Samosa(2pcs)
$3.99Pastry stuffed with potatoes, peas, and spices. Served with a side of tamarind and mint chutney.
Updated August 2026
Masala Express Menu.
Explore the Masala Express menu featuring Indian specialties, vegetarian and vegan options, quick bites, and more in Merced, CA. Prices from $10 to $20.
Open today 11:00 AM - 9:00 PM • 560 W Olive Ave, Merced, CA 95348, United States
10 Menu sections
129 Dishes & drinks
$10 to $20 Avg. price range
Wood-fired oven
About this menu
Discover Authentic Flavors at Masala Express
Masala Express offers a diverse Indian restaurant and catering menu that centers around classic dishes such as Chicken Tikka Masala, Saag Aloo, and a variety of freshly baked naan breads like Garlic Cheese Naan. Guests can explore multiple sections from appetizers and sides to vegetarian and non-vegetarian entrees, along with refreshing beverages, all designed for lunch, dinner, and catering events.
This casual and cozy spot caters especially to groups and solo diners looking for quick bites or a relaxed meal. The menu features comforting and healthy options, including vegan and vegetarian plates, complemented by beer, wine, and other drinks. Known for fast, attentive service and a welcoming atmosphere, Masala Express accepts reservations and is popular for both lunch and dinner occasions.
- Traditional Indian breads and fresh tandoor items
- Vegetarian, vegan, and meat-based entrees
- Fast, friendly service for dine-in and catering
- Welcoming atmosphere suited for groups and solo dining
- Offers all-you-can-eat lunch buffet and quick bites
- Located in Merced with easy reservation options
01
Appetizers
Vegetarian Pakora
$7.99Spinach, cauliflower, potato, and onion fritters. Served with a side of tamarind and mint chutney.
Samosa Chaat
$7.99Two mashed samosas Topped with garbanzo beans, yogurt, onions, cilantro, and tamarind and mint chutney.
Paneer Pakora
$12.99Deep fried indian cheese fritters coated with chickpea flour batter. Served with a side of tamarind and mint chutney.
Aloo Tikki(2pcs)
$3.99Spiced boiled potato and paneer patty with a side of tamarind and mint chutney.
Aloo Tikki Chaat(2pcs)
$7.99Aloo Tikki stuffed with potatoes, peas, and spices. Topped with garbanzo beans, yogurt, onions, cilantro, and tamarind and mint chutney.
Chili Paneer
$13.99Fried paneer sauteed with bell peppers and onions, cooked in a tangy tomato sauce.
Amritsari Fish Fry
$13.99Fish marinated and deep fried and served with a side of tamarind and mint chutney.
Shrimp Pakora
$12.99Deep fried shrimp marinated with ginger, green chilli, and cilantro. Served with a side of tamarind and mint chutney.
Chicken Pakora
$8.99Marinated and deep-fried chicken fritters. Served with tamarind and mint chutney.
Gol Gappe/Pani Puri
$6.99Crispy-fried puff ball that is stuffed with potatoes, chickpeas, and onions. Served with.a side of tamarind chutney and spiced water. n\
Sev Puri
$7.99Crispy puri (whole wheat crackers) topped with yogurt, potatoes onions, cilantro, and sev ( thin gram flour noodles). Finished with tamarind and mint chutney.
Chili Chicken
$13.99Deep-fried chicken sauteed with bell peppers and onions, cooked in tangy tomato sauce.
Honey Chili Potato
$14.99Fries sautéed in sweet chili sauce and stir fried bell peppers and onions.
Garlic Shrimp
$17.99Shrimp sautéed in garlic, bell peppers, and onions.
Goat Pepper Fry
$17.99Goat cooked in dry pepper sauce sautéed with bell peppers and onions.
Lamb Pepper Fry
$17.99Lamb cooked in dry pepper sauce and sautéed with bell peppers and onions.
Spring Roll (8pcs)
$6.99Spring Rolls (4pcs)
$3.99Masala Special Boneless Wings
$11.99Chili Tofu
$11.99Shahi Samosa
$9.99Masala Fries
$7.99Honey Chili Shrimp
$17.99 02
Paranthas
Plain Parantha
$3.49Buttered then folded Indian style wheat flour tortilla. Cooked in a clay oven (tandoor).
Aloo Parantha
$4.99Wheat flour tortilla stuffed with spiced potatoes. Cooked in a clay oven.
03
Sides
Fries
$4.99Chicken Nuggets(8pcs)
$5.99Papdum
$2.50Raita
$3.99Salad Plate
$6.99Tamarind Chutney
$1.00Plain Yogurt
$3.49Side Salad
$1.99Mint Chutney
$1.00 04
Beverages
Masala Chai
$2.89Black tea brewed with green cardamom, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and jaggery.
Mango Lassi
$4.99A yogurt drink made with mango pulp.
Sweet Lassi
$3.49A yogurt drink made with sugar and rose water.
Salty Lassi
$3.49A yogurt drink with salt and spices.
