Excellent service, kindhearted staff, great food! Parking can be tricky but there is plenty of street parking . Staff was friendly, they made sure to check in and make recommendations naturally of what to try on their menu. I had a simple mango lassi & Aloo their potato bread seasoned to perfection, great for a light meal and they have a menu full of options. The restaurant is a simple design with plenty of seating! They have a table that's built for chess and I spent a great deal playing a friend in chess, fun and inviting. All in all this a great establishment, and I will return. You can tell the employees care about every person walks through that door; I'm wishing but the best for this restaurant and all the people who work in it read more

Great authentic Indian food! I tried something new after great recommendations from the host last Saturday. A newcomer to Masala Story I was impressed with the customer service, relaxed atmosphere and flavorful food. I got the Lamb curry with the Garlic Naan. (Only comes with one piece of Naan so keep that in mind). I got the mild spice but it had a tiny bit of kick that was good. It came with white basmati rice and chickpeas. The lamb was good and I only wish I got the samosas to try. I was able to find free parking for several hours nearby in a neighborhood on 12th and Lawrence st. Pay attention to signs, but if you visit on a weekend parking shouldn't be a problem. They do have a bar and it's a popular spot for carryout. You can sit outside and it's family friendly. Overall I would recommend and visit again. I enjoyed my time here. read more

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Came here for lunch and had a great experience! We were pretty much the only people when we got there, but it started to fill up by the time we were leaving. We did the non-veg thali (it comes with 2 meat options and 3 veg options. We chose lamb curry, butter chicken, palak paneer, tindura, and kadi pakora), which we split between 2 people. We also got an order of chicken samosas, and 2 sides of bread (garlic naan and masala roti). I left absolutely stuffed and still had enough leftover to bring home and have a second meal of for dinner. All the food was super flavorful and reasonably priced. read more

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Pretty place outside and in with a covered outdoor eating area decorated in a very lively manner and lots of light streaming in (at least when I went -- just before sunset) through the window where there are so many cute children's books, you know it's a welcoming place for families with young children, which is great! The food is stupendous, the staff is friendly, our meal arrived quickly and was creamy with lots of delectable flavours all cooked in a digestible, delicious way .... It was super-cool to find out that the samosa wrappers were made of chickpeas rather than wheat -- and they are very crispy-crunchy, having a really great texture in the flour and filling. The tamarind dip is enjoyable, as well. The rice, chickpeas, eggplant, Masala Special (tindura), and zucchini-mushroom-peas mixture were all wonderful! I liked having it all with a Thums Up soda, along with some water -- and I was certainly most full at the end! The music played was fun, and it was really nice to see parents with their 'little ones' enjoying themselves. The parking was no problem and the walk in spring happened to include sights of many flowers, so that was a cool bonus! I would say a great time was had by all! Highly recommended! Yay! :-D read more

Masala Story - Veggie Samosas! :-D - Indian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

After a recent tour in the neighborhood, my wife and I went to Masala Story for dinner. Their host was great. He gave us a lay of the land as we were deciding which items to order. We were very satisfied with the order. The chicken vindaloo definitely stood out among the other dishes we ordered. I was a little surprised by the paper plates and the food being served with to-go boxes but the quality of the food was great. We enjoyed our visit and look forward to coming back. read more

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Service was super kind, and the food was great. Portions were solid too. The naan was more on the thick side rather than flaky & I liked that. It tasted very fresh. Only thing I wasn't feeling was being served in to-go containers when dining in. For the price, which wasn't terrible but still up there, I'd at least expect a real plate. (Maybe that was just this night tho!) read more

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Excellent food, very friendly staff, I order online and paid at the counter also the food came out hot an ready. You get the food in some nice little delivery boxes. I got great recommendation for this place from a coworker. Prices are high, but quality is good too. The only i have to complain about is the drinks they are extremely high lol. I get a ten ounce ginger beer and a twelve ounce sparkling beverage i gave him a $20 and got back like $8. Overall I really luv this place. They have a really nice set up too for the restaurant. This place is definitely worth a checkout if you like, indian food. read more

