate to leave bad reviews but this place was not good. Seemed dirty, took forever and the food was bland. I don’t recommend.