Masala Monsoon Indian Cuisine named one of the best places to eat and drink in Parma

Fryums - Colorful, puffed crisps made from seasoned potato or wheat flour. Theyre deep-fried until light and crunchy and are often served as a fun, crispy appetizer or side. In Indian cuisine, they add texture and a playful, nostalgic touch to the dining experience. Masala Monsoon Indian Cuisine is located at 7401 W Ridgewood Dr., in Parma - Photo by Yadi Rodriguez, cleveland.com

PARMA, Ohio — Open since June 2025, Masala Monsoon Indian Cuisine is building a reputation for interesting, approachable, diverse dining in a family-friendly atmosphere. It earned second place in the Cleveland.com / The Plain Dealer “Best Places to eat in Parma/Parma Heights” competition. That second-place finish shows its ability to connect tastes and cultures.

Masala Monsoon Indian Cuisine is located at 7401 W Ridgewood Dr., in Parma - Photo by Yadi Rodriguez, cleveland.com

Masala Monsoon Indian Cuisine is located at 7401 W Ridgewood Dr., Parma, in The Shoppes at Parma. It occupies the former location of Antonio’s Pizza and Spaghetti.

The menu and concept are the creation of owners Upinder Sawhney, Kavan Patel and chef/owner Raj Sahni.

Sawhney, who was born in India but grew up in Parma, is an IT engineer who got into the restaurant business because he has a social side.

“It’s my passion to be interactive with people,” he said. “I want to help people understand Indian culture other than what’s on the internet.”

Sahni has long been a chef. He went to culinary school in India and Canada. He trained with Michelin-starred celebrity chef Vikas Khanna who is also a cookbook writer and filmmaker. Sahni cooked in New York City and Northeast Ohio before joining Sawhney at Masala Monsoon.

He is joined in the kitchen by curry chef Amait Rawal and Tandoori specialist Gopi Kalarikkal. The team is prepared to make traditional Indian food and fusion dishes that introduce the unfamiliar to the Northeast Ohio food culture.

Masala Monsoon Indian Cuisine is located at 7401 W Ridgewood Dr., in Parma - Photo by Yadi Rodriguez, cleveland.com

Spices are ordered directly for the purest flavors. To show their mostly North Indian menu in the best light they make almost everything in house from the naan and appetizers to the curries and desserts.

Naan is a leavened flat bread, traditionally baked in a tandoor oven. It may be spiced with garlic, onion and other spices.

“We’re trying to be modern and to bring the significance of India,” said Sawhney. “We want to help people understand Indian culture other than what’s on the internet.”

Masala Chai Tea Masala Monsoon Indian Cuisine is located at 7401 W Ridgewood Dr., in Parma - Photo by Yadi Rodriguez, cleveland.com

When ordering guests are asked for dietary restrictions and heat preferences so dishes can be recommended to suit every palate. Many dishes are vegan/vegetarian or Jain. Jain is a specific way of eating by people who practice Jainism. It requires abstaining from meat, honey, root vegetables, turmeric powder and peanuts.

This peacock greets you as you walk in the front door. The peacock is the national bird of India. Masala Monsoon Indian Cuisine is located at 7401 W Ridgewood Dr., in Parma - Photo by Yadi Rodriguez, cleveland.com

As for heat, dishes can be ordered mild, medium, hot and Indian hot. Note: Even mild has a welcoming spicy tang.

“We welcome people to modify for heat and dietary restrictions,” stressed Sahni.

Even the cocktails have authentic Indian influences. The Midnight Margarita is an Indian-spiced Old Fashioned made with chai syrup, bourbon and bitters with an Amarena cherry garnish. Meanwhile the Gold Peach Mule is vodka blended with white peach and with a lively ginger kick.

Not interested in alcohol? Cocktails are available as mocktails. Or try a fruit lassi, a chilled yogurt-based drink blended with fruit.

