My first visit to Bollywood Masala was fantastic! The customer service was on point from the time I entered the door until I left. Very attentive. The dining area was pleasant and clean, which I always appreciate. I ended up ordering one of my usual dishes I get whenever I dine at an Indian restaurant: Lamb Biryani. I wish I would have remembered to take a picture of my meal. This was hands down the most flavorful biryani that I've ever had and I've had a lot of biryanis in my lifetime. The lamb could have been just little bit more tender but that's the only thing that brang down the score from a 10 out of 10 to a 9.5 out of 10. I definitely will be back to try their other menu item and I suggest you do the same if you're ever in Old Town Alexandria. read more

My wife and I were checking out Old Town Alexandria and walked passed this restaurant which caught my wife's eye. We returned to eat an early dinner here and chose to sit inside given the pollen and passing people near the outside seating. We were seated upstairs near the one window before other patrons joined us. Service was great throughout with being promptly greeted by the hostess, shown to a table, and checked on periodically. My wife and I both enjoyed the Tikka Masala where the big decision appears to be how spicy do you want it on a scale of 1-30. I had a 4 and thought I could have toned it down a notch but I prefer mild over spicy. We both enjoyed our dinner which we also enjoyed with a lovely cucumber salad that was so tasty and refreshing as my wife put it. A wonderful dinner and we will likely return if in the area. read more

Delicious!!! I got the Kashmiri tofu with a level 12 heat. I wish I had gotten 15 because it was spicy, but not as spicy as I wished due to the sweetness from the hint of mango. The dish was full of flavor and the tofu was fresh and soft. I wanted vegetables, but this dish didn't offer that option. That was the only bummer of the meal. Per usual, I had to take leftovers home and it was still fantastic the next day! The roti was hot and fresh! I ended up getting two because it was so tasty. The service is attentive and kind. The downstairs area is cute and gets great lighting. Upstairs is a bit darker and more moody. Overall, I highly recommend this place, especially if you eat a vegetarian or vegan diet! read more

Bollywood Masala - Tofu Kashmiri OO - Indian Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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The food tasted so good and the service was great. Cute place. Not pricey and easy to get to. Will definitely recommend read more

Bollywood Masala - Menu - Indian Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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Great service - we took our family member visiting from Ecuador who had never had Indian food before so I hoped this place wouldn't disappoint and it didn't! We had two different kinds of curries one with lamb and chicken, veggie samosas, and naan bread (garlic butter and garlic chili) everything was flavorful and the spice level was great. We ordered spice level both at 5s and that's right above medium and I think we can do a little higher next time. They have tables on both floors and plenty of natural light. read more

Bollywood Masala - Indian Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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We stopped by for lunch and were pleasantly surprised. The hostess/waitress was very sweet and welcoming. We tried the lunch special which includes salad, appetizer, rice, garbanzo beans, nan, and main entree - it was very filling and also delicious! Great flavor. We sat on the main floor. It's a small intimate space with lovely decor. The food was really good. read more

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Nice atmosphere, good spot for dinner or grabbing drinks. Started with the aloo tikki chaat. I thought it was nicely spiced and full of flavor. Got the Bollywood Special with chicken for my entree. It is a tomato curry and I through it was rich and flavorful. I liked the cook of the chicken. The spice levels are a bit confusing as it goes from 1-30 with 4 being a medium. The garlic naan was my favorite of the breads. It was soft and buttery. I've never had a laccha paratha before. It was quite thin and almost like a cracker. Definitely a dry bread that should be eaten with a curry or chutney. The onion kulcha was quite soft which made it difficult to pick up. I thought the onions almost tasted sweet but overall it did not have a super strong flavor. Service was good until the end. Had to ask two different servers to bring a box for leftovers. The owner seems quite hands on as I saw him delivering drinks, answering questions about the menu, and giving suggestions. I would definitely come back and try more items. read more

