Great food in the flushing area. Authentic taste and well fermented dosa idli unlike the restaurant that is just 10 m away from the temple. The coffee could have been a tad stronger. Great place and will visit again. read more

My favorite place to get south indian food in New York! After I visit the temple, I never fail to make a stop at the canteen and treat myself to an inexpensive, delicious, and soul-satisfying meal. My go-to is the set dosa or masala dosa, both of which are always soft and well prepared. The dosa, sambar and chutneys are exactly what I to relax need after a long work day. The service is quick and the food is always ready in less than 10 minutes. The set-up is simple and efficient, with a lively ambience of folks coming from the temple upstairs. If you're in the area, you must go for a cheap, healthy, delicious, authentic meal! read more

Ganesh Temple Canteen - Set dosa - Indian Near Me - Flushing, New York

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Such a cool cultural spot both for your eyes and your tastebuds! The temple itself is a beautiful building that is open to both religious observers and curious non-practitioners, they just request that you dress modestly and leave your shoes outside before stepping in, which I highly recommend doing first if you're here to eat. The temple's insides have an array of impressive statues, and you might be given a free "blessed" apple. The one time I went, they were actually giving free boxed meals at the exit - not sure if it was due to a certain festival going on or a regular thing, but this is why you should stop in the temple before going to the canteen! The canteen itself (where you can have your shoes on) has affordable and delicious dosas and South Indian bites, and the servers will kindly explain things and give recommendations if they can tell you're unfamiliar. I'd recommend the classic masala dosa and ven pongal or bisibelebath (both different kinds of rice porridge). The dosas are served with sambar (a spicy lentil soup) and coconut chutney (a creamy dip great for cooling off spice). The mango lassi and masala chai are also delicious and cheap. Come for some great food and a bit of cultural learning on the side! read more

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Finally got a chance to try this place out and so glad I did! Tried a mysore masala dosa and idli. The sambar was actually very tasty and well spiced surprisingly. It may have been my favorite aspect of the food as it is often the hardest to get right. The chutney was tasty as well though I wish there were more options on the type of chutney. The idli and dosa were great for the price, definitely delicious but not the best ever. If you're ready for a good meal in a typical temple environment, try this place out! read more

Ganesh Temple Canteen - Indian Near Me - Flushing, New York

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This place is an institution. Great food at a fair price. Their dosas are works of art and their lunch specials are extremely filling. Yes, you aren't going here for fancy decor, you're going here because the food is great and the service is no nonsense. read more

Located in the temple premises, this place offers the best dosas in the city. Usually Rava masala dosa is my go to dish here. Well..can't say much regarding their other stuff as even though I did taste Cholle Bhature, bisebelle bhath, and some other items.. they weren't up to the mark as compared to the dosas which these people offer. Even for the uttapams, it isn't that great, similar can be said for medu vadas as they are pretty small in size and lack the required crunch whereas idlis are decent. Chutney and sambhar is good though! The prices are fair for the quality provided and the quantity is good! Just wish that they had provided the filter coffee in a traditional glass. Please keep in mind that it's a self service restaurant and don't expect much of the ambiance. The place is no frills type of cafeteria. Weekends are usually busy and you'll see them serving people from other communities ( Asians, whites, Latinos) as well! The people at the counter are polite and do their best to provide quick service to their customers, as for the place it is very clean. read more

Ganesh Temple Canteen - Pondicherry masala dosa - Indian Near Me - Flushing, New York

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For a simple Hindu temple cafe that's constantly rated high and even getting featured among the best restaurants in the NY state, this place needs no intro. This cafe is attached to the famous Ganesha temple (first Hindu temple to be built in the US and 50 yrs old) and predominantly serves traditional South Indian vegetarian delicacies. The temple does not exclusively advertise this place by carrying sign boards of how to get there. It's annexed to the temple from outside and a lot of first timers might miss this place just like I did, the first time. They have a "self ordering and token getting" system and your food gets called out on a mic. They have a decent variety of items and the food consistently tastes out of the world. If you are looking for cheap, best and good sized portion, don't look any further. The best part is that they don't burn your pocket too. There are some good variety of snacks, savories and desserts that you can buy home. PS - You will need to dispose the food yourself by walking to the trash cans and emptying the trays into them. read more

