While vacationing in Denver early this year ...okay, we were house shopping and moving stuff into storage, but eating was always the vacation part of any working trip... we read a review about a vegeterian Indian place with a gluten free menu. Considering Pod-Creature and my fanaticism for good Indian food we had to go. We made arrangements to meet Lt. Wilkes there. As we settled in for our dinn...My God! Wilkes is bald now. Freshly-shaved cue-ball bald. Not a hair anywhere in sight on that skinny head. I could barely pay attention to my meal, other than to be impressed with the fact that an Indian place had a gluten free menu. Well, and a dosa big enough to cover half the table. Bald. Weird. A month or so later we moved to Colorado and tried it again. We went with despair this time. Despair's still shaggy. Even more shaggy than ever, actually. The food was fabulous. No glutens at our table. Just my second favorite bhindi masala ever, another one of those table-covering dosas and a few other dishes to round out our visit. Despair swooned over the Korma. The service was bewilderingly aloof, which is to say very friendly for a typical Indian place. I was excited to try the Masalaa buffet I've heard people rave about. Our third time there happened to be on a Thursday which meant it was buffet night. We brought along our buddy, Stage Manager visiting from San Francisco. "Oh crap!" There was a sign on the buffet which declared that none of it was gluten-free. Depressed and heartbroken by the glutinous buffet we requested gluten-free menus and ordered enough food to stuff ourselves silly. Table covering dosas, okra, potatoes, veggies, papadam, rice, rice, and more rice. We made our own buffet. Being from the Bay Area and its wealth of incredible Indian food as well as all those gigs in the U.K. ('nuff said), Stage Manager was understandably critical of the potatoes and never liked okra anyway. "It's a texture thing." Pod creature and I love bhindi masala and any place that does it well, or even adequately, is a great find, but I'll have to admit the aloo masala was a little on the bland side. It could have been due to ordering off the menu on a buffet night so we decided to let it slide and will try it again later. Not on a Thursday. Masalaa seems to pass the "indigenous test" often applied to Mexican and Chinese restaurants. This means that most customers of an establishment are of the culture or nationality represented in the menu. Over the months since our first visit I've noticed more and more obviously non-Indian people (like us) there. On our first visit we were the only ones but since then we've seen more each time. Most notably an up-tick of hipsters, probably venturing out East from Capital Hill looking for what is reputed to be the only decent Indian food since "insert name of old hipster favorite(s)" got sucky. Hopefully this will only make the place better. Hopefully customers will always be nice and respectful. Hopefully the staff will always be nice and respectful. I wish cultural stuff wasn't so prickly. There's always hope. There's no hope for Lt. Wilkes' hair, though. -Silly Ack read more

Masalaa offers food from the southern region of India. Rice, coconut , lentils, spices are the main things used in preparation of the food. The South Indian food is a brilliant blend of flavors, colors, seasoning, nutritional balance, fragrance, taste, and visual appeal. I would give it a 3 star rating based on food. The food looks fresh, tastes fresh and is hot. Its not incredible incredible, but I think I can eat here again. I did find it odd that the host would make people of Indian origin sit in a different section and the others sit in another area. I don't know if that can be termed as a racial bifurcation or not. But I found it odd. Very odd! I can add half a star for the server. We went during the buffet hours and we did not know they don't have the rest of the menu available during that time. My daughter really loves the "idlis" and we mentioned this to the server. He cheerfully said that he could get one portion made for her. Her smile brightened and I was a happy mom and happy customer. I left a great tip amount too. I am sorry I did not have to use the rest room, so I can not comment on if it has improved or not since the last reviews.. You might have to find that out all by yourself!! read more

