Masala Desi Cafe - Burlingame
Masala Desi Cafe - Burlingame
Crispy vegetable turnovers with flavored potato and peas filling, served with chutneys. Allergy Indicators: Gluten
Marinated sliced potato wedges with peel, fired and sprinkled with Indian spices. Allergy Indicators: Gluten
Mashed Samosa served with spicy garbanzo beans, chutneys, onions and yogurt. Allergy Indicators: Gluten, Dairy
Alu Tikki Paties topped with spicy garbanzo beans, chutneys, onions and yogurt
Paneer cubes marinated with Indian spices, deep fried and tossed with a spicy sauce and peppers & onions. Allergy Indicators: Dairy, Gluten
Cauliflower florets marinated with Indian spices and deep fried. Allergy Indicators: Gluten
Idli pieces tossed in taw with Indian spices and topped with special masala podi (powder) and chopped onion.
Slightly battered boneless chicken cubes tossed in yogurt sauce flavored with spices and curry leaves. Allergy Indicators: Dairy, Gluten
Chicken breast chunks marinated with yogurt and masala overnight and cooked in clay oven. Allergy Indicators: Dairy
Chicken breast chunks marinated with Tikka masala overnight and cooked in clay oven.
Bone-in Chicken Leg meat marinated overnight and cooked in clay oven. Allergy Indicators: Dairy
Steamed rice and lentil cake accompanied with sambar, and chutneys served steaming hot.
South Indian crpe delicacy made from a fermented rice and black gram batter served with chutneys and sambar.
Dosa stuffed with flavored mashed potatoes and served with chutneys and sambar. Allergy Indicators: Dairy, Nuts
Dosa Stuffed with selected option, rolled and cut in to pieces, and served with chutneys and sambar. Allergy Indicators: Dairy (paneer option)
Slightly thicker, pancake-style variation of the Dosa topped with onions, tomato, green chillies and served with chutneys and Sambar.
Tandoori chicken pieces pulled off the bone cooked in a luscious blend of cream and tomato sauce. Allergy Indicators: Dairy, Nuts
Cubes of succulent chicken cooked in a traditional brown gravy with herbs and spices. Allergy Indicators: Nuts
Chicken breast cubes tandoori oven roasted and cooked in a luscious blend of cream and tomato sauce. Allergy Indicators: Dairy, Nuts
Boneless Lamb chunks cooked in curry sauce with aromatic spices. Allergy Indicators: Nuts
Boneless Lamb chunks cooked with a gravy based on tomato, browned onions, yogurt garlic ginger and aromatic spices. Allergy Indicators: Dairy, Nuts
Succulent cut of bone in Goat pieces cooked in the traditional rich curry sauce.
Indian cottage cheese cubes cooked in tomato and creamy sauce. Also called as Paneer Makhani. Allergy Indicators: Dairy, Nuts
Assorted Vegetables cooked in a creamy coconut sauce with spices.
Spinach cooked in low flame with spices until consistency and add Paneer/Potato/Chana based on your selection. Allergy Indicators: Dairy only if you select Paneer
Creamed lentils slow cooked and flavored with fresh ginger, garlic and rich blend of herbs and spices. Allergy Indicators: Dairy
Garbanzo Beans cooked with finely chopped tomatoes and onions with Indian spices.
Leavened wheat flour dough flattened and baked in the oven. Allergy Indicators: Gluten
Leavened wheat flour dough flattened, baked in oven and topped with butter. Allergy Indicators: Gluten, Dairy
Leavened wheat flour dough flattened, topped with chopped garlic and baked in the oven. Allergy Indicators: Gluten, Dairy
Traditional Naan stuffed with cheese, topped with Garlic and baked in the oven. Allergy Indicators: Gluten, Dairy
Traditional Naan stuffed with finely chopped onions and baked in oven. Allergy Indicators: Gluten
Unleavened whole wheat flatbread baked in the oven. Allergy Indicators: Gluten
Steamed basmati rice
Succulent Goat pieces with bone cooked in curry sauce and mixed with flavored basmati rice. Served with raita and salan. Allergy Indicators: Dairy
Boneless shoulder lamb pieces cooked curry sauce and mixed with flavored basmati rice. Served with raita and salan. Allergy Indicators: Dairy
Boneless Chicken pieces marinated, tossed in curry sauce flavored with spices and mixed with flavored basmati rice. Served with raita and salan. Allergy Indicators: Dairy
Paneer cubes marinated, tossed in curry sauce flavored with spices and mixed with flavored basmati rice. Served with raita and salan. Allergy Indicators: Dairy
Fresh cut vegetables marinated with special spices tossed in curry sauce flavored with spices and mixed with flavored basmati rice.
Garbanzo Beans cooked with finely chopped tomatoes and onions with Indian spices.Meals/Thali includes Selected Curry (8 oz), Rice (8 oz), Daal/Sambar (4 oz), Chana Masala (4 oz), and Cucumber Salad.