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I used to think this was a hidden gem, but then lo and behold, the NYT included it on its list of top 100 restaurants of 2023?? Alright that may be a bit of a stretch (I don't know how they even got there, but.... classic NYT energy hahah), this is very delicious and clearly authentic South Indian food. Tucked in the basement of the temple, this canteen also does Uber Eats - yes it is quite far from Manhattan (20 min walk past the end of the 7 train), but I feel like this isn't food that travels well so I'd make the fun journey to come in person. Famous for their dosas, so can't really go wrong with any of those. I'll push you to expand boundaries and try the pongal (spicy cream of wheat) and bisebelabath (rice with vegetable soup). Both are great, mealy foods that are appropriately spiced and leave you wanting nothing else! Love coming here when I can :) read more

Ganesh Temple Canteen - Pongal - Indian Near Me - Flushing, New York

Heard about this place for years, we finally made it up to Queens on this trip and it certainly lived up to the hype. Simple South Indian food, very reasonably priced. After a a visit to the temple you get to eat what's really close to the food you would eat in a south India household. Everything we ordered was well done! read more

Ganesh Temple Canteen - Idly vada, Dahi Vada and Puliyodarai - Indian Near Me - Flushing, New York

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The food was great traditional South Indian food. The food was reasonably priced and delicious. The food came out quick and the staff was efficient and polite. You're not really coming here for the ambiance as it's a canteen at the temple. You're coming for reasonably priced and tasty food! read more

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This place is a hidden gem! I tried these items: Bisibelabath- reminds me of kitchari. It's a hot lentil and rice stew cooked with vegetables, ghee and yummy spices. I also like the crunchy mildly spicy toppings and cooling cucumber yogurt it's served with. This is very yummy and easy to digest. Butter masala dosa is delicious. It served with sambar and a coconut mint chutney. It has mild spices and I really enjoyed this. Onion uttapam- large fluffy pancake served with sambar and chutney. Good, but I would prefer a masala dosa. Mango Lassi- creamy sweet and cooling. Vada- it's a fried lentil donut that you eat with sambar and chutney. Ok, but I personally prefer the dosas more. If you are there in the weekends and like spicy food, try the Paneer Butter Masala Dosa. The added cheese with spicy chutney makes it really good. This might be my favorite dosa! This is affordable, delicious for vegetarians and flavorful. My only complaint is when I order delivery, they always mess up my order and forget a few items... I really wish they would fix that. I was so disappointed a few times when that happened. Otherwise, this is one of my favorites when I'm craving dosas in Queens. They have some weekend only items that I want to try. read more

Known for excellent South Indian fare . One of the oldest temple canteens in the US. It was a little take out place when they started and it's grown to a sit down cafeteria. It's hard to pin down one good dish as everything is authentic and delectable . We had the usual fare , Idly, Vada, dosa varieties like Masala dosa,, Mysore dosa , Mysore Masala , Onion Rava , Paneer butter masala dosa , Puliodharai , Filter coffee & Mysurpa. Their coconut chutney , sambar & potato masala are superlative and worth relishing every drop. A Must try are their sweets & salty savories (snacks) . You can order it online and they ship across the US for a nominal fee of $8-10 . Given Covid situation, they are very organized & streamlined in checking temperatures , ensuring mask mandates are followed , Please note that they check vaccination cards to allow dining in at the cafeteria. Don't miss the chance to try their food. read more

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Probably some of the best vegetarian Indian fare in NYC. We got the bisibileh bhat (think an Indian version of vegetable rice), the pondicheri dosa and the rava masala dosa and all of it was fresh as it can be, too notch. Also wanted the pakoras and the tamarind rice but both were sold out (Saturday about 6pm), but the aunty who was taking ordered was incredibly kind and suggested we buy the tamarind rice mix instead which makes it very easy to make it at home. Such a positive experience, this place has great energy. read more

Ganesh Temple Canteen - Indian Near Me - Flushing, New York

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This is my favorite place to get South Indian food in New York. I have tried nearly everything on the menu across multiple visits: bisibelebath, ghee roast dosa, set dosa, masala dosa, curd rice, pongal, poori, idli, vada, and much more. All of the food tastes like it's prepared with care and reminds me of the stuff I used to get in India. And everything is at an affordable price as well! This was absolutely worth the trip from Manhattan every time. read more

