Visited this restaurant after a long time today. Had to leave a review finally :) Love the simplicity and quick service of this place. The restaurant is small with seatings for about 25-30 people. Idlis have been my always favorite here. The sourness and texture is absolute perfect. The Mysore masala dosa had a moderate amount of the red masala or paste, so it wasn't spicy. Not to my liking so much. Sambar is not sweet (as expected) and is very flavorful. Also tried the podi masala dosa today, it had a decent amount of podi in it (not spicy). It is good, the dosa itself is neither thick nor too crispy - but thin. If you were looking for the texture details :) Next time I'll try the Mysore malli dosa which I missed to notice today ;( My friends also love the dipped mini idli/ Vada or idlis here. Loved the filter coffee in the end, it's a must for me! Tip: morning hours are very busy- plan to wait or visit at an odd hour like I did at 3 pm lol. You might see long queues during busy hours in the morning or evening! read more

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great food, very small place, you have people waiting around you for the table during weekends. puri and pineapple halwa are very good.

Madura Idli Kadai is located in a small strip mall with Subway, Desi Bazar, Check into Cash, etc. The parking could get bad during peak hours. Unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to try their food, only a drink. Mango Lassi - the cup size was small but the price was $3.99 +tax. The guy who helped me was patient and helpful. The drink was creamy and tasty. Not a lot of mango flavor, but it was still delicious! I am looking forward to trying their food the next time I visit. read more

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Madurai is a delightful casual spot with a large variety/selection of comforting dosas. Service was quick and don't skip on the coconut chutney! read more

Madurai Idli Kadai - Dosa with coconut chutney - Indian Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

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Same taste since so many years! Quick service on a weekday morning. Great food, nice chai read more

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I have been here multiple times or have done take outs! Food is fresh and service is quick! Sambhar is made fresh in mornings and idli dip, dosa spreads are pretty awesome!! They make seasonal specials which are not in the menu and are written on the white board. The place is limited so better to go in non rush time or get a Togo. It is closed on Tuesdays. read more

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The filter coffee is simply boiled water with some milk. Coffee is missing. Don't waste your money.

Madurai idli kadai is one of my preferred South indian tiffin places in the Bay Area. The service is really fast and you need to get your own plates and water, very typical of a tiffin place. The portion size is a bit smaller than other places, but it is adequate for breakfast or a quick bite. The only con is that the restaurant fills up very fast as it is a small place during peak hours, so plan ahead whenever you do. Price is very reasonable, all things considering. read more

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My favorite in the Bay Area. No hype, just pure authenticate South Indian food. Can't go wrong with any dish. read more

I really enjoy Madhurai for authentic south indian cuisine. Don't come here expecting great service, but they will take care of you and feed you well for a great price. I'd recommend trying something with the podi masala, I believe they make it in house and it is wonderful. Don't forget to try the authentic filter coffee that you pour from metal cup to bowl to make it cold, just like how it is served in South India. I did feel that the service could use some improvement like I had to sweep my table before sitting, I had to get up to get the sambar that they were still making hot. I also wish the vada I got was hot, not room temperature. I also wish there was more masala in my dosa, it felt light. Overall, my favorite dosa spot in the Bay Area: affordable, tasty, authentic, and efficient. Give it a try! read more

Madurai Idli Kadai - Idli Vada Mysore Masala - Indian Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

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This used to be such a great place to grab some delicious South Indian tiffin items but now it's really just okay food. Maybe the fact that we didn't have an Indian restaurant for every street, helped their case back then. We've enjoyed their vadai in the past so started off with that and then had a Madurai Malli & Onion Rava Dosai. The vadai was not hot and also lacking salt, but was atleast crispy. The Ravai dosai was alright but the onion was cut into big pieces so personally felt harder to enjoy each bite. The Madurai malli paste was fantastic and tasted just as amazing as I remember. The coconut and Pudina chutneys were fresh and delicious and honestly the accompaniments were more of a highlight for me. I'd probably come back if we are in the area but wouldn't be seeking this place out (used to be like that once upon a time) read more

