Best fast casual south indian vegetarian restaurant in the Bay area imo super consistent and authentic! The paper roast and paratha does not miss, really love the kesari and filter coffee as well. Really good spot for lunch as it is way less crowded than the usual dinner rush read more

Got both the mysore masala dosa and the masala dosa but not sure which is which. Enjoyed both, but the darker one was crispier and better. The sauces on the side were good but a bit spicy for my husband. read more

Always a delight! Giant, crisp dosas, flavorful chutneys, great prices! I never leave disappointed. My current favorite dosa is the tomato dosa, but love the podi dosa when I want something a little spicy. Idly vada combo is another favorite, as is the channa batura. All pair great with a lassi! read more

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Pretty good dosas here. I got the podi masala dosa and I thought the flavor was very tasty. A tiny bit on the spicy side and it builds as you eat more. The potato filling in the middle was very yummy. The sauces / chutney paired nicely with the dosa. The sambar was pretty decent (maybe could have used a little bit more flavor or salt but still fine). The dosa is really large, like two feet long? Pro tip: the menu has the item names but don't have descriptions of what the item actually is. But their website does have descriptions and I found them extremely helpful. read more

Madras Cafe - Indian Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

Great food! We ordered- - Idli vada combo plate - Mysore masala dosa - Ghee masala dosa - Sambar rice - Filter coffee Everything was delicious including all their chutneys and sambar. Although a little spicy for my tastes. Service was quick and ambiance is no frills. read more

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Solid spot for dosas! The masala dosa was incredible and the potato inside was seasoned well with great texture. Chana bature was pretty good but not as fresh/crispy as we anticipated. Overall solid staff and spot! read more

Madras Cafe - Indian Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

Starting with ambiance - this place is unclean with dusty air filters, lamps, and surfaces. There is no door between the bathroom and restroom and the open seating concept seems haphazard and worse than a fast food restaurant. I tried the onion rava masala dosa that came with sambar and three chutneys. Overall, the dish lacked taste and freshness. The onion rava dosa was too oily, and the chutneys offered no flavor whether it be tomato, coconut, or whatever else. The price here was reasonable - $9-12 for most things which reflect the quality and taste. read more

Madras Cafe - Onion Rava Masala Dosa - Indian Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

Staff is super friendly, food comes out pretty fast once ordered Love their mini idlis, dosa and coffee. Poori kurma is also pretty delicious. Now they also serve fresh sugarcane juice. read more

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Visited for friend's dinner with South Indian food. * Restaurant: 2 sizable indoor seating areas, generally clean with cutlery and hand sanitizer at each table. * Order up front, seat yourself, food delivered to your table * Tried the Onion Dosa and Masala Chai. * Dosa was crispy. Chutneys & sambar were all tasty without being too spicy. Chai is served unsweetened so you can add sugar/Splenda to your preference! Will stop in again when we're in the area. read more

Madras Cafe - Interior - Indian Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

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Terrible customer service and unprofessional, rude behavior made for a very disappointing experience. The food was average at best and didn't stand out compared to the many South Indian restaurants available in the Bay Area. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this place and would choose other options instead. read more

Can't remember the last time I had dosa. And tbh I'm pretty apprehensive about visiting Indian restaurants (except buffets) since I don't really understand what to order. The fact that Madras Cafe has a pretty limited menu helps! So brought the wifey and the mother unit here. I got the tomato masala dosa. They got the spring dosa and masala dosa. On a side note, I asked the employee what the difference between tomato masala and just tomato is, and it's the addition of potatoes. I really enjoyed the tomato masala dosa! It was falling off the edge of the plate giant. The edges were crispy. The filing was nice and savory. The sauces(?) were also really good. The two on the side that were orange and green were very flavorful. Slightly spicy but a good amount. I don't know if that small bowl was soup but I downed that thing. The clientele were predominately Indian when we were there, which seems like a good sign. Such a flavorful and filling meal. All for a very reasonable price. Definitely recommend and will be back next time we have a dosa craving. read more

Madras Cafe - Inside of Tomato Masala Dosa - Indian Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

