Bold, Brash Flavors at Bollywood Masala in Alexandria
Try the delicious foods of India in Old Town
Alexandria, VA – Bollywood Masala first opened in La Plata, MD by Rajah Malhotra and his wife Punita Malhotra in 2009. Their goal was to bring authentic flavors of Indian culture and cuisine to the city scene in La Plata. Their passion for food and cooking has no limits. They have polished and perfected the recipes that they served today in both La Plata and Old Town Alexandria (211 King St.). Rajah and Punita emphasize freshness and quality to ensure their food is of the highest quality.
This is not timid food. It is bold, almost brash when you consider American palates. But the cooking reflects the best of the Indian mélange of spices. The heat melds with the spices to make the dishes some of the most flavorful dishes offered locally. This is sophisticated food served in an inviting and warm setting.
At Bollywood Masala, you can enjoy a meal brimming with the flavors of India based on regional cuisines influenced by Persia, Pakistan, China, Portugal, France, and Great Britain. At first glance, the menu looks overwhelming. The staff are your best friend as they help you create your meal. Menu items are marked as nut free, gluten free, or vegan where appropriate. Vegans and vegetarians will find a wide variety of dishes they can enjoy.
The bar offers a wide variety of cocktails. Many have been crafted to enhance the flavors on the menu. Bourbon and whiskey drinkers should take note of the large selection available brands, many award winners. The specialty cocktails include house infused ingredients like the Bollywood Margarita made with jalapeno and star anise infused tequila. For a refreshing non-alcoholic drink, you must try a lassi. The mango lassi tastes like you’ve bitten into a fresh ripe mango. It’s a perfect accompaniment to any of the menu items. If you are looking for comfort, order a chai. The tea is flavored with warming spices and will make you feel like you’ve just had a massage. It’s one of the most delicious chais I have ever tasted.

A group joined me that day. We started with one of my favorite items, kale pakora. A pakora is a Punjabi word referring to fish, meat or vegetables that are deep friend in a batter usually made from chickpea flour. The kale pakora is made with kale, dipped in chickpea flour, and flash fried until crisp. Even kale ‘haters’ will love these crispy bites. Served with a tamarind dipping sauce, the pakora are just marvelous. They also make pakoras with chicken and with mixed vegetables for vegans. The Aloo Tiki Chat is another favorite – potato cakes are topped with spiced chickpeas and chutney. It will knock your socks off and totally vegan. I tried it during Restaurant Week and used the naan to ‘clean my plate.’ Another starter is the Lasooni Gobhi – cauliflower florets cooked in a sweet and tangy chili garlic sauce. The cauliflower is tender, the sauce spicy but not hot. The sauce is a winner. There are a variety of samosas made with potatoes, chicken, or vegetables, all delicious. Another popular appetizer are the chili momos, chicken dumplings in a similar chili garlic sauce.
Breads are an important part of any Indian meal. There are kulchas made with a white flour dough that is a softer, fluffier bread; whole wheat flour parathas and rotis; and naan, usually made with wheat flour with a chewier, more robust texture and a smoky flavor from traditional tandoor cooking. Check out the stuffed varieties, many of which you won’t find on other menus. Kulchas and naans on the menu include those stuffed with minced chicken, paneer, potatoes, nuts, or onions. The Aloo Kulcha is stuffed with potatoes and are soft and comfortable bites. We loved the garlic naan. This large free form bread is coated with garlic flavored butter and herbs. It is a great accompaniment for any of the dishes on the menu. Then again, any of the breads offered are scrumptious.
You could just make a meal from the variety of kabobs on the menu. Most familiar is the Chicken Tandoori which, unlike other preparations I have tried, is covered in a dry rub of various spices and grilled. It was so different from other tandoori chicken preparations I’ve tried. The combination of the spices on the chicken was amazing. It was a real winner. The Chicken Haryali Kabob is another delicious dish where the chicken is marinated in cilantro, mint, lime, and spinach. The flavor is almost indescribable. The mix of spices and herbs produce a lush delightful bite. Pescatarians can enjoy shrimp or salmon kabobs also grilled with Indian spices.
Indians refer to all of their sauced items as curries. There are nine different curries served at Bollywood Masala. Korma is a subtle flavor of onions in a creamy sauce with mild herbs. The Mango curry is a sister sauce to Korma, a thick onion and tomato sauce with chunks of onion and peppers blended with mango sauce. It has a subtle sweetness from the mango. If you want heat, try the Makhani Madras, a spicy creamy tomato sauce. Madras curry sauce is an extremely hot blend of the hottest chilies in onion and coconut sauce with curry leaves; or the Vindaloo, an onion sauce blended with chilies.
Another familiar curry is the Makhani/Butter sauce which is a creamy blend of tomato sauce with mild herbs and spices. It’s most often ordered as butter chicken and the sauce is so very soft and velvety. This is the perfect sauce to spoon over the perfectly cooked rice. We also devoured the bhuna gosht, pieces of lamb slow cooked in a yogurt and onion sauce. The lamb is cooked for over eight hours resulting in a meltingly delicious bite of tender lamb pieces. Again, be sure to savor some of the sauce over the rice. We reveled in the flavor of the salmon kabob. The salmon was cooked with lemon, olive oil, garlic, and a mixture of Indian spices. Tender and flavorful, it was delightful.
The mango curry is paired with chicken, salmon, shrimp, tofu, paneer, or lamb. I’ve tried the chicken where tender pieces of chicken were bathed in soothing sauce that both tingled with spices and had a sweet finish from the mango. Another big hit for me was the Bollywood Special with an onion and tomato-based sauce with a hint of garlic with lovely pieces of salmon. The salmon took on the flavor of the sauce making the whole dish sing. And how can you not order the Tikka Masala. The subtle creamy tomato sauce with garlic, green peppers, and onions was one of the best I have tried.
So many vegetable dishes are offered on the menu. Vegetarians and vegans can create a wonderful meal. One of my favorites is the Baingan Bhartha. If you love eggplant, this is the dish for you. The eggplant is smoked and cooked with onions and peas. It’s so thick and rich, it’s a vegetarian delight. Another familiar dish is the yellow dal. The dish is a tasty vegetarian home style blend of lentils, tempered with tomatoes and onions. Both are served with basmati rice. I would be happy to just luxuriate in either or both of these dishes. I can’t forget the biriyani. The chicken biriyani is a dish of rice cooked with spices and nuts and served with a side of raita. As good as the chicken was, I plan to try the lamb biriyani next time. Just imagining the combination makes my mouth water.
The dessert menu provides a not-too-sweet ending to a meal filled with so many flavors. Forgive us for not taking pictures of the desserts. We pounced on them like we hadn’t eaten in days. The Gulab Jamun features warm homemade doughnut balls in a honey glaze. The dense balls soak up the honey to create a delicious bite. Another favorite was the Kheer, a rice pudding cooked with cardamon. I could eat this luxurious dish at any time of day. We also sampled the rasmalai, a flavorful bowl of house-made cheese patties in pistachio milk. It’s lovely. You can try all three with the dessert platter like we did. Or, try the fusion of chocolate naan where the bread is stuffed with chocolate and served with ice cream.
Bollywood Masala prides itself on authentic flavors in a beautiful backdrop. The dining rooms are warm and comfortable, providing a perfect setting for your meal. Bold yet sophisticated, it belongs on your list of must try restaurants.
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