Masalaa

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3140 S. Parker Aurora, CO 80014

303-755-6272

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Westword
Recommended
Best Vegetarian Indian Buffet
Award Winner 2012

Cuisine(s): Buffet, Gluten-Free, Health, Indian, Tibetan, Vegetarian

Hours: Mon.-Fri., 6-10 p.m. (closed Wed.); Sat. & Sun., noon-3 p.m. & 6-10 p.m.

Price: $, $$
Payment Types: All Major Credit Cards, cash, check, ATM/Debit

Features: Takeout, Private Party, Catering, Order Online, Wheelchair Accessible, Kid Friendly, Vegetarian Friendly

Serving: Dinner, Lunch
Alcohol: None

Reservations: Accepted, Recommended for Large Parties

Parking: Lot Available

Description

One of the few restaurants around offering both gluten-free cooking and Jain-friendly options, Masalaa raises vegetarian cuisine to such a level that even the most dedicated carnivore would never miss the meat. And you can return again and again without repeating the same meal twice, because the menu is huge, a mishmash of dozens of traditional and regional specialties. Masalaa's an asset not just for the local Indian community, but for anyone looking for an honest taste of another culture's comfort food.

2012 | Best Vegetarian Indian Buffet

Ravi Kumar and Ehmad Ansari, two strict vegetarians, opened Masalaa in an Aurora strip mall close to a decade ago, and it's still going strong -- and is still meat-free. While some specialties from the north, as well as Indochinese offerings, have crept onto the list, the focus is definitely food of southern India -- and not a single dish contains meat. The best time to try Masalaa is during lunch, when a hot buffet table is filled with spicy curries and bright stews featuring... More »
2010 | Best Vegetarian Restaurant

Fearlessly spiced with garlic, ginger, chile, onion, cumin and curry leaves, the food of south India is some of the best in the world. And Masalaa, a divey storefront surrounded by international markets in a dilapidated strip mall in Aurora, is the sole Indian restaurant in the metro area that really delivers the goods via uttapams, spongy idlis, savory vada and superb dosas -- shatteringly thin crepes, tinged golden, that conceal hidden gifts of seduction. Masalaa hustles nearly a... More »
2009 | Best Vegetarian Indian Restaurant

The best vegetarian food is just food that happens to have no meat in it -- a dinner served without the sides of guilt, bullying or whining, Be Nice to Animals socio-political rhetoric. And that's exactly what you'll get at Masalaa, a good restaurant that happens to not serve meat. The big draw here are the dosa -- enormous Indian pastry roll-ups stuffed with all manner of unusual things -- but the rest of the dishes are equally good, offering a full palette of flavors and... More »
2008 | Best Restaurant for Eating Your Vegetables

Masalaa is a great vegetarian restaurant because it's really not a vegetarian restaurant. Rather, it's a restaurant that just happens to not have meat on the menu -- a fact that can easily go overlooked while you're gorging yourself on idly, aloo paratha, kofta curry with vegetable fritters, the most delicious aloo mutter anywhere, channa saag with chickpeas and a dozen kinds of dosa stuffed with anything from fried onions and potatoes to butter, fried vegetables or masala sauce.... More »
2007 | Best Vegetarian Indian

Creamed spinach can be great, but the best friend that creamed spinach ever had was a steak. Make that the best American friend that creamed spinach ever had was a steak, because there are plenty of ethnic restaurants where vegetarianism is not about the denial of pleasure (read: meat), but the glorification of vegetables. And at Masalaa, you'll be so busy eating creamed spinach with twenty different spices and squeaky cubes of cheese -- better known as saag paneer -- that you won't give a... More »
2006 | BEST INDIAN VEGETARIAN RESTAURANT

Sometimes even ardent carnivores need a break, and when the urge for veggies strikes, we head to Masalaa. Here, vegetarian is not the cuisine of denial that it is in so many other places, but rather one that celebrates all the goodness inherent in the vegetable kingdom. Indian food is generally greenery-friendly, but Masalaa raises the bar with its delicious curries, traditional dosa and complicated sauces. Granted, there are some dishes that would be greatly improved by the addition of... More »
2002 | Best Indian Restaurant

You won't miss meat at Masalaa, an all-vegetarian Indian eatery, because everything is so well seasoned that there's no shortage of flavor. In fact, the name Masalaa means "spice" in Hindu. The kitchen specializes in southern Indian dishes that you rarely find in Denver, as well as superior versions of traditional favorites from all over the South Asian subcontinent. Masalaa spices up such standards as mulligatawny soup, samosas, curries and saag, and makes dosas -- crêpes of rice and... More »

Reader: What do buffets in America have to do with starving children in India?