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The biryani was a flavor bomb with the creamy white yogurt and veggie sauce spread on your vegetable rice. So good. Masala dosa was crispy and had five dips. I liked them all. So good, filling, and only $10. read more

Madras Cafe - Biryani 11/10 - Indian Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

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My family and I have been customers for a very long time and we still love the food. I always order the Kothu Paratha, even though I don't see a difference in quality I do think they were a bit more efficient in the past. There is less crowd than before, but the wait times for the food can be long sometimes (my dad's dosa came out by the time everyone else finished their food already). read more

Madras Cafe - Kothu Paratha Specials - Indian Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

Still a great place to dine at. Authentic Madras style tiffin place. I am reviewing this place exactly 10 years later. Taste is the same, portions are the same, pricing is marginally more than a decade ago. It is a miracle the way they crank out all these tasty dishes at such affordable prices! Great job Madras Cafe team! Proud of you guys! read more

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Madras Cafe is my go-to spot for dosa in the Bay Area. The service is always great, and the food hits the mark every time. I usually pair my dosa with filter coffee or lassi (their chai is just okay). My absolute favorite is the Onion Rava Masala Dosa -- crisp, flavorful, and consistently good. I also love the Mysore Masala Dosa, and when I'm in the mood for heat, I'll go for the Kara Masala Dosa with ghee -- but fair warning: it's spicy and might not sit well if you have a sensitive stomach . The potato filling here is better than most places, and while the chutneys are decent, they do the job. FYI - they use steel utensils. Wait times are reasonable, but weekends are usually busy, so expect a short wait. On weekdays, seating is easy to find. If you're with a pet, they do have limited outdoor seating -- it's right by the parking lot, so nothing fancy, but it works. The place has classic Indian street-corner cafe vibes, except this one's well-known and usually buzzing. read more

Madras Cafe - Onion Rava Masala Dosa - Indian Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

They make the best dosa in the bay area their mysore masala dosa (with potato on the side) is to dieeee for. All the other dosas and idly is also good. I really wish they made vegan filter coffee someday Vegan review read more

Madras Cafe - Mysore Masala Dosa - Indian Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

I love South Indian food and love my dosas. I remember coming to San Francisco years ago and eating some amazing dosas. This time, I decided to try this place after work. I should have read the reviews in details. Because even though the reviews are good, the whole experience was horrible. First of all, it's not really a proper sit down place. You order and pay at the counter, and the food comes to your seat. The ambiance is not that great. The chairs are ok, not very comfortable. The people working there were not friendly at all. I ordered the following: - Dahi Wada : so bad. It felt like they took it out from the freezer and served it. The yoghurt was ice cold and because of that, the wada inside was cold too. So bland that I could barely eat it. I've had some amazing dahi wadas before. - Onion Rava Dosa : the dosa was good, but the onions were not cooked at all. As seen in the picture, you can see that the onions were thrown on the dosa, but never cooked. Eating raw onions was not what I was expecting. I left half the dosa and left the restaurant. I don't care about the ambiance if the food is good. But for me, both the food and ambiance were mediocre. Definitely not coming back. read more

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Sambar was not good and had a weird smell. It was also spicy so my kid had to eat plain idli. When I told them the Sambar was spicy, they told me it was batch made and they couldn't do anything. Didn't even suggest other options on the menu that were not spicy. read more

onion uthappam 5/5 masala dosa 5/5 As someone who loves Indian food, I can't help but be biased and give this place a good rating. Prices are great for what you get. A meal/significant snack for ~$10 nowadays is a crazy deal! It's a very casual place - think food court but with only one food stall. You order your food at the counter and then choose where you want to sit. They will bring your order out to you and there's a self service counter for utensils, water, napkins and then dirty dishes. We went for a late dinner ~8:30p and it wasn't too crowded. Service was quick. read more

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This is my go-to dosa spot in the area. The masala dosa was crispy and flavorful. Very comforting. The orders always come out quickly. Inside is light and airy. read more

Madras Cafe - Masala Dosa Mango Lassi - Indian Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

Madras Cafe gives you a HUGE dosa for a great price! I shared a Masala Dosa with my partner, it contained stuffed potatoes, rice, and lentils. It was very delicious and flavorful. I loved that it was big enough to share between two people. I do wish however it would've been more spicy. Overall, great food for a good price! read more

