Indian food is so expensive. That is something I’ve heard many of my international (and south Asian) friends say often.
They are not wrong. In Bangkok, Indian food can be pricey but there are a lot of restaurants and vendors that sell cheap Indian food. Problem is, some of them aren’t very good.
Masala Cafe Bangkok is trying to change that. Amazing flavors, generous portion, and definitely not expensive.
What it lacks in ambiance and interior design, Masala Cafe in Naradiwas 24, makes up for an experience with its flavorsome food. Without a doubt.
At the moment of writing, the restaurant only serves vegetarian dishes but I heard from the owner that they are planning on launching a non-vegetarian menu starting February. Definitely worth going back for.
Starters & Snacks
With a massive menu, the highlight at Masala Cafe has to be the snacks and starter dishes. Their bite-sized street food specials are very popular such as the Sev Puri. Think of it as a deconstructed potato samosa.
What’s a samosa? If I have to tell you that, then you’ve clearly never even heard of Indian food.
Other awesome snacks here revolve heavily around chickpeas and potatoes. Lots of chaats and vegetarian kababs as well.
Just ask the owner for recommendations, she will happily suggest things based on your liking.
Mains
Like I said, their menu is extensive. There is a lot to choose from. There is a north Indian, South Indian and even an Indian-Chinese menu.
We wanted something different so the owner recommended their signature popular dish – Chole Bhature. It is a favorite among Indians and Pakistanis, usually for breakfast or brunch. It consists of a puffy and soft puri accompanied by a generous portion of spicy chickpeas.
Another dish we tried was their paneer butter masala. It is basically butter chicken but the vegetarian option using paneer (cottage cheese). Super flavorful but quite rich and heavy. I did not have any space left to try even a single more dish.
More snacks
No Indian street food is complete without some Pani Puri. It is kind of a DIY snack that consists of bits of potato, chickpea, spices, and herbs that are stuffed inside a cup of crispy puri. You can then add other ingredients or sauces such as tamarind sauce and spicy mint chutney.
The best part about this snack is that you can control the flavor depending on your preference. Add tamarind sauce for sweetness or the green chutney for more spiciness. Pani puris are perfect as starters, in between meals or at the end.
At Masala Cafe Bangkok, they do a great job recreating the street food experience but in a casual indoor dining setting.
All in all, I loved dining here and can’t wait to go try their non-veg menu. If the veg food is this good, I doubt the meat options would miss the mark.
Address: 315/401 Fortune Condition, Sathu Pradit 19, Chong Nonsi, Bangkok 10120
Contact: Facebook | 099 290 0983
Related read: Indian restaurants in Bangkok
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