We provide food that customers love, day after day after day. It is not a big secret. People just want more of it.
From the plains of Punjab to the Malabar coast, the techniques, spices, seasonings and natural ingredients of Indian cooking have been refined over thousands of years, resulting in a cuisine unlike any other. Mela Indian Restaurant offers authentic North and South Indian dishes as diverse and vibrant as the peoples and regions of India. – Anoop Krishnan, owner
Our Menu
*18% gratuity added for parties of 6 or more.
V — VEGAN | GF — GLUTEN FREE
| AAGAZ — APPETIZERS | |
|---|---|
|
PALAK PAKORAS
Baby spinach dipped in spiced chickpea and
rice batter — V GF
|
$6.95 |
|
VEGETABLE SAMOSA
Hand made pastry triangles stuffed with mildly spiced potatoes and green peas. Served with tamarind and mint chutney — V
|
$6.95 |
|
CHOWPATTI RAGADA
Potato patties topped with curried chickpeas, tamarind, yogurt and mint chutney. Garnished with cilantro. A Bombay beach treat — V GF
|
$6.95 |
|
PUNJABI PAKORAS
Vegetable fritters made with spring onions, cilantro and peppers in a spiced chickpea and rice batter
|
$6.95 |
|
CHICKEN PAKORAS
Strips of boneless chicken marinated with ginger, garlic, chili paste and spices and deep fried. Served with mint chutney — GF
|
$8.95 |
|
SAMOSA CHAT
Samosas topped with masala chick peas, mint and red pepper chutneys, garnished with onions and cilantro
|
$7.95 |
|
PAPADUM
Indian lentil wafers, served with mint-cilantro chutney — V GF
|
$2.95 |
|
CALAMARI PORICHACHU
Fresh calamari dusted with curry flavored
chickpea and rice flour batter. Served with mint and tamarind chutneys — GF
|
$8.95 |
| SHORBA — SOUP | |
|---|---|
|
DAL SHORBA
Lentil stew finished with cream, herbs and spices — V GF
|
$5.95 |
|
MILAGU RASAM
Pepper flavored tamarind based clear soup,
garnished with chopped fresh coriander
|
$5.95 |
| SIDE ORDERS | |
|---|---|
|
RICE
Basmati rice flavored
with spices — V GF
|
$2.00 |
|
RAITA
Made with yogurt and
cucumbers, mildly spiced
|
$2.00 |
|
MANGO CHUTNEY
|
$2.00 |
|
CILANTRO CHUTNEY — V GF
|
$2.00 |
|
TAMARIND CHUTNEY
|
$2.00 |
|
CHUTNEY PLATTER
Mint-cilantro, tamarind, coconut and tomato chutneys
|
$5.00 |
| SALADS | |
|---|---|
|
TANDOORI CHICKEN SALAD
Spring mix, cilantro and tandoori chicken breast — GF
|
$15.95 |
|
SPINACH AND GRILLED PANEER SALAD
Baby spinach leaves, tandoori grilled homemade cheese, slivered almonds
and raisins — GF
|
$13.95 |
|
TANDOORI SALMON SALAD
Spring mix topped with tandoori roasted salmon garnished with cherry tomatoes and tossed with a light Caesar dressing
and raisins — GF
|
$16.95 |
|
TANDOORI SHRIMP SALAD
Large tandoor grilled shrimp served atop a bed of spring mix, cherry tomatoes & tossed with a light Caesar dressing — GF
|
$15.95 |
| ENTREES — Served With Basmati Rice And Papadum. |
|---|
| TANDOORI OVEN | |
|---|---|
|
TANDOORI CHICKEN
Tender pieces of chicken marinated and
broiled in the tandoor oven — GF
|
$15.95 |
|
CHICKEN TIKKA KABAB
Boneless breast of chicken marinated in
spices and roasted on skewers — GF
|
$15.95 |
|
TANDOORI LAMB
Boneless pieces of lamb, marinated in a lightly
spiced sauce and charbroiled in our tandoor oven — GF
|
$19.95 |
|
SALMON TIKKA
Salmon marinated in ginger, garlic, yogurt and
tandoor spices and cooked in the tandoor oven — GF
|
$18.95 |
|
TANDOORI SHRIMP
Shrimp marinated in ground spices and grilled
in our tandoor oven — GF
|
$16.95 |
| MURG — CHICKEN | |
|---|---|
|
CHICKEN KORMA
Boneless chicken cooked in a rich almond
and cashew sauce and topped with nuts and raisins — GF
|
$15.95 |
|
CHICKEN TIKKA MASALA
Marinated boneless chicken breast pieces simmered in a thick, spicy sauce made with onions, tomatoes, ginger, garlic and spices — GF
|
$15.95 |
|
CHICKEN VINDALOO
Boneless chicken cooked with potato in a very spicy and tangy curry sauce (Hot!) — GF
|
$15.95 |
|
KOZI MILAGU CHETTINAD
Boneless chicken cooked in a sauce made with tomatoes, onions, garlic, black pepper powder, cumin, cloves, cinnamon and cardamom — GF
|
$15.95 |
|
MELA CHICKEN CURRY
Chicken cooked in an aromatic onion and ginger curry with cilantro — GF
|
$15.95 |
| SAMUNDRI MOTI — SEAFOOD | |
|---|---|
|
KERALA FISH CURRY
Mahi-Mahi lightly cooked in a coconut,
curry leaf and tamarind sauce — GF
|
$18.95 |
|
MEEN CHETTINAD
Mahi Mahi cooked in a sauce made with tomatoes, onions, garlic, black pepper powder, cumin, cloves, cinnamon and cardamom — GF
|
$18.95 |
|
MADRAS JIHNGA MASALA
Shrimp, shelled and deveined, cooked in a sauce made with onions, ginger, garlic, cumin, turmeric, tamarind, mustard seeds, coconut and spices — GF
|
$16.95 |
|
SHRIMP VINDALOO
Shrimp simmered in a very spicy
