01/18/09

Go for the Chicken Tiki Masala

by JohnDuke

Excellent cheap Indian food. Entrees are in the $10 range. The Chicken Tiki Masala is awesome - the first time you go, be sure to order that. Casual, family-friendly dining.

A note about the spiciness of the food:

When I went in early 2008, I ordered medium spicy on the Chicken Tiki Masala. My lunch companions, who had eaten here before, ordered Hot Spicy, explaining: "The medium is actually mild". The medium was NOT mild, and the hot...well, let's just say I had a good laugh at my friends expense. In Jan 2009, the medium was a little spicy, but nothing like it was in 2008 - next time, I'll probably order hot.

The spiciness also varies from dish to dish - medium on one dish may be hot on another.

My advice: order medium he first time you go, learn the dishes, and adjust the spiciness level as you return, which you will. The price/ taste just can't be beat.

• Pros: Great, cheap food
• Cons: Spiciness level varies varies - medium on one dish may be hot on another

10/04/08

Cheap & novel, but not good

by garywise

Went 10/1/08 and asked for the hottest vindaloo they could do. I used the expression 'UK hot' as I grew up on Indian food in UK. It was not any hotter than some salsa. The lamb was very tough and sparse. Nice atmosphere with lots of native east Indians eating there. Friendly staff who handled a mistake well. Good rice & nan. Even though it's cheap, don't get your expectations up!

• Pros: Nice atmosphere & staff
• Cons: Average food quality, not spicy enough even on request

07/27/08

Solid Indian at good a good price

by rgwalt

I am a self-appointed Indian food critic. Though I grew up in Kansas, I have eaten my share of Indian from various places all over the country as well as the UK. After trying several Indian places in Houston, I have to say that Masala Wok combines good food with low prices in a fun, friendly atmosphere. I have eaten here a few times and have never had "bad" service (nor really great service either). I don't expect much out of the people who work at the restaurant because it isn't full service!!! What I expect is good food and good value. Masala Wok delivers on both.

I have tried both the chicken and lamb vindaloo (better than London Sizzler, not quite as good as the Red Lion), the kabob grill, and the chicken tikka grill. The chicken tikka grill was I think my favorite, though the lamb vindaloo was a close second. While vindaloo is traditionally a very hot curry, none of the food I've had at the Masala Wok has been "too spicy". I am a chili head, and so I add some of their chili sauce to my vindaloo (which I order "hot"). The chicken tikka grill was absolutely delicous, with a big portion of marinated and grilled chicken served with tomato cream masala sauce on the side.

For starters I have tried both the Chicken 65, which is a lightly breaded and fried chicken breast chunks coated with hot indian spices. I have also tried the Samosa Chatt, which consists of two potato and pea stuffed samosas covered with chickpeas in a curry sauce with onion and yogurt. Between the two, the samosa chatt was, by far, my favorite. I haven't tried anything off the chinese side of the menu, but the items look promising.

Don't go to this restaurant expecting strictly traditional Indian food, there are other, better places in Houston for that. Don't expect top of the line service, because that is not how the business model works. Do expect very good food at good prices. Try the samosa chatt, the chicken tikka grill, and wash it down with a mango lassi.