Madras Cafe - Masala Dosa - Indian Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

Came in for dinner for 2 at around 6:15pm on a Saturday . We ordered at the front and seated ourselves afterwards. There was plenty of space to sit at this time. The food comes out super fast, we got our pongal-vada plate within 10 minutes after sitting down. Everything was delicious! We finished everything with some coffee and tea, and were done within an hour. Great place for a casual dinner with family and friends. read more

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The idlis were delicious. The paper masala dosa wasn't very thin but nice and crispy. The masala itself had a nice kick to it. The medu vada was nice and crispy. The service was efficient. I have no idea how they figured out where we were seated in a large restaurant that was quite busy. The ambiance was a no frills and barebone. You go to this restaurant for the food not for their ambiance. The restaurant is little bit out of the way for me. The food wasn't yummy enough for me to drive 20 odd miles for it. read more

Ive had the yummiest most authentic south indian tiffins multiple times 8 years ago at Madras cafe and sad to report that its not the same at all now. I recently visited Madras cafe after many many years for lunch over the weekend. I hyped it up so much to my husband who is actually from Madras lol that he got excited to try out my fav tiffins place too. Such a bummer and we did not like the taste or experience at all. Rava dosa: dripping in oil. karam dosa: it was so spicy my poor mil had to chug a mug full of water to overcome the spice. mind you, shes hardcore from madras and eats/cooks real authentic chennai food. if she says its spicy, IT IS SPICYYY. hubby had the 14 mini idly the iconic dish from chennai but it was a bummer. the sambar was not good at all. the idlys are hard and no taste to them. he also had the podi dosa which was decent i would say. tasty podi. the chutneys are mediocre. what happened to the most iconic OG south indian restaurant that is loved by one and all back in the day. My cheat day got wasted and so is the hype I gave my hubby and Mil. lol Also the interiors are the same even after a decade later. It deserves some improvement and renovation. read more

I've been to this restaurant several number of times and they are very consistent with their taste and they never disappoint. I love their filter coffee and I've tried a lot of things on their menu. I really like the masala dosa masala Dosa in general. The sambar and chutney are amazing although I didn't like the Puri masala but dosa are amazing here would definitely recommend checking this place And I took my parents to this place as well when they were visiting and they loved it as well so if you're looking for South Indian Place to take your parents to, Madras café should definitely be in that list. The service here is pretty good and the ambience is good as well. It is not a very fancy restaurant. It is pretty decent. read more

This is one of the places I love to order at while at work. Today I decided to eat in, I usually take the food to go. They are super friendly and attentive. I ordered their idli with sambhar and masala chai. It's super filling and packed with flavor! If you love flavored food this is the spot for you! The ambiance is very casual and family friendly. I plan to visit this place frequently especially if I am wanting South Indian food. read more

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Dosas were ok - nothing special and it took quite a while to get them The Paper Masala dosa oddly had the potato filling served on the side and not inside - and it was a pretty small portion of that. A bit disappointing. Prices were reasonable read more

Didn't even get to try the food. We came after hearing good things and the lady at the register was SO quiet we couldn't hear her at all behind her mask. My husband is deathly allergic to peanuts cashews almonds and basically almost all nuts. There is basically nothing we can really have on the menu. We were going to order a variety of items starting with dosa but got rudely cut off and told we can't dine here. We just walked out. There is a nicer way to be told things and frankly just really put us off. read more

The dosa is very good. Staff excellent - kind and efficient. Great for a quick lunch. The ambiance is not ideal - very very loud and crowded but it's crowded because the food is good. Next time I'd probably do carry out and eat in my car. read more

