Merced couple thrilled to open new Indian restaurant. ‘It’s like a dream come true’
Opening a restaurant was always a dream for Merced resident Mandip Singh. Growing up, his family owned an Indian restaurant in the Los Angeles area.
The timing was finally right for Singh, 32, and his wife, Inderjit Kaur, 32, to open their own restaurant in Merced.
The couple recently opened Masala Express, which features Indian cuisine, located at 560 W. Olive Ave. in the Olive Tree Professional Centre.
“It’s like a dream come true,” Kaur said.
Masala Express offers traditional Indian dishes, many of which are family recipes.
The menu features appetizers like aloo tikki, samosa, chili paneer and chicken pakora. There a variety of vegetarian, non-vegetarian, tandoor specialties and rice dishes on the menu and many varieties of naan from butter naan, garlic naan or onion kulcha.
According to Kaur, some of the popular dishes are butter chicken, chicken tikka masala, chicken vindaloo, goat curry, lamb curry, lamb seekh kebab, tandoori chicken tikka and saag paneer.
Food is available for dine-in customers, takeout or delivery. They hope to add Door Dash and Grub Hub services soon. The restaurant will also soon begin offering a lunch buffet from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The location is open six days per week, Tuesday through Sunday.
“Our aim is to give everyone the best customer service, quality food and we work really hard with keeping our restaurant clean,” Kaur said.
Kaur says the feedback from customers in the month they have been open has been overwhelming.
“We are blessed that way,” she said. “We are blessed with our customers. I am so thankful to all of them. I have some who come almost three times per week. I want to thank them all who come to support our business, our little dream of ours.”
“I always wanted this little place where everyone knows everyone,” Kaur added. “Now with a lot of our repeat customers, I know them now, I know their name. It feels great.”
Details
Masala Express, 560 W. Olive Ave. in the Olive Tree Professional Centre, Merced
Closed Mondays
(209) 580-4247
