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    Masala Bae

    4.4 (659 reviews)
    ModerateIndian, Halal, Buffets
    Closed Closed
    Updated a few days ago

    Order Masala Bae Takeout or Delivery

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    MASALA BAE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Classy
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Masala Bae

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    Reviews With Photos

    Harish V.

    It's been ages since I've had a proper Indian buffet, so I decided to try this local spot and had a really good experience. The pricing is very reasonable--$18.99 on weekdays and $21.99 on weekends. The spread was decent with a nice variety. The appetizers were a highlight; both the samosas and kachoris were crisp and flavorful. I loved that they bring fresh garlic naan directly to your table instead of letting it sit out under a heat lamp. For drinks, the hot tea and mango lassi were both spot on. My only minor critique was the biryani, which tasted a little on the salty side. However, they made up for it with a solid dessert station featuring 2 to 4 options, including gulab jamun, custard, and bread pudding. Bonus points for plenty of free parking in the lot. Definitely a solid option if you're craving a buffet!

    Food
    Candyce P.

    Pretty good Indian food! Personally, I never gravitate toward Indian food because it tends to be on the heavier side, but I enjoyed all of the dishes I tried here. I really liked the lamb, it was super tender. And I also enjoyed the flavor of the potato inside the samosas.

    Feta kulcha
    Tap D.

    We usually meet here for my bookclub as they have a nice private room available, unfortunately they don't usually have it ready even though we call in advance they always seem surprised to see us. They also split our check per individual which helps a lot too. There is a huge crack in the ceiling of this room though that I keep envisioning will give way one of these days and have that faux chandelier come crashing down on us. Service wise they are pretty slow with taking our orders and am pretty sure they hate us because we are loud? Also, coincidentally, every item we like and order seems to disappear off their newly printed monthly menus by the next time we go...the paneer burger, masala Mac n cheese and feta kulcha (which has disappeared but was luckily still made for us last week). We feel like we are slowly being pushed out. The food is fine but the dosa take ages to make. I had the dahu puri last time and wasn't impressed...they had a weird lining in the puris which I didnt love the taste of. I also didn't like the feta kulcha when I got it but a bunch of the other girls did. They also love the lassis. The gobi faash was pretty good but I'd suggest it as a shared dish since it's pretty oily.

    Natasha R.

    I recently dined at Masala Bae after a long gap -- my last visit was a few years ago and had only been delivery until now. This time we ate in, and overall it was a good experience. We ordered Chicken Tikka Masala, Bhel Puri, Mysore Masala Dosa, lemonade, and Mango Lassi. The portion sizes were very generous, which I appreciated (leftovers are always a plus). The Chicken Tikka Masala was creamy and well made, though there was a slight flavor -- possibly hing -- that I personally don't enjoy. Otherwise, it was solid. The Bhel Puri was perfect and tasted great. The Mysore Masala Dosa was a bit too spicy for me, so I'll try something else next time. The lemonade tasted just like Limca, and the Mango Lassi was decent. Customer service was excellent -- everyone was kind and welcoming. One heads-up: the food does take a while to be served, so plan accordingly.

    garlic naan - perfect
    Jess L.

    Taste and food was excellent. However food took a while 30-40 minutes to come out but worth the wait when the food was good. Utensils needed to be exchanges due to old food stuck but otherwise pretty clean. Seems authentic. No wait on weekend got seated right away. Def coming back for more Okra.

    Highway Karahi Chicken
    Jimmy L.

    I've been here a variety of times, but more recently when I visit I make sure to order one dish...the Highway Karahi Chicken. It has quickly become one of my favorite dishes to order in the Tustin area. It starts with the dish's unique presentation, as the server brings it out in the karahi pot it was prepared in. The chicken is quite tender, coated in a spicy, tangy tomato sauce that's got quite a kick to it. One note, it does take some extra time to prepare, so if you know you're going to order it, be sure to inform the server when you get seated so you don't have to wait to long to enjoy it! From what I understand, they often serve it as one of the items as part of their buffet, so I recommend checking it out there if you want to give it a try irst.

