Siblings-Owned Indian-Mexican Restaurant Celebrates First Anniversary In Westfield

WESTFIELD, NJ — Masalamex will celebrate its first anniversary on Friday with daylong specials, including free tacos, 50 percent off the menu, a wine tasting, and giveaways.

"It is crazy," said Owner Ruthvi Shah of achieving one year in business. "It's been a journey. When we started, we never thought that we would receive this much love from people and around town. And it's been great. People always come in, always leave their positive messages with us, and they're asking for more locations already. So it's been a great journey."

Shah and her brother, Dhruv Shah, who had been separated for 12 long years prior, opened the Indian-Mexican fusion restaurant at 115 Quimby St. in Westfield in 2025.

Shah was 12 years old, and her brother Dhruv was 17 years old when they were separated due to immigration issues.

After 12 years, their struggle finally came to an end on April 26, 2016, thanks to a family restaurant in Edison, run by their parents, that brought them back together.

• See Related: Siblings Separated For 12 Years Reunite To Open Indian-Mexican Restaurant In This NJ Town

Now they are celebrating one year in business together.

"It's been amazing," said Ruthvi Shah of working with her brother. " I mean, it is a sibling, so we do fight sometimes, but we've learned to cooperate side by side, like taking each other's strengths and turning his weakness into my strength, that's what we do."

Over the past year, Ruthvi Shah also noted some menu additions, including the Naandilla, which she described as Masalamex's top-selling menu item.

The dish came from a customer suggestion to customize a quesadilla into a garlic naan. Ruthvi Shah said they tested recipes, sampled the item, and then added it to the menu.

Masalamex described the item as a garlic naan-based dish made with masala queso, butter sauce, and mozzarella cheese. Customers can choose either paneer or chicken as the protein option.

To celebrate the first anniversary of Masalamex,

The deals will run all day, though the restaurant said a wine tasting and giveaways are planned at 5 p.m.

Additionally, Ruthvi Shah said they are looking at a few potential locations for expansion.

"We are taking it slow. We want to make sure that we have a solid base of people who know Masalamex, first of all, before we start expanding," said Ruthvi Shah.

For more information on Masalamex, visit instagram.com/masalamex or themasalamex.com or facebook.com.

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