With the London restaurant scene still booming, despite being in the middle of a pandemic – one restaurant which has stood the test of time through it and is not only surviving, but thriving – is Masala Zone in Soho. The site opened on Soho’s Marshall Street back in 2001 and after becoming incredibly popular with locals and tourists, Masala Zone is now a well-recognised brand across London. With seven sites, Masala Zone is one of my favourite Indian restaurants in London and it offers incredible value for money for those looking for an authentic, modern taste of India.
Kicking off our lunch proceedings here at Masala Zone we started with a couple of cocktails (it’s Masala Zone law). Their take on the classic Pina Colada as well as my favourite, a refreshingly delicious and simple whisky sour – both with their own Masala Zone twists. Even if you’re not thinking of coming here for dinner, come for drinks and nibbles at the bar – it’s great fun.
One dish that no visit to Masala Zone should be without is the Chicken 65. Succulent morsels of crispy chicken smothered in ginger & red chilli and served with a very addictive dipping sauce. It’s a really lovely dish and it goes perfectly with a cocktail or two. Start your meal with this and if you are hungry – order two portions because you won’t want to share.
My absolute favourite dish from not only our meal but from all of my Masala Zone visits is this Calcutta Potato Keema Chop. An absolutely delicious Calcutta street food dish, which can be found right across the city, particularly on special festive occasions. The only difference here is its appearance has been given a modern twist. The inside was filled with juicy, intensely spiced keema and on the outside a crunchy, crispy crumb. I’m not sure if they serve this dish all year round, but if they don’t – they should.
As far as street food goes and portion sizes, I thought this jalebi dish represented remarkable value for money and my photo really doesn’t do its generous size justice. The plate was full of four large crispy jalebi (swirls of deep-fried flour batter), mixed with yoghurt, tamarind, spices & fresh herbs. It’s fresh, filling and perfect for sharing.
I always order far too many meaty dishes in an Indian restaurant, but when I don’t – paneer is my guilty pleasure. Here they serve up the most fabulous plate of paneer tikka. Their freshly kitchen made paneer is marinated in yoghurt, fresh fenugreek leaves, and yellow chilli – then cooked in the searing heat of the tandoori oven. It’s heavenly.
With barely any room left, we still somehow managed to get through a range of curries and condiments. Fluffy white rice, baby spinach with garlic, creamy potatoes and rich and decadent lamb rogan josh. The latter, packed with Kashmiri chilli & a blend of 15 spices together with onion, fresh herbs and tomato which is slow-cooked over 4 hours for a rich & complex flavour. You’ll be wanting a naan to mop up all those delicious juices.
To finish, a classic that Masala Zone has perfected. A single gulab jamun which is so rich and juicy, then topped with a scoop of ice cream. The perfect way to end our Indian feast. Masala Zone may be a group with multiple sites across the city, but it’s still the best of any restaurant group I know. Such passion and thought goes into the menus here which change with the seasons and availability of ingredients. The food is excellent, packed with personality and as I said – offers excellent value for money. Plus the service is always pristine. Would we come back? Absolutely – time and time again.
The food looks and sounds so good!