Ganesh Temple Canteen - Poori meal and mango lassi - Indian Near Me - Flushing, New York

COVID report: vaccines required. Indoor dining and takeout only. Finally made it to Ganesh for lunch one weekend, and it definitely lives up to the hype. Two friends and I tried: + Masala vada + Butter Masala dosa - this was the favorite + Rava dosa + Ghee masala roast - second favorite + Mango lassi Can't wait to come back!!! read more

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Good food at Ganesh Temple Canteen I've been coming to the Ganesh Temple Canteen since 2015, making it a point to visit a few times a year during major religious celebrations. The temple itself is awe-inspiring, and we love worshipping all the deities here--Ganesh, Shiva, Vishnu, Parvati, and more. The spiritual atmosphere is something we cherish deeply, and we even celebrated our 10-year anniversary here six years ago, making it an unforgettable place for us. The canteen is an incredible part of the experience. The food is a wonderful byproduct of the devotion and care present in every aspect of the temple. The menu is a smorgasbord of delicious South Indian foods--dosa, bisibelebath, idly, paneer, sambar, medu vada, lemon rice, tamarind rice, and the most flavorful lemon pickle. The desserts, like gajar halwa and sooji halwa, are a perfect end to any meal. And of course, the drinks--filtered coffee, lassi, and refreshing cucumber raita--add that extra touch. Every dish is a hit, and I've never had a bad meal here. For foodies like myself, Ganesh Temple Canteen is a hidden gem that you'll find yourself coming back to time and time again. The priests and the lady who runs this temple make it a welcoming and special place. Highly recommended! read more

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LOVE the Temple Canteen. I grew up around near the Ganesh Temple and seen it grow from the very beginning. Best home style South Indian food! My first stop from the airport is to see Lord Ganesh and have some yummy home style South Indian food :) love ALL the food - I always have iddli, Vada, butter Dosa (soft) and Mysore Pak. read more

Fantastic food and a cultural experience all in one. I have wanted to visit the temple and the canteen for years and finally made it out there. The food is delicious and authentic- be to get a laasi to help with the heat from the spice. read more

Delicious food. I enjoyed the atmosphere. My girlfriend didn't love the yelling coming from the counter over the PA, which is very understandable. It's worth a journey if you don't live near it. If I did, I'd go at least once a week. read more

I had the staff order for me (I do that often in restaurants I haven't tried before). I got a spicy dosa and a crunchy fried lentil treat (vada) with a refreshing mint based sauce. The employees were worried I would find it too spicy--the flavors were good, but I could have used more spice! This works like a "line counter" system. You order at the counter and they'll call your number. It's a cafeteria type setup. I got a ton of food and some drinks for 14.50. Many traditionally dressed Hindus. This is a cafeteria in the basement of a Hindu temple, actually the oldest in the US by many accounts. The temple from the outside is impressive. I didn't go inside out of respect. And if you do decide to go in, plan to dress modestly. No shorts, bared shoulders, ripped jeans, no shoes, etc. I've had better Indian food, and NY Dosas will always have my heart on dosas, but this is an experience that shouldn't be missed! read more

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Located in the basement of the temple, it may be hard to find but just follow the signs after you visit the main temple area. The food here is spectacular and so affordable!! I got the plain dosa which comes with sambar and chutney. The masala dosa is on my next to try list. I tried a bite and it was heavenly! They also have beverages for sale. read more

The new staff at canteen are nice and smile. Good place for kids. But owner always Seems rude and should Retire as she cannot handle. ?? Always in an angry mood and dislikes everyone but South Indians. ? Yells and screams and one of the staff has physically hurt a devotee because Of her orders. Only Jewish people are respected when number of kids on some international religious day visit? She does not respect people from North India.? Will never allow a cup of tea to any homeless person. Guards are there to decide who goes in??? Those guards are her puppets and pretend to be nice but afraid of her bad behavior. It is a temple, religious place should help homeless and needy people. More business like. Her friends work there and are benefitted. Claimed she or her husband had a dream to convert church into temple??? Wrong. All gods are same?????? read more

Heard a lot of good things about this place. We got a butter masala dosa, masala vada, mix uttappam and masala chai (not pictured). The food came with sides of sambar, masala and chutney. Everything was decent. The sambar was delicious. We were looking forward to the mango lassi but sadly they ran out. read more