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Always consistent taste, and quick service! We have tried everything on the menu and all of it tastes great. No frill just good food at good prices. read more

This shows up as new with only 2 ratings. Not sure what happened there but I remember coming here many years ago, same name and location. Perhaps they closed and re-opened? It does seem to be super popular now though. There was a wait to get a table. Note that this is a small spot and you will likely end up sharing a table with another party. The dosas were above average, and definitely worth a stop if you are into South Indian food. The young guys who work here are friendly and hard-working. read more

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They have serious problems with quantity. They gave Only One small container of sambar for one masala dosa, 3 idlis and one vada. That's way too less for the 5 items. Not just for me, I am sure others can relate to this. read more

Madurai Idli Kadai - Masala dosa (took a picture after I almost ate it), 3 idlis, one vada, and just one small container for all these items. - Indian Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

My review is for the food to go. Sambar was delicious. Service was quick. Again, I didn't eat there as it was slightly tight seating/casual. But def worth coming back here for the sambar read more

I had idli and coffee recently. They had run out of tumblers and gave me a coffee in a paper cup. It was a bit of a disappointment but the food was good. - read more

I love their food so much if you want to eat authentic South Indian food you need to try their Iddly and vada and sambar. Pongal is too good. Dosas and upama yummy I love this place. read more

Food is good, service is quick albeit self service. Very small seating area, so difficult to find seating on weekends. Wait time is long on popular times. All menu options are veg. Pricing is reasonable for the ambience and seating. read more

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Our favorite dosa place in the Bay Area!! Just like home made. Our favorite is the Peanut Khara Masala Dosa. Great service by Sai.

Food was amazing, really big, crispy paper roast dosa! The Kara masala dosa was the highlight. Friendly staff and quick service. Would definitely recommend for reasonably priced authentic South Indian food! Will definitely go back. read more

Tasty idlis and dosa. Food was fresh and flavorful. If you aren't looking for service and ambiance- just decent food, this is your place.

Indian food is one of my favorites. My sister brought me to Madurai Idli Kadai because I constantly complain about how expensive Asian food in San Jose is. We came a little too early as they had a break after lunch. So, we waited until it opens at 5:30. The key was to beat the crowd. We arrived just around 5:33. There were 2 tables filled. Because she had a dog and they stayed outside, I managed to send her pictures of the menu and she sends me back what to order. I was too excited to order uppuma+Idli+vada combo for just $8.99. So, I added a side order of yogurt ($1.99) and podi in ghee ($0.99) as condiments. I also ordered Masala Dosa ($8.99) and a box of Badam Burfi. Yogurt is to calm the spiciness from podi. I like everything with ghee. I used to buy burfi from local bakery. It was made with almonds, sugar, ghee and cardamom powder. I ate half box while waiting for my food. Surprisingly, the restaurant filled up very quick. Customers started to pour in. By the time I got my order, all tables were occupied. My overall experience was excellent. Good service, good food (enjoyed at home) and friendly ambient. Yes, I would return. read more

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Good food DOSA Fast fast fast less than four minutes I got my food. Great service great food fast fast fast. read more

Madurai Idli Kadai - Indian Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

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The food was okay, we got a plain dosa and a masala dosa. The dosa was a bit oily but that was okay. The main issue is that the seating here is very limited. Getting a seat was challenging even though we went in the morning. Parking was also a bit of a mess. The filter coffee was good and pretty strong. Overall an okay experience but probably not worth the hassle of parking and finding a seat. read more

Madurai Idli Kadai - Indian Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

Hole in the wall. Cramped tables and a bit chaotic inside. But the flavor is on point. The biryani which is a little on the spicy side is one of the best I have had in the Bay Area. If you are looking for the dum biryani this is not the place. But if you are looking for authentic Madurai South Indian style biryani then this is the place. We also had the idli and vada which is good not great. The packaging of food could be improved as could be the chaos in the kitchen. Next time I will pick up and order in advance. read more