Wow...a lot of 4 star reviews...Hmmm...I just can't go there. Went here for lunch today with a group of Yelpers. We opted for the buffet. The place is small but didn't get too crowded which was nice. We ended up in a nice comfy booth (fits 6 people). Very casual, located in a strip mall. Pretty decent price too at $12 a person including tip for all you can eat Indian buffet. FYI - this is not only vegetarian only but has MOSTLY Gluten Free items as well. Unfortunately I did not know this before I went and I strolled down the buffet line looking for Chicken Masalaa but didn't find it anywhere. DUH!!! I should have read other's reviews before we went :). I tried just about everything on the buffet and my favorite (and everyone else's there) was the creamy looking thing (someone else will post the name of it hopefully). And the crepe looking thing they brought out (one per person who orders the buffet). The rice was good. I thought everything was okay...but not great. Especially for someone who loves Chicken and Meat in their Indian Food. I'll probably opt to hang out at my much closer Indian joint in the future but it's always good to try new places. And honestly, even if this place was around the corner I'd go a bit further away to my fav Indian buffet place. If I had to eat here again I'd do it...but I wouldn't pick it. Also...don't expect to find Naan here. Or barata. Total bummer. PS - love the metal plates with all the separate sections for everything! LOL!! read more

I work with a lot of Indian people. I smell their delicious lunches on a daily basis. One day, I had an epiphany: ask where good Indian food is!! And I got the suggestion of trying Masalaa. Regardless of it being vegetarian, I thought I'd give it a try and went to the lunch buffet with an ex-coworker. Such good variety, selection of food - really tasty and warm/fresh. Definitely one of the better Indian restaurants I've had here in Denver. read more

Love this place have been there at least 5 times already. Only thing I will avoid is rawa dosa it was soggy white not nicely roasted n rawa dosa is supposed to be crisp golden brown. I have had their buffet n really enjoyed it.ordered from their menu n loved it. The idly is jumbo sized after a plate of idly I wasn't able to finish my dosa :). The cooks/ server are really generous with ghee on top of idly/ vada sambhar. My only issue is the restroom. Needs very through cleaning. read more

I was totally and unequivocally in love with this place for the last decade. Was probably dining once or twice a week...note the past tense. The service and ambiance has steadily declined in the last 3 years (arguable longer). The decor has not changed in ages. I've personally always liked the food. The restrooms could really use a little remodeling. Ey....but some of the love is still there ;) The buffets are great, a masala dosa free with buffet (BTW, masala dosa is a a wafer thin rice crepe stuffed with spicy potatoes) Their menu of South Indian and Indo-chinese items were very well thought out and food is really authentic. I still think the food is tasty, but I so wish they'd update a lil' more. I'm still a fan though. read more

Masalaa is simply the best. I was introduced a few years ago by one of my co-workers, and haven't stopped going yet. I've gotten many friends addicted as well. It was my first introduction to Indian food, and after tasting it I expected all Indian food to be as incredible. I was sadly mistaken, as once I started visiting other Indian restaurants in Denver (and I've been to as many as I could find), I started to realize what a gem Masalaa really is. I'd recommend a favorite dish, but honestly; I've absolutely loved every bit of food I've consumed there. I'm especially addicted to the Thursday night buffett (though I eat so much, it's really not very good for me..) If you haven't tried Masalaa yet, what are you waiting for? Go forth and eat!!! read more

We ate here about 5 years ago, and although the food was good, it was so dirty (especially the bathroom) that we have avoided it until today. I read that they really cleaned up and even closed for awhile to renovate and get their stuff together. I am happy we went back! The dinner buffet was $10 and was delicious. They bring you a complementary dosa (a crepe filled with curry and potatoes, it was great!) and the buffet had at least a dozen different foods on it, including the crispy papadams I have been missing so much. After going to the Star of India's Wed. night vegetarian buffet for years ($13) we've found our new favorite Indian restaurant. It's Masalaa! The service was good - they were attentive, checked back several times, and were friendly. read more

This place has tasty South Indian vegetarian dishes that are otherwise unavailable in the Denver area or I would give them 0 stars. Food: Uttapam is one of my all time favorites, and it is usually good here. Same for many appetizers. Now to the not-so-good: Facility: absolutely filthy....so much so that my visit last month was my last. It has gotten progressively worse, and the small bowls on the buffet line are usually wet and stuck together with dried, sticky food bits caked in the corners of the large sectioned metal plates. You can see inside the kitchen if someone is going in or out, and it made me cringe when I got a glimpse last time. I seriously wonder whether the health inspectors go there on a regular basis. Almost forgot: bring your own water because they leave filthy looking pitchers of water and I saw them move one from one table to another after someone left. Service: Buffet is the only way to ensure you get any. read more