Ganesh Temple Canteen - Butter Masala Mix Uttapam Masala vada - Indian Near Me - Flushing, New York

Amazing and wholesome. No matter what nationality you are, you need to try this culinary hole in the wall at least once. The food is prepared fresh and taste amazing. Staples for the beginner: Masala Dosa Idli Vada Masala Tea Adventurous: Oopma Madras Coffee Green Chili Dosa Their coconut. Gurney is ground fresh and delicious! Prices are very very reasonable. read more

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"Please, number 90. Take food." In the basement of the Hindu Temple Society of North America is the Temple Canteen, an unexpected place to find delicious South Indian eats! One of the specialty dosas here was the Pondicherry Masala Dosa, a crispy triangular crepe made of rice and lentil batter, brushed on the inside with spicy red chutney, and containing a filling of spiced potatoes, dried chilies, chopped onions, cilantro, and most unexpectedly, boondi, or spiced chickpea flour puffs mixed with dal, peanuts, and cashews, which added a nutty crunch to every bite! On the side came a spicy and sour sambar soup, a green coconut chutney, and my favorite, a sweet and acidic tomato chutney. I also tried the onion chili uttappam, a savory pancake made of the same batter as the dosa, and this came with a side of veg korma, a yogurt-based vegetable curry, along with the chutneys. Overall, this was a great place to experience the amazing flavors of South Indian food. And as if that weren't enough reason to pay a visit to this spiritual destination, the bottom of the receipt read: "May God Shower His Choicest Blessings. NO REFUND." read more

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First time eating here and ate here by myself for dinner after work! Super good and friendly service! I brought and ordered the paper dosa and it was super huge, good and delicious! It was also affordable as well! I can't believe it and agree more! Finally, I'm definitely coming back and eating there next time! :) read more

Ganesh Temple Canteen - Paper Dosa...So huge, good and delicious! :O - Indian Near Me - Flushing, New York

The wait was super long and the food was cold. Very haphazardly organized. Total lack of sync. One person on same order getting food 15 minutes later and another one 25+. Plus after giving half an order they say they have run out of the rest of the order. Smh. Get your act together. read more

The canteen was very easy to find- lots of signage. We came during a Monday afternoon, and there weren't many people. We got the combo(vada,idli), masala dosa, rava masala dosa, and 2 mango lassis for $27.50. All the food came out quickly and hot. The masala dosa was very crispy and paired well with the chutney and sambar. The rava masala dosa was fluffy, and generously filled with onions and chili. The mango lassi, vada, idli were all good-standard. Good food at an affordable price. read more

Ambience was ruined by constant, loud messages from a microphone and they refused to lower the volume. We had to pause conversations. We cannot go back. read more

The food is made from scratch, it's totally vegetarian and delicious! Plus, they serve at lightning speed.

I've heard high praises about the Temple Canteen whenever I've mentioned wanting to try authentic South Asian food. After trying it, I can see why. Environment: 5/5. I took a walk around to explore before entering the Canteen and it was great taking a pause in my day to just enjoy my surroundings taking in the architecture, ambiance, and culture of the temple. The cafe itself was simple and clean. Taste: 4/5. This is undoubtedly a personal preference. I enjoyed the richness of the spices that were used and the variety of flavors that were present. All of the various side items (Ghee, Masala, Chutney, etc.) really came together as I mixed them together with my carbs (Dosa). Everything tasted fresh and did not necessarily have overpowering flavors that would cover the intricacies of the carefully assorted flavors being curated. I docked a point because personally, I prefer richer flavors. Overall, I would echo this is a must-try as an introduction to South Asian Cuisine. It's also a nice experience outside of the usual restaurants. read more

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Ganesh Temple Canteen was my first time having real deal delicious dosa. I'm worried I'll never have any dosa as delicious again. Ganesh Temple operates above the canteen, so you'll have to follow directions through the temple to get downstairs. When you walk in, you can tell the true purpose of this canteen is to serve the temple goers, but all are welcome. For my first visit, I got the regular paper dosa - which I strongly recommend if it's your first time. It comes with plain delicious amazing dosa with a cauliflower/potato curry, 2 more curry based veggie cups that are more soup like, and one creamier sauce. It was SO delicious. The dosa has a perfect flavor and texture, and the whole meal together was fun to eat. This is also a great item to split as a group. And you definitely need a mango lassi - they're small but the perfect size. I'll be dreaming about dosa till I make it back up to flushing! read more

