The MasalaWala is a chic South-Asian spot on the lower east side of Manhattan. Our concept is to create this café as a tribute to the South-Asian (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka & some neighbors) street cuisine. Street food,
traditionally, is ready-to-eat food or drink sold in a street-side shed (dhaba) or a public place by a vendor from a stall. We firmly believe that this is the best food in South-Asia! It is where tradition and culinary art meet that hypnotic aroma and taste. Our goal is to take that cuisine and deliver it to the New Yorkers in a fresh and healthy fashion, with an authentically delicious taste. We aim to reinvent and transform the food lover’s idea and experience of the typical “Indian Restaurant”. Let’s pave the way for a new experience!

Our motto is “taste above all”. We believe that in order to achieve the taste of perfection we must use excellent
quality materials that are fresh and healthy for our eaters. Therefore, when you eat our food you can be assured that we have prepared it with authentic ingredients, an inimitable style, layered with our utmost caring and love!

Equipped with chic décor and free wireless internet, this is the new hotspot for anything from a casual occasion, family fun, friendly hangout, or that next startup venture discussion. It is neither a takeout joint, nor is it formal dining. It targets
the layman, the foodie in all of us. The walls feature original paintings by a local artist, Kyawchi Maung, celebrating street vendors from South-Asia in their traditional setting. When you dine with us, you become part of the new contemporary celebration. Surrounded by eclectic street lights and a colorful masala cabinet, you are now immersed in a new sensory street culture. Simply grab some freshly made Street Side Bites or Nizami Kati Rolls, Tease your tongue with Indian Signature Curry or our Clay Oven Specialties! Warm up with that Masala Chai or cool down with some imported Kingfisher Beer or Mango Panna, and simply chill!

Designed by Method Design
[Architects: Demetrios Comodromos, Reese Campbell, Sreoshy Banerjea]
Inside Indian culture the MasalaWala is the purveyor of spices whose colored and textured stalls are ubiquitously found across every market. The design of The MasalaWala restaurant in the Lower East Side of New York City was influenced
by the local traditions from which it originated. Upon entering the space numerous lights hang from the ceiling at various heights mimicking the vibrancy and chaos of the all-night street markets. The entire space within the restaurant is a developed around a contemporary take of the traditional spice cabinet that holds all the essential elements relevant to the recipes. A wooden system of shelves wraps the interior culminating into a wall of sensory imagery creating a modern feel. This grid becomes the palette for displaying the colorful tradition of street food culture in South-Asia, and is punctuated by highlights of gold details throughout. The end result is a textured contemporary space built on traditional ideas of color, foods and textures.

We believe in being bleeding edge with our approach towards business, including technology. We are offering free Wi-Fi so you can surf the web while sipping on beverages or relishing their delicious meals. We have built a highly efficient
iPad based Point-of-Sale, Order Taking, and Kitchen Management system. We are among the limited number of casual dine-in restaurants in New York City who invests in the technology of tomorrow. Not only are we taking advantage of an efficient process through the iPad, but our data is securely stored on the "Cloud" (geeky talk) to keep your information safe and secure. “We actually believe in innovation”!

We are proud to be the first ‘Indian Restaurant’ in New York to boast a full iPad based point-of-sale, menu, and kitchen management system!

Our idea of a ‘green’ restaurant is not only to use really fresh vegetables to create tongue smacking food, but also encourage good business practice that is friendly for the environment. We believe in doing business in an eco-friendly
and ethical way that creates a positive impact in the greater. We use efficient recycling methods and keep our energy footprint low. We support worthwhile causes that impact our community directly. Among our efforts, we very closely support International Theater & Literacy Project (link to: itlp.org). The International Theatre & Literacy Project (ITLP) inspires children in the developing world to discover their internal strength and personal power through theatre workshops that change the trajectory of their lives, fostering a new kind of leadership in their own community and country.