Mint Lassi
$3.69Soda
$2.99Lemonade
$3.49Strawberry Lemonade
$3.99Mango Lemonade
$3.99Can Soda
$1.99Kids Juice
$1.69Strawberry Lassi
$4.99Red Bull
$2.89 05
Dessert
Kheer
$4.49Sweet rice pudding made with green cardamom, cloves, raisins, and nuts.
Gulab Jamun(2pcs)
$3.99Round deep-fried dumplings prepared with powdered milk and refined flour. Soaked in a rose water sugar syrup.
06
Rice/Biryani
Basmati Rice
$3.99Basmati rice seasoned with cumin.
Rice Of The Day
$8.99Basmati rice prepare with the chef's selection of vegetables.
Veg. Biryani
$12.99Mix vegetables cooked with rice, raisins, nuts, ginger, garlic, onion, and spices. Served with a side of raita.
Chicken Biryani
$14.99Boneless chicken cooked lightly rice, raisin, nuts, ginger, garlic, onion, and spices, served with a side of raita.
Lamb Biryani
$16.99Lamb cooked with lightly spiced rice, raisins, nuts, garlic, ginger, onion, and spices. Served with raita.
Goat Biryani
$16.99Goat cooked with lightly spiced rice, raisins, nuts, garlic, ginger, onion, and spices. Served with raita.
Lemon Rice
$8.99Basmati rice with lemon juice and mustard seeds.
Shrimp Biryani
$17.99 07
Tandoor Naan (Bread)
Butter Naan
$2.99Classic leavened bread made with white flour. Brushed with butter.
Garlic Naan
$3.49Naan topped with chopped garlic and cilantro.
Onion Kulcha
$4.99Naan stuffed with finely chopped onions. Brushed with butter.
Green Chili Naan
$4.99Naan made with white flour topped with green chili and cilantro.
Chicken Naan
$4.99Naan stuffed with tandoori cooked minced marinated chicken.
Tandoori Roti
$2.99Lamb Naan
$5.99Naan stuffed with tandoor cooked minced marinated lamb.
Amritsari Kulcha
$5.99Leavened bread baked in a clay oven (tandoor) stuffed with a potato and paneer mash.
Amritsari Kulcha W/Chana
$12.99Leavened bread baked in clay oven (tandoor) stuffed with a potato and paneer mash. Served with chana masala and a small side of raita, pickle, and onions.
Peshawarri Sweet Naan
$6.99Garlic Cheese Naan
$6.99Chilli Cheese Naan
$6.99Bullet Chilli Naan
$5.99Butter Naan With Cilantro
$3.49Plain Naan
$2.99Till (Sesame) Naan
$4.99Cheese Naan
$5.99Tawa Roti
$2.19 08
Tandoor Specialties
Tandoori Chicken
$14.99Mild yogurt marinated chicken on bone baked in tandoor.
Tandoori Chicken Tikka
$15.99Boneless chicken marinated in tomato yogurt sauce served with sautéed onions and bell peppers.
Tandoori Mirchi Tikka
$16.99Boneless tandoori chicken marinated in spices, cayenne, and lime juice.
Tandoori Fish
$16.99Marinated fish in tomato yogurt sauce served with sautéed bell peppers and onions.
Tandoori Salmon
$23.99Marinated salmon in a tomato yogurt sauce served with bell peppers and onions.
Tandoori Shrimp
$16.99Lamb Seekh Kebab
$16.99Minced lamb with herbs and spices broiled on a skew in a tandoor (clay oven). Served with bell peppers and onions.
Chicken Seekh Kebab
$14.99Minced chicken with herbs and spices broiled on a skew in the tandoor (clay oven).
Tandoori Mixed Grill
$22.99An assortment of chicken tikka, tandoori chicken, lamb seekh kebab, and tandoori shrimp served with a butter naan and chutney.
Tandoori Paneer Tikka
$14.99Marinated chunks of Indian cheese cooked along with bell peppers and onions on a skewer.
Tandoori Green Chicken Tikka
$17.99 09
Vegetarian Dishes
Dal Tadka
$11.99Yellow dal (lentil) cooked in Indian spices and herbs with sautéed ginger and garlic.
Dal Makhani
$11.99Mix of lentils slow cooked in herbs and spices with cream.
Malai Kofta
$13.99Fresh ground vegetable balls with raisins and nuts, cooked in a fresh tomato, onion, ginger, garlic, saffron, and fenugreek gravy.
Mix Vegetable Sabzi
$12.99Cauliflower, carrots, potatoes, peas, and paneer sautéed with onions, ginger, and green chilies.
Aloo Gobi
$12.99cauliflower and potatoes sautéed with fresh tomatoes, ginger, and spices.
Bhindi Masala
$12.99Okra cooked with onions, ginger, tomatoes, chillies, and spices.
Baingan Bhartha
$12.99Mashed tandoor baked eggplant cooked with sautéed onions, tomatoes, ginger, and spices.
Saag Aloo
$12.99Cooked mustard greens and spinach with potatoes.
Saag Paneer
$13.99Cooked mustard greens and spinach with Indian cheese cubes.
Mattar Paneer
$13.99Indian cheese cubes and green peas cooked in a tomato puree sauce.