Ganesh Temple Canteen - Paper dosa - Indian Near Me - Flushing, New York

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Masala Dosa - Very tasty. Vada - Quite tasty. Not too dense either! Onion Pakoda - LOVED these! Samosa - Pretty not bad. Mostly potatoe-y. Madala Vada - Wasn't into it. Can't tell if they gave me the right thing as this was quite different than the regular vada. read more

Ganesh Temple Canteen - Masala dosa, Vada - Indian Near Me - Flushing, New York

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What a wonderful place! This establishment is in the basement of a temple, and the food is amazing! Upma ($5.50) - upma is my favorite thing, however I only had it once before this, and it was at my Indian wedding, and it was just literally the most delicious thing ever. The upma here don't get me wrong is very delicious, but not as good as what you get in India in my opinion Onion chili uttapam ($7) - this was amazing, and I'll definitely get this again! Onion pakoda ($5) - delicious, but not the healthiest. Puri with chole ($7) - I really liked this, probably because I just like chole in general. Very flavorful and filling! Mango lassi ($2.50) - pretty standard, but very good! read more

Ganesh Temple Canteen - Onion Chili Uttapam - Indian Near Me - Flushing, New York

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Yummiest dosa in NYC! It lived up to the hype. It was easy to get to the temple , the canteen is in the basement. I didn't like the Dahi vada, only because they make it differently in Mumbai. We were humbled and full, so much deliciousness! Will go back in a heartbeat. read more

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Vaccines are required to dine and AND TAKEOUT. I was on the line and saw an elderly couple that left their vaccine cards in the car and weren't allowed to order food for takeout without them. I am horrified . The food here is great and I love this temple. I was so saddened by what I had witnessed. read more

The food at the canteen is mediocre, but the prices are fair. The service isn't good either, but giving them the benefit of the doubt that this is a canteen I will overlook it as much as possible. The canteen is in a basement 2 stories below the actual temple. It's really narrow and hard to get down but the actually hall is large and open with plenty of seating and many families. Just walking into the canteen, the intercom on which they call out the orders is horrendous. To someone who has sensitive ears, each time the intercom goes off calling someone to get their food, my ears physically hurt. Tons of people couldn't even clearly hear it because of how distorted it is, so it would scream multiple times before someone got their order. The lines are long because service is slow and there are too many things people grab at checkout. Along the line you can buy snacks and people often filled grocery cart levels with random snacks that they would checkout and slow the line even more. Once we ordered we sat down and got our food within 20 minutes. We ordered a masala chai, a masala dosa, and a mango lassi. The masala chai was decent, tasted like the one I make at home with extra cardamom. The mango lassi was clearly not fresh as it was way too smooth and felt like mango juice. A good mango lassi is always pulpy and has a mix of really small in blended chunks and a thick viscous texture. The masala dosa was super standard, it came with coconut chutney and sambar. These all tasted great and I had no problems with. For what the place is, it is not bad. There are a few issues they have with the ambiance and if they were to fix it a little, it would be a lot more enjoyable and comfortable place to dine. read more

Ganesh Temple Canteen - Masala Tea and Mango lassi - Indian Near Me - Flushing, New York

Cashier and the announcer are very rude. They just tell if you are any question. Moreover, they charge extra money to pack the food or for a togo box. Giving 3 star for the food but 0 star for their behavior and rudeness. read more

This is a no frills cafeteria style restaurant. Food gets mixed reviews. Idli was 4/5. Sambar 4/5. Dosas 3.5. Dosas seem to always come out soggy...never a crisp. Flavor is good but I don't know why it's so soggy all the time. Also, if you place an order with multiple entres expect to get your food over a ten minute or 30 minute window depending on how many people are there...what is annoying is they will start giving you the entres in a piecemeal fashion. If you have ordered 3 dosas, the first one may come out in 10 min, the second 10 later, the third 10 Minutes later...go to this place on a weekday, avoid weekends at all costs. read more

Allll the dosas. This place is in the bottom of the temple, just follow the signs. Great chili paneer masala paneer. For something lighter do a paper dosa. Don't forget mango lassi! read more

Ganesh Temple Canteen - Paper dosa and chili paneer dosa - Indian Near Me - Flushing, New York