The food......awesome. The bathroom....makes you loose your appetite. Masalaa is in a pot hole-filled area of a strip mall by the light rail. It could be a dry cleaner, but instead it serves AWESOME vegetarian Indian food. Everything is served in metal dishes and upon a leaf of some sort. The prices are great, the food is great....but really, avoid the bathroom like the plague. read more

In every American city I've been in, it seems easier to find good North Indian cuisine than an excellent dosa, and Denver is no exception. I got a recommendation from some friends from Chennai and found that Masalaa is indeed wonderful! The dosas and utthapams we ordered were cooked to perfection. We didn't have the buffet, but the gentleman next to us said he eats it at least once a week and loves it. They have plenty vegan options and are all vegetarian. I haven't had South Indian cuisine like that since I was actually in India. The waitstaff was very friendly. The prices reasonable. The decor wasn't exactly first date worthy, but very clean. I dock one star because the yummy chai wasn't bottomless... they charge 2.50 for each small cup. But you can sweeten to taste, instead of it being already heavily sweetened. read more

The best Indian food I've ever had. And consistently too! I've had the buffet and am always happy with the choices available. The food is hot and fresh and so flavorful, it makes my mouth water just thinking about it! The owners are very sweet, kind gentlemen and so I enjoy going there not only for their excellent food, but to also support their business and their way of life. Hang the chain restaurants that use MSG or salts to fill their foods and don't know how to use spices properly! Not this place, it's ALL good here. The atmosphere is pretty run down, but it's to be expected for a cheap meal. The bathrooms are pretty gross, but don't let it turn you away - just bring some handiwipes or hand sanitizer because the food is SO worth it. I would recommend just about anything on the menu. My faves are the mulligatwany soup (so spicy and delish!) and either the channa masalaa or the kadai paneer. Both are super savory and you get so much food...I'm always taking it home with me for another meal. Try it out! All in all it's a fun experience and the food is fabulous. read more

If you are vegetarian and like Indian cuisine, this is the place to go ! The food is scrumptious and is quite unlike the food served in other Denver area restaurants (which serve mostly North Indian food). They specialize in South Indian cuisine. The variety and number of items on their dinner menu is astounding. Lunch buffet is a very good value. Unfortunately, it does not cover even 1/2 the items on their regular menu. If you have never tried Masalaa before, hit the buffet once, get hooked to the food and then go in for dinner to savor all the other delicacies. Now for the negatives: the ambiance and decor is truly forgettable, the restrooms are nothing to rave about and the service is just about ok. The food by itself deserves 5 stars, but all the other negatives pull the rating down to 4. read more

My wife and I visited Masalaa last night and were happy to see so many members of Denver's Indian community dining at the restaurant (we are not Indian). Being vegetarian, I'm always on the look out for some good eats. This place definitely hit the spot. Unlike other reviewers, we went for dinner and did not have the buffet. We asked the server for suggestions and he gave us some great options. Most, if not all were amazing. We had the Aloo Bonda for the appetizer, Vegetable Korma entree, and Mysore Thali. Very tasty! The restaurant atmosphere wasn't the greatest, but was still comfortable. I personally like places that are a little darker and cozier. Still, we will definitely be going back! read more

Pl try the malga bajji and onion spinach pakora - they are my fav Amazing buffet - with vegan options i dont eat ghee or butter and its very difficult to find an indian restaurant. Well Masalaa caters very well for Vegans SO all Vegans out there - pl do try this place Sairam read more

This restaurant lives up to its name. Food is authentic indian prepared with fresh spices. Portions are really good too. We ordered a sambar vada, Rava masala Dosa and a Mysore masala Dosa. Every thing was delicious. I gave 4 stars only because the potato pieces of aaloo masala inside dosa were a bit too large. read more

