Wow! Kovai Cafe in Milpitas really took a turn after the first time I visited the place with my husband. We have visited this cafe 3-4 times after that and the food has been phenomenal. Kovai cafe easily has the best mini ghee podi idlis, curry leaf mini podi idlis and thatte idlis in town. I haven't been able to find better idlis anywhere else. It's a good note to self that their curry leaf podi idli (with added ghee like I like it) does not come with chutneys and sambhar. Our server today was very sweet and bought me extra chutneys and sambhar on a separate small plate. The ghee mini podi and curry leaf idlis are just superb. Their podi is not too spicy which I absolutely love. My husband opts for their dosas. His masala dosas and special dosa has been amazing. A noteworthy point about their chutneys is that they rotate their chutneys everyday. One of their chutneys changes everyday. One day it was a tempered radish chutney and today their was mint chutney. Love the freshness of the dishes. Their filter coffee and sulaimani tea have been awesome. I cannot wait to try their thalis. On the hygiene front, their floors especially outside the kitchen area where were seated were slippery and waxy. Our table had oily patches and one of the napkins had food stuck on it. I would really appreciate if they kept hygiene their top priority. Cannot wait to try more of what they have to offer on their menu! read more

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***USP: Indian vegetarian food from the state of Tamil Nadu, India. They serve variety of breakfast favorites like idli, dosa, vada including millet based versions in addition to some thalis. This is their second branch in the bayarea, first being in Cupertino. ***AMBIANCE AND SERVICE: L shaped dining area. Can get full at peak hours when they end up using a QR code based waiting list. Service is slower than most other places. ***FOOD: decent but not memorable. I think these kind of places need to serve stellar chutneys to go with their dosa, idli, vada etc but not one of them was exceptional. The tomato based one infact had a strong taste of raw onion or garlic. I personally got the millet mini tiffin hoping to get a healthier version. Though the dosa was decent, the pongal had a lot of ghee, the millet based sweet was delicious for the first bite but felt overly sweet after. Younger one got the cheese dosa which came with a dollop of jam. Older one got the puri with Kurma which came after all of us finished eating. So definitely some service issues which they need to iron out. read more

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This review is for Milpitas location. It was in my wish list for a long time to visit here. Check in process was efficient. It is a good concept(millet menu and all that) but the execution seems to have faltered a bit. It seems to very popular, which is good. Chutneys are decent but rest of things fell short in terms of taste and flavors. The items seems to have been made in a style belonging to a specific niche region in south India, not in a generic way. This was apparent to me in the way sambar,kootu, curries and other stews tasted. We ordered some millet dishes. I felt it was more on the blander side. In terms of thali items, dinner menu only had what was mentioned as 'healthy' thali. Why not a regular thali? I thought, after a hard days work one would like to eat a hearty thali with healthy south Indian curries, no? Most of its contents in the 'healthy' thsli felt like half made. There was no dal or greens or fresh vegetable based curries in it. About the only curry was potato fry, duh! There was a cup of fresh moong and another cup of boiled chickpeas. No seasoning what so ever. They were not made in the 'sundal' style that you see in Tamilian cuisine. There was also a cup if curd rice which was just white rice mixed in full fat youghurt, that's all. No seasoning here either, that you would expect. Roti was pretty oily, not made in a healthy way. It was not a healthy dry roti or a chapathi. Sweet item was good. Overall it was just about ok. read more

I would call this restaurant decent but nothing exceptional for what it offers. The first time I tried their food was takeout and I was disappointed with their packaging. The amount of chutney and sambar was way off for the quantity of food I ordered. The one thing that did stand out was their chutneys, both in taste and variety. But their sambar is not my fav. I wanted to give them another chance and I ended up dinning here twice before giving my review. I tried their millet dosa which is not something every restaurant offers so that's great. However, the millet dosa tasted different in flavor and texture both times when I ordered. I also tried their kovai special meal. I wasn't a big fan of all the items in the meal. The quantity of the meal is quite a lot for the price though. I can easily share it with another person. I don't like the ambience inside, it feels dark and not inviting. However their staff is nice. The food came quickly both times when I dined in. But their takeout took way more time than the estimate they gave. I don't think I will dine here again by choice unless I run out of options in the area. They need to improve on the consistency and flavor of a lot of their items on the menu. read more