This is THE place to grab dosas in the South Bay area! I've been here a couple times now and have recommended it to friends as well who haven't tried Indian food or dosas before. Depending on when you come, it can be very crowded and busy. When you enter the restaurant, there's usually a line at the counter to order. You can grab a menu from the front counter and browse what's available. The main things I've tried so far are just the dosas and idly. I most recently did a take-out order since I wanted to bring dosas home for my family to try out. Definitely would still recommend eating in if you can since the dosas are the most crispy and fresh that way. Take-out dosas are wrapped up in foil, so might get a bit soggy depending on how far of a drive you have before you eat them. Masala Dosa ($9.99) was thinner and its ends were still a bit crispy by the time I unwrapped it. The Tomato Masala Dosa ($10.99) got soggier and was soft. My order of idly ($6.99 for 2 pieces) was steamy and soft, which was nice. The entrees just came with larger single pots of each type of chutney. I did ask for extra chutney, so was a little disappointed that there wasn't a set of chutney per entree ordered, or extra cups provided too. I love dunking everything in the chutneys and usually will ask for refills when I'm dining in, so extra is always nice to have. Overall, still very happy with the taste here for the dosas, and glad I got to try out the idly for the first time here too. Next time will definitely dine in instead! read more

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Chaotic in ordering, no set-up of wait line. Place order before you are seated and they asked for gratuity upfront. Cashier girl had an unpleasant attitude and rude demeanor. She had mask on and I had hard time understanding whatever she mumbled through the cloth especially with loud music in the background. Ordered rose milk, instead badam milk was printed on receipt, yet a pink colored drink (I assumed it's rose milk) came. Hoped they were the same price. Waited 15 min. for seating which was as told and fair. Drink came first but food arrived much later and separately. Overall service was average, careless and oblivious. Environment's messy and not super clean especially washroom area. Now the food, Dosa tasted alright, mild and a bit flavorless. Either they took a spicy level down for non Indian diners, or they are just cheap on using spices. I expect more flavor but it's mediocre at best. My special dosa contained cashew and raisins, mixing with fresh veggies and potato masala, oddly this combination didn't go well for me. Okay experience, nothing to rave about except the tasty rose milk and Lassi. read more

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My go-to South Indian in South Bay! This is now my comfort food. They've recently introduced lunch tiffin combos, in case you need a little more food and variety! read more

Madras Cafe - Tiffin lunch combo - idly, vada, pongal, and plain dosa. Plus a sweet lassi - Indian Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

If you're a fan of South Indian cuisine, Madras Cafe is a popular spot that is recommended by many foodies in the Bay Area. If you haven't heard of it already, give this place a try! I personally love their cheese dosa and tomato dosa! The cheese is stuffed in the dosa and makes for a satisfying cheese pull. The tomato dosa I can't find in other dosa spots. Highlight of the menu as the dosas are crisp, savory, and the inside tomato is sweet and refreshing. The accompanying chutneys and sambar are fresh and well-seasoned, love the coconut one. Their hot chai is also worth a shoutout: warm, spiced just right, and the perfect end to the meal. Be sure to add plenty of sugar if you want it to be sweet. Honestly, everything on the menu is delicious and comforting. this is one of those places where you can order anything and walk away satisfied. Tips before going: Ordering Style: You place your order up front at the counter, seat yourself, and grab your own utensils and water. It's casual, fast-paced, and efficient. You should know what you like before ordering as lines are long and they don't explain it too well. The food comes to you when ready. Seating: It's a small café with limited seating, so expect a bit of a wait during peak hours. They have outdoor and indoor seating. Food Quality: 10/10 I come for the food! flavorful and consistently delicious. Customer Service: 6/10 It's a self-service model, but staff are polite and quick with orders. Efficient, straightforward, direct. Parking: 6/10 Parking is tight , especially during peak hours.They share a parking lot with other stores but you can find a spot. read more

Pale, limp, sad... the only words I can use to describe 2 dosas that were delivered to my house today. For a restaurant that specializes in dosa, they should do better. Maybe the in-restaurant food is better, but I will not be ordering food for delivery again. The potato masala and the chutney were ok. read more

Madras Cafe - Pale, limp paper dosa - Indian Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

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Wow yums! My friend recommended Madras Cafe for their dosas, i didn't realize how gigantic they would be! Each bite of the Mysore Dosa was so crispy with a savory potato filling. Also loved the variety of different sauces provided! One of them tasted like a light mung bean flavor. Service is also wonderful as well and awesome that it opens late. Look forward to being back soon! read more