Creamed lentils slow cooked and flavored with fresh ginger, garlic and rich blend of herbs and spices. Allergy Indicators: DairyMeals/Thali includes Selected Curry (8 oz), Rice (8 oz), Daal/Sambar (4 oz), Chana Masala (4 oz), and Cucumber Salad.
Succulent cut of bone in Goat pieces cooked in the traditional rich curry sauce. Allergy Indicators: NutsMeals/Thali includes Selected Curry (8 oz), Rice (8 oz), Daal/Sambar (4 oz), Chana Masala (4 oz), and Cucumber Salad.
Cubes of succulent chicken cooked in a traditional brown gravy with herbs and spices. Allergy Indicators: NutsMeals/Thali includes Selected Curry (8 oz), Rice (8 oz), Daal/Sambar (4 oz), Chana Masala (4 oz), and Cucumber Salad.
Tandoori chicken pieces pulled off the bone cooked in a luscious blend of cream and tomato sauce. Allergy Indicators: Dairy, NutsMeals/Thali includes Selected Curry (8 oz), Rice (8 oz), Daal/Sambar (4 oz), Chana Masala (4 oz), and Cucumber Salad.
Chicken breast cubes tandoori oven roasted and cooked in a luscious blend of cream and tomato sauce. Allergy Indicators: Dairy, NutsMeals/Thali includes Selected Curry (8 oz), Rice (8 oz), Daal/Sambar (4 oz), Chana Masala (4 oz), and Cucumber Salad.
Boneless Lamb chunks cooked in curry sauce with aromatic spices. Allergy Indicators: NutsMeals/Thali includes Selected Curry (8 oz), Rice (8 oz), Daal/Sambar (4 oz), Chana Masala (4 oz), and Cucumber Salad.
Boneless Lamb chunks cooked with a gravy based on tomato, browned onions, yogurt garlic ginger and aromatic spices. Allergy Indicators: Dairy, NutsMeals/Thali includes Selected Curry (8 oz), Rice (8 oz), Daal/Sambar (4 oz), Chana Masala (4 oz), and Cucumber Salad.
Spinach cooked in low flame with spices until consistency and add Paneer/Potato/Chana based on your selection. Allergy Indicators: DairyMeals/Thali includes Selected Curry (8 oz), Rice (8 oz), Daal/Sambar (4 oz), Chana Masala (4 oz), and Cucumber Salad.
Indian cottage cheese cubes cooked in tomato and creamy sauce. Also called as Paneer Makhani. Allergy Indicators: Dairy, NutsMeals/Thali includes Selected Curry (8 oz), Rice (8 oz), Daal/Sambar (4 oz), Chana Masala (4 oz), and Cucumber Salad.
Assorted Vegetables cooked in a creamy coconut sauce with spices.Meals/Thali includes Selected Curry (8 oz), Rice (8 oz), Daal/Sambar (4 oz), Chana Masala (4 oz), and Cucumber Salad.
Reduced spongy milk balls soaked in honey and syrup. Allergy Indicators: Dairy
Soft cottage cheese balls soaked in a rich milk sauce flavored with saffron and pistachio
Grated carrot pudding
A cold dairy drink made with thin noodles (vermicelli), milk, flavored syrup, sweet basil seeds, and ice cream.
Indian Soft Drink (Strong Coke)
Indian Soft Drink (Strong Sprite)
Masala Wedges and mango Lassi
Chana Masala
Chicken 65
Curry Burrito
Dal Makhani
Dosa
Garlic Naan
Ginger Tea
Coffee
Masala Wedges
Palak Curry
Paneer Butter Masala
Basmati Rice
Samosa Chat
Shrimp Curry
Shrimp Varuval
Spicy Chicken Curry
Tikka Slider
Veg Samosa
Butter Naan
Garlic Cheese Naan
Mutton (Goat) Curry
Gulab Jamun
Mango Lassi
Christopher L.
Jan 19, 2025
Came here for lunch and loved that they had their lunch plates with so many options. I got the lamb curry and my wife got the tikka masala. Both tasted great and reasonably priced.There are a good amount of indian places around of varying levels of upscaleness but what I like most about Masala desi is how accessible it is. There are places with massive menus that also come with massive prices but if I just want something casual and tasty, its nice to know I can pop by this place and have a satisfying meal
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Terry R.
Feb 17, 2025
Masala's price cutting efforts and lack of effort towards cleanliness and ambiance negatively impacts its otherwise descent Indian food. We ordered the Samosa chaat, Gobi Manchurian, garlic naan, chai and butter chicken. We were especially pleased with the Gobi Manchurian and though the flavor profile for the samosa chaat was well executed, we were disappointed by the small amount of samosa. The butter chicken was lacking in spices, giving it an overall muted flavor. My favorite part of sipping chai is holding the warm cup in my hands. Sadly the chai, though tasty, was served in a disposable coffee cup. The view of the poorly swept floors and sagging plastic "faux tile" table cloths used to cover the wall by the register didn't help. Unfortunately not enough strengths to make me a repeat customer.
