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Mela
70 N Lexington Ave
Asheville, NC 28801
Uber
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Main Menu
Lunch Buffet | 11:30 AM - 2:30 PM; Dinner | 5:30 PM - 9:30 PM
Aagaz - Appetizers
Palak Pakoras
$6.95
Baby spinach dipped in spiced chickpea and rice batter
vegan
gluten-free
Vegetable Samosa
$6.95
Handmade pastry triangles stuffed with mildly spiced potatoes and green peas. Served with tamarind and mint chutney
vegan
Chowpatti Ragada
$6.95
Potato patties topped with curried chickpeas, and tamarind and mint chutneys. Garnished with cilantro and raita
gluten-free
Punjabi Pakoras
$6.95
Vegetable fritters made with spring onions, cilantro and peppers in a spiced chickpea and rice batter
gluten-free
Chicken Pakoras
$8.95
Strips of boneless chicken marinated with ginger, garlic, chili paste and spices and deep fried. Served with mint and tamarind chutneys
gluten-free
Samosa Chat
$7.95
Samosas topped with masala chick peas, mint and tamarind chutney, garnished with onions and cilantro and raita
Papadum
$3.95
Indian lentil wafers, served with mint-cilantro chutney
vegan
gluten-free
Calamari Porichachu
$9.95
Fresh calamari dusted with curry flavored chickpea and rice flour batter. Served with mint and tamarind chutneys
gluten-free
Shorba - Soup
Dal Shorba
$5.95
A mild lentil stew finished with cream, spinach, herbs and spices
vegan
gluten-free
Milagu Rasam
$5.95
Pepper flavored tamarind and tomato soup garnished with fresh chopped cilantro
vegan
gluten-free
Side Orders
Rice
$2.00
Basmati rice flavored with spices
vegan
gluten-free
Raita
$2.00
Made with yogurt and cucumbers, mildly spiced
gluten-free
Cilantro Chutney
$2.00
vegan
gluten-free
Tamarind Chutney
$2.00
vegan
gluten-free
Mango Chutney
$2.00Chutney Platter
$5.00
Mint-cilantro, tamarind, coconut and tomato chutneys
vegan
gluten-free
Salads
Tandoori Chicken
$15.95
Spring mix, cilantro and tandoori chicken breast with balsamic vinaigrette
gluten-free
Spinach and Grilled Paneer Salad
$13.95
Baby spinach leaves, tandoori grilled homemade paneer cheese and balsamic vinaigrette
gluten-free
Tandoori Salmon Salad
$16.95
Spring mix topped with tandoori roasted salmon garnished with cherry tomatoes and tossed with balsamic vinaigrette
gluten-free
Tandoori Shrimp Salad
$16.95
Large tandoor grilled shrimp served atop a bed of spring mix, cherry tomatoes & tossed with balsamic vinaigrette
gluten-free
Tandoori Oven
Dinners served with basmati rice and papadum
Tandoori Chicken
$16.95
Tender pieces of bone-in chicken marinated and roasted in the tandoor oven
gluten-free
Chicken Tikka Kabab
$17.95
Boneless chicken breast marinated in spices and roasted on skewers
gluten-free
Tandoori Lamb
$19.95
Boneless pieces of lamb marinated lightly in spiced sauce and roasted in our tandoor oven
gluten-free
Salmon Tikka
$18.95
Salmon marinated in ginger, garlic, yogurt and tandoor spices and cooked in the tandoor oven
gluten-free
Tandoori Shrimp
$17.95
Shrimp marinated in ground spices and grilled in our tandoor oven
gluten-free
Murg - Chicken
Dinners served with basmati rice and papadum
Chicken Korma
$17.95
Boneless chicken cooked in an almond and cashew sauce, topped with nuts and raisins
gluten-free
Chicken Tikka Masala
$17.95
Marinated boneless chicken breast simmered in a creamy, slightly spicy sauce made with tomatoes, ginger, garlic and spices
gluten-free
Chicken Vindaloo*
$17.95
Boneless chicken cooked with potatoes in a very spicy and tangy curry sauce
gluten-free
Kozi Milagu Chettinad
$17.95
Boness chicken cooked in a sauce made with tomatoes, onions, garlic, black pepper, cumin, cloves, cinnamon and cardamom
gluten-free
Mela Chicken Curry
$17.95
Chicken cooked in an aromatic onion and ginger curry with cilantro and okra
gluten-free
Sumundri Moti - Seafood
Kerala Fish Curry
$18.95