By Patricia Calhoun | Mon, May 21, 2012

The news served up a smorgasbord of tidbits on buffet last week, including a guy in Wisconsin who picketed a restaurant that cut him off from an all-you-can-eat fish fry, and a Chinese buffet in the U... More »
At Masalaa, it's okay to fill up on the bread

By Laura Shunk | Thu, August 18, 2011

At Masalaa, man could almost live on bread alone. About half of the dishes at this vegetarian restaurant feature some sort of bready base — a pancake or a biscuit — and those are among my favorites. Ravi Kumar and Ehmad Ansari, two strict vegetari... More »
Masalaa closed for...maintenance issues

By Lori Midson | Wed, January 5, 2011

Less than a week after Veggie Girl Amber Taufen waxed rhapsodic about a recent meal at Masalaa, the vegetarian Indian joint at 3140 South Parker Road, the quarters are dark, the only sign of life a ty... More »
Masalaa's exotic vegetarian fare hits the spot

By Amber Taufen | Wed, December 29, 2010

Anyone with special food needs or requests knows how frustrating it can be to open up a menu and see only a scant handful of plates that you can or would actually eat. There are a few restaurants in t... More »
Shakin' Bacon

By Jason Sheehan | Thu, January 12, 2006

It's not often that a fellow like myself -- a dedicated carnivore, shameless bacon addict, fan of all things larded, bloody and fat-spackled -- goes looking for health food. Ten cups of coffee a day, taken as preventative medicine against potentia... More »
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westwordbestof | Denver, CO | 102 Reviews

| Wed, May 6, 2009

The best vegetarian food is just food that happens to have no meat in it � a dinner served without the sides of guilt, bullying or whining, Be Nice to Animals socio-political rhetoric. And that's exactly what you'll get at Masalaa, a good restaurant that happens to not serve meat. The big draw here are the dosa � enormous Indian pastry roll-ups stuffed with all manner of unusual things � but the rest of the dishes are equally good, offering a full palette of flavors and textures without ever having to resort to wrapping things in bacon.
Like (0) Dislike (0)

tinsLee123 | Colorado Springs, CO | 3 Reviews

| Fri, February 18, 2011

south indian cuisine in denver! ethnic aurora
Like (0) Dislike (0)

mietra | Denver, CO | 119 Reviews

| Fri, July 18, 2008

Amazing vegetarian Indian food. This is a must stop for my friends from India when they are in town.

Main Menu

Appetizers

$3.95

Onion Bajji
slices of onions dipped in chickpea batter and deep fried

$3.95

Mulaga Bajji
jalapeno peppers dipped in chickpea batter and deep fried

$3.95

Masala Vada
patties made of mixed lentil and spices

$3.95

Medu Vada
lentil flour donuts soaked in sambar

$3.95

Keerai Vada
patties made of spinach and lentils

$3.95

Dahi Vada
lentil flour donuts soaked in plain yogurt seasoned with spices

$4.95

Samabar Vada
deep fried lentil flour donuts soaked in sambar

$4.95

Rasa Vada
deep fried lentil flour donuts soaked in rasam

$3.95

Mysore Bonda
lentil flour vada with black pepper

$3.95

Aloo Bonda
indian potato masala deep fried with chickpea batter

$4.95

Panner Pakoda
home made cottage cheese fried in chickpea batter

$3.95

Samosa
pastry stuffed with mashed potatoes and spices.

$3.95

Veggie Cutlets
patties of mashed potatoes and vegetables with bread crumbs and fried

$3.95

Gobi 65
fresh cauliflower marinated in spicy yogurt & deep fried

$10.95

Masalaa Sampler New
(assorted warm har d'oeuvers)

Salads and Soups

$3.95

Cream Of Tomato
garden fresh tomato soup served with croutons

$3.95

Katchum Bar
salad with chopped onions, tomatoes and cucumbers. seasoned with herbs & lemon.

