Welcome to Masala Street: A Culinary Journey Through North Indian Cuisine

“ They have a lunch special menu that can't be beat. We ate there this week for lunch and we were impressed with the food quality and portion size. We ordered the one Thali special, $18.99 it's enough for two people. We will definitely back again. You will ”

“ sweet staff, yummy food! The curry here never disappoints! Their sauces are really good too ”

“ One of the newer North Indian cuisine Restaurants in Encinitas...we had saag paneer,butter chicken and assorted naan...saag was authentic with a home flavor...chicken was nothing exclusive....however the assorted naan was a delight with new items like coconut naan which was a sweet delight ...our server was very courteous and service was good...overall a nice small restaurant for North Indian food if you are in and around Encinitas. ”

“ This place is absolutely amazing! The food is fantastic--superb, even. Every time we camp in the area, we make a point to stop here. We always tell ourselves we'll eat here just once during our trip, but we end up coming back at least twice! ”

“ I placed a pick up order for the coconut pineapple chicken curry and I have absolutely no regrets. This was probably one of the best curries I've ever had. It was sweet and perfectly spicy (I did get a medium spice level). I also got an Indian tea and it was the perfect way to end the meal. The tea was a tad sweet and was very flavorful. Would definitely come back! ”

“ I give Masala four stars, albeit barely. Masala is the kind of place that does some things extremely well, while others fall into the "needs improvement' category. This newest Indian restaurant in Encinitas is stuck in the slightly out of the way northeastern corner of the Town Center Mall, along with several other small eateries. Over the years, there has been a fair amount of turnover in this little spot, so I can't imagine that it is easy to financially thrive here. So first let me wish the owners good luck. The menu offers a lot of traditional and westernized Indian fare, although I was pleased to see at least one Indian family also eating there. They also have a couple items of SoCal fusion, notably their burritos. We stayed traditional, ordering a tikka masala, tandoori chicken, garlic naan and mango lassis for a quick, late lunch. The service was good and the food came out in quick order. The lassis were sitting premade in a refrigerated cooler with canned sodas and other drinks. The quality was good, but it did not taste as fresh as it should. I know that making them to order can be take some time, especially if a place is busy, but frankly this was a bit of a letdown. The owners should be willing to invest that time. The food itself was also of good, but varying quality. The naan was competently made and served. The tikka masala was good as well, but the flavors were somewhat muted. I could barely taste the garam masala or coriander (although the turmeric was present). This may be due to the fact my wife ordered as mild as can be. Perhaps spicier versions are more adventurous with the ingredients. They might also consider using chicken thigh instead of breast: it remains juicier when cooked. The star of the show, however, was the tandoori chicken. It and the accompanying vegetables were not only good, but actually some of the best Punjabi tandoor I have had in years. Succulent, savory and clearly cooked in a traditional oven, it really stood out far in a way the best part of the meal. On that dish alone, MS got its four stars out of me. What I need to do is return. I want to check out other dishes and see if the flavors pop with a bit more heat. Here's hoping Masala Street delivers. ”

“ Service here is top notch. Surprising as it's just a tiny little hole in the wall. However, the food is not consistent. They have a lunch special, which is an excellent value if, and it's a big "if", the food is good or better. That's the problem at Masala Street. My lunch was mediocre at best. The lunch special I chose consisted of one meat which came with rice, salad, raita, and naan. Other options are available. That being said, aside from the "lunch special" I thoroughly enjoy their food, their customer service and just the overall experience. I come here quite frequently, at least once a week. I absolutely love this restaurant and feel very lucky it's within walking distance from my home ”

“ I stopped by on the way to San Diego . We just ordered a cha n samosa . Quick service and very welcoming front desk staff. Samosa was fresh and authentic . Chai was like homemade cha . Felt at home after long time . Plenty of parking . ”

“ Our recent visit for dinner at Masala Street was delicious! The quant little restaurant had a very relaxed atmosphere that immediately made us feel welcome. The service at the table was awesome! The woman was so friendly, helpful and encouraged us to tell her if we needed anything. The food came out hot and spiced exactly as ordered. I had the Butter Chicken and my husband had the Lamb Hara Masala. We ordered some Garlic Naan and Raita. The serving sizes are ample and I actually had half of mine the next day for lunch. Yum! I also tried the Mango Lassi which is a yogurt mango mixture that was absolutely delicious! I was too full for dessert but I noticed they had an ice cream type dessert that I have to come back and try! They have some amazing specials that is well within our food budget. Especially the $7.99 lunch special! What a pleasant surprise to have such upscale Indian food place in Encinitas! And at a price I can handle! ”