Mahi-mahi lightly cooked in a coconut curry leaf and tamarind sauce
gluten-free
Meen Chettinad
$18.95
Mahi-mahi cooked in sauce made with tomatoes, onions, garlic, black pepper, cumin, cloves, cinnamon and cardamom
gluten-free
Madras Jihnga Masala
$18.95
Shrimp, shelled and deveined, cooked in a sauce made with onions, ginger, garlic, cumin, tumeric, tamarind, mustard seeds, coconut and spices
gluten-free
Shrimp Vindaloo*
$18.95
Shrimp simmered in a very spicy and tangy curry sauce. A classic dish originating from Goa
gluten-free
Gosht - Lamb
Gosht Roghan Josh
$18.95
Lean cubes of lamb cooked Kashmiri style with ground almonds, cardamom pods, and cream
gluten-free
Lamb Vindaloo*
$18.95
Boneless pieces of lamb cooked in a very spicy and tangy curry sauce
gluten-free
Mela Lamb Curry
$18.95
Boneless, tender pieces of lamb cooked in a traditional onion and ginger curry sauce with cilantro and okra
gluten-free
Lamb Chettinad
$18.95
Boneless lamb cooked in a sauce made with tomatoes, onions, garlic, black pepper, cumin, cloves, cinnamon and cardamom
gluten-free
Subzi - Vegetarian
Saag Paneer
$15.95
Homemade cheese cubes with spinach and ground spices
gluten-free
Punjabi Chole
$13.95
Chickpeas cooked in a tomato base with coriander, paprika and chili
vegan
gluten-free
Baingan Bharta
$13.95
Tandoor-roasted eggplant mashed, seasoned and sauteed with onions, tomatoes and peas
vegan
gluten-free
Mutter Paneer
$15.95
Peas and paneer cheese in a mildly spiced creamy gravy
gluten-free
Bhindi Masala
$13.95
Fresh okra in spicy sauce of onions, cilantro, coriander, and cumin seeds
vegan
gluten-free
Madras Vegetables
$14.95
Fresh vegetables cooked in a mild coconut and curry leaf gravy.
vegan
gluten-free
Aloo Gobi Masala
$13.95
Potatoes and cauliflower in a spicy sauce of ginger, garlic, and tumeric
vegan
gluten-free
Shahi Paneer
$15.95
Fresh paneer cheese cubes cooked in a rich tomato cream spiced sauce
gluten-free
Vegetable Vindaloo*
$13.95
Fresh vegetables cooked in a very spicy sauce, a Goan specialty
vegan
gluten-free
Vegetable Chettinad
$13.95
Fresh vegetables cooked in a sauce made with tomatoes, onions, garlic, black pepper, cumin, cloves, cinnamon and cardamom
vegan
gluten-free
Roti - Breads
Naan
$3.00
A light bread baked in the tandoor oven
Garlic Naan
$4.00
A multi-layered bread flavored with garlic and cilantro
Peshwari Naan
$6.00
Naan filled with nuts, dried fruit and raisins
Onion Kulcha
$5.00
Naan stuffed with onions
Pudina Naan
$4.00
Naan stuffed with fresh mint
Paratha
$4.00
Whole wheat multi-layered bread baked in the tandoor oven
Poori
$4.00
Whole wheat, deep fried puffed bread
Desserts
Mango Cheesecake
$5.95
Classic mango cheesecake
Kheer
$4.95
Caramelized basmati rice, almonds, pistachios and raisins in a sweet milk pudding
gluten-free
Gulab Jamun
$4.95
A North Indian treat - deep fried homemade cheese balls served in rose flavored syrup
Kulfi
$4.95
Homemade Indian ice cream flavored with mango and pistachios
gluten-free
Beverages
Sodas
$2.00Iced Tea
$2.00Coffee
$3.00Ginger Beer
$4.00Mango Lassi
$4.00
A sweet yogurt drink with mango
Salty Lassi
$3.00
Traditional style. It's Salty!
Chai Tea
$4.00
Spice infused tea with milk
Hot Tea
$4.00
A selection of Mighty Leaf bagged teas
*Very Hot
Browse Nearby
General Info
Hours
Monday:
11:30am - 9:30pm
Tuesday:
11:30am - 9:30pm
Wednesday:
11:30am - 9:30pm
Thursday:
11:30am - 9:30pm
Friday:
11:30am - 9:30pm
Saturday:
11:30am - 9:30pm
Sunday:
11:30am - 9:30pm
About Us
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. 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. The atmosphere at dinner is warm and intimate; specials include such favorites as pistachio lamb and spinach and goat cheese naan. Mela welcomes children and offers a kids menu. We are certified by the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project for using ingredients produced by local farmers.