    Chicken Tikka Masala
    Y S.

    Really yummy Indian food! Came for dinner. The place was empty but a lot of takeout business. The girl working there was so sweet. Some of the food was a little spicy for my young son and she noticed and brought him some mango lassi. Very thoughtful!

    plate 1
    Jin H.

    I don't eat Indian food that much but I really should! This buffet had all the classic dishes and even included drinks (the mango lassi was amazing), naan (served warm and toasty), and desserts. I especially liked all their paneer and chicken based dishes, but I unfortunately did not like any of the dessert options they had. Still a great experience, especially at this price point!

    Buffet Line
    Raven R.

    I love their lunch buffet! For 18.99, it's a steal. They have a variety of dishes and dessert. The beverage station comes with mango lassi, and you get fresh naan for the table. The staff is friendly and helpful. They did an excellent job refilling out waters. The tables are clean and well maintained. The standout dishes for me are their samosas, chicken tikka masala, navratan korma, palak paneer, and malai kofta. Their gulab jamon and mango pudding are the best desserts. Great place for an affordable meal!

    Garlic naan and buffet plate
    Angela B.

    Went here to take advantage of the final days of their cheaper buffet Some basic stuff like samosa/daal was not good, while their chicken tandoori tasted fine but was also nothing to write home about I tried mostly everything at the buffet and most things were ok, two were yummy. Not a stellar buffet, but they had good music (anjunadeep stuff) =============== Eh Daal is a bit bitter Pakora reminded me of the viet spicy deep fried fritter but not a spicy one Samosa not flakey , filling was kinda bland Custard with fruit not my fav The ball wasn't overly sweet, but also reminded me of soggy bread. Didn't stand out Yummy Mango lassi was yummy. Could taste the mango and the yogurt, not too sweet Garlic naan wasn't bad, not super doughy and good amount of garlic throughout. Crispy Chef special was tasty though I just know it's chicken in curry lol Okra curry dish was tasty Falooda (Fruit custard soup) was pretty good with the nuts and the hint of rose. Refreshing Veggie eggroll was better than pakora Overall, I've had better non-buffet Indian spots. Couldn't beat the $15 price though to load up on protein.

    till
    Derek N.

    I tried the chicken tikka masala here and wow... it was actually so good. The sauce was really tomatoey in the best way; super rich and flavorful. What impressed me most was the chicken; they use breast meat, but you honestly couldn't tell. It was cooked perfectly, super juicy, and not dry at all (which is rare for breast chicken). I also got the garlic parsley naan which is HIGHLY recommend. You get 4 pieces for $5, and it's totally worth it. The naan soaks up the tikka masala sauce so good, making every bite even better. Overall dish: solid 9/10. Service: 10/10. The staff checked on me twice to make sure I was good, brought me water refills without me even asking, and really respected my time. The ambiance is really nice too. They had ethnic instrumental music playing (non-lyrical), and it kind of reminded me of the build-up in Interbloom by RÜFÜS DU SOL--super chill vibes that made the meal even more enjoyable. Definitely coming back. Only thing is that the presentation didn't have cream on top of the sauce like the images showed so just be aware of that.

    Mango Lassi
    Ishita D.

    Masala Bae is hands down one of my favorite Indian Buffet places in SoCal. We drive all the way to Tustin from LA, just for Masala Bae, several times a year. Great price, super food quality and a variety of spread for their buffet. Look at some pictures to know what I am talking about. There is always a few appetizers usually samosa and pakora, gobi manchurian, a couple of veggie curries, atleast 1-2 paneer dishes, tandoori chicken, a couple chicken curries, rice, biriyani, 1-2 desserts and raita. They always serve hot and fresh garlic naan on the table and it's sooo good! Oh and lets not forget the mango lassi and the masala chai!! Great service. Not too busy, easy to find a table without reservations. Ample parking spots and its all free. Casual ambience. Overall always worth the buck and a wonderful dining experience. Must visit!!