Kovai Cafe - Vegetarian Near Me - Milpitas, California

Definitely worth a try. This spot has high traffic which is a good sign. The food came out fast and was very tasty. This is a personal preference but I found the everything spicy.I asked for mild but the chutney and sambhar are premade and I was sweatin! read more

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I always have high expectations for South Indian food when I'm in the Bay Area, so Kovai Cafe was high on my list. It definitely attracts a crowd. We arrived around 12:00 PM on a weekend and it was packed, with a wait time of about 10 minutes. Honestly, I'm surprised they don't take reservations given how busy they get. We ordered a pretty wide spread across the table: Bangalore style benne masala dosa, podi idli, idli vada, paper masala dosa, and caramel poori. The podi idli was incredible. Super fresh and soft idlis, a generous amount of ghee, and a delicious podi that tasted totally authentic. The vada was just as good, crisp on the outside and cooked perfectly. The sambar, chutneys, and the aloo bhaji inside the dosas were also on point. My nephew ordered the caramel poori, absolutely devoured it, and officially gave it a 5-star rating. The only real letdown was the benne masala dosa. While it didn't taste bad, it didn't hit the mark for a Bangalore style dosa. It had plenty of butter, but it missed that iconic crisp, deep brown outer crust with the soft, spongy texture on the inside. When a place specifically advertises a Bangalore style dosa, that's what you expect, so that fell short of expectations. Overall, it was still a solid meal with fantastic traditional dishes, though I'd stick to the idlis and vadas next time. read more

Kovai cafe is amazing. In the days of many South Indian restaurant chains in Bay Area, this is a welcome change. I went here twice, once during a normal weeknight and once during weekend. Weekends have waiting but they have chairs outside to wait. Also servers keep coming to check when to provide the table. Food is great. I tried the podi butter aloo masala dosa which was a fun try and had the regular masala dosa. Also their chutneys provide variety of taste compared to coconut chutney. Tried their chow chow bath and kesari was yum. Also their filter coffee icecream is great. Small place, but great food and service. read more

Kovai Cafe - Masala Dosa, Open Butter Podi Masala Dosa - Vegetarian Near Me - Milpitas, California

We celebrated Father's Day here with family visiting from Coimbatore, plus two families who all live for good South Indian food and this place delivered! We had a bigger group with specific asks, and the staff were so accommodating about seating us together and working with our timing. The food itself was the real star. Everyone at the table, from the Coimbatore side to the Bay Area regulars, agreed the flavors were authentic and comforting nothing felt "Americanized" or watered down. Two dishes stood out and got wiped clean: - The Mini Ghee Podi Idly - so good that after the initial 3, we added one more order (it comes with 9+) - Dosa - any of them! I like Rava dosa so I asked them to make it crispy. And a fun surprise for the cold coffee lovers in our group: they do an ice cream version of Indian cold coffee. It was the perfect way to end a big family meal. We have already come back 10+ times and I'm sure, will visit in the future. Great spot for South Indian food! read more

Visited this new Kovai Cafe location on a weekday morning around 10:00 AM. Walking in, the ambience felt modern and nice. Service was friendly and welcoming. Coming to the food: - Special Masala Dosa(5/5): This was delicious and all of the chutneys that came with it were great. - Happy Hour Combo(4/5): While the combo was good, would prefer the dosa over this next time. - Sambar(5/5): this was unique and tasted great. It was almost like Dal. read more

