Hi guys!
I finally went on an eating spree to Bangalore – a city that has among the best food in the country, however, thus far, I had never spent more than a day or two there. This time, I went for 7-8 days and had a whole agenda plotted out… what and where I wanted to eat, how far it is from me, area-wise breakfast, lunch and dinner plans – the whole shebang. Finding Bangalore’s best dosas was a priority this time around. So from legendary, 1oo-year old establishment to newer spots that were gaining popularity for all the right reasons – I made it my mission to go and stuff myself silly with South Indian food – dosas, idlis, vadas, filter coffee and more.
For more of my top picks of restaurants in Bangalore, check out my past blog.
My Picks of Bangalore’s Best Dosas
MTR, Bhartiya City Mall
My Bangalore food trail kicked off with a bang at MTR in Bhartiya City Mall. Usually, I’m not an ‘eat-at-the-mall’ person, but we were staying so far away from the main areas in Bangalore and our Airbnb was right across the mall, so we headed over to this outlet. Got to cut down on Bangalore transit when possible, right? Anyway, this South Indian legend – a household name – lives up to its 100-year hype, even when in a mall.
I lucked out with having no queue at the restaurant on that Sunday morning. The ghee dosa was a crispy, buttery dream, shattering just right with tangy coconut chutney and soul-warming sambar, while the idli and vadas – MTR’s pride, were fluffy perfection with mustard seed pops. The filter coffee was not as good as I’ve had elsewhere, but it we downed two cups each, nonetheless.
This particular MTR outlet was not the gritty types, which, if I’m not wrong, I imagine other standalone outlets seem like in reels and such The setting feels polished, and service is brisk – perhaps the Bhartiya Mall effect. Still, for under ₹600 for three of us, it’s a steal for authentic South Indian soul food that’s woven into Bangalore’s DNA.
Pro tip: grab their coffee-table book for a peek into a century of grit and genius – it’s a must for dreamers and doers.
Malgudi Mylari Mane, Koramangala
If my MTR dive was a nostalgic nod to South Indian staples, then Malgudi Mylari Mane in Koramangala was the absolute showstopper of my Bangalore binge – hands down the best spot I hit. It left me utterly floored by the unapologetic punch of authentic Naati and Malnad cuisine. For my out-of-country readers, ‘Malnad’ is a traditional vegetarian-focused style of cooking from the Malenadu region of Karnataka and ‘Naati’ is a rustic/country style of cooking – the oldest kind in Karnataka.
This isn’t your polished mall fare; it’s gritty, home-style Karnataka soul food, founded by three friends bent on spotlighting Kaveri-region gems like mutton pulavs and paya soups. We rolled in expecting a quick hit of Mylari dosa (that fluffy Mysore legend), but one look at that menu turned our casual order into a glorious gorge-fest. The mutton dosa was top-tier: juicy kheema encased within a crispy-edged and butter-drenched dosa, shattering into tangy coconut chutney and saagu that had us moaning mid-bite. And those idli podi dosas? We just waved ’em over – keep ’em coming! It outshone even the ghee dosas I’ve chased across the coast.
We sampled way more than planned (blame the endless refills and that “one more?” question that someone or the other asked – who could say ‘no?”). I delighted in their pepper prawns, mutton chops, fried fish and chicken curry, and I tried a ‘mudde’ for the first time which is a soft ball made of ragi flour – you simply pinch of a piece, dip it in gravy and enjoy . When we were too full to function, the generous staff snuck us a taster of mutton biryani. Uffff!
Don’t skip the desserts: Mysore Pak ice cream and Chikmagalur ice cream. If I’d lingered in Bangalore longer, this would have been a regular haunt. The interiors are lovely and warm with spaced-out tables and an open kitchen – perhaps the best ambiance of all the restaurants listed on this Bangalore food blog.
Rameshwaram Cafe, Multiple Locations
If you too are on the hunt of the best dosas in Bangalore, your search wouldn’t be complete without a pitstop at the legendary Rameshwaram Cafe. Out of their 4 outlets, we hit the JP Nagar one for a late-night dinner that was pure South Indian chaos in the best way. This place is a cult classic, dishing out ghee-drenched dosas till past midnight – perfect for the working pros we saw grabbing a quick, affordable meal around 10 PM.
Like many local, no-frills eateries in Bangalore, this one had standing table setups, which was our first stand-and-eat dosa experience on this trip. We queued up to place our order and pay, then handed our slip to the self-service counter, and hovered at a high table, waiting for our number to be hollered. It’s not comfy, but it’s real – a no-frills, high-energy experience where the food steals the show. Our order? Ghee podi idlis, at least three crispy podi dosas, and fronthy filter coffee. Hands down, one of Bangalore’s top meals on a budget. Their other specials include the ghee garlic roast dosa, multi-grain dosa, ghee sambar button idli, bisi bele baath, khara bath, puri and sagu, and pootharekulu.
Sure, the place is overhyped by Insta reels (some locals call it a North Indian magnet), and the ghee can feel like overkill if you’re not ready for it. But the vibe – chaotic, crowded, alive – and the bang-for-buck quality make it a must. If I had more nights in Bangalore, I’d be back for their garlic roast dosa.
Pro tip: go at an off-peak time to dodge the lines,
Out of the 35+ Empire outlets, we went to the Jayanagar one as it was closest to our Airbnb. Our plan was to get a late-night bite before going club-hopping and this one ticked all the boxes in terms of food. It’s a busy spot open till 2 AM, packed with locals grabbing quick, cheap meals. The mutton kheema dosa was perfect – filled with juicy, spiced mutton, and served with solid coconut chutney and sambar. The place is crowded, the food is affordable, the service is fast but not super friendly.
But Empire is not just about dosas. We also got some tandoori chicken which was lovely, and the shawarma (get the non-spicy one). The menu covers everything from Mughlai to Chinese, but stick to non-veg dishes like these or their ghee rice with kebabs. Some say the biryani’s overrated, but our food was on point.
Where do you go for Bangalore’s Best Dosas?
This is what I could visit during my week of eating in Bangalore last month. If you’ve got some reccos for me for my next trip, drop them below! I’m always up for a good ghee-podi dosa. And now that I’ve tried mutton dosa, I don’t think I’ll ever go back to the regular, if I can help it!
See you later!