$3.95

Mulligatwany Soup
an indian soup of lentils with blend of vegetables spices and herbs

$3.95

Rasam
an authentic south indian spiced lentil flavored soup

$3.95

Spinach Soup
whole leaf spinach cooked with mild spices & cream

$3.95

Hot And Sour Soup New
soup with shredded vegetables seasoned with chilies and vinegar

$3.95

Sweet Corn Vegetable Soup New
soup with mixed vegetables and creamy sweet corn

Entrees

$10.95

Malai Kofta Curry
fritters of mixed vegetable cooked in a rich creamy sauce

$9.95

Aloo Mutter
combo of potatoes and green peas in creamy gravy

$10.95

Palak Paneer
combo of garden fresh spinach and cottage cheese in a creamy sauce

$9.95

Vegetable Korma
garden fresh mix vegetables, cooked with coconut and cilantro

$10.95

Bhindi Masala
okra cooked in rich creamy sauce

$9.95

Gobi Masala
garden fresh cauliflowers in a sauce of tomatoes, onions and cilantro

$9.95

Channa Masala
chickpeas cooked in rich creamy gravy

$9.95

Aloo Masala
potatoes cooked in a home-style sauce and spices

$9.95

Channa Saag
combo of minced spinach and chickpeas cooked to real taste

$10.95

Paneer Tikka Masala
diced home made cottage cheese cooked in a rich creamy gravy

Regular $9.95

Katrika Masalaa
a gravy with egg plant cooked and spiced

$10.95

Kadai Paneer New
diced cottage cheese and vegetables cooked in spicy sauce

Choice Of Rice

$2.95

Annam
(steamed rice) fine quality indian basmati rice

$7.95

Bisibella Bath
indian rice cooked with lentil soup served with papad and chips

$6.95

Thayir Sadam
soft cooked rice in plain yogurt served with pickles and sundried peppers

$7.95

Keerai Sadam
indian rice cooked with garden fresh spinach and greens.

$7.95

Lemon Rice
indian rice with fresh lemon juice and mild spices

$8.95

Veggie Biryani
fragrant rice cooked with sauteed vegetables served with raita

$8.95

Kashmiri Pulav
fragrant rice cooked with dry fruits and herbs

$6.95

Pongal
(not available all the times. please check with the waiter for availability

Choice Of Bread

$2.50

Chappati
flat bread of wheat flour fried with or without oil.

$5.95

Aloo Paratha
indian bread stuffed with mashed potatoes served with pickle and yogurt

$7.95

Poori Bhaji
wheat flour bread deep fried and served with potato masala (extra poori $ 1.50 each)

$9.95

Channa Batura
fine flour bread deep fried and served with channa masala and salad (extra batura $1.50 each)

$2.50

Phulka New
thin flat of what flour pan-fried oil free

Idly

$3.95

Idly
steamed rice cakes

$4.95

Mini Idly
mini steamed rice cakes in a bowl of sambar

$4.95

Sambar Idly
idly soaked in sambar

$5.95

Idly Vada Combo
2 idly, 1 vada, chutney, podi, sambar

Uthappam

$7.95

Uthappam
a pancake of lentil and rice batter

$7.95

Onion Uthappam
uthappam topped with chopped onion and spices

$7.95

Veggie Uthappam
uthappam glazed with garden fresh mix vegetables

$7.95

Tomato Uthappam
uthappam topped with sliced fresh tomatoes and cilantro

$7.95

Cheese Uthappam
uthappam topped with cheese and green chilly

$7.95

Butter Uthappam
uthappam toasted with ghee or butter

$8.45

Kashmiri Uthappam
uthappam topped with dry fruits and toasted with butter or ghee

$7.95

Onion Hot Chili Uthappam New
uthappam topped with chopped onions, chilies and spices

Dosas

$6.50

Sada Dosa
crepe made of rice and lentil flour

$7.50

Masala Dosa
crepe with potato masala

$7.50

Butter Roast
crepe tossed with butter

$7.95

Onion Dosa
crepe rolled with fried onion and spicies

$7.95

Mysore Masala Dosa
crepe with thin layer of chef's spicy sauce

$7.95

Mysore Rava Masala
crepe of semolina mixed with chef's special spices with potato masala

$7.95

Podi Dosa
crepe rolled with chef's special spices

$7.95

Rava Dosa
crepe made of semolina

$7.95

Onion Rava Dosa
crepe of semolina mixed with onions and spices

$8.50

Spring Dosa New
crepe rolled with fried vegetables

$8.45

Pao Bhaji Masala Dosa New
crepe made with rice and lentil flour rolled with paobhaji masala

$8.45

Pondicherry Masala Dosa New
crepe rolled with cheese, spicy sauce and potato masala.