and tangy curry sauce. A classic dish from Goa (Hot!) — GF
|
$16.95 |
| GOSHT — LAMB | |
|---|---|
|
GOSHT ROGHAN JOSH
Lean cubes of lamb cooked in the Kashmiri style with ground almonds, cardamom pods, puréed tomatoes and cream — GF
|
$18.95 |
|
LAMB VINDALOO
Boneless pieces of lamb cooked in fiery spice sauce (Hot!) — GF
|
$18.95 |
|
MELA LAMB CURRY
Boneless tender pieces of lamb cooked in northern style original curry sauce flavored with cilantro — GF
|
$17.95 |
|
LAMB CHETTINAD
Boneless lamb cooked in a sauce made with tomatoes, onions, garlic, black pepper powder, cumin, cloves, cinnamon and cardamom — GF
|
$18.95 |
| SUBZI — VEGETARIAN | |
|---|---|
|
SAAG PANEER
Homemade cheese cubes with spinach and
ground spices — GF
|
$13.95 |
|
PUNJABI CHOLE
Chickpeas cooked in a tomato base with
coriander, paprika and chili — V GF
|
$12.95 |
|
BAINGAN BHARTA
Tandoor-roasted eggplant, mashed, seasoned
and sautéed with onions and tomatoes — GF
|
$12.95 |
|
MUTTER PANEER
Peas and paneer cheese in a mild spiced
sauce — GF
|
$13.95 |
|
BHINDI MASALA
Fresh okra in a spicy sauce of onions, cilantro,
coriander and cumin seeds — V GF
|
$13.95 |
|
MADRAS VEGETABLES
Fresh vegetables cooked in a mild coconut and curry leaf gravy — V GF
|
$14.95 |
|
ALOO GOBI MASALA
Potatoes and cauliflower in a spicy sauce of ginger, garlic and turmeric — V GF
|
$13.95 |
|
SHAHI PANEER
Fresh paneer cheese cubes cooked in a rich tomato cream spiced sauce, a classic North Indian dish
sauce — GF
|
$13.95 |
|
VEGETABLE VINDALOO
Fresh vegetables cooked in a very hot and spicy sauce, a Goan specialty — V GF
|
$13.95 |
|
VEGETABLE CHETTINAD
Fresh vegetables cooked in a sauce made with tomatoes, onions, garlic, black pepper powder, cumin, cloves, cinnamon and cardamom — V GF
|
$13.95 |
| ROTI — BREADS | |
|---|---|
|
NAAN
A light bread baked in the tandoor oven
|
$3.00 |
|
GARLIC NAAN
A multi-layered bread flavored with garlic & cilantro
|
$4.00 |
|
PESHWARI NAAN
Naan filled with nuts, dried fruit and raisins
|
$4.00 |
|
PUDINA NAAN
Naan flavored with fresh mint
|
$4.00 |
|
ONION KULCHA
Naan stuffed with onions
|
$4.00 |
|
PARATHA
Whole wheat multi-layered bread baked in the tandoor oven
|
$4.00 |
|
POORI
Whole wheat, deep fried puffed bread
|
$4.00 |
| KIDS MENU | |
|---|---|
|
PANEER KULCHA
Naan stuffed with paneer cheese, nuts and raisins
|
$5.95 |
|
CHICKEN TIKKA PLATTER
Boneless chicken breast pieces served with rice
|
$6.50 |
|
DAL SHORBA
Lentil stew finished with mild spices and cream
|
$5.95 |
|
SAAG PANEER
Spinach with paneer cheese served with rice
|
$5.95 |
|
CHICKEN NUGGETS
Served with rice and lentil stew
|
$5.95 |
| DESSERTS | |
|---|---|
|
MANGO CHEESCAKE
Classic mango cheesecake
|
$5.95 |
|
KHEER
Caramelized basmati rice, almonds, pistachios and raisins in a sweet milk pudding — GF
|
$3.95 |
|
GULAB JAMUN
A North Indian treat – deep fried home made cheese balls served in rose flavored syrup — GF
|
$4.95 |
|
KULFI
Home made Indian ice cream flavored with mango and pistachios — GF
|
$4.95 |
Mela is a Hindi word for a coming together
LUNCH BUFFET
Come sample our lunch buffet with a range of delicious options including chicken and naan cooked in our authentic tandoor oven, raita prepared with house-made yogurt, and seasonal vegetarian specialties.
What people say?
Located on Lexington Avenue in the heart of downtown Asheville, NC. Recommended by the New York Times and first-place winner for Best Indian Restaurant in Western North Carolina in the Mountain Xpress Readers’ Poll every year since we opened in 2005, as well as overall Favorite Restaurant two years in a row.
What people say?
Mela has established itself as the best Indian restaurant in the city. Rather than specialize in one type of Indian cuisine, it offers dishes from across the country. The tandoori dishes (chicken, salmon, and lamb) are especially delicious. At lunch, there's an extensive, inexpensive buffet that's very popular. Dinner entrées are served with basmati rice, dal (stewed lentils), and papadum (lentil wafers). Portions are large, making this one of the best values downtown. The space is unexpectedly modern, with rough tile walls and a high ceiling, though accented with woodwork, doors, and furnishings from India. There's full bar sevice (though cocktails can be hit or miss), and a selection of Indian beers.
What people say?
Mela is a Hindi word for a coming together, especially for a celebration. By the looks of it, Asheville’s newest Indian restaurant is living up to its name quite nicely, and the celebration is quite picture-perfect.
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