Navratam Veg Korma
$12.99Mixed vegetables cooked with nuts and raisins in heavy cream and fresh tomato, onion, ginger, garlic, and saffron gravy.
Chana Masala
$13.99Chickpeas cooked in onions, garlic, ginger, and tomato.
Makhni Paneer
$14.99Paneer (Indian cheese) and mushrooms cooked in a tomato and saffron gravy.
Shahi Paneer
$14.99Paneer, nuts, and raisins cooked with tomatoes, ginger, garlic, and fenugreek.
Karahi Paneer
$13.99Cooked paneer, bell peppers, and onions in a fresh ground spice onion sauce.
Paneer Bhurji
$14.99Indian cheese (paneer) crumbles cooked with chopped garlic, green chillies, onions, and tomatoes.
Chana Saag
$13.99Cooked mustard greens and spinach with spiced garbanzo bean.
Dal Muradabadi
$12.99Yellow dal (Lentil) cooked in Indian herbs and spices with sautéed ginger and garlic. Topped with onions, cilantro, sev (thin gram flour noodles), and tamarind chutney.
Saag
$12.99Cooked mustard greens and spinach.
Paneer Tikka Masala
$14.99Paneer simmered in creamy tomato and onion sauce.
Tofu Tikka Masala
$13.99Makhni Tofu
$14.99Double Dal Tadka
$13.99Butter Tofu
$12.99 10
Non-vegetarian Dishes
Butter Chicken
$14.99Marinated tandoor cooked boneless chicken, cooked with onions, tomatoes, ginger, saffron butter, and creamy sauce.
Chicken Curry
$13.99Boneless chicken cooked in onion and garlic based sauce.
Chicken Tikka Masala
$14.99Tandoori chicken breast simmered in creamy tomato and onion sauce.
Karahi Chicken
$14.99Tomato and ginger based thick masala gravy with cuts of chicken, bell peppers, and onions.
Chicken Vindaloo
$13.99Boneless chicken prepared with tomatoes and potatoes in spices.
Fish Curry
$15.99Fish pieces cooked in an onion and garlic based sauce.
Shrimp Curry
$16.99Shrimp pieces cooked in an onion and garlic sauce.
Egg Bhurji
$11.99Scrambled eggs with green chili, tomato, onion, spices, and herbs.
Chicken Saag
$15.99Green mustard and spinach boneless chicken cooked with onion. ginger, and green chili.
Chicken Madras
$14.99Chicken pieces cooked in coconut milk with spiced tomato gravy.
Achari Chicken Masala
$13.99Pickled chicken with pickling spices in onion based gravy.
Malabari Fish Curry
$16.99Keralan curry made with rich and creamy coconut milk and deep earthy Indian spices.
Chicken Korma
$15.99Boneless chicken prepared with onion, tomato, ginger, garlic, and a cream sauce.
Shrimp Tikka Masala
$17.99Tandoori shrimp simmered in creamy tomato and onion sauce.
Masala's Special Chicken
$15.99Butter Shrimp
$17.99Butter Fish
$17.99Shrimp Madras
$17.99 Menu album
See the menu in real life.
Photos from the kitchen and dining room — tap any image to view full-size.
Community favorites
Dishes guests talk about.
V
Victoria Arellano
Absolutely fantastic experience! From the moment you walk, the service is welcoming, attentive, and genuinely kind. The staff and management clearly care about their guests and it shows in every detail. Highly recommend the butter chicken, easily the best I’ve had. Portions were generous and everything came out fresh and beautifully presented. If you’re looking for great food paired with excellent service, this place is a must try. We’ll definitely be back!
C
Carlos Chavez
BEST INDIAN RESTAURANT IN TOWN!!!!! SERIOUSLY I've had them all and this is by far second to NONE. It exceeded all expectations great food great vibe PROFESSIONAL SERVICE. Everyone working was very attentive in the best way possible and not annoying at all. Highly recommend for first timers and food enthusiasts.
P
Prabhu Sundararaj
Masala Express is a fantastic spot for authentic Indian food! The flavors are rich and well-balanced — you can tell the spices are fresh and the dishes are made with care. Portions were generous and the food came out quickly, perfect for a weeknight dinner. The customer service was excellent — the staff were warm, attentive, and went out of their way to make sure we had a great experience. Whether you're craving something spicy or a milder curry, there's a great variety on the menu. Highly recommend if you're in the mood for solid, flavorful Indian cuisine with a team that really takes care of you! Thanks to Sam & Team
Menu notes
Masala Express offers a warm, diverse Indian menu with tandoor specialties, vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes, and quick bites. Available for dine-in, takeout, delivery, and catering with prices from $10 to $20.
- Open Tuesday to Sunday, closed on Monday for your planning convenience.
- Includes vegan, vegetarian, and healthy options alongside comfort food favorites.
- Offers all you can eat, beverages including beer, wine, and alcohol selections.
- Service options include curbside pickup, delivery, takeout, and dine-in.
- Accepts reservations and multiple payments including credit, debit, and NFC mobile.
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