Not sure why so many bad reviews. They also seem to be from years ago. Nothing super special about this place but it has all your South Asian grocery needs. The employees and owners are nice. Sometimes they get busy and overwhelmed but they're never rude. Support these local businesses, otherwise you'll be going farther out to buy your groceries at a higher price. read more

Being new to Algonquin, I was looking for an Indian-based grocery store. Yelp showed this store so I decided to take a gander. While this isn't a full blown grocery store from Indian vegetables to hot-steaming chapathi, it had the basics. They had plenty of pantry staples, i.e. rice and flour, tea to necessary munchies. They did have an order out menu that I did not take part in. The store was located in a plaza of other stores so parking is shared. We went on a Sunday afternoon and the area was busy and we were lucky to find a spot to park. There was minimal staff and we waited for someone to show up to pay for our items. I'll be on the look out for other grocery stores but I'll def. be back here when I need tea leaves in a pinch for chai! read more

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This is my second time here. It does feel awkward ordering from a grocery store but don't let that deter you. This is the closest Pakistani restaurants in the area and they are good. It fills my cravings for Indian food. Pro-Tip: Make sure to call your order a head of time as it takes up to 20 - 25 minutes to take an order. read more

Hot Masala - Take out Menu - Indian Near Me - Carpentersville, Illinois

I ran here one afternoon at lunchtime to pick up something for the hubby. I did not order in advance, which was a mistake on my part. I ordered a chicken biryani and naan... however, I was informed, after I placed my order, that they didn't have naan. Replaced the naan order with paratha. I was told it would be a 15 to 20 minute wait. 20 minutes tuned into 40. It's a small grocery store and there is only so much to look at. I looked at everything at least 5 times in my 40 minute wait. While I was looking, I picked up some spices I knew we were running out of at home. I cook Indian food pretty often and the spice aisle is super extensive. When the food was done, I paid my bill (under $20 for hubby's lunch, a few bags of spice, some jasmine tea for the teenager at home and a TV dinner type thing for the hubby to try some other time) and headed home. Hubby says the food was pretty darn good. He said it was cooked well and flavored great. I had a bite and thought it was decent. He said he will go back again, but will call in an order first. read more

Ordered Aloo Gobi by phone for pickup. The clerk said it would be a 40 minute prep time, since they were making from scratch. HM is a small grocery with Indian takeout. When I walked in several men were talking and one was preparing to slice what looked like a whole tenderloin of some kind on a prep table in the back. I waited up front for the order, which came right on time. It was an okay dish, but I've had better. read more

I migrated to the United States from Pakistan five years ago and live in Carpentersville. Our family has been Hot Masala's regular customer for our zabiha halal meat and grocery needs since we came here. I've found the attitude of the owner couple quite helpful and personalized. On occasion they've also arranged to procure items on special request, something one can't expect from a Walmart or even a Patel. read more

I shopped at this Indian-Pakistani grocery store once before because I needed garam masala (a mixture of spices), but I've always wanted to try the carry-out portion of their business. Today was that day... Phoned ahead and placed an order for vegi samosas & chicken biriyani. The bill was under ten dollars. Wow, their food was very impressive! The samosas were deep fried to perfection. The potato and pea filling were very flavorful. Btw, you get 3 samosas per order. This alone was enough to make me full haha Next was the chicken biryani.. This dish was artfully spiced. Coriander, cumin, clove, cinnamon, cardamom, etc.. The heat level was to my liking (between medium - hot). Ok, maybe I'm too Americanized, but I wish I was given more protein (one drumstick and two cubes of white meat). Despite this, for six dollars, I had no room for complaint. Lastly, the chicken and the sauce was served over a bed of basmati rice. Good eatin' read more

Picked up an order on a whim. Had the meat samosas along with karahi goat, both of which were very good. I had not tried karahi before, and enjoyed the flavors, a good mixture of savory and spice. I didn't get very far into the place, as my order was ready when I arrived, but it seems a small specialty grocer for Indian/Pakistani foods. I would probably look into shopping there if I needed/wanted some specific spice. I did especially enjoy the dipping sauce for the samosas, which tasted of chili and mint. The karahi was a bit of a pain to eat, a little messy, but worth the effort (lots of bones). I would probably try other items on the menu. The service was typical for a takeout place. A word about location - enter off of Miller Road, just off of Randall Road. They're in the same strip mall as, and right next to, the Randall Roadhouse. With rush hour traffic, it took me a while to find it, as the sign is kind of non-descript, and there's no driveway to enter directly off Randall. read more