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Highly recommend! Started with cocktails exclusively from the Bollywood cocktail section (all were delicious!) The best part was Raj! He ordered for us family-style based off of our preferences for heat, meat, and flavor profiles. If you can request this experience, do! We can't wait to go back. Here is what we ordered: Cocktails: Gulabo, Bollywood Lemonade, Bollywood Mule, Bollywood Rum Punch, Bollywood Mint Peach, Bollywood Old Fashion. Apps: Deluxe Assorted Breads, Palak Chat. Entrees: Bhuna Gosht, Bollywood Chicken, Lamb Kashmiri, Dal Bukhara. Desserts: Gulab Jamun, Ice Cream Kesar, Kheer read more

Bollywood Masala - Family style selection made by Raj! - Indian Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

Staff wasn't welcoming at all. The server upstairs was quite rude and stated do you want to order entree or not!? When the food came out it was below average. Paneer was raw and just thrown in the sauce. Only thing good was the garlic naan, which is basically all I had. Would not recommend this restaurant. Should have looked at other google reviews before going in. read more

Came on a Saturday and was able to get seated pretty quickly for 2. We got vegetable samosas and the fish pakora which were both delicious, especially the sauces they came with. The garlic naan and Indian beer were both solid as well. For the main we got lamb with the Bollywood special sauce and it was a bit lackluster sadly. We got 5/30 because they said 4 was a medium on the spice scale. But if you're someone who can tolerate spice generally, it's realistically a 1/10. If you're looking for something actually spicy definitely go for 10/30 minimum. The sauce was more creamy than tomato which was a bit different than what the menu described. The service was attentive although it was on the louder end with music and lots of conversations happening at once on a busy night. I would come back but would definitely try another sauce and go much higher on the spice scale. read more

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Let's start with food: very good. Some of the better I've had in this region. Ordered chicken tikka masala because they informed me they were able to control the spice better over the curry, so I went with it. It was very flavorful. At five, it was spicier than I expected and their spice scale goes to 30. This is REAL Indian spice, so keep that in mind. I enjoyed it. For $21, the portion was okay. It's Alexandria so, to be expected. The garlic, chili, butter naan was very good. I'd get this again. Rice pudding was not good. The Vada Pav was very good, too. It was a weekend special. Cleanliness: seemingly clean inside but when I sat down, there was sauce under the table/on the side that got on my pants so not a fan of that. Service: very attentive. Maybe too much. When you sit downstairs, you're like right across from someone and I lowkey felt like every time I looked up, he was looking at me. I also want to say this about the service: I'm not sure some places are aware that they come off as anti-Black or racist. When I walked in, on a Sunday afternoon, I was met with: "pick up?" I informed him it was just me. He seated me right near the door and asked no questions about preferences. Five minutes later, a Hispanic man walked in, the employee looked confused and asked him if he was there for order pick-up. The man said no. He proceeded to grab a menu and prepare to seat him RIGHT next to me. The man was there to look at plumbing. 10 minutes later, a white couple came in. They were greeted with a smile and ASKED where they wanted to sit and/or if they wanted to sit upstairs or downstairs. They went upstairs but he had to check upstairs to see if it was ready so I found this odd. The same thing happened with ANOTHER WHITE COUPLE right after. Like.............. why were the Hispanic man and I not given options, especially since we were being seated at four-tops? Very weird, lowkey racist. Food was good but I'll pass. I think I prefer another local spot a bit more. read more

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Hyderabadi, Mango, Vindaloo are my favorites! The sauces are unique and delicious with rice or Naan. Best part is they have a kids menu and kids friendly! Very fast service! Lovely ambiance and the music is awesome! Don't come on a weekend without reservation. Also add time to find parking because there is always something going on in that part of town. read more

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I hate to give this place a bad review because it's right in my neighborhood. But, as others have stated, this place needs to work on their customer service. I arrived with my family and asked for seating upstairs but was told that we couldn't sit upstairs because there was an event, so we sat downstairs. The downstairs is not nice or comfortable, but it was raining so we stayed. A family comes in right after us and asks to sit upstairs. The manager tells them that they can go upstairs to the bar and wait until table is ready. What?!! We came in just before them and were not offered to wait at the upstairs bar for a table upstairs. I don't know if it was because the other family was Indian and my family is black, but whatever the reason it was disturbing. I asked the hostess why wasn't I offered the same and she just apologized. I asked for the manager and asked him the same thing and he tried to say that it was because there was a child in my family who couldn't sit at the bar, but when I pointed out that the other family had a baby he began to deny it. He offered free dessert, but I declined. Not a good feeling or experience. Won't be going back. read more

