REXBURG — A restaurant will open next week to replace New Fong's and fill a gap in Rexburg's food scene.

Masala Indian Cuisine serves traditional North Indian dishes to the Rexburg community. Owners and husband and wife team Jaideep and Brittany Gill will open the restaurant in South Second West on November 15th.

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Jaideep is no stranger to the restaurant industry. Before moving to Rexburg, he co-owned Masala Bites in Virginia Beach, Virginia, with his brother for 11 years.

The couple planned to move to Rexburg after visiting family. Her two children loved spending time with their extended family, and the family-oriented community seemed perfect for them. Additionally, Jaideep grew up on a farm in India, so the fields in Rexburg felt like home.

“We loved the community here and the family values,” Brittany said. “We are ready to settle and put down roots in this area so we can raise our children in this area.”

After researching the food scene, they noticed a gap that they wanted to fill.

“There is nothing in Rexburg right now that comes close to a good Indian restaurant or a date night restaurant,” Brittany said. “There are a few other places in the area, but there wasn’t anything that met all of those criteria.”

The Gills pride themselves on their focus on fresh, home-cooked dishes, including homemade paneer and yogurt.

“Everything is made from scratch. We try to source local and organic products when possible,” Brittany said. “Nothing is prefabricated. There are no food colors or anything like that. It’s authentic.”

The restaurant also offers great accommodations for those with food restrictions. While you can't guarantee that gluten cross-contamination won't occur, many dishes are gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan. Their desserts are whole food and plant-based, meaning they contain no added sugar, which is perfect for diabetics.

“We're trying to make sure we can provide a safe dining experience for everyone,” Brittany said.

The couple is excited to bring their passion for authentic Indian food to Rexburg.

“We’re really excited to bring his love and expertise here and introduce this cuisine to the region,” Brittany said. “Although we have had this experience, this is the first time we are doing this together as husband and wife.”

Masala Indian Cuisine will be located at 352 South Second West in Rexburg. To stay updated, visit the Facebook page.