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Ron L.
Nov 10, 2024
Celiac and other allergy friendly - they list all allergens on the menu. I ordered idli sambar and masala dosa via Uber eats. There are some foods that are better fresh, and even though Uber eats does their best, the dosa pancake was not as crispy as it would have been in person. So I unfolded it and gave it a quick hit in the oven, while I heated the potato filling in the microwave. I put them back together and oh boy. Just like being back in Bangalore. The idli were amazing and would have floated away if they weren't in a to go container. And the sambar? Just the right amount of heat and great flavor. I cracked the lid, microwaved them, and 22 seconds later they were heated perfectly.Can't wait to get there in person YUM!!
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Haleh H.
Oct 12, 2024
Don't understand the good reviews. We had horrible experience. Skip!Ambience: horrible & gross. The place is tiny. The glass behind my head was filthy. The bathroom was tiny and we had to walk through kitchen, not nice. The waiter put Indian rap on TV pretty loud and started singing with it - while kind of entertaining but very much disturbing. Service: the guy was nice but nothing about the place was good. Plus we ordered butter chicken & chicken tikka masala and they're were the same sauce. Why didn't he tell us?!!!Food: overall not good. Lack of flavor and not exiting. Also left a bad after taste.Fries: just skip this. We ordered by mistake and did not enjoy it at all.Garlic naan: the only good item we had.Butter chicken & chicken masala: had much much better. The color was off, the flavor wasn't good. And both were same dish. I even asked him which is what and what's better. Tell your customer next time!Lamb biryani: lamb had good flavor & was spicy but the rest of the dish & rice was plain, no spice no flavor, very un-creative and not exciting.
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Justin G.
Dec 1, 2024
I have never been to this restaurant before. I will definitely come back. The aromas of curry and other spices once it tickles your nose you will want to keep coming back here. Clean, friendly atmosphere a little on the small side. Seating might be hard hostess was great. I will definitely come back.
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Diana M.
Nov 4, 2024
Great service and delicious food. The space is small so maybe great for a group of only 1-4. Anything larger might be hard to squeeze into the tables. I think this is a hidden gem and will definitely return for more. I would just caution on the side of spice. If you're not into spicy food maybe ask for a lower level. i loved the spice level but my friend said medium was still a lot for them. So make sure to ask what is best.
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Chris B.
Jun 8, 2024
Masala Desi Cafe is an absolute gem! We definitely over-ordered, but it was worth every bite. We tried the chicken tikka masala, masala dosa, garlic naan, butter chicken, and idli. Every single dish was incredibly delicious and bursting with flavor. The chicken tikka masala and butter chicken were perfectly cooked and the sauces were rich and creamy. The masala dosa was crispy and packed with flavor, and the idli was soft and light. The garlic naan was the perfect accompaniment to soak up all the amazing sauces. To top it all off, we got a free masala chai with our Yelp check-in, which was a delightful bonus!The outdoor seating was beautiful on a hot Burlingame day. The staff was super friendly and made us feel right at home. Their excellent service combined with the outstanding food made for a fantastic dining experience. We can't wait to come back and try more dishes. Highly recommend Masala Desi Cafe!---
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Alex K.
Jan 31, 2024
Wanted to come here for a really long time and while it was a bit different than expected, I would go back. Their menu is simple, with all the staple dishes and lots of veg options. The space is very small with no ambiance - extremely casual. Definitely more of a place to go with friends than to take my parents, for example. The food was very good. We had a chaat appetizer (my favorite), the butter chicken, naan, and a dal dish (huge portion). Food came out fairly quick but we weren't checked on after that point and had to call out for anything else we needed (water refills, etc) and the check took a very long time.
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Valerie M.
Jan 25, 2024
Been craving for chai and paper dosa. So we decided to try this place for the first time. It's cozy and nice inside. They also have really good outdoor seating as well. Next time we can bring our dogs. That's a big bonus. The food is spectacular and authentic. Even though I did spend enough time in Indian to be able to tell the difference, don't just take my word. My Indian friend said the same thing. I'm really happy with my order of the paper dosa and the paneer kabob. The dosa is super crispy and soooooo good! And the masala chai just really took me back to those Indian memories. My friend loved the samosa and his order too. Tons of veggie options. The service is excellent. Will definitely come back soon.
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Alex W.
Jul 19, 2024
After a long cross country flight, we were incredibly nibbly and made this our first stop after landing into SFO. Sajin gave us the warmest welcome as we dragged our bags with us and truly made our visit exceptional. Michelin level service. The dosa and Chaat really hit the spot. Love an airy light dish but the potatoes also makes it very filling. The outdoor dining is also a big plus with the great weather we're having!
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