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It is a delight to see all veggie options being a vegetarian. Almost all the dishes are very well served. Food taste is pretty decent with right spice level(indian spice level), and nothing more or less(including spice, salt, oil etc). We are big fan of their indo-chineese dishes. Off course we love the regular south indian idly,dosa, sambar..etc.. Very decently priced unlike many indian restaurants which has greatt ambience along with pricey curries(any veggie curry for 13.95$...), whereas in Masaala you get to eat your complete food for 14$.... We need such as such restaurants opened in few other places around denver... This is a true indian's review(from south india)... !! read more

I went to Masalaa last weekend and wow! Southern Indian food is my favorite type of Indian food because they have dosa, a stuffed crepe like dish, the crepe being fermented rice and lentil, stuffed with veggies, potatoes and amazing spices. They had the largest selection of dosa's that I have come across so far, and I think the best I've ever tried. My wife had the masalaa dosa, which is pretty traditional and probably what the restaurant is named after. I had one of the specialty dosa's, can't remember the name, but it was like a curried masalaa dosa, and both were incredibly good. We'll definitely be back. Just wish they were closer to my neigborhood! Also, this was the first time I had been there, but apparently they have recently remodeled and reopened (within the last 3 weeks!). It was very nice ambiance inside, with hanging lights, and these cool metal cups and water containers, beautiful artwork and nice color choice. Staff was very nice and helpful. Just thought I would mention that. read more

I've been coming here for several years... currently, the state of affairs there are not optimal. Upon arrival you'll see a sign letting you know that you should wait to be seated - as the only individual in the entry area, I watched as someone swept the floor a few feet away from me... after some time, my presence was finally acknowledged. It was 12:30pm on a Friday - buffet nearly empty - no idlis/papadum down to the last 3 pieces and the rest of the buffet had been polished off save a rice dish. Having the consistency of a poorly set sand castle, the idilis eventually appeared. That aside, the dosa was alright - hence, the achievement of one star. One star for being good in the past. Please figure out the customer service thing - it costs nothing. If it had been 2:15pm, I would not have been so irked by the lack of food in the buffet. As I left and paid my bill, I was given incorrect change and stared at as if I should just leave... read more

Spent 50 dollars here and half the food tasted like it came out of a freezer and was microwaved. The service is completely non existent. Saw only one guy who was the server, waiter, bus boy, and might even be the one actually cooking the food. He picked up dirty dishes on one table and then came right back to serve our food. Very unhygienic, never going back again. Worst Indian restaurant I've ever been to read more

I am writing this from my hotel room being food poisoned at this restaurant. When I went last night there was no one except me and the customer service was sloppy and took long time to receive the order. I order Channa batura... I received a brown naan. Totally oily and looked unhealthy. I was also fooled by the pictures posted at yelp. I am totally weak and I need fluids to get back to my routine and I am on my business trip too. I don't know whether all these positive reviews are real. read more

How...in the world...did I just NOW discover you Masalaa! Incredible. I almost gave it 5 stars but I have to go back for consistencies sake before I can do that :/ Having spent some time in southern India, I fell head over butt for dosa. And idly, and uttapam and of course the rich, creamy, vegetarian curries made from coconut milk and ghee. A friend of Hot Mike's who's parents are from India recommended Masalaa, stating it was the best in town. I owe that man a hug. We went on a Sunday night to celebrate mum's birthday. Pulling up, Masalaa is flanked by a tailor and an Indian grocer - both really good signs. The restaurant itself is simple and sparsely decorated with a few themed masks and wall hangings. I just about had a fit when I opened the menu and saw all of the delights I had grown to love while traveling through India. We ordered pakora style jalepeno's, the chef's special idly, Paneer tikka masalaa, a masalaa dosa and gobi korma. Every. Single. Dish. Was amazing. The tikka masalaa paneer was beautifully rich and creamy, full of flavor and just the right amount of heat. The idly almost burned my face off so maybe avoid that if you're sensi about that kind of thing - delicious all the same though. The dosa....Oh my goodness it was perfect. It was probably about a foot and a half long - rolled perfectly and stuffed with masalaa seasoned potatoes. YUMMMM. I am going back as soon as I can. What a gem. The service was slow but everything is prepared to order so what can you do? Get a cup of chai and wait, that's what. The staff was just lovely, so excited about Masalaa!! Can't wait to go back and give this place 5 stars! Did I mention it's extremely affordable? Even at dinner time our bill was $45.00. Also, I DID NOT GET SICK POST DIGESTION. Which, for those of us who love Indian food, can be a bit of a risk factor if you nah what I'm sayin. Love. Love. Love. read more