Masala Story - Buttered yardbird - Indian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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If your neighborhood doesn't have a spot like this, I'm so sorry for your loss. The service here is genuinely warm, like, these people actually seem happy to feed you, which is all any of us really want. And the food? Authentic, delicious, and dangerous for your self control. I live nearby and that is both a blessing and a problem. read more

A few of us stopped by Masala Story for lunch this past Friday and we weren't very impressed with what we ordered. Also, it's quite pricy! There is plenty of space to sit, which is nice. VEGGIE PLATTER (PICK ANY 2) - 17 +1 for palak paneer, +1 for dal makhani Each platter comes with a good amount of basmati rice and some chickpeas. The texture of the chickpeas was fine but the flavor was generally bland. The palak paneer was a bit sour (?) so I didn't really enjoy it. The paneer was fine, though. The dal makhani was pretty forgettable in terms of taste. My friends got other meat entrees, but I don't think any of us were blown away by the quality of food here. Oh well, it was worth a try since we were in the area and we saw high reviews for this restaurants. read more

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SO good!! Around the corner from our new home and on move in day we got it for both lunch AND dinner because I had to have my fiance try it. The chicken tikka masala with medium sauce is unreal - comes with rice and chickpeas then we also got the veggies and everything was spiced perfectly. The portions are large and they make for great leftovers. When you order, ask for their recommendations/ top picks!!! The owner let us know these are family recipes, and it shows. We ordered pick up both times and they were super quick - both were ready before the expected time. They also own the restaurant GOAT Room, which I can't wait to try. So excited to eat here more often! read more

We enjoyed our visit to Masala Story! We had been wanting to try it for some time now. The samosas were super flavorful! And we loved the chicken biryani dish. The service was prompt and the food came pretty quickly. The restaurant was not crowded. I like the brightly colored decor inside the restaurant. It's lively and fun. read more

Masala Story - Samosa - Indian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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We weren't wowed by Masala Story. I'm not sure it would survive if it were in a neighborhood that had more restaurant options. WHAT WE LIKED: Very friendly and helpful counter service. Big menu with lots of variety, including a ton of vegetarian and vegan options. Very accommodating regarding choice of spice levels. Nice breads. Fun room scattered with children's books. WHAT WE DIDN'T LOVE: Flavors were fine but nothing special that made us eager to return. Not a lot for the money. The Thali, in particular, feels like a ripoff. Yes you can choose 5 items but it's just a tiny taste of each, totalling as much food as a single entree but 50% more expensive. Plastic, plastic, plastic everywhere - everything's on single use plastic plates with a set of plastic utensils wrapped in plastic. The waste is reason enough not to eat here. read more

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I used to live in Brookland and loved Masala Story. Went tonight and was unimpressed. The curry I ordered was mediocre. Honestly packaged Indian food would've been a better, much cheaper option. Also service is extremely slow for dine-in or carryout as they seem more focused on the Uber Eats/DoorDash orders than the restaurant. read more

solid food, got takeout but they have a large indoor and also a patio space to dine in at. similar menu/style to another popular place, dishes are solid, menu is a bit larger. dishes lean less spicy overall. takeout order ready in 15 minutes, we tried curries, sides, samosas, chaat, all tasty read more

This is a fantastic little spot. Has a bunch of outdoor seating as well, so we brought our puppy to sit outside with us. They had fans and heaters so it'll be suitable in spring and fall! The food was fantastic and we'll be back to work our way through the rest of the menu. Punjabi chicken was my favorite! The staff was so kind and brought the food out incredibly quickly. So lucky to have this little spot in the neighborhood! read more

