Personally not recommended. They serve very small size. The rice is hard, with only a few pieces of meat.

Its yet another "hole-in-the-wall" place in the Pershing corridor of Arlington. If my memory serves me right, MasalaExpress replaced a lighting decor shop in that little strip mall that counts a laundry, a Mexican restaurant and a futon shop as its neighbors. We ordered a chicken biryani ( marinated chicken layered with rice and mild spices), naan,paneer butter masala ( cubed cottage cheese in a creamy tomato gravy ) and a samosa-chole ( crushed samosas mixed with curried chickpeas gravy). For $24, the quantity of food could easily serve 3-4 adults. Apart from the price and quantity of food, the taste was not something that can make me take Exit 8A from I-395 just to eat here. The paneer butter masala was a tad too sweet, and had that tomato bisque taste which has become a standard fare in Americanized Indian eateries. The samosas were good, and the naan was soft and easy to break,just the way any white bread should be.The mrs wasn't too pleased with her biryani and found the spices too mild and the chicken dry and flavorless. Overall, i would put the place on par with Delhi Dhaba on Clarendon, but MasalaExpress gets a 3-star because it has priced the food right, and the quantity doesn't disappoint for the price you pay. read more

Wonderful, flavorful cooking. I'm an ardent fan of the Kadhai Chicken, which I always request prepared with extra spice. The Kadhai is filled with real bell pepper, onion, tomato and flavorful morsels of chicken. The dish is decorated with savory, fresh cilantro, one of the many small, grace notes of their cooking. If you enjoy robust spice, request that your dish be flavored to 'extra spicy.' The spice is present, but doesn't overpower the nuance of the flavors. This is as close to homemade cooking as you'll get in a restaurant space. I appreciate how the cooking is always different, but always so good. I truly look forward to each meal here. The place is run by a wonderful family and that translates into the cooking. The food is comforting, warming and just lovely. I usually order a side of roti, too. You can tell it's prepared in a real tandoori oven in the back, as the result is slightly and delightfully smokey. I also recommend trying the mango lassi if you have a hankering for something sweet. You can taste the actual fruit in each sip and may get lucky enough to enjoy a bit of cardamom spice that flavors it, too. Great to share with someone else on the way home with your delicious carry out. read more

This place has excellent food with unbeatable pricing and according to their advertisement they serve halal meat which is a plus. This is my third time here and I'll keep coming over. I had butter chicken and lamb biryani and both were excellent also their lunch special has a decent quantity of variety in it. This is the only place that makes butter chicken the exact way I like it. read more

No printed menus and the website is not yet up. Someone on Arlnow took a picture of the menu, it is here http://www.arlnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/qc-051_825x550-600x400.jpg Tried the Lamb Biryani (spicy rice), chiken kardai (with chunky peppers and tomatoes), Baingan bharta (eggplant), and garlic naan. All good food with fresh ingredients. Try to call ahead, we encountered a 30 minute wait Saturday night. Friendly staff. read more

I ordered from Masala Express for the first time last night. How I have lived near this place for almost 2 years and never tried it, I will never know. We ordered the Chicken Tikka Masala, Butter Chicken, Palak Paneer, Chicken Biryani and Garlic Naan. All of the food was super flavorful and they give you A LOT. This easily fed all four of us with leftovers. The only complaint I have is that they only gave us one small Raita, which made me sad because the Raita is the best part. The food was delivered by the most adorable 5 year old (and his dad) which was very cool. This is obviously a mom and pop run place. I will be ordering from them again and trying different options. read more

Our favorite local place. We order Masala Express basically every Friday - it's our reward for getting through the week. I always get the Lamb Rogan Josh or Lamb Saag, and it is sooo good, and my wife gets the Shahi Paneer . Personally, I wish I could eat this every meal - it is so good. Perfectly spiced and good portion sizes. The rice is delicious too. The family who runs the place is super friendly too. Highly recommend. read more

The freshest indian food I've EVER had . I had the Shrimp Saag. It was the purest taste I've experienced at any indian restaraunt. They did not skimp on the shrimp which I truly appreciate. The garlic naan was delightful and was a great accompaniment to my shrimp saag. I give this place four stars and two thumbs up. read more

Always a great take out or delivery option. Great quality for the price and always friendly service.

Don't be fooled by the humble storefront, the food here is authentic and remarkable. I can't think of a better Indian restaurant in a fifty mile radius. Initiates and lovers of Indian food alike should be making a pilgrimage here to taste the carefully crafted Lamb Korma or the Lamb Saag. The garlic naan is not to be missed. Even the rice here has bits of whole cumin in it. The mango lasse contains fine notes of cardamom that you won't get elsewhere. Everything I ate was delicious. I look forward to my next experience here. read more

Very solid take out. Authentic. Could have been spicier for my liking but flavor was there. Easy parking. Best Indian take out In Arlington overall read more

This is one of my all time favorite places. A little hole in the wall place that a friend of mine told me about. There's this awesome little kid that answers the phone sometimes and he's the man. Besides that the food is fantastic and extremely cheap. $12 for a chicken biryani and naan that can last you 2-3 meals. Very simple place that is family run and always pleasant. Come and you won't be disappointed! read more

Very meh. Kinda bland for Indian food. Not quality white meat chicken. Hardly any paneer in palak paneer.