    Achari paneer tikka
    Vivian P.

    Food: 5/5 Service: 5/5 Can't complement enough of this place. Our go to Indian food! Haven't find any better Indian restaurant anywhere else in OC. Never disappointed!!

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    2 years ago

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    8 months ago

    The food was amazing both times I have had it so far! Everything tasted great and was well prepared.

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    7 months ago

    Small buffet.. I was excited to see aline for the opening but the menu was small.. the food was good but I needed more options

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    9 months ago

    Not absolutely terrible but not great. Service 2/10. Food 4/10. Location 6/10. Prices 7/10.

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    Page 3 of 17

    Masala Bae Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Masala Bae

    Is there dinner buffet?

    No just lunch

    What is current pricing on lunch buffet and what time and what days have the early bird discount?

    Lunch buffet from Tuesday- Friday - $18.99 +tax Lunch buffet on Saturday and Sunday- $21.99+tax… 

    Hello, does it need to be reserved or is a walk in?

    Hi Emy Walk in is better if you are not a big group. If you guys are in bug group then definitely… 

    Hi, will the lunch buffet cost more on Sunday Mother's Day? Still get 25% off? Looks appetizing.

    Hi Walter Yes. You will if you come in between 11am - 12:30pm. Thank you.

    What are the current prices for the AYCE buffet?

    The buffet was $18.99 and it came with garlic naan, and mango lassi and chai tea

    Do you have iftar buffets on the weekends?

    Hello Mai Yes. We do have iftar on weekends as well. 5:00pm - 9:30pm everyday.

    Hello is the lunch buffet open on Sunday?

    Yes. Open from 11am - 2:30pm on sunday.

    Do you serve the same buffet vegetarian dishes daily or does the buffet menu change daily? Are the spring rolls vegetarian?

    Hey Ruby No.we change buffet menu everyday. Spring rolls are vegetarian.

    Can you accommodate someone with a gluten allergy?

    Yes. We can.

    For the buffet, do you charge for kids to a certain age and do you charge for people who aren't eating but sitting at the table?

    Hello Emily Kids below 5 is free of charge Kids below 10 is half the price.… 

    How much is lunch ayce on Friday?

    I paid $50 with tip for 2 people at their lunch buffet a couple weeks ago. Well worth it.

    During their buffet, is there signing to differentiate between veg and non veg? Also, how many veg options are served during buffet?

    No, but I asked for them to clarify and they did so kindly!! There were 4 "main" vegetarian entrees, and also samosas, something similar to a veggie spring roll, and what I believe was fried kale that was delicious and flavorful. Also had hot chai,… 

    Are there any peanuts or other nuts in your curry or sauces?

    Hi Anjali Yes we do use nuts in only 2 curries (Malai Kofta and Shahi Paneer )and 1sauces ( peanut sauce )

    Are your buffets only on the weekends at lunchtime or also on weekdays?

    Hello Our Buffets are from Tuesday- Sunday Lunch time.

    Do you have AYCE buffet & what is the cost?

    21.99 Monday - Sunday. 11am - 3 PM.

    Is the buffet open until closing time at 10:00PM?

    Hi Bee b Our buffet is only for lunch 11:00 am to 2:30pm. Thank you.

    Do u have lunch buffet on Sunday and how much per person? thanks?

    Hello Giau Yes we do have lunch buffet on sunday. Its 21.99 +taxes per person.… 

    Do you currently have lunch buffets on the weekend? Thank you!

    Hello Celine Yes we do have lunch buffets on weekends as well .

    Do you have lunch specials?

    Do you have lunch buffet on weekends?

    No Lakshmi we don’t.