The food is just ok, I go mostly to pick up spices. The food orders take a long time. The woman who runs the store gives serious attitude. Not recommended. read more

Just bought an order of "fresh" chicken breasts. Next stop was home from Hot Masala. When I arrived home, I noticed a foul smell from the bag. Come to open the bag, the meat was very obviously old. I was given meat with freezer burn and it was powdery and it stunk. I ended throwing away the entire order. That's $15 down the drain, and not to forget the possibility of food poisoning. Why even have an interest in selling when the "fresh meat" is not even "fresh". How long had that meat been in their freezer to develop such freezer burn and such smell? I had boycotted them for 3 years for horrible attitude, only to give them another chance and to be left utterly disappointed yet once again. Most important is the health hazard associated from selling old nearly spoilt meat. Update: Called and confronted the shop owners about the product given. Come to find out what I thought was human error was actually DELIBERATE. They knew exactly what I was talking about. To them freezer burnt, rotten meat smell meat is still edible and not considered health hazard. If I was you, I would not put my family through the risk of food poisoning by shopping at this store. Ps: Also, on their shelf I noticed pickles that had best before dates (B.B) of 2015-2016. They have expired products from 3 years ago only for someone to buy and consume?! read more

Hot Masala - Spoilt chicken breast!! What I thought was human error was actually DELIBERATE. Ps:Expired pickle products with best before 2015 - Indian Near Me - Carpentersville, Illinois

Have tried different briyani places in Chicago and found this place close to home. I ordered the chicken briyani and it was delicious!

The people are unfriendly and services are really bad and place not clean. Bought 1 pound the beef with bones to make stew. Instead of meat on the bones, they gave us 1/3 pound of dried bones. The actual meat were about 1/2 pound and the rest were fats. At the takeout, one of the keebab was microwaved burnt, hard as a rock. instead of throwing away, they added to our order. Angry and disappointed. read more

Ordered takeout for the first time last week. I ordered butter chicken with a side of rice. They do not sell Naan to go, so I had to purchase frozen Naan to heat up when I got home. Was very disappointed with the butter chicken, tasted nothing like the traditional butter chicken--at all. Not only did it not taste like butter chicken, I got very sick later that night, and have not felt the same ever since. Will never eat from here again. read more

Great food!!! They are so helpful here and go out of their way to help you. Best butter chicken around and the samosas are perfection. But prepare and order ahead the wait can be from an half hour to an hour but it's totally worth it. read more

I just ordered from here for the first time. When I called I wanted chicken tikka masala and they said they can do it. I asked if it comes with rice and she said no only the entrees do. So I said forget it and ordered the butter chicken. Picked up my order. No rice wtf ? I would have rather of have tikka masala. Lady was on phone with someone having a personal conversation. Probably forgot the rice. read more

My daughter and I ordered the Chicken and Goat Biryani. All that we can say is Delicious!!! The flavors were outstanding with the right amount of heat. While waiting on our takeout orders; we shopped for my favorite incenses and sandalwood soap! This little shop of gems will be my new go to for turmeric, various spices, incense, soap and more! read more

Very poor service. Seem like they don't really care for customers needs. There is a long wait time before anyone comes to assist you.

Appetizers were good. Main dishes were made with chicken parts (bone-in wing, thigh, etc.) which we really didn't like instead of cut meat like other places. Some of the dishes had a layer of oil/grease on top even the vegts. Probably won't go there again. Had better. But the appetizers were pretty good. Prices aren't expensive. read more

Ok, so the store as such is small, not really surprising of an indian store .. But, there was hardly anything extravagant.. They had a lot of munchies - lotsa chips, fried items etc.. To find the entrance to this place was such a pain.. hawwhh :| .. But I carried out a butter chicken masala was pretty good.. But the owners are friendly and are super nice.. read more

Simple, SPICY, cheap, and tasty. I got the okra. My wife got the chicken and wasn't as thrilled. Definitely a good place for the vegetarian who loves Indian. read more

Worst service and most unhygienic place. Their arrogance is icing on the cake. Surprising they are still in business.