Masala Story - Non-veg thaali with yellow lentils, Punjabi chicken, smoky eggplant, tikka masala, veg pakora. - Indian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Is visiting two nights in a row too much? My partner and I have been craving Indian cuisine for weeks and finally I took the wheel and found Masala Story. It's not in our neighborhood but not a far drive from Hyattsville. Since we had never been I wanted to dine in. We arrived around 6:45 on a Friday evening and we got so excited when we were about a block away as we start to smell the rich aromas. Once we got close we noticed the large outside patio area. Inside there is a nice sized bar and multiple tables with seating for any party size. The man who at the cashier was super patient and helpful with making some choices. My partner stuck with his usual Chicken tikka masala, garlic naan, and samasos. I went all out and tried a chicken cashew (I cannot recall the correct name) dish with an herbed bread. My partner tried the mango lassi with Indian rum. Everything came out really quick and fresh! A few people came around to make sure our food was to our liking and offer us anything else. Overall everything was great, mine could have been spicier. All platters are served with rice and chickpeas. I thought the portions were quite generous. My partner was very happy with his entree and his mango lassi drink. I really enjoyed masala story and will definitely return. The owners were very friendly and kind and the food was outstanding. read more

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10 out of 10!!! From the service to the food outstanding! Top 2 Indian restaurants in DC and very well priced. Recommend that everyone give them a try either takeout or dine in. Enjoyed the esthetic of the place with both indoor and outdoor dining options along with a full service bar. Will make this a regular place for dining. read more

Masala Story - Menu - Indian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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This is a cute neighborhood spot. We're in town for work and staying near by. We walked here for dinner. It was reccomended by the staff that we try a beer called Haywards 5000. I am so happy he reccomended it. It was so so so good. We tried the Lamb Saag which was my favorite. We got a chicken korma and chicken tikka masala. All the food was good, but the lamb saag..... (drooling thinking about it). The food came out pretty quick and the restaurant is geared more towards a quick eat. The staff were on top of their sh!t. We will go back. read more

Food was good, but, not great. I was expecting a little more based on the reviews. It was pricy for a real casual place. I would go there again if I am in the neighborhood, but, will not make a special trip to just go there. read more

Casual dining at its best! Great-tasting food, a warm and friendly atmosphere, excellent service, and soft music set the tone. We visited around 3 PM on a Saturday and had no trouble finding street parking. The menu offers a wide variety of dishes, including plenty of vegan options. It was my first time at Masala Story, and I absolutely loved the East Indian food. Since it was a beautiful day, our group of six chose to sit on the outdoor patio, which was perfect for catching up. I especially enjoyed sampling the different vegetable dishes included in the 5-piece Vegan Thaali. I'll definitely be back again! read more

The customer service is very warm and welcoming. The portion sizes are not consistent. I ordered Curry Lamb, I was given a lot of rice with 3 tablespoons of chick peas and there was only four pieces of Lamb included in the curry. I am so disappointed, paying $30 for each entree there should be more. I will not be patronizing this business, I've spent enough on these small portions. No pics were taken because I rushed over to pick up my lunch and eat. read more

I totally get these reviews! What a fantastic family oriented neighborhood restaurant. Food/drinks: This is good Indian food. Not too oily. Very flavorful. I loved the Thaali (sampler plates), where you get a small serving of 5 different sauces + rice + roti + raita. They were very helpful with gluten free and dairy free options, and I had NO problems! The meat and veg dishes I had were great, and I was stuffed by the end. On top of that, they recommended I get papadam (lentil cracker) since I couldn't do roti, and it helped me feel like I wasn't missing anything. For drinks, they have a bar and they have canned cocktails; I didn't partake but my partner did. Service: This is a self service model. You order at the counter, take a number, and then sit down. They bring your food to you. You bus your own tray. It's not fine dining but it's quality fast-ish food. The gentleman at the counter was also very helpful. Ambiance: Its cute! I love that it's an artsy meets bohemian meets industrial feel, down to little details like the window walls or uniquely tiled bathroom floors. It's an artful nod to India. Also, the kids book corner? Adorable! The only thing one could complain about is the price, which, honestly, for good quality food, I won't complain. I'll be back! read more

Masala Story - Meat and Veg Thaali (sampler plate) with papadam and no raita - Indian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I ordered from them on Doordash, and the food came hot and tasted excellent. I ordered butter chicken and lamb biryani. The servings were generous, too. I have zero complaints, and I hope I can try them dining in-person some time. read more

Fast, well packed and excellent tasting. We will be back for grab and go as our experience was awesome. To the staff, thank you for working hard and your kindness. read more