Really good Indian food found at Masala Express! Hubby and I upon-ed the Masala Express on our way home from Rosslyn one evening after work. I was starving after a long work day, so we popped in to get some food to-go. We ordered the palak paneer, chicken makhani, and a samosa to go! We very quickly received our order and rushed home to eat it as fast as we could. I loved the palak paneer - it was absoutely delicious. Spiced perfectly and served with rice and naan, Hubby and I nearly fought over who got to eat the dish. The chicken was also really good, we just preferred the paneer instead. Overall, Masala Express has fresh Indian food and fast. Location-wise, it's situated right outside the Clarendon area with a parking lot, so it's easy to get in and out. We will definitely be getting take out again from here! read more

New Chef! The food is even better than before. More variety also on the Mix and Match. This is a weekly (or more) staple for us.

I would come here every day if I could! The butter chicken is out of this world, as well as the naan. You feel as though you are eating a home cooked meal :) I highly recommend it! read more

It is ok Indian food. Not the best, but not the worst I have had. I will continue to get it because it is super close to my place. The service is also meh. The owners don't always have a great attitude, and seem to be doing you a favor by giving you a meal. It does not bother me, but it might some people. Either way, if you like decent cheap indian food, I would give it a try. read more

By far one of the best hidden gems in Arlington and one of the best Indian restaurants for your dollar. The man behind the counter is not only very friendly but very humble, honest, and serves the best Indian food in the area. There's absolutely no need to go to DC to get high priced Indian cuisine in which you're only paying for decor. Go here and enjoy. Bon Appetite. read more

I should also note that this is really a takeout place due to limited seating. But there is ample free parking, which is great. Call ahead about a half hour before you pick up. My favorite dish is the butter chicken (not the most adventurous choice, but it's so good!). read more

Great food, good delivery service. I wish they had an online ordering system. Lamb Vindaloo is actually spicy. One order of naan is enough for two people. They deliver to Arlington Forest, which is 0.5 miles more than their delivery distance limit :) read more

Not a place you necessarily want to eat in at - it's set up as a pretty straightforward takeout joint - but the food was excellent. I had a veggie samosa, channa masala and naan, and was impressed by all. Prices are high, but if you really want to chill on the couch with some great Indian, this is the place. read more

The owner of this restaurant ( the middle age man age about 50- 55) is absolutely unprofessional, rude ill mannered.He treats people in terms of the price of the order/ food value. Moreover he offers people to use stainless still traditional Indian plates that placed in the floor back of the register where he and the employees walks frequently nevertheless he said it's clean and hygienic but honestly it's NOT. I was so disappointed of his behavior. read more

We have long been searching for a good Authentic Indian restaurant in Arlington and we finally found it! The family that runs Masala Express is so friendly. The food is delicious- fresh, flavorful, and spicy. We have tried multiple dishes and keep going back for more. The combo is a great deal- 1meat, 2 sides with rice and naan for around $10. There are a few tables and chairs inside, but its perfect to go. The only issue so far is the parking lot is quite small so parking can be tough when its busy. It's our new Friday night go-to! read more

Finally. A solid indian food takeout place in Clarendon that is neither expensive nor too oily. We were impressed with the daal makhani and shrimp curry. Going to try the samosas and chole today. Check it out and don't be fooled by the casual setup or the dimly lit parking lot. read more

This place served decent Indian food, the samosas were very good, served hot and piping. The pricing was decent as well. One issue I had was the folks weren't helpful. Being first time customers we ordered way more than we could eat. Some insight on portion sizes would've been helpful. Note, Ordering any subji(sides) will get you free jeera rice. Also, you'd be better off with a takeaway, preparation time is quite long. In short, avg service, good food, decent pricing. read more

It's the cheapest Indian take-out around. That's the draw, so I'll start with that. I've been twice and it hasn't been great either time. The naan is good, but the entrees I've tried have been bland and had oddly oily consistencies. When people rave about this place I bite my tongue so as to not rain on their parade, but I probably won't go back. read more

Shrimp Biryan is excellent! I have also tried many vegetarian dishes. Best Indian Food in the area! I think it is family owned. Parking also available. read more

Best place for indian food around the area. I was in DC for 3 days, and almost all nights I had my dinner at this place. Their tandoori chicken and dal makhani is off the hook. Also, the owners and the staff is really nice and courteous. Highly recommended. read more