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This is an Indian South Indian joint for idli and dosas. Dosas were delicious, we tried their mysore masala dosa which was delicious but I would have preferred the sambar to be little more hot and flavorful. Rava dosa is a must try, it was light crispy, hot, flavors were on point. Again sambar could have been better. But the chutney and dosa was perfected to the dot. Don't recommend their vada as it was cold, soft and dint go well with the sambar again. There was a long wait as it is a small space and limited parking. On weekends it is crowded during peak hours. Overall highly recommend the place and food is worth going back again. read more

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The OG South Indian food. Seating is limited but the food is authentic, tasty. Courteous but no frills service.

Hole in the wall place but the food was legit Dosas as great. Service is just grab and go, but pleasant read more

Don't go by the ambiance. Just close your eyes and open your tastebuds. Flavor is what you come here for.

Went for a breakfast on a Friday at 9.30am, hardly any crowd, just a couple of tables being used. Service is fast - order& pay, then wait for your food. Depending on the food, it comes out pretty fast. We ordered pongal, and Kara dosa. Pongal set came out within a few mins. Pongal tasted good, no complaints. Perfect consistency, good flavor. Kara dosa was super disappointing, hence the reduction of 2 stars. Kara dosa is supposed to be spicy. This wasn't spicy at all. And forget about the spiciness which could vary from person to person, the spice powder/chutney spread on the dosa had a very old & artificial taste to it. So yea. It's an okay/average place I guess. We might give it another shot next time and order different stuff. Can't hope for ambience or anything of that sort. While we were there, we heard the kitchen staff talking very loudly and complaining about this and that. The entire place could hear the conversation going on inside the kitchen. A very quick in and out breakfast/dinner kinda place, not a place where you can hangout with friends over a meal. read more

Madurai Idli Kadai - Kara dosa - Indian Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

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Definitely better than Mylapore or any other hyped place in the Bay Area. I felt the food was made with no artificial ingredients. The other places adds artificial ingredients to elevate the taste which isn't good for the body. Overall the food is excellent and tasty, and most importantly you body feel much lighter from having a food at this place. That's the main reason most people likes the south Indian vegetarian food!!!. Their Idly and Pongal are the best in the Bay Area. Never miss it. read more

I have been going back to the restaurant in the past few months and I want to update my review . The authentic idlis and vadas are back . Their rava upma is extremely good as well . I will 100% recommend to someone who misses authentic Tamil style breakfast items. Reminds me of home Not sure what changed in the past few months but definitely wanted to give KUDOS!!! read more

The veggie review! The sambhar isn't the best, the chutneys are good. The mysore plain dosa could be crispier. The rava dosa was really subpar. The filter coffee was good. It is a small canteen style restaurant with fast service, I would go to this only place only if I lived close by and wanted a convenient spot for weekend breakfasts. read more

The place has really nice dosa- fresh and crispy, the chutneys are flavorful and not spicy. The sambhar is not bad, but not the best. I like that their masala is not too spicy either read more

Madurai Idli Kadai - Paper Masala Dosa - Indian Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

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Great taste, but everything else is sub-par. 4/5 on food and 2/5 on everything else for an overall score of 3/5 The taste and freshness of the food here has never disappointed; however, the limited seating and small portion sizes of the chutneys and Sambar is what restricts me from giving more than 3 stars. The sambar is so little...barely like 5 table spoons - not enough for a Dosa. The sambar is also not super flavorful but also not bad. Their Dosa's and Idlis however are amazing...perfect taste and texture. Don't go expecting amazing service and you will not be disappointed. I really just come here when I am craving quick bite of South Indian food. This place is always crowded not because it is awesome and super popular, but because it is way too tiny. There is barely 9-10 tables placed really close together (not good during COVID). Plus there is people standing to place orders and also food delivery people...I really don't like how cluttered this place gets. They should find a solution. Perhaps a bigger place or way to order from a window outside. Also I have know this place for a number of year (6+ for sure) and they have done zero updates...highly recommend some sort of face lift. It looks too clumsy, cluttered not a good experience at all to sit down and eat. Keep up the good job on the food though. read more