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Great food and great service! Saturdays may not be the best time to go -- it was very crowded, and we waited about 45 minutes. It also felt a little disorganized, and we didn't get the roti that was supposed to come with the special meal until the end. However, they were very kind and gave us roti to go along with extra korma for the wait, which we appreciated. The uttapam was so soft and delicious -- even my dad said it's the best uttapam he's ever had! The tea was great, and the dosa was also delicious. The tomato chutney was the best I've had. I would definitely come back -- just maybe on a weeknight. read more

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Embarrassing experience, service protocol needs a major upgrade. When asked for a to go box, the server mentioned they cannot help us. We need to go all the way to the crowded entrance counter and get it ourselves. Seems the intention was to make it a walk of shame :) Worst part is that the Togo boxes are hidden below the iPad screen where people have queued up to join the waitlist. At the very least, place them in multiple sections as the restaurant is spacious. It was an awkward experience indeed. I would be reluctant to visit this location again. Upon entering, we joined the waitlist and were seated within 5 min. Initially placed us on a small table. We were thankful our request for a larger table was accommodated quickly. This location is more spacious than the Cupertino one. Enjoyed the food in general. Unique items not found in other places: Millet Dosa, Ragi Pakoda, Mushroom Kalan, Sulaimani Tea, etc. read more

We visited Kovai Cafe for breakfast today and tried a bunch of dishes between the three of us and overall it turned out to be a really solid vegetarian spot. Service was quick and friendly! We ordered the ghee podi masala dosai, tiffin combo (idli + pongal + vadai + kesari with filter coffee), idiyappam with vada curry, chow chow bath, and poori masala. The clear standout was the masala dosai. Honestly one of the best dosais I have had in the Bay Area, and I don't say that lightly. It came with four different chutneys and sambar which were all excellent. The tiffin combo was great value and very satisfying, soft idli, comforting pongal, a nice vadai, and kesari to finish. The filter coffee paired perfectly with it. We tried idiyappam with vada curry combo for the first time. It was interesting to try, but probably not something I would reorder personally. The chow chow bath (upma + kesari) was very good and reminded us of a proper Bangalore breakfast. Poori masala was also good. Overall the menu is quite extensive and there's a lot more we would come back to try. If you are looking for a dependable vegetarian breakfast spot, this is a great option. read more

Kovai Cafe - Ghee podi masala dosai - Vegetarian Near Me - Milpitas, California

We recently visited Kodak Cafe for dinner on Sunday. Hubby was craving sambar idly and we've always wanted to try the famous chef Madampatti's vegetarian restaurant Konami cafe. Glad it opened in Milpitas that's closer to our home than their previous location in south bay. Sambar idly was delicious. I am not a big fan usually but enjoyed this dish a lot here. Piping hot sambar and soft idly's dipped in it. We had KC special dosa: it's a combination of all masala dosa variations. It had podi, masala, onion, cilantro , potato masala served on top of a benne style crispy on the outside side on the inside type of dosa. It was a bunch of flavors and we enjoyed it. Elaneer payasam was ok. Not the best. Hubby also had filter kaapi. We loved the 4 chutneys this serve with tiffins. The peanut one was super tasty. Good for quick tiffins on a weekend. Service was great and very cordial. Ambiance is clean and good. read more