Indian Coffee Masala Monsoon Indian Cuisine is located at 7401 W Ridgewood Dr., in Parma - Photo by Yadi Rodriguez, cleveland.com

Or, for some variation, try a guava or jamun shot served in tall shot glasses. Vibrant pink guava shots are a tangy guava blend served chilled with a spicy, zesty rim with a nice kick. Jamun shots, made from a dark purple, sweet-tart plum, are served chilled with a tangy, spiced rim for bold flavor.

Masala Monsoon Indian Cuisine is located at 7401 W Ridgewood Dr., in Parma

Before ordering, fryums are placed on the table for snacking. These look like fried rigatoni noodles meet shrimp chips. They are really colorful, puffed crisps made from seasoned potato or wheat flour. They’re deep-fried until light and crunchy and are often served as a fun, crispy appetizers or side. In Indian cuisine, they add texture and a playful, nostalgic touch to the dining experience.

Appetizers include samosa chaat (vegetarian), creamy crab soup, lasuni gobi (vegetarian) and royal pani puri shots (vegetarian). Make no mistake, the vegetarian options are hearty.

Translated the samosa chaat is an approachable Indian street food using crispy samosa shells with spicey chickpeas topped with yogurt and chutneys, onions and spices. The lasuni gobi is crispy cauliflower in a bright, bold Indo-Chinese sauce.

Owners Upinder Sawhney (left) and Raj Sahni (right) who is also the Head Chef. Masala Monsoon Indian Cuisine is located at 7401 W Ridgewood Dr., in Parma - Photo by Yadi Rodriguez, cleveland.com

Royal pani puri shots get a lovely presentation. The crispy puri are golf ball-sized semolina spheres stuffed with a spicy potato and chickpea mixture. These “balls” are balanced above flavorful tamarind or mint water shots.

Tamarind is a sweet, tangy tropical fruit.

Entrees are both fusion and traditional Indian. Fusion options are American dishes like pizza and pasta interpreted with Indian ingredients. Sahni sees these as entry-level for people unfamiliar with Indian cuisine.

“We turn them into Indian versions,” he said.

For example, paneer lasagna is made with paneer cheese layered with spinach in a creamy cashew-tomato curry and topped with peppers.

Paneer is a fresh, non-aged cheese commonly used in Indian food.

Midnight Margarita Indian-spiced Old Fashioned with chai syrup, bourbon and bitters. (left) Golden Peach Mule Vodka blended with white peach and a lively ginger kick. Can be ordered as a cocktail or mocktail. (right) Masala Monsoon Indian Cuisine is located at 7401 W Ridgewood Dr., in Parma - Photo by Yadi Rodriguez, cleveland.com

Meanwhile the tandoori chicken pizza is topped with tandoori-cooked chicken, onions, a creamy base, plentiful cheese and bold Indian spices. It’s served with a cooling side of mint chutney to drizzle on top.

The bestselling dish is butter chicken. Again, the chicken is cooked in a tandoori oven and served in a buttery tomato sauce with cream and spices. It’s served with fragrant basmati rice. And, like most main dishes should be ordered with naan.

Chicken korma, boneless chicken in creamy cashew sauce with mild Mughlai spices, is also a favorite. Again, it is served with rice and is good with a side of naan.

Desserts can be Indian or fusion as well. For example, a creamy, tropical mango ice cream can cleanse the palate. Or go traditional with gulab jamun, soft milk dumplings soaked in warm rose and cardamom-infused sugar syrup. Or both!

Finish with strong Indian coffee or chai.

On the way out the door, pause for a traditional pinch of fennel seeds and large sugar crystals. Fennel, known for its sweet, licorice-like aroma in curries, is considered a post-meal digestif and mouth freshener.

Masala Monsoon Indian Cuisine is located at 7401 W Ridgewood Dr., in Parma - Photo by Yadi Rodriguez, cleveland.com

The dining room has 150 seats, while the entire facility including party room swings up to 270. A patio will open in summer.

For the record, Masala Monsoon is an apt name for the restaurant. A masala is a blend of spices. And Masala Monsoon uses many versions in various dishes.

11am-2:30pm, 4pm-10pm Sun-Thurs. open till 11 pm on Friday and Sat

Post Related

Post Related