This has been my go to take out for several years now. Unfortunately, it will no longer be the case. The quality and proportions have gone down significantly, while the prices only continue to climb up. Most recently I had an item missing from my order. The naan was soggy in the inside while the edges were rock hard. The biryani rice tasted stale. They used to pack that container, and now it's an inch from being close to full. I used to also get pops of actual cardamom seeds, now that's been replaced with just making everything more spicy. read more

Masala Story is the kind of neighborhood gem you don't forget. The food is wonderfully authentic--rich, flavorful, and clearly made with care. But what really sets it apart is the warmth of the family who owns it. Over time, you don't just become a regular--you get to know the people behind the food. I've moved out of the neighborhood, but I keep coming back. That should tell you everything. read more

We enjoyed their food. We got butter chicken, naan & lamb biryani. All were good! In a cute restaurant. Workers were nice. read more

Masala Story - Butter Chicken & Lamb Biryani - Indian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

The food was great! So much so that I forgot to take a before photo. I had the chicken curry with a side of spicy chutney (my Trini self loves spice) and the spiced lacha. I also tried the Amritsari fish (not pictured). The chicken curry had the right amount of flavor though I wish it was spicier on its own. The chutney was a great add on to build up the level of spicy. The amritsari fish was also well seasoned. The only con would be the price. The chicken curry on its own is $20 but it's enough food to have leftovers. Overall, the food and service were both great so I will be back! read more

Masala Story - Chicken curry w/ a side of chutney Spiced lacha - Indian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Cozy, mom and pop feel soon as you walk inside. My go to Indian spot. Everything I've ever ate here always had me come back for more and everyone I recommend to come here has never been disappointed. Staff is friendly and happy to provide recommendations and explain each dish. The mango lassi is to die for. read more

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I've ordered from this restaurant multiple times and I have also dined in. It's now a staple for me. Their food is pretty consistent and is always on point when I order. I highly recommend their Salmon and Fish biriyani. It comes with a lovely yogurt sauce that pairs well with the rice. The rice and fish are well seasoned and it's enough portions to have leftovers the next day. The service is pretty quick but when I've gone it's not crazy busy so I've been fortunate. It's a nice casual spot to dine in on a date, with friends or by yourself! read more

Masala Story - Salmon Biryanis - Indian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Yum! Delicious and adorable Indian food with quick pickup and very nice service. I love the casual environment in the restaurant and the wonderful food. The samosa chaat was outrageously good! I also loved the chicken korma, which came with rice and chickpeas. So good! read more

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We moved to the Brookland area and I walk around a lot in the area to run errands. And EVERY time i walk within 2 blocks of this place, I just drool at the amazing smells coming from here - it's SO inviting and enticing! It's hard to not want to come here literally every day. The outdoor seating area is great, even it it's just to have a drink while waiting for your food. And the owner keeps a few interesting Indian whiskies and wines on hand, if you're feeling adventurous to try something new. And if you want delivery, especially not too far from the area, it's lightning-fast through most of the delivery apps. No 72-minute waits here! We've tried a lot of different entrees here but hands down their butter chicken is unstoppably good. Like magnificent. One of the best I've ever had. Flavorful, creamy, and decent portion size. Their vegetarian dishes are also pretty terrific and flavorful, if you're not feeling meat. Each entree comes with a solid portion of rice and mildly-spiced chickpeas which adds a little texture and flavor to your typical curry+rice meal. Importantly, most of their entrees are not very greasy/oily. As an Indian who cooks at home and who's tried a LOT of Indian restaurants, I can assure you that non-greasy entrees are easy to cook, hard to find, and a delight when you find a place that can do it. Most Indian restaurants cook with a LOT of soybean oil to add volume to their dishes. It seems this place doesn't do that much. Great local neighborhood place and I'm so glad we live so close by! read more

great staff, checked in on us throughout our meal. food was delicious, came out in an open foam take out box on a tray (even though we were dining in) but this made it easy to transport leftovers. clean and cute atmosphere. read more