Their items are NOT consistent. I've been going here for years and have loved it in the past but recently, I'm not sure if it's new owners or new employees or what but their menu items are not consistent. One time you'll get soup that is so spicy you can't even eat it and the next time there won't be any spice in it at all. Even though you are never asked what spice level you would like. Same with other items, sometimes there are peanuts added in and other times there are none-- which is a HUGE issue for people with allergies. The sizing is also up for grabs too. When ordering appetizers such as Medhu Vada or the Idly sometimes you get two sometimes you get three and sometimes you get four even though you're paying the same price. If you're ordering take out make sure you check your order before you get home as sometimes it's not always accurate. Also since Covid I will say I have yet to see them wearing masks which is a bit concerning and disappointing. I will say their dosas are AMAZING even if the portion sizes change. read more

We loved all the food!! So good!!! will come back :-) My favorite is samosa channa chaat! read more

Masalaa - Chaat!! - Indian Near Me - Aurora, Colorado

An outstanding VEGAN or vegetarian choice! Menu = thorough & authentic Buffet = 20 items for $13 * nice variety of spices and heat in all dishes. Flavors were exceptionally fresh. Easy to find, Good parking, Plenty of seating, Clean, Good ambience, attentive & friendly staff. read more

This is the best Indian food I have ever had. The dosa is more than enough to feed two people. I ended up ordering entirely too much food ( I couldn't help it....I wanted to try everything!). If I lived in Denver, I would go out of my way to eat here regularly. The gobi (deep fried cauliflower appetizer) is absolutely amazing. Trust me on this; go to Masalaa and order it now. Everything is vegetarian, and they are willing to make anything vegan. read more

first off, Yelp doesnt let me check in here - even though i can check in at the place next door that has the same address. I dont know how this stuff works, its like computers are working against me to ruin everything, but I digress. ME LIKEY. that's all i can really say .. ok, it isn't all i can say. this place was awesome. non descript strip mall restaurant with an indian market next door. parking lot has lots of sketchy '15 min parking' spaces that i hate. buffet was spot-on yummy and since it is a vegetarian indian place i could eat everything and not worry about goat getting in my gobi. interior isnt all fancy schmancy, just your average restauranty setup with a medium sized buffet when we were there. food was all delicious. korma was a stand out (but some were a little burnt on the bottom - maybe an issue with their buffet table) .. buffet dosa was small, but delicious. bread on the buffett was kinda blah. no spoon for the pickle, but i guess everyone just uses their fingers (or a spoon from something else) .. worth checking in if you like exploring vegetarian indian spots (and it wasnt too far from dry dock brewery which was why we were in the area for their vanilla porter) read more

I hosted a 10-person vegetarian dinner here last Thursday. A bit of trouble due to a language barrier making and confirming reservations but we had a table all set up when we arrived. A very no-frills place but decent enough. Tablecloths are covered with a heavy, clear tablecloth not unlike plastic slipcovers from 70s jokes. Service was really good and there was a $10.95 buffet that night. One of us asked the server how spicy it was because she has a very low tolerance for heat. He told her it wasn't too spicy because it's meant for a wide range of tastes. Okay, that sold me, too. Lots of choices and so awesome that I can eat everything without going though all sorts of questions. Many items were labeled vegan and/or gluten free so a very easy place to go with everyone. Food is very different from Northern Indian menus I'm used to. Good, but different. Turns out it was too spicy for both of us so watch out if you're also a big baby. ; ) They were so nice to do separate checks, too. read more

Perfect authentic South Indian food ..must try ambience is awesome best food in Denver prices are good service was great

I lived in Tamil Nadu for a year and crave authentic South Indian food. No one delivers veg classics like dahi vadai and onion rava masala dosas like masalaa. The one place in town that, if it closed, I might actually cry. Also, I prefer to order off the menu rather than eat at the buffet when I go for lunch, as the buffet items tend to be of lesser quality. read more

