香料館 Masala House

Masala House is located in the alleys of the Gongguan shopping district in Daan District, Taipei City. The nearest MRT station is at Taipower Building Station, Exit 2, about a 5-minute walk away. The interior decoration has a strong Indian flair, with red patterned wallpaper accented by many hangings, as well as famous Indian architecture and movie stills. The lighting is quite dim, there are many seats, but the tables are rather small.

Upon entering the restaurant, the staff hands you the menu, and you place your order verbally. After dining, you pay the bill. Both cash and credit cards are accepted, and there is no service charge.

Today is a weekend noon visit for a meal; four people ordered four dishes and five types of naan:
🔸 Spinach Curry Lamb $300
The curry has a strong spice flavor, rich and mildly spicy. The lamb is in large pieces and soft, but still carries a bit of a gamey taste, making this dish unsuitable for children.
🔸 Butter Chicken $300
Compared to the previous dish, this one is milder. The chicken is marinated, complemented by a rich creamy flavor, making it smooth to eat.
🔸 Sautéed Potatoes and Cauliflower $200
This includes chunks of potatoes, cauliflower, and tomatoes, cooked very soft and easy to eat. The portion was surprisingly generous.
🔸 Indian-style Fried Egg $120
Made with green chili (not spicy), onion, and tomato chopped finely and fried with the egg; it is quite special but a bit oily.
🔸 Naan $40~80
The first three dishes came with fragrant rice, but we chose to swap it for naan by paying the price difference and ordered five different flavors. There was no special introduction to the flavors of the naan when served, but they all had a slight chewiness and different seasonings, all of which were quite fragrant. They were cut into four pieces for easy sharing, though one downside was that some edges were a bit burnt.

Both the staff and chefs are Indian, and the flavors can be considered quite authentic. Although the presentation of the dishes isn't great, they all tasted good. The main complaint is that the tables really are not enough (or maybe we just ordered too much...? Self-reflection 🤔). We felt quite full after eating, and the prices were within an acceptable range.