Masala Zone

 

The obvious point of comparison for this chain of trendy, inexpensive Indian restaurants is Wagamama's. Like that sainted chain, they offer authentic street food, quick service and a bustling atmosphere.

Each branch has a spectacular mural around the walls, which adds a touch of individuality and an exotic feel to the clean lines of the dining room. The main deal is the 'thali', which offers a balanced selection of meat and vegetable curries with dal, raita, rice, papadom and chapati. It's a really fun way to dine, and with so much on your plate, an occasional bland dish passes unnoticed. In any case, much of this food is genuine gourmet dining - we were particularly impressed by a startlingly smooth Prawn Malai.

It is also well worth checking out the starters. South Indian snacks like Dahi Puri - crunchy chickpea and chutney parcels - are thankfully becoming more common on British menus, but these were extremely good versions.

If Masala Zone is not quite as cheap as its Japanese counterpart, it's still a great place for an informal meal, and I expect there will be a branch on every high street before long.