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Not a big fan right now. Hadn't gone here in a few years but decided to try them again recently and they reminded me why I hadn't gone back here in a few years. Madurai Modern Cafe (right across the street on the opposite side) is my go to spot for Dosa or South Indian food, and some of the crowd from here has moved there over the years. The owners of MIK (people call it this) are the same as Komala Vilas where I continue to go to for their Sunday Thali but I don't go here. You will find the menu and items are similar, except for the fact that Komala Vilas is popular for their Thali. Their chutneys are extremely watery, and even more so when you take a to go order. Their sambar is ok. Sides are important to me with my dosa, so I don't go here often because of the sides itself. The dosas themself are okay, pretty standard fare. Slightly pricey for what they serve, portion sizes have reduced. I'd say there are 3-4 dishes you can go here and try, because they make them well, or they might be unique to them. The Parotta is good becqhse it's very flaky (authentic Madurai style) and they make a good Bisibelabath which is rich and has a lot of ghee. Maybe you can try the Peanut Kara masala dosa here and the bhajji as well. Service wise, do not expect much. Choose to takeout because it's a very small space, like other reviews state. Always expect a considerable wait to dine in or pickup, because they do have a decent following that they've built over the years, although the food is not that good now. I will probably not be back here for a while unless I do not have a choice or I want to specifically try a couple of the dishes I listed above that they make well. read more

Want the to eat light cloud? Don't waste time reading this review go there now. Also consider doing take out as this places has limited seating read more

Madurai Idli Kadai serves up some of the most delectable dosas I've tasted in the Bay Area. They strike the perfect balance-- not overly greasy or oily, just pure deliciousness. While I hesitate to label it the ultimate South Indian dining spot, as they primarily focus on dosas (with a side of idlis and a few other staples), there's a whole world of South Indian cuisine out there. Nevertheless, if you're craving a fix of chai and dosa, this place is perfect. It transports me back to India more than any other restaurant I've tried in the area. The atmosphere is lowkey yet buzzing with activity. Despite the cozy space and bustling crowd, finding a seat is rarely an issue. And once you're settled, it's all about savoring the food and engaging in lively conversations. When you arrive, head to the back to place your order, then snag a table and await your name to be called. Trust me, this is a dish best enjoyed fresh in the restaurant--takeout just doesn't do it justice. Enjoy! read more

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Have been a fan of this place and their fresh food for many years. Their to the point terse service seemed to make up of their quality of food. But a recent visit showed depreciation in all departments. Food was served cold and items were missed when the food was served even after waiting patiently for 20-25 mins on a weekday when the restaurant was not even crowded (plus not much to go traffic) When we went to inform them about the cold medu vada and missed masala in our rava masala dosa the attitude which we had to deal with from the people in the kitchen was appalling. Neither were they apologetic nor did they have any intention of replacing the item. And the confusion it caused in the kitchen when we went and told them about each item was as if no one knew who was in charge. There would be a huddle in their kitchen with no further action taken. The filter coffee was undrinkable. Extremely bitter. Sad to see this state of affairs after having frequented this place for a long time. Not visiting anytime soon. read more

Came here for a short dosa stop and was not disappointed. We got the ghee podi masala dosa and split it amongst three people as a snack, which was the perfect portion. The extra ghee was absolutely a good life decision and now I will recommend all future dosas be sprinkled accordingly with ghee and podi. The masala was also honestly p good. Chutneys left some things to be desired but honestly not a make-or-break situation. Overall I can totally see why this place gets packed on the weekends and evenings so come early! read more

Madurai Idli Kadai - Ghee Podi Masala Dosa - Indian Near Me - Sunnyvale, California