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Kovai Cafe has expanded from its San Jose location into Milpitas, and this casual, lively vegetarian restaurant offers the same delicious South Indian flavors as the original, accompanied by quick and friendly service. One of their most unique tiffins was the Millet Masala Dosa, a crispy crepe made with a nutty millet flour, filled with creamy spiced masala potatoes, and served with sambar, tomato chutney, coconut chutney, and peanut chutney on the side. But the item to come for is the Kovai Special Meals, a round metal platter with a large assortment of colorful dishes, all centered on a bowl of rice. The selection varies daily, and on my visit, they were serving Ugadi Ruchulu, a special thali for Ugadi, the Hindu new year. The festive thali came with 16 different items: Bellada Panaka (sweet jaggery drink), Ugadi Pachadi (chutney), Gongura Pulao (rice with sorrel), Jonna Roti (sorghum flatbread), Beerakaya Palli Curry (ridge gourd peanut curry), Munaga Mamidi Sambar (drumstick mango sambar), Sorakaya Majjiga Pulusu (bottle gourd yogurt curry), Nimmakaya Rasam (lemon broth), Talimpu Perugu (curd), Goru Chikkudukaya Vepudu (stir-fried cluster beans), Dosakaya Kootu (yellow cucumber stew), Pesaru Garelu (moong dal fritter), Mamidi Pandu Payasam (sweet mango kheer), Mirapakaya Oorugaya (chili pickle), and Ullipaya Vadiyalu (onion fryums). Each component was distinct in flavor and delicious in its own way, but my favorite items included the chewy, nutty Jonna Roti, the peanut curry, and the stir-fried cluster beans! I couldn't believe that this entire sensory experience came at just $16.99-an unbelievable value for a festive meal! read more

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Kovai cafe replaced our Fav Namma restaurant. We have heard great things about their thali and decided to try them now that they are a bit closer. No thali in the evenings so we tried variety of breakfast items and everything tasted great. Rava kesari stood out for us . Benne dosa's texture looked different compared to other south Indian breakfast places but it tasted good. Will definitely come back to try their thali. read more

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We ordered the special thali and it was sub par. The sambhar rice, and Biryani were good but the tamarind rice and tomato rice lacked flavour! The benne dosa was good Service was quick and the staff was accommodating read more

We used to love this place, but now that it's become more popular, it's gone to the dogs. Ordered DoorDash - 2 items - Idly Vada, Rava Khicidi combo - Dahi Vada Made dasher wait for 45 min - Rava khichdi missing - No side sambar - idly vada cold and stale and soggy Ridiculous.... read more

This place has absolutely nailed Tamil food! The idlis are impossibly soft and delicate (don't miss the karuvaipilai idli), the millet dishes are fantastic, the rawa dosa is killer, and the pachai milagai starters are outstanding. The uttappam is spot-on too. And the tomato chutney deserves a special mention. it actually changed my mind about tomato chutney. Easily the best I've had. I frequent this place and could honestly go on and on. A true favorite! read more

This was our first time at Kovai Cafe. The Pongal banana leaf virundu is what attracted me to visit the restaurant. The review below is only for the special menu, as we did not order anything else. Food - 5/5 There were close to 18 different items on the leaf. Each and every dish was very flavorful. The soup, veggie biryani, kurma, and sambar were my top favorites. The kurma's thickness and flavor were excellent, and the balance of whole spices was on point--something that is not often seen in other restaurants. All the other items were super delish as well. None of the dishes were oily or excessively spicy (hot). Each one had a distinct flavor. I would come back to eat these items any day, as long as the quality is maintained. One thing I did feel was missing was appalam/papad, but that's a very small thing to point out. Quantity-wise, every dish was served with true generosity, and we were stuffed by the end of the meal. Price - 4.8/5 For the number of dishes served as part of this meal, it was priced very well at ~$23 per plate, which is quite reasonable compared to other places. Ambience / Service Overall, it's a clean place with prompt service. The staff checked in several times to see if we needed anything, which is something mostly seen only in India. They also enquired about the quality and taste of the food, which was really nice. One thing that could be improved is having the staff know the names of the dishes that are part of the meal. While there were several items and the expectation wasn't for the staff to recite every single one, it would have been nice to either group the items or have a printed menu to look at. In the beginning, the waiting staff came every minute to check if we were ready to order, despite us telling them we wanted to know what was included in the meal. This is a small point, but being in America, a lot of non-South Indians will want to visit the restaurant, and simply saying there are 18 items may not suffice. Most people would want to know what they are paying for or check for potential allergens. That said, the staff and food more than made up for this tiny hiccup. Finally, it was nice to see Chef Rangaraj himself stop by each table and enquire about the food. Overall, I am super excited to come back to try other dishes! read more