    View All 34 Questions

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    Teppanyaki Grill Supreme Buffet

    3.1
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    8.6 mi
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    We finally made it to the restaurant to try Teppanyaki Grill Buffet…read more We were all surprised with the selection and variety of dishes. Unfortunately, they do not serve crab legs on the buffet stations. I called to confirm before we came so were aware of it and not expecting it. Foods were tasty and plentiful. I would say 4.5/5 because no crab legs, but everything was great. Of course, I didn't try the Mongolian grill nor the sushi station but all the cooked food was fine and my sisters and their husbands loved it. The place was super busy on the weekend and table spaces are tight.

    I'm writing this review whilst driving in hopes that I die in a raging fire car accident because of…read morethe gut wrenching slob I had to put in me mouth. The crab legs were a lie. I'm typically a "whole pizza" type of guy, but my party and I each couldn't finished two plates before feeling sick. After leaving the establishment, I felt robbed. Not only was the crabs a lie, the establishment under a Japanese pseudo name, is actually ran by the Chinese. Fortunately, it was easy to locate the exit. The vibe was off, as the food was slowly ripping my two cheeks apart. If you decide to go here, go somewhere else. If you have the courage to ignore my warnings, you should still go some where else. However, If you do somehow get forced to eat here, go somewhere else. Unless, if you have no where else to go, go somewhere else.

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    Dada Shabu Shabu Buffet

    Dada Shabu Shabu Buffet

    4.2
    (1.6k reviews)
    3.5 mi
    $$$
    All you can eat
    Takes reservations

    We just had a wonderful family dinner at dada shabu. The marinated crab was delicious! I do not…read morethink you can buy that anywhere in Orange county. The selection was abundendent with fresh seafoood, vegetables and noodles for the hot pot. There was also a fully cooked food on the side with fried chicken and rice. The best part was the shave ice station where you can make and add any ingredients like red bean, cherry, mochi and more with condensed milk for dessert. We will be returning again in the near future, this was a great Easter dinner.

    We have been coming to this restaurant for years and have generally enjoyed it, but our most recent…read morevisit was very disappointing. The service was noticeably unfriendly and not very attentive. After waiting about 15-20 minutes between giving us plates of meat, our server finally returned, and when I asked about the delay, he said he was busy with other tables. During our wait, we also noticed cleanliness issues that were very concerning, including German cockroaches crawling around us. The food was also not up to the usual standard. We received two plates of meat. One was fine. The other arrived looking partially frozen and discolored, and after cooking it was very tough. The atmosphere was also unpleasant due to a constant beeping sound that became very distracting and even gave some of us headaches. When I raised these concerns at the front counter with someone who identified themselves as a senior staff member, the response was only an apology. We were told they were aware of ongoing pest control issues, which was very concerning to hear. There was no compensation offered for the experience. Overall, this visit was far below the standard we've come to expect, and unfortunately it has made us question whether we will return in the future.

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    Dada Shabu Shabu Buffet
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    India Gate Restaurant

    India Gate Restaurant

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    (1.2k reviews)
    1.3 mi
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    I can see why India Gate is rated so well. We were going to grab matcha next door but the smell of…read moreIndian spices overtook us, and what do you know, it happened to be lunch hour. They had Father's Day pricing which was $21.99 but usually I think it's a few dollars less. Either way, we'd come back. The food was hot, fresh, steaming and the area looked clean. Service was fantastic. They are consistent in refilling their dishes. Their garlic naan was so chewy and crispy, held our many dishes well. My recommendations are their butter chicken (must have), vegetable korma, paneer, and fish curry. The desserts were all good, from their mango pudding to gulab jumun and gajar ka halwa. The gajar is a blend of carrots slow cooked into water and milk, it's nice and light. Would recommend, better than some of the already tasty Indian buffets in the immediate area!

    I live in the area and have driven past this place many, many times. It doesn't look that…read moreimpressive from the outside, the decor and ambiance is a bit spartan (but very clean). But don't let that put you off. Once you try the food you'll have a totally different opinion! We tried the all-you-can-eat lunchtime buffet as that always lets you sample a multitude of dishes at one time. Everything I tried was very tasty and seasoned appropriately for the western palate. In particular the goat curry was very tender, sometimes it tends to be a bit tough, but not here. The naan bread was also exceptional, fresh from the oven and to hot to pick up when delivered to the table. As we had the buffet it's hard to comment on the tableside service. What we saw was good though. As it's in an industrial area lunchtimes can be quite busy.