Industrial with a modern twist. This Indian food spot is unique. There was a wide variety of meats and curries there something in here for everyone. Spice level here is so joke! Take heed. Waiter was attentive and ready to answer any questions you may have about the menu! read more

Bollywood Masala - Lentil - Indian Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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The portions of the curries and entrées were quite small in a tiny bowl. For what you're paying, you expect to get a little bit more.

Cozy ambiance with good service and soothing music - a really nice playlist. The location is amazing, right on vibrant King Street in Old Town Alexandria. The whole area is walkable, with thoughtful urban design that feels made for people instead of cars. It has that sound city vibe where you can enjoy strolling around before or after your meal. Food - very good: * Dal Makhani, Matar Paneer - tasty. * Plain Naan - good. * Lacchha Paratha - good, though slightly dry. * Plain Rice - very good and aromatic. * Cutting Chai - excellent, served in a kulhad. It's the small touches that make a place memorable, and this one does them really well. read more

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I didn't quite get what the relationship is, but there is clearly a connection between this restaurant and a similarly named one way down in Southern Maryland, a place that was key to my introduction to Indian food back in the day. The quality there was always plenty good enough to succeed in a more urban locale, and the family seems to have found a fantastic location in Old Town Alexandria with brick walls, two levels, and a bit of outdoor seating on a street that is closed to cars (at least on weekends). The menu is a wide range of North Indian items and includes clearly marked needs for dietary restrictions. Unless your restriction is simply that you want to eat light, in which case this comfort food might be a bit much for you. I was quite happy with my richly flavored chickpeas and a freshly cooked bread filled with bits of fenugreek leaves. They also offer a what they describe as a freshly muddled lemonade, and the racket the machine makes is clear evidence that it is in fact freshly muddled. The noise is worth the resulting flavor. There are plenty more options to try, with both classics and a variety of preparations with paneer or tofu to suit virtually any diet. And judging by what I ordered, the quality of all of the above is likely to be high. read more

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This was a last minute choice and it was one of the best decisions. When arriving at the restaurant you are introduced with a cute stairs leading into the restaurant. I definitely recommend eating upstairs since it gives you a nice charm. The food was amazing and the recommendation provided by the servers were helpful. If you're in town I definitely recommend trying the chicken tikka as the flavors were better than places I've tried in the west coast. read more

Bollywood Masala - Chicken Tikka OO, Garlic Paneer Naan OO - Indian Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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Had a few drinks here on a night out with my gf, had a Bollywood drink that was peach infused and the bollini was amazing as well! The HH said it's $8 for any cocktail so I highly recommend it read more

Bollywood Masala - Bollywood something - Indian Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

Delicious food and exceptional customer service. A ton of dishes are naturally gluten free and the ambience is great!

You're looking for authentic, delicious and great customer service. This is where you go.. they have great music. read more

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We had a great meal for my friends birthday on a Saturday night. The potato filled naan was the best out of all the apps we tried. Also the cucumber salad. I tried the lamb biriani and the chicken biriani, both had distinct flavors and plenty to go around. Also the lamb korma was fantastic too. We tried the rice pudding and the ice cream. Very flavourful. Service was great. He was very kind. We had a large party, so they seated us on the 3rd floor. The restaurant is narrow, not much space at the entrance to wait. But the decor was modern, upscale and beautiful. Highly recommend this new establishment. read more

Bollywood Masala - Lamb biriani - Indian Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

Food was amazing. We shared a tandoori dish and a curry dish and both were fantastic. Well spiced and seasoned. The garlic naan was exactly why I wanted: hot, light, and tons of garlic. Servers were all attentive and the food came out at a nice pace. Will definitely be back! read more

