The Mirch Masala in Colorado Springs Review - Best Buffet in Town!

Look at all those foodie awards on the wall.

Mirch Masala is a powerhouse of a restaurant, and one of Colorado Springs' best kept secrets. Really. I have never seen it crowded here. Must not be everyone's jam.

Indian cuisine is the name of the game here, and they've been in business since 2002. Ever since I discovered it in 2008, I've always loved it.

When you enter, it is generally expected that you'll be getting the all you can eat buffet, because that's why most people are here, so don't expect to be immediately greeted. Also, being a family run restaurant, there are only a few people working here, so there's not a dedicated host.

They'll see you and seat you, and I recommend you follow the crowd on this one and get the buffet. Your waiter will bring you a beverage, and take your order if you order off the menu, but you are otherwise free to rise and descend upon the buffet line.

Mirch Masala is Our Kind of Place

You might have certain opinions and buffets, and I do too. This one is different. It's not cheap food. It's very well done on a larger scale. They put quality into their food, and so a buffet is a bonus at this point.

Mirch Masala has the same hours every day: 11AM-2:30PM, and 5-9PM, so plan accordingly.

For buffet options, we have white basmati rice, as well as either a saffron rice or a chicken biryani, which is the saffron rice with seasoned grilled chicken. If you show up on a chicken biryani day, that's my favorite.

The naan bread at Mirch Masala is like a puffed tortilla, but way better.

Another staple is the vegetable samosa, although today (Thursday) they instead did samosa potato slices, which are also tasty. You can also order meat samosas off the menu, which is a seasoned diced ground meat, not sure if beef or lamb, but it's also enjoyable.

left: tandoori chicken; middle: vegetable samosa; upper: chicken biryani

Other options are chicken tikka masala, which is small chicken chunks marinated in a red cream sauce. It's one of the top picked items on the buffet. Most of the time, lamb is not on the buffet, but if you enjoy lamb, try the lamb tikka masala. That is heaven on a plate.

You are also served naan bread by your waiter, which is like a puffed tortilla. Do look at the menu too to see their other flavors of naan bread.

Dal Makhani is a vegetarian option, which is black bean based. I generally go for meat heavy meals, but I do enjoy this one also.

Desserts at Mirch Masala

Gajar halva, which is a grated carrot dessert cooked in cream.

Desserts on Mirch Masala's buffet include gajar halva, a creamed carrot dessert, kheer, which is a rice pudding with almonds and raisins, mango custard, and gulab jamun, which they say are brown cheese balls in rose syrup, but to me it looks and tastes like a bread ball soaked in rose syrup. Still a great way to get the taste of pancakes smothered in syrup without eating the whole thing.

They also have fresh cantaloupe and orange slices. If you are any kind of a fan of oranges, get the orange slices. They have always been ripe and flavorful. I don't know how Mirch Masala picks their oranges, but it's like getting oranges at a local market when they're in season. They're that good.

Mirch has wine and beer options, though I have rarely if ever seen anyone order an alcoholic beverage here. Still, you have that option. And speaking of drinks, the kids all seem to like the yogurt drinks, or the mango/rose lassi. It's different, and worth trying at least once.

Mirch Masala is also family friendly. There is more space between tables, and booths have a wide berth, so you can park a carseat with ease in a booth, or propped up on an upside down booster seat (so the carseat rests in between the bottom legs of the booster).

Waitstaff is polite, friendly, and they clear your empty plates quickly. The Indian murals on the walls and the soft music is enough to let you know that you're in India, without detracting from the meals.

Your waiter will put any leftover naan bread into foil for you to take with you, and they will give you extra rice to go if you ask. The food is amazing here, as are the people who work here.

They have won several yearly awards from both the Gazette and the Independent, so don't just take my word for it. Eat here.

Is Mirch Masala's buffet open every day?

Yes, they are open for buffet for lunch. They also have a dinner buffet on Thursdays and Sundays. Lunch is from 11AM-2:30PM, and dinner is from 5-9PM. You can also order anything from the menu at any time.

Mirch Masala is located at 5047 N Academy Blvd, Colorado Springs, CO 80918.