By DLUXE Food Contributor
There are local legends… and then there’s Mirch Masala. Nestled in the beating heart of Leicester’s Golden Mile, this family-run restaurant has been dishing out global vegetarian street food with an Indian soul since 1996—long before cauliflower wings had an agent or biriyani was boxed in neon at a street food festival.
To mark its 30th anniversary, the restaurant has had a serious glow-up. We swung by to test-drive the new look, new menu, and same old soul—with two friends in tow. Both former locals, now Brighton-dwelling, green juice-sipping, gluten-free vegans. The shock of it. Still, if anywhere could accommodate dietary divas and spice-hounds alike, it’s Mirch Masala.
A Warm Welcome (with Zero Side-Eye at “No Gluten, Please”)
From the moment we stepped inside, it was clear the refurb hasn’t erased the charm. Warm lighting, earthy tones, and bursts of colour make it feel like a hug disguised as a dining room. The staff? Attentive, clued-up, and genuinely happy to walk you through the menu like it’s a mixtape of their greatest hits.
And what a menu. We dove into old favourites—samosa chaat that managed to be both fiery and comforting, and the Mirch Masala Special Sizzler that had the meat-eaters at the next table sneaking glances – and a dish I literally have every time I drop by. But the spotlight was firmly on the new anniversary additions: a series of reimagined classics and globally inspired newcomers that the team will be rotating in across this anniversary year.
Indo-Fusion That Actually Works (Sorry, Not Sorry)
Mirch Masala’s long-standing mission is clear: international vegetarian street food, all lovingly Indian at the core. Indo-Chinese? Check. Indo-Mexican? Yes, please. Indo-Italian? You haven’t lived until you’ve tried the Chilli Paneer Deluxe pizza – yes, their pizzas have that Indian spice to them, too turning up the taste to 100.
The vegan sharing platter—launched for Veganuary and packed with jackfruit tacos, spicy tofu bites, and three killer curries—was entirely vegan and absolutely devoured by our Brightonite guests. “It’s like a flavour riot,” one of them muttered between bites. High praise from someone who once wept over a vegan cheese toastie.
Outside of the incredible-value Veganuary platter (which runs out in a few days’ time), the main menu is thoughtful and comprehensive. We loved the tapas-style approach to many of the Indian options and fell hard for the crispy bhajia (spiced potato fritters); samosa chaat (their special bhel mix with samosas, chickpeas and potatoes topped with yoghurt and chutneys—utterly sublime); and the belly-busting value of the three-courses-in-one Thali platter. Truly, this is unfussy, authentic Indian-inspired street food at its best.
It’s Not Just Dinner. It’s a Love Letter to Leicester.
One half of the husband-and-wife team, Nisha Popat, is currently on a culinary pilgrimage in India—part spiritual, part R&D mission to bring fresh inspiration home. That speaks volumes. This isn’t just a business. It’s a labour of love. And it shows.
With whispers of a summer street party, throwback menus, and even more fresh dishes on the horizon, Mirch Masala’s 30th year is shaping up to be a feast for the senses. We’ll be back. Probably next week.
Final Verdict
Authentic, exciting, inclusive, and exceptional value. Mirch Masala isn’t jumping on a trend—it is the trend, just three decades ahead of schedule.
Go now, before Leicester’s best-kept secret gets rediscovered all over again. Highly recommended.
Mirch Masala is at 160 Belgrave Road, Leicester, LE4 5AU.
www.mirch-masala.co.uk