I had really high hopes for this place, but it honestly did not live up to the hype. For starters, the spice rating listed on the menu does not make sense. Each dish can be served with varying levels of spice and the restaurant uses a 1-to-30 spice scale. For my main course I ordered lamb vindaloo. I informed my server that I wanted spice level 10, which, according to their own spice scale should be 1/3 of the max spice level. When I said level 10, the waiter basically told me that level 10 is very spicy, and asked if I was sure. Level 10 is under 15 and 15 should be the mid level of spicy, so how would 10 be too spicy? But since he works there and I don't, I took his word for it and decided to order a level 7. Needless to say, when my lamb vindaloo came out, there was no discernible spice. I had to send it back to ask for more spice because I actually really like spicy food. We also ordered the chicken 65 which was a little too earthy tasting for me. I usually like a balance of sweet and savory and spicy for my chicken 65 and this one tasted kind of like it was coated in paprika. I think my husband ordered the butter chicken, which was OK but not memorable. We also ordered a paratha which was fine, but nothing to write home about. I wound up not eating my leftovers because I just didn't crave them. If you're in the mood for Indian, note that there are better options in Alexandria. read more

Speak with the servers and they'll give you an amazing and authentic spread of what they have to offer! Spiciness level isn't super high but I tend to have a high tolerance. The spiciness is not necessary though because you wouldn't be able to taste all of the amazing spices in the curry! If you're a fan of Indian food and especially curry, this is a great spot for a date night. It's pricy but a great experience read more

Bollywood Masala - Veg Samosa Chat OO - Indian Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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Best garlic naan I ever had. Excellent service. The owner really cares. We hung out for a while after paying, and we didn't feel rushed to leave. Nice, easy night with great Indian food and surprisingly large, unique menu. read more

my order arrived and was missing 1 of 2 meals. I called and complained that a meal was missing. they told me I'll call you back. when they called back the lady told me the kitchen know they put it in the bag. they blamed DoorDash. I will never, never order from this place again. read more

Enjoyed another fine meal. We enjoyed our experience during restaurant week and decided to return. Second time was just as good as the first. We couldn't remember what we had ordered and followed the recommendation by the chef. read more

Decided to dine here one evening with 3 other ladies and we still waited to get seated for 45+ minutes even with a reservation! Although we did come on a Friday evening and the restaurant is not super large, it does have 3 different floors for dining. We sat on floor 2 and were a bit overwhelmed with the many options they have to offer and the large spice scale to choose from (1-30). The food was very tasty but we did order our vindaloo a bit too spicy to fully enjoy (lvl 4, I think?). I highly recommend if you have the time to visit and can handle some spice! read more

Bollywood Masala - Garlic butter naan, paneer pakora, tomato basil naan, veg samosa chat, lasooni gobhi (our fav) - Indian Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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We stopped in on probably the busiest day of the year-Christmas Boat Parade-Scottish Walk Day-etc. We asked to sit at the bar and ordered from there. It was our first time there and they were so helpful in recommending dishes. We got chicken pakora, paneer makhani, and lentils. It was all perfect! I'm still dreaming of the pakora. Service and food were not at all affected by the vast number of people they had/were serving. We've already been back again. I didn't try of the bar drinks but the bartender was very kind. It all looked very tasty too! read more

Great food, service, and outdoor seating. We had this recommended to us by friends but were hesitant due to its "mainstream" location right on King Street. We left with this being our new place for Indian food. My girlfriend got the tikka masala which we both loved. She doesn't do well with spicy foods and was very happy with her spice level choice, which was a 4. I got the Madras which, as per the menu, was very spicy. They warned me multiple times and even let me try a sample before ordering. If you really like spice, highly recommend this dish. Garlic butter naan was a 10/10. We enjoyed the street side seating on king street on a beautiful night and our waitress Sandeep was hilarious and attentive. read more

