★★★★★
Sealed handi, proper long grain, and enough for two out of one order. Raita and salan come with it rather than as an upsell.
Madurai to Hyderabad · On Academy Street
An unapologetically Indian food experience.
27 Academy Street
Newark, NJ 07102
Mon–Sat: 11am–11pm
Sunday: closed
★ 4.1 · 800+ Google reviewsHalal حلالVegan, veg & non-vegCatering for 5-500Order direct & save more
Cooked the way it should be
Perfect plate partners
Everything starts in the kitchen. We cook in the Indian tradition: spices sourced from India, produce bought fresh, and every dish built from scratch rather than pulled from a tub.
From the tandoor to slow-simmered curries, from the dosa griddle to breads pulled to order, our cooks make it on the day you eat it. Meat is 100% halal, always.
Fresh ingredients
Halal meat
Spices imported
Made to order
From the kitchen
Menu
Ten sections, cooked to order. Pick a category — every section links straight through to its page on our ordering site.
Who we are
Academy Street, downtown Newark
Masala Cafe sits a block from Military Park, feeding downtown workers at lunch, families at dinner and the late crowd until eleven. One dining room, one kitchen, and a menu that refuses to pick a single region of India.
Madurai kothu parotta next to Hyderabadi biryani, dosa off the griddle next to Indo-Chinese out of the wok. Whatever you order, it is cooked the day you eat it and served the same way at every table.
One kitchen. One team. The same standard at every table.
What customers say
Eight hundred reviews, and counting
★★★★★
Came in late expecting a cold griddle and got a masala dosa made to order. That basically never happens downtown.
★★★★★
Masala Cafe offers an exceptional dining experience with their delectable boneless chicken biryani.
★★★★☆
Half our group is vegetarian and nobody had to settle. The paneer dishes get the same attention as everything else.
★★★★★
Nice restaurant. Pretty decent tasting food. Friendly staff. Best thing was very quick service!
Catering
Events worth remembering
From family gatherings to office lunches, we handle the food so you can focus on the people.
Custom menu, built for you
Build a spread from the full menu: biryanis, kothu parotta, tandoor, curries, breads and tiffin.
حلال Halal and cooked fresh
Every dish made from scratch on the day of your event. Never pre-packaged or frozen.
Vegetarian & vegan, not an afterthought
Half the spread can be meat-free — paneer, dal, gobi manchurian, dosa and vegan curries cooked separately.
Spice levels set by you
Tell us the room. We dial each dish from mild to Chettinad hot, and label every tray so guests know what they're taking.
Priced per head, no surprises
One quote covering food, trays, warmers and serving ware — from ten guests to three hundred.
Book 48 hours ahead
Two days' notice guarantees the best spread. Last-minute requests welcome — just call.
Pickup, delivery or full service
Collect from Academy Street, have it delivered hot and sealed, or let us set up and serve.
Thanks — we've got it.
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Contact
Find us & say hello
Phone+1 (973) 877-0993
HoursMon–Sat 11:00am – 11:00pm
Sunday closed
Sunday closed
ServiceDine-in · Pickup · Delivery · Catering