Kovai Cafe - Pongal virundu - Vegetarian Near Me - Milpitas, California

We have been to the Cupertino location several times, so wanted to check out the Milpitas location too. Same amazing food! Gobi Pachimilagai is unique and tastes amazing. The strongest filter coffee in the area. Paneer Bhurji dosa was great as well read more

Great food and service. All the dishes I had there were pretty good. Have been here multiple times now.

Kovai Cafe is an amazing place for modern vibes and some of the best South Indian food! We ordered the Gobi 65 (the fry on this was soooo good- light but very crispy; the cauliflower was very fresh, and the spices and curry leaf decor on top were *chef's kiss*!); onion and tomato uttapam (super fresh veggies, fluffy, delicious!!); the special Kovai meal/ thali (a platter with many mini bowls of varied dishes with rice and other carbs); and drinks (badam paal - tastes like sweet mildly spiced milk with almonds and a foamy top; delicious and piping hot - yes!!); mango lassi; and their filter coffee (foam top, strong, and piping hot!!). It is hard to pick a favorite because everything was so different, but all were so delicious, and the drinks were amazing! I can't wait to come back again! read more

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Great service and food! Would recommend the Doma for sure; the chutneys are yummy. Prices are also decent.

Good food. Rude staff - their main guy is rude. If we ask any question about a dish we don't know. Answers are in very rude tone. Some food was delayed we asked him and he replied in a rude tone - It's coming!! read more

New branch in Milpitas. The interiors are decent, and they also have a nice waiting area. The place can get busy so getting on the waitlist is a good idea. The service staff was attentive, and efficient, even if they looked a little overworked with all the crowd. The Kovai Kothu Idly and KC Spl Masala Dosa were both decent, along with the chutneys. There isn't anything negative to call out even if nothing really stood out. The Mushroom Pachamilagai reminded of some chicken based dishes, even if the flavor was mild, and surprisingly not spicy at all. The Filter Coffee was good. Overall a good addition to the Milpitas dining scene, however not one we're likely gonna repeat any time soon. read more

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I had thatte idly which was really amazing. It came with so many chutneys, ghee and podi was really great. Then I had the special open dosa. I asked if it is going to be crisp and they said, yes. However when it came it was not crisp. I pointed it out to the manager and they instantly, without any hesitation said they will replace it. I was not trying to get it replaced, just marking a simple observation and also by then I had already had half the dosa. Later, the manager noticed, I was looking at Filter Cofee soft serve and got me one on the house. It was really good, full of flavor and not too sweet. Good ambience, tasty food, and really nice management Happily left a good tip to cover for the soft serve read more

Bugs in food - enough said !! Luckily i opened my coffee cup before drinking and see what i found !! Yuckkk ! this is the end of ordering from here for me !!! read more

Kovai Cafe - Filter coffee with a bug swimming in it - Vegetarian Near Me - Milpitas, California

Firstly I'm big on arisi parupu saadham, mushroom pacha milagai and chinna vengaaiya uthapam from their Cupertino location. So I am excited for their branch in Milpitas is such a time saver. There is a big parking lot so parking is not a problem. I went between 3-4 and there is no crowd ngot seated. Orders were on time and I got my fav small onion uthapam and the taste is consistent. I felt the red chutney taste is different here and it was a bit raw, but everything from service, ambiance to the food, this is something I am looking forward visiting more. read more

The food was good.especially the thali was good. Definitely recommend this place. Its a pure vegetarian restaurant.