I've been a customer here for several years! Over the years the lady has always been polite helping me find something whenever I needed, but the managers is entirely different. The manager, I think his name is Waseem, is a volatile and an extremely confrontational person. After inquiring about prices of items at the checkout and suggesting a label, his tone and demeanor took a turn for the worst. Upon giving that harmless suggestion his immediate response was always, "Don't tell me how to run my business". It's hard to believe someone managing the store for over 4 years has never gotten a suggestion before. He was probably having a bad day - but that was no excuse to behave inappropriately to a paying, repeat customer. Needless to say i will not be revisiting this establishment. read more

We loved the Chicken Biryani and the traditional bone in meats. Spiced a little hot. The Palak Paneer was awesome (like spinach puree with cheese chunks). Tandoori chicken was delicious and cooked perfectly, a little hot. We will go back there and try more :) read more

Not many Indian/Pakistani restaurants in the area. Its only carry out but we got butter chicken, gyro roll, and frontier chicken. All was good. read more

Ordered the take-out, Dal Makhani and Butter Chicken with Tandoori Naan. I can't speak to the authenticity, though some of their clientele surely can. All I know is "delicious" is an insult to these beautifully spiced, natural tasting, homestyle dishes made with real food. Nothing was lost in the sauces, if I could ever find Chinese food this real and honest, I'd be lost. The naan was generously sized, cooked to perfection, slightly chewy, perfect. As to another reviewer's comment, I'm sure no one would go to a French restaurant and complain upon finding a little butter on the plate. This is rich hearty food apparently made the old fashioned way, and inexpensive to boot. The staff were quite pleasant to interact with and helpful. read more

Food is excellent. Their Chana Masala, Vegetable Biryani, and Karahi (can order this vegetarian) is some of the best I have had. Wait times average 15-30 mins so call ahead. No place to sit, takeout only but a decent little selection of ethnically correct grocery items to browse. Remember the Naan! read more

I've worked retail most of my life and have an extremely high tolerance for mediocre service.. That being said, these are some of the rudest people I've dealt with in quite a while. Picked up a huge order of samosas (Indian snack) and noticed one of the condiment sauces which is always provided with samosas was absent. When I asked for this sauce, I was told they have never provided it before. This is not true, as they have always included it. When I said that this is a staple condiment of this kind of snack and is always provided by other merchants, I was met with rudeness and told that I can purchase some ingredients and make the sauce myself. This rudeness escalated into yelling and an inappropriate tone. This establishment does not appreciate repeat customer business and does not reciprocate any kind of politeness or manners.. Unacceptable. read more

My mom purchased three carry out dishes from Hot Masala today as she knows I love this type of food. Mistake. Big mistake. I found hair in one dish, my mom actually chewed on a flexible foil wrapper from another dish, and I found a hard copper wire in the food on my plate before I put in it my mouth. Literally, a copper wire. This could kill someone! Praying to God neither of us ate any!! Called the store and the woman was willing to credit us for more food. Right! Like I'd want to eat their food again! Never even offered to give us back our money! Plus she hung up on me!! Dumped all the food in the garbage. $30 in the garbage! The store was filthy, and so is their food. Do not eat here. We are calling the health department. read more

Drove up unsure of what to expect, signs in window say they have meals to go, hot food, take out, etc. I go in and the man did not greet me or say anything. Ok? I look around and the store is VERY dirty and there are no "meals to go or hot food". I finally ask if there's take out, he says yes and pulls out one very dirty piece of paper out from a pile of other magazines and papers. I try really hard still at this point to let it go and just try the food. I put in an order of shrimp masala and he says OK then leaves...I wait...finally he comes back out and says no shrimp it's too late (it was 7)...ok? So I finally say "what do you have" he says chicken. Oy! Ok. I order the chicken to go, 1 order of naan, and a small side of white rice. I'm waiting, waiting, waiting, way to long now but still there when I see an older dirtier guy walk across the back and throw a frozen food box on the freezer and put my food into the microwave. I didn't really know what to do so I waited to try to tell the guy that I was going to be leaving, I also look at the "paper menu" and see that the rice side was 3.99! I'm not paying 15 to 17 dollars for a microwaved plate of frozen crap! Another 5 minutes and I finally leave! Never want to go back! Wasted over a half hour. read more

One rude Pakistani. Some of their merchandise is knock off, fake. Bought two fidget spinners each for $12.99 total $25.98+tax both malfunctioned next day. Tried to return, owner was rude, then offered to exchange. Told him need refund two of those went bad, why do I want to exchange for another bad ones. Never going back, even for groceries and meat. read more

i did not like their food. i had the butter chicken. it was not good at all. could only detect one or two spices, not savory, dried out chicken. naan was fair, at best. there's so much better indian food out there read more

Definitely 1 of the BEST Chilli Chicken and Chicken Biryani ive had. So glad that this place is close by. Cant wait to try the other options here. read more

i did a kadai chicken to go order from here and found chicken pieces were uncooked could not eat any pieces and had to trash it though the gravy was OK read more