    Photos
    Interior. 1/4/2026
    Interior. 1/4/2026
    Cheese kulchi
    Cheese kulchi
    Side of rice that comes with the chicken tikka masala

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    Side of rice that comes with the chicken tikka masala
    Texas de Brazil

    Texas de Brazil

    4.1
    (2.6k reviews)
    1.5 mi
    $$$$
    Full bar
    Large group friendly

    We came here with a party of 5 on a Saturday at 5:45 for my dad's birthday. I did make a…read morereservation just to make sure we had a spot but the place was very spacious so I'm not sure if it's entirely necessary, maybe later in the day. The place is beautiful, very clean, very fancy. The waiter who explained how everything works had a pretty strong accent and it was kind of loud in there so it was a little hard to understand but he was more than happy to answer any questions we had. The salad bar had a ton of variety and all of it was so good. The shrimp was delicious and spicy, the jasmine rice was so warm and soft. The potatoes were cheesy and soft. They give you complimentary mashed potatoes, cheesy bread, plantains, and French fries and all of it was cooked to perfection. It was hard to not eat all of it right away. The meat selection is a little overstimulating since the waiters are just buzzing around the tables looking for people to shave off a piece of meat for. All of the food runners were extremely friendly and looked happy to be there, there were just so many of them. You get overwhelmed because you just start saying yes to all the meat because you don't want to miss out on a good piece but then you end up with a ton of food on your plate. I tried to play it cool and only eat small portions at a time but I got full so quickly :-( the best meat had to be the filet minion, the worst being some of the lamb options, but none of it tasted bad. We didn't order any drinks because we were trying to only get full off the actual food but we had multiple waiters try to get us to order their house cocktails. Next time I would definitely try one now that I know what to expect.

    It's hard to be disappointed at a place like Texas De Brazil. All you can eat delicious cuts of…read moremeat being delivered to you - hand-sliced off the skewer it was cooked on. The full-on churrasco experience is the only thing you should be preparing for here, although I've ordered takeout via DoorDash/Uber Eats as well when I've needed to hit my craving for picanha (it's surprisingly good even after delivery). The service has been strong and there's always someone coming by to offer you cuts, though don't be caught just waiting for the cuts of meat you want - they are more than happy to take your order for the meats you're waiting for. Some make the mistake of just simply sitting quiet and waiting until the desired cut comes around - don't be shy! If you enjoy a drink with your meal, treat yourself to a caipirinha while you're here - they're sweet, strong and done well. I save room in my stomach for this place when I go. Save a second stomach for dessert, because they have a huge selection of presentable desserts to match the meats too!

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    Texas de Brazil
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    Oishi Shabu & Sushi

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    4.3
    (1.6k reviews)
    5.2 mi
    $$$

    We chose the all-you-can-eat option, and everything was fresh and delicious. The highlight for me…read morewas definitely the Wagyu beef, premium beef, and lamb. The meat quality was amazing--tender, flavorful, and melted in your mouth after just a few seconds in the hot pot. We kept ordering more because it was that good! Besides the meat, they also have a great selection of fresh seafood, vegetables, sushi, fruit, desserts, and drinks all included in the price. Everyone in our family found something they loved. The service was friendly and attentive, and food came out quickly throughout our meal. This place is cleaned and nice vibe. Another big plus is the free garage parking, which made the whole experience even more convenient. Great food, great service, and great value. Highly recommend if you're looking for a quality AYCE hot pot and sushi spot in Irvine!

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    Oishi Shabu & Sushi
    Tonkatsu broth
    Tonkatsu broth
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    Prime beef

    Masala Bae - indpak - Updated August 2026

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