Extremely disappointing experience. The service was poor from the moment we arrived. Our order took over 30 minutes, and the staff barely paid attention to our table while other groups seemed to receive prompt service, attention, and much more respectful treatment, which felt inconsistent and unfair. To make matters worse, our starter didn't arrive until after the main course was served. By the time it finally came, we had already finished most of our main course. When we politely asked about the missing item, the waiter responded with a disrespectful attitude. When the dish finally arrived, it was practically dropped on our table as if we were asking for free food instead of something we had already paid for. That level of hospitality is completely unacceptable. As for the food, it was average at best and definitely not worth the high prices. The restaurant seems to rely more on hype than on quality or customer service. Overall, this was a frustrating and disappointing experience. Good food can never make up for poor service and disrespectful treatment. I hope the management takes customer service seriously and ensures that every guest is treated with the same level of respect and attention. read more

The food is very tasty at this new location. Service was fast and the place is big enough to have a good meal with your family. Ambiance is good too. read more

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We ordered simple dishes, but my god, their idlizs are so soft that they just melt in your mouth. They were quite busy even past 8 pm, which explains why, because the food is amazing.. read more

Decent place, variety of options. Ordered mushroom pachamilagai, idiyapam kurma, onion dosa, set dosa. Would rate 7/10 to all of these dishes. We also got kothu idiyapam and filter coffee which were below average. Would rate 4/10. Service was quick, ambiance was okay. Overall I would rate 6/10 for the entire experience. read more

If refills are not allowed, then they should not be offered at all. During our previous visit, when the restaurant was less crowded, refills were provided upon request. However, during this visit, when we asked for a refill, the staff member serving us loudly stated that "no refills are allowed," in a manner that felt rude and unprofessional, as though the food was being provided for free. This was quite unfair and unpleasant. We even ordered additional rice for an extra charge, and a polite explanation of the policy would have been appreciated instead of a dismissive response. Additionally, the dessert served was a combination of coconut and apple, which was a very odd pairing and not enjoyable. Overall, it did not feel worth the cost. Compared to several nearby restaurants offering similar cuisine, the value and experience here fall short. This was our second visit, and unfortunately, today's experience was the worst. We left feeling disappointed with both the service and the overall dining experience. The curry refill was provided only after we specifically requested it, and only for two people, not for all four diners as mentioned in your reply. Since each meal is served individually, I believe it is important that the facts are represented accurately. read more

Kovai special dosa is not at all special. Only gave us masala with few onions. Waiter ask us to get up and collect own to go box. They charge us for 1 dosa extra. And no one is picking up phone. Avoid this restaurant. Many more great options in bay area. read more

The cuisine was exceptional, with the Paneer 65 deserving a five-star rating. The dosa, filter coffee, and idlis were also delightful. We anticipate a return visit. read more

Delicious food, masala dosa, special masala dosa, filter coffee & tea was the best choice. Top notch service. Exquisite Ambience . read more

Kovai Cafe - Masala Dosa, spcl Masala Dosa - Vegetarian Near Me - Milpitas, California

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Pawan and sabrish are excellent hosts. Awesome food! Great hospitality. Loved the food

Was with friends for breakfast. Ordered the tiffin. A Idli Vada plate and a dosa for the three of us. The staff was very friendly and ensured the water was served first and the filter coffee's at the end of our meal, just like the way we asked for. For me, the sambar is what makes or breaks a South Indian restaurant. Thankfully the sambar and the chutney were very good. Overall the Food was good and would recommend to anyone who likes South Indian food and Kovai Cafe is closer than Mylapore. read more

We tried roadside kalan, kothu chapathi, poori masala, benne kara masala dosa , filter coffee and filter cofffee soft serve in cone. Benne Kara masala dosa was decent but prefer the one in mylapore restaurant better. All chutneys were good. Filter coffee was good but was not hot enough. Filter coffee soft serve was the best of all. Roadside Kaalan was decent but definitely prefer the one in saapadu San Jose better. Kothu Chapathi was ok , poori masala was ok but masala was watery. Service was fast and friendly. Can return only for the soft serve. read more