Amazing food! This is by far the best Indian Restaurant in the area. We are frequent costumers and love their butter chicken, palak paneer, malai kafta, and baingan bharta. The owners are extremely nice, friendly, and will even do special orders upon request. The food is flavorful, fresh, and consistently good! read more

Everything we ordered (take-out) was really good. Decent-sized portions as well for the price (everything under $10). We had the chicken roganjosh, chicken tikka masala, tandoori chicken, garlic naan, and dal makhani. The tandoori chicken also came with a choice of veggie on the side, which was a nice bonus. We'll be ordering from here again soon! read more

tl;dr 4/5 stars. For what it is, it's about as good as it gets. If you're looking for serious, sit-down Indian restaurant that serves a wide variety of traditional dishes, go elsewhere (suggestion: Rasika). This place is a carry-out/delivery spot, but even so, the food is still good: made-to-order and generous portions of basic Indian entrees. Went for quick dinner. Menu looks like they have entrees with 2 proteins (chicken/lamb). Aside from proteins, they also have some vegetarian options. Ordered: Chicken Saag - spinach with chicken cubes; chicken was tender and seasonings/spices were fairly mild. Came with a cup and a half worth of Basmati rice. Also, have a lamb version of the dish (Lamb Saag). Solid order if you're craving Indian but aren't feeling too adventurous. Butter Chicken - chicken cubes in a curry sauce; chicken was tender, and sauce was buttery (as the name implies), sweet and mildly spicy. Came with a cup and a half worth of Basmati rice. Also a solid order if you're craving Indian but aren't feeling too adventurous. Garlic Naan - nice and hot. Just enough garlic/butter to make the dish flavorful without being overpowering. Great to sop up the extra sauces from the main dishes. I'd avoid this (and garlic anything) if you're going to any social setting soon after. read more

Delicious, authentic Indian food. We loved the breads and had tikka masala. Food was ready right on time and was still warm when we got home to eat it. Will definitely return! read more

This is a nice, humble, friendly family owned business. The prices are dirt cheap, there is ample parking, and the food is awesome. When my husband and I want Indian take (and we do often) this is now our go to spot. The chicken tikka is outstanding. read more

The mango lassi is very tasty and at $2.50, a bargain. Garlic naan is always fresh and tasty. Easy parking, good prices. Service is fast but not too fast so you know your food is fresh. Definitely a takeout place (they have a very small number of little tables). Great addition to the neighborhood. read more

I finally had a chance to try this place today, and I am so glad I did! It was great! It did not seem like a big risk with the high rating on yelp, but the hole in the wall appearance left me a bit doubtful. Thankfully you cannot judge this book by its cover. First of all, the service was wonderful. The gentleman working behind the counter was very friendly and brought us a snack while we waited for our food- seemingly happy to have us try a few different items. Then after ordering take out, and getting home and digging in, and I was thoroughly pleased with the food. The nan was fresh, warm, and perfectly thick but light. We ordered the vegetable biryani, aloo gobi and shahi paneer, and they were all really good. It all tasted fresh, and it felt a bit like eating at a friends house- well, at least a friend with some serious skill! The chutneys were a bit sweeter than others I have had, but they were a nice contrast to the spice. I will defineitely be returning. I am so happy to have found this newer addition to the area. read more

Great place for take out! The food is amazing! In particular, the butter chicken.

The food is great. Pro tip - if you call them to order instead or ordering through an app you get bigger portions of meat.

Go ahead and skip this place! We ordered delivery- butter chicken, chicken tika masala and garlic naan. Food arrived on time and was hot. Chicken was gross... I didn't have any white meat in my dish, encountered one bone fragment and a grisly piece marbled with what felt like fat and maybe a ligament?! CTM sauce wasn't very flavorful and the naan had a rough texture like it had been made a few days ago and thrown in a microwave. In my opinion not worth it. read more

After reading reviews I was really excited for my delivery order. I ordered the butter chicken and kheer (pudding), I felt both left something to be desired. I get that butter chicken has a tomato base but I've never had butter chicken that's sauce tasted like straight up tomato sauce. Maybe next time they should go lighter on the tomato and heavier on the butter, cream, and garlic? Idk I can't call it. The pudding was okay (the consistency was much more liquid (water like) then what I've had in the past. All in all it was an okay meal for a night in, delivery did come early. read more

I ordered several dishes for delivery this evening - vegetable samosa, garlic naan, palak paneer, tandoori chicken, and the raita. The food was great - fresh tasting and flavorful, but not too spicy. I can not say which dish was the best because they were all good. What I really like is that none of the food was greasy. I will definitely order from Masala Express again. I think this is a family owned business, and a young man took my order and then delivered it with his father. He and his father were both exceptionally polite. In North Arlington, where more and more chains are taking up restaurant space, it is nice to run across a family owned authentic restaurant, I have been to India and this food is authentic. P.S. I forgot to mentioned that the portions are very generous and I will have four meals from the order I described above. This roughly works out to $7.50 a piece (including tax and tip) read more