Paul C.
Yelp
I tried Masaman for lunch on Friday, and I was quite impressed with the food. However, don't expect sit down service or much ambiance. This is a small restaurant with very limited seating. Only six or seven tables for two, although you can easily pull tables together. You place your order at the counter and they call you when it is ready. Lunch was served in styrofoam to-go containers, and utensils are cheap, disposable plastic. The small dining room was uncomfortably hot because the summer sun was beating down on the glass store front.
Masaman offers approximately ten different lunch entrees, and all come with a small bowl of Coconut soup. The soup had fresh mushrooms and tofu. I expected the soup to be a little sweet, but instead it had a tom yum-like sourness, along with being very spicy. My friends and I liked the soup.
I ordered the Chilli Eggplant dish with chicken, and I thought it was very good. Fresh eggplant, bell pepper, onions, and sliced chicken breast are prepared in a chilli oil sauce that was flavorful and spicy. Two scoops of white rice helped offset the heat, but not enough to stop my nose from running or for beads of sweat from forming on my forehead.
Rachel ordered the Panang Chicken, Matthew ordered Pad Thai, and David ordered Pad Spicy Noodles with Shrimp. Everyone enjoyed their selections. The Spicy noodle dish looked especially delicious. We also shared an order of the Pineapple Fried Rice, which we thought it was just okay. It had a curry flavor, and only a hint of pineapple.
The lunch portions were generous, and reasonably priced. The restaurant is not set up well for groups or a family dinner, but is great for lunch or take home orders. I definitely recommend and plan to come back soon.