Madras Cafe - Indian Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

Madras Cafe seems to be a very popular place! My friends and I had a strong desire to eat dosas, so we came to try this place out on a Sunday morning. It was already quite packed, but they have ample seating. You order first, then choose your table, and the food comes out fairly quickly. We ordered 2 masala dosas and 1 paper masala dosa. The fillings were the same, but the paper masala dosa looked significantly bigger. They both were yummy! We also ordered mango lassi and it was quite good. read more

Madras Cafe - Menu - Indian Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

Been here a couple times over the past couple year or so and it's been one of my favorite places for dosas! Madras Cafe is certainly a popular spot, generally pretty packed on weekends! ~Ordering Process~ The ordering process can be a little confusing if it's your first time and the place is busy! You order at the counter and if they have a wait for tables, they will ask for your name. They call out your name once your table is ready and they will bring out to food to you shortly after! The service here is quite fast and efficient even when busy! We generally don't wait too long for our food once we get to the tables. ~The Food~ - Masala Dosa ($9.99): We've ordered this one quite a few times and have enjoyed it! The dosa is very crispy on the outside and the potatoes on the inside are nicely flavored! The chutneys on the side pair really well with the dosa as well. Definitely recommend Masala Dosa! *one note, this time around, there was a piece of hair embedded into the dosa, which was a bit unpleasant. However, we called over staff and pointed it out to them and they remade the dosa so that was nice! - Aloo Paratha ($4.99): First time trying their new aloo paratha! I believe this was a sort of flatbread made with wheat flour and stuffed with potatoes on the inside! I really liked this one! I had never tried aloo paratha before, so when I first ordered it and saw that the price was only $4.99, I was unsure if it was going to be filling, but this one was actually quite filling! The flatbread had a nice fresh chew to it that I really enjoyed! - Mango Lassi ($4.50): The mango lassi here tasted very fresh imo! It is on the sweeter side, but the mango flavor tastes very fresh! ~Pricing~ Pricing for all the dishes here are very reasonable! All the dishes are less than $11 and their portions are also quite generous! Overall, I'd definitely recommend this place for their dosas and parathas! I would love to try out some of their other dishes as well! read more

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We dropped by on a weekday afternoon, and sadly, the service left a lot to be desired. The lady at the counter seemed disinterested and a bit rude, which made the whole experience feel unwelcoming. We ordered the podi masala dosa, thali, and a cone dosa. The dosa was really spicy, but the flavor didn't quite live up to the heat. The thali was a bit of a mixed bag, a few of the dishes were tasty, but the rest were forgettable. The food had its moments, but the overall vibe was let down by the attitude of the lady. read more

This place just reminds me of India Street Tiffins one of the best places that I have been close to the peninsula an awesome part of this place is that it opens at 8:30 AM in the morning which is typically the breakfast time but I can tell you one thing that has an outside seating and their filter. Coffee is so yummy that it reminds me of India their breakfast is so good. You have to try everything there but my best things that I enjoyed there was idly, and dosa. One of the tricky things here is their service people tend to forget where you're sitting who you are what you ordered and sometimes it takes a long time for the food to come and this place really really gets busy so you have to be on top of it many times they forget to bring certain things with the order so you have to remember what you ordered. If something is missing you have to remind them This place Cleaner. I haven't seen that before one. Another thing that I liked about this place was that they are always running around making sure you're good. I would prefer you all to bring your own water because I have not seen a good hygiene there. read more

Madras Cafe - Idly-Vada Combo - Indian Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

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South Bay's South Indian food surpasses that of SF, and Madras is a pillar of the restaurant scene, having been a local favorite for many years. The decor is basic, leaning more towards food court with metal trays and quick service. You order at the front counter before sitting and then the food comes to the table as it's ready. There are many varieties of dosa available of which the paper dosa is the largest and most impressive, but having been a number of times I usually mix it up and try something new every time. My wife prefers to try the delicious vada and idli, and we usually finish off our meal with a cup of very hot chai each. While I can't comment extensively on the quality of the food as I am admittedly newer to south indian food, I will say of the handful of establishments I've tried, Madras does very well, and as such a "classic" location, would do well as a first stop to anyone trying to get acquainted with the food and the area! read more