$8.45

Andhra Spicy Dosa New
crepe rolled with thin layer of andhra spicy sauce potato masala

$8.45

Masala Malli Dosa New
crepe rolled with mint and cilantro sauce

$8.45

Paper Masala Dosa New
fine crispy crepe stuffed with potato masala

Indo-chinese

$7.95

Chilli Garlic Vegetables New
mixed vegetables fried with chinese batter and cooked with chilli garlic flavored sauce.

$7.95

Gobi Manchurian New
cauliflower fried with chinese batter and cooked with manchurian sauce.

$7.95

Veg Hakka Noodles New
shredded veg. saute with noodles and soy sauce

$7.95

Veg. Fried Rice New
diced vegetables saute with rice, soy sauce and black pepper

From The Beaches Of Mumbai

$4.95

Vada Pao New
potato bonda with spicy chutney stuffed between pan rolls

$5.45

Samosa Chaat New
pieces of samosa served with chickpeas, tangy sauce and yogurt

$7.95

Pav Bhaji New
spicy, mashed mixed vegetables served with dinner rolls.

$4.95

Bhel Puri New
spicy crunchy mixture of puffed rice, mixed with potatoes, onions, tomatoes, spicy cilantro chutney and sweet and tangy indian sauce

Combo Thali

$16.50

Royal Thali New
veg briyani, two spl vegetable, sambar, rasam, yogurt rice, steamed rice, papad poori, pickle, raita and badam halwa

$16.50

Mysore Thali New
mysore masala dosa, onion tomato uthappam, kanchipuram idly, medhu vada, idly podi, sambar, coconut and tomato chutney and rava kesari

$16.50

Andhra Thali New
served with tomato pappu, baghara baigan(egg-plant), rasam, hyderabadi biryani, curd rice, rava kesari and pickle.

Kid's Menu

$3.95

Mini Idly New
mini steamed idlies

$4.95

Cheese Uthappam New
uthappam tossed with cheese and green pepper.

$3.95

Idly Vada Combo New
combo of idly and medhu vada

$4.95

Veg Uthappam New
uthappam glazed with garden fresh vegetables

$4.95

Micky Dosa New
crepe made of rice and lentil flour

$5.95

Idly Dosa Combo New
combo of idly and mini dosa

$4.95

Mountain Dosa New
crepe made of rice and lentile flour tossed with butter

$1.95

Kids Drink New

Beverages

$2.95

Neer More
buttermilk seasoned with spices and cilantro

$3.50

Mango Lassi
home made yogurt with fresh mangos

$3.50

Mango Milk Shake
fresh mango and dairy

$3.50

Mango Juice
fresh mango blended to taste

$2.95

Khari Lassi
blend of home made yogurt served salty

$2.95

Sweet Lassi
blend of home made yogurt served sweet

$2.95

Mint Cooler
fresh lime and mint blend

$2.50

Coffee
traditional south indian coffee

$2.50

Chai
masala spiced tea

$1.95

Soda New
(please ask waiter for more options) indian soft drink

Desserts

$3.95

Gajjar Halwa
carrots and dairy cooked garnished with nuts and saffron (served warm)

$3.50

Kheer
rice cooked in condensed milk and garnished with nuts and herbs

$3.95

Gulab Jamun
the #1 indian dessert. milk balls in cardamom flavoured sugar syrup

$3.50

Rava Kesari
semolina cooked with milk solids and sweetened.

Looking for another city?

Masalaa

3140 S. Parker Aurora, CO 80014

303-755-6272

Description

2012 | Best Vegetarian Indian Buffet

2010 | Best Vegetarian Restaurant

2009 | Best Vegetarian Indian Restaurant

2008 | Best Restaurant for Eating Your Vegetables

2007 | Best Vegetarian Indian

2006 | BEST INDIAN VEGETARIAN RESTAURANT

2002 | Best Indian Restaurant

By Patricia Calhoun | Mon, May 21, 2012

By Laura Shunk | Thu, August 18, 2011

By Lori Midson | Wed, January 5, 2011

By Amber Taufen | Wed, December 29, 2010

By Jason Sheehan | Thu, January 12, 2006

westwordbestof | Denver, CO | 102 Reviews

tinsLee123 | Colorado Springs, CO | 3 Reviews

mietra | Denver, CO | 119 Reviews