It's a rainy Saturday night. Dumping rain. Nobody is outside. I order lamb curry en route to a friend's house. Once arrived, I unpack the meticulously prepared packages of rice, curry, naan, samosas. My friend's French bulldog is loosing it. Salivating all over the floor. So am I. This lamb smells delicious. Outside the rain is indifferent, unable to understand, let alone experience glorious anticipation such as this. I spoon some curry and lamb chunks on top of the rice. Key word here is spoon. Yes I need it for the sauce BUT I also use it to eat the lamb. No fork, no knife required. SO TENDER. ARE YOU KIDDING ME??? It practically falls apart. On a slow, rainy night, they could have phoned it in. Quality could have slipped. Lamb could be a bit tough or overcooked. But no! The meal is immaculate. Tender... AND DELICIOUS. Samosas were great too! I'm writing this review a full next day later because I'm still thinking about how tasty it was. read more

Haven't ever been inside but my go to order from uber eats when i'm craving indian! The food and flavors here are SO good. Only thing i wish is that their portions were bigger! It's $20 for about a cup of buttered chicken platter. Definitely expensive but so good. read more

Food is delicious. Staff is friendly. Have enjoyed it every time we have gone there. My wife gets a veggie platter and I've gotten one of the meat dishes. All crowd pleasers! read more

I came across this Indian spot via a fellow food reviewers post. The food looked good, and it's a family owned business!! I'm there, I Love a goodt Tikka Masala!! Ironically, I pass this spot weekly. I'm glad I saw that post, I'm glad I went in, and my stomach, palate, & pockets are well pleased!! . Where I am: @Masalastory . Location Reviewed: 3301 12th St., N.E. Washington D.C. . Menu Includes: Spinach Rolls, Veg. Chicken, Lamb Pakora, & Samosas. Chicken Tikka Masala, Butter, Korma, & Punjabi . Lamb, Goat, Fish and/or Shrimp, Vindaloo, Biryani, Curry, & (Veggie available) Korma. Flatbreads, Roti, Garlic Naan, Gulab Jamun (sweet fried dumplings), Malai Kulfi (ice cream), Mango Lassi, & Masala Chai tea. . Items Reviewed: Their Lamb Samosas (with a tamarind sauce $9). STAMP!! Crispy, flaky, well seasoned meat & that tamarind was EXCELLENT!! Their Butter Chicken, & Tikka Masala (half of each with Jasmine rice & chickpeas $16). STAMP the Butter Chicken, sweet,& fragrant!! STAMP Their Tikka Masala!! Hearty, & spicy...WINNING!! Their Rice & Chickpea's were Absolutely DELICIOUS!! The rice wasn't sticky,& the chickpeas blended well with everything. Their Roti bread (nice & spicy). STAMP!! This was really spicy...hot spicy!! Their Rasmalai (a fragrantly milk'ish rice based pudding $5). Absolutely DELICIOUS!! Different, it really had a floral fragrance to it. Their Neembu Pani lemonade $3. STAMP!! A salted lemonade?? Yes please!! Refreshing & palate clean . Customer Service: Welcoming, Pleasent, Clean eatery. . Online Navigation: Super Simple & Their menu breaks down what's what!! . Parking: Street, Residential Easy . Recommendations: Get those Samosas, The Butter & Tikka Chicken!! =STAMP =A.DELICIOUS = DELICIOUS =DECENT =PASS =NAH #Bigschlimsreviews read more

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Live close by and everyone in the neighbourhood recommended this place. We got a number of things and everything just kinda tasted the same. Too bad since it's so close. Better options on H St for Indian. read more

Excellent customer service. The food came out fresh and hot. The owner is the best and made us feel welcomed. He was patient and answered all of our questions. We were going to take our food to go but decided to eat outside and the owner accommodated us. Even the other guest that were there at the time were friend. It is a true community loved restaurant and the food was authentic and tasty. I am returning. read more

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The samosas were just the right amount of spice, and the side sauce was as an absolute delight. If you're like me and enjoy a kick in your food, you'll love these. The butter chicken was creamy, rich and very good. I have to say that unlike some other places I've tried, this butter chicken didn't have that much spice and it was more on the creamy tomato-y side. While I personally missed that spicy kick I still found the dish enjoyable. The garlic naan was soft and flavorful and was perfect in soaking up all the creamy sauce from the butter chicken. read more