My new favorite restaurant for Indian food in the DMV! Tastes just like what I get at restaurants when I visit India. I really wanted the dry chicken tikka, but since they don't have it as an appetizer I got the entree. Phenomenal! So glad I did that. The garlic naan was crispy on the edges and soft in the middle. The butter chicken was really creamy and flavorful and not greasy like some other places. And the aloo gobi was a nice veggie complement to the meal. I also got the chai; it's a pre-made mix with sugar, but it wasn't overly sweet. And these guys know how to make super fluffy basmati rice! I need more than 5-stars for this place!!! This is now on my top 10 list of favorite restaurants in the area. read more

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Tried an array of dishes. Flavors were good, but the portions were a little small for the prices. Highlights for me were the garlic naan bread, chicken tandoori, and lamb briyani. read more

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I've been trying Indian food at different establishments in the US and Europe for the past 20 years as a bit of a hobby. I'm not a chef or a professional reviewer or a food influencer. I'm just a regular guy who loves Indian food. As such, I can confidently say that Bollywood Masala is among the the best Indian restaurants this side of the Atlantic. It is astonishingly good. If this place doesn't get a 5-star review from the Post and at least a commendation from the Michelin folks, I'll take it as proof that the world is rigged against good chefs without connection and conclude that we are all cooked. Pun intended. No, seriously. Do NOT miss this gem. Plus, it's in a charming, Potomac-adjacent part of Old Town, Alexandria. What else do you need? read more

Bollywood Masala - Plain naan, Basmati rice, aloo baingan and chicken tikka masala. Just superb. - Indian Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

Saw Bollywood Masala pop up under Hot & New with surprisingly good reviews, so I had to try and I'm definitely in agreement with others. I eat a lot of Indian food, but I haven't been to a place in the DMV that has coconut curry and jalfrezi on the menu, so I was very happy to see both. There is also a large selection of all breads, spicy options, and cocktails/mocktails for all. We ended up getting the shrimp coconut curry, butter naan, roti, goat curry, and aloo ghobi. Everything was great, especially the butter naan which is my favorite. I also enjoyed the spice level of their medium spice for my curry. We came in on a Monday, so it was completely empty. Service was very good and I will return. I will say, it is on the pricier side (guessing due to location), so be prepared. With that said, I think the portions should be bigger than they are. read more

Bollywood Masala - Indian Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

This place is a hidden gem for Indian food. The ambiance was great the servers were very attentive and most importantly the food was delicious. This has been the best Indian food short of Michelin star in the NOvA area. This restaurant will not disappoint! read more

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Food was fine. My specialty martini was the best part of the evening. Very tasty. Vegetable dishes were good but the meats dishes were dry. I like more heat even though we ordered our foods prepared hot. Protein dishes also tasted similar, same sauces different meats. Breads were good. Service was inconsistent. Good pace at the start but slowed considerably as our dinner progressed. We had to wait way too long for our desserts. It is a cute little place. We were there for a birthday. We sat upstairs where it got progressively more busy and loud. The owner or GM was attentive and pleasant. We live an hour away, so I think we will find elsewhere to go next time. read more

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I am totally loving this new spot!! The ambiance and location are clearly stellar. Our service was great - very attentive and kind, and we were checked on by multiple staff members (I also think one of them was the owner). As for the drinks and food, soooo flavorful! I will say that the spice level is intense, so "mild" to them might not be mild to some, lol! For those who like spicy, you'll love the various spice options. I got the aloo gobi and wished I had ordered some to go, lol. Can't wait to return! read more

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Every time it's mister man's time to choose where we eat, this is his new fav. I think we've been 4 times now lol. It was nice to read the owners response to some of the less favorable reviews, because he shares very useful information on how their food is prepared. I understood even more so why it's so tasty !! They're even making their own ghee! The lamb is always a solid choice, the shrimp coconut curry a hit, and the onion salad the BEST!! Fabulous ambiance that honors old towns architectural charm!! Great staff. Truly a haven for gluten free dairy free dining ! read more

Bollywood Masala - Indian Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

Delish food, quick service, and great atmosphere. One of our favorite places in town! read more