Hands down the best Indian restaurant in Colorado. Also probably the only one that offers south Indian cuisine. The manager is extremely friendly and accommodating. They are vegan and gluten free experts. Highly recommend. read more

Wow, this place is as good as the places I ate at in India. If you're expecting the typical Northern Indian fare offered up in Denver you'll be disappointed. Masalaa is Southern Indian cuisine and it's completely vegetarian. Get a bigTaj Majal beer and the dosa with potatoes, spicy sauce and cheese. You also can't go wrong with the paneer tikka masala. Yum, yum, yum! The prices are significantly lower most Indian places. Service can be a bit slow, but the food comes out pretty fast once you place your order. read more

I was here on memorial day weekend with my family and we loved the rava masala dosa, onion uttapam. This place has huge portions. You can easily share and their food is always fresh and delicious. They deserve the 5 stars. :) read more

This was absolutely amazing authentic the best I have had in many years lots of flavor and many choice's. I will be coming here again. Especially for Denver/Aurora area. read more

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Hubby requested this the other night. I'm the ethnic food fan in the group so he may have been trying to get on my good side. Who knows? Anyway, this is our 2nd visit. Their menu is large and I had eaten more than my fair share of popcorn so opted for the Indian pancakes with cheese, thinking it would be small. Not true, but yum. Hubby had a combo and is not averse to sharing bites. Love the sauces; love the bread. I am a big fan of their salty lasse made with buttermilk and spices. We had the good cop of the paradoxical good cop/bad cop waiter team, he being the one that does glower at you when you come in. This was a Saturday night and until later in the evening we were the only Caucasians in the place. As another reviewer said, this is for a more sophisticated Indian food palate -- don't bring someone who doesn't love to try new things here. The metal cups they use are unique, but I love the fact you have an entire pitcher of water on your table. Be extra careful if you order something with a pickle then get a ramekin with unknown contents. It was undoubtedly the most sour pickle I've ever had in my life. read more

South Indian food at its best! I have eaten in many states such as Dallas, New York, Houston, California and this place meets or exceeds the standard of how South Indian food supposed to be. I tried their menu items as well as their Thursday and Sunday buffet. Simply awesome! I would stay away from their Gobi 69 or 65 as I thought it was more batter and less vegetables. But I am easily deterred from fried food items! good customer service, excellent food. I would give them a 5 but I think their seating area and bathrooms could use some cleaning and maybe little bit more ambience. And I hope their waitress smiles more and wears decent clothing! read more

I love me some Indian food and Masalaa did not dissapoint. It's a tiny hole in the wall place that I had never noticed before even though I had been to be the bar next door several times. My friend and I decided to check it out. It's the first time I had been to a vegetarian Indian place so couldn't order my fall back lamb curry. But I didn't as I got to try something new I probably wouldn't have. A healthy serving of basmati rice, Alu Gobi and Chai tea later, I was one happy girl. The masks on the walls were fun to look at too. read more

Best Indian food I've found in the Denver area. Each dish I've had at Masalaa has been excellent. The Dosas are something I hadn't had before, and I was very pleased. That said, the curries, masalaas, saags, and so on are so good (and filling) that I cannot steer far from them. The fact that they do not serve meat will turn a few folks off. I am not a vegetarian, but enjoy vegetarian cuisine and this restaurant does a great job. They seem to be very accommodating of vegan and gluten free requirements/preferences as well. Buffets happen sometimes - not sure exactly when - but afford the opportunity to try several different dishes and also to eat a very large amount of food. Masalaa is awesome. If I lived closer I'd go very frequently. Nonetheless, I recommend it to anyone who likes, or wants to try, Indian food, and I will be back many times. read more

This is the best South Indian food I've had outside of India. So flavorful, so delicious!

South Indian food is ok but quality varies on each visit. Service has been consistently terrible and not worth dining in. They seem to have only one server and it took a whole hour to get food the last 2 visits. They also close the kitchen pretty early well before closing time. read more