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    Madurai Modern Cafe

    3.8 (229 reviews)
    InexpensiveIndian, Vegetarian
    Closed Closed
    Updated over 3 months ago

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    MADURAI MODERN CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating
    Good for groups

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    Masala Dosa
    Chinmay S.

    A hidden gem that has slowly become my family's go-to spot for homely, vegetarian South Indian food. While there's no shortage of Dosa-Idli places in the Bay Area, I keep coming back here because the food is just as good--if not better--than some of the more well-established spots like Madras Cafe and Saravana Bhavan. The ambience here is quiet and cozy and the focus is on the food. One note: don't confuse this place with its namesake, Madurai Idli Kadai, which is also just five minutes away. What draws me here is that it's less crowded, the food is always freshly prepared (my test is the Idli and Vada combo). Many places tend to pre-make these and serve them warm or even cold, but I've consistently had them hot and fresh here, no matter the time of day I order. Be sure to try their three-flavor dosa, featuring Mysore, Malli, and Kara chutneys, all in a single dosa topped with some podi and onions. I loved it! Definitely worth a visit--you won't be disappointed.

    Rava Masala
    Apoorva R.

    Love this little south indian place! Its tucked in a corner, lowkey but the food is delicious. They got their sambar and chutneys right! The mysore masala dosa is my fav over here.. do give it a try! Food is not too spicy which is great! The taste and flavors are very authentic south indian and seems like they use good quality ingredients (ghee was amazing in the dosa). The service is pretty quick as well.

    Poori (2No) With Channa
    Sahridaya N.

    I gotta start off this review saying the 5 stars is purely for their food! The service is pretty slow and the place definitely needs a bit of maintenance but once you taste their food, you'll know why they are always crowded despite their issues :) Their sambar is one of THE BEST I've had in the bay. You can try any combination of dosai and you won't be disappointed - everything is delicious but especially ghee rava, do not miss this! If you love a bit of heat, try their kara malli dosai. Idlies are fantastic and vadai is crissspy (a bit too oily for me though) & the Poori channa is made the South Indian way which needs a special mention cause got don't get this at all Indian restaurants.

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    Prem D.

    Poor hygiene. Some food is authentic. But I will not go here again. Dishes tried Sambar vada Vada is not good, sambar was ok Curd vada Vada is not good, curd was tangy and spicy Schezwan veg noodles Madurai malli masala dosa. Nice spicy and tasty, too. Kal dosa with korma Kal dosa was thin and should be thick. Korma was very good. Poori masala Masala, no spice, very bland. Less onions mostly potatoes. All the chutneys were authentic.

    Idli (3No)
    Anagha J.

    Deducting 2 stars for the ridiculous wait time of 60 mins to get a plate of idli served on Saturday morning. Deducting 1 star for lack staff hospitality and management. The food was alright. Idli was soft. The sambar and accompanying chutneys were just average- nothing spectacular. Given the other reviews, the wait time seems to be a constant issue. As there are so many other better options in the area for South Indian food that I think I wont return here to eat again.

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    6 months ago

    Nice small place. Very friendly fast service. Economical and food quality is pretty decent. Thanks

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    10 months ago

    Food was great. Service was great. The service was awesome. Dosa was awesome. Idliwas fire.

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    2 years ago

    The food was good. Service was a little odd but the TV playing Bollywood songs was a nice distraction while waiting for our food.

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    11 months ago

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    11 months ago

    Authentic dishes. Service is a bit slow but that is the trade off for decent food. Vada, and idly were delicious

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    Page 1 of 6

    Ask the Community - Madurai Modern Cafe

    As a new person to dosas, what would you recommend to try first (or second) at this Dosa shop?

    You can try with the delicious "Masala Dosa" , its a dosa rolled with medium spiced Mashed potato curry, served with typical Sambar (Gravy) and Chutneys (Garnishings).… Read more

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    Merit Vegan Restaurant - #30 BBQ Vermicelli - very good

    Merit Vegan Restaurant

    4.2(1.9k reviews)
    1.5 mi
    $$

    One of my favorite vegan spots, and I've been coming here with my family long enough that it's…read moreabout time I actually wrote this up. The pho is the thing to get. Clear broth, comes with an assortment of vegan proteins, and it's been consistent every single time over the years. Best had in cold weather. The spicy noodle soup is solid too but it doesn't hit the same way. The SP4 gourmet deluxe is my other staple and I order it like an appetizer. The protein comes out fried with a crispy shell and soft inside. The sauce leans hard on lemongrass and citrus but it's savory throughout, not sweet. Haven't had anything like it anywhere else. Orange nuggets are chewy with a citrusy and sweet glaze. Good enough that I skip the actual appetizers for these. The Szechuan Pineapple is spicy, salty, and savory with chewy gluten and a citrus undertone running through it. Green papaya salad is strictly sour and tangy. Fresh, nothing heavy about it. Sweet potato curry is definitely underrated. Potato goes soft all the way through and the whole thing tastes hearty without being heavy. Basil eggplant tofu skews sweet and the eggplant goes silky and it's a family favorite. Eggplant claypot has the same idea but the sauce is better and it comes out in the claypot which makes it feel like a proper dish. Jalapeno BBQ seitan was a miss. The BBQ sauce tastes flat. Staff is friendly and food comes out fast.

    Some of the best fresh rolls I've ever had. The tofu is marinated and seasoned and it takes it to…read morethe next level. They're also not shy with that peanut sauce, which I appreciate. Had the BBQ Vermicelli bowl and was thoroughly satisfied. It's a big portion, hits all the marks for veggie varieties, and tasted super fresh (even for takeout). I only came to get takeout but would for sure come back to dine in. The staff I interacted with were very friendly and the vibe was good.

    Photos
    Merit Vegan Restaurant - Interior

    Interior

    Merit Vegan Restaurant - Sp4. Gourmet Deluxe

    Sp4. Gourmet Deluxe

    Merit Vegan Restaurant - Tom kha thai soup

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    Tom kha thai soup

    Mylapore - Sunnyvale - Gajar halwa

    Mylapore - Sunnyvale

    3.9(153 reviews)
    1.9 mi
    $$

    Great food! Best South Indian place I've been to in the US. Ambience and ready-made food is great…read moreas well. Service is amazing too

    SERVICE - located off of el Camino real…read more- small parking lot in front can get crowded during busier hours like weekends and Friday evenings - expect a wait of at least 30 minutes during busier times - order at the area in the front and then find a table for the food to be brought to you - complementary chutneys and sambar served with every order - service is fast - self service take out containers in the back of the dining area MENU - homestyle South Indian food - all vegetarian with ample vegan options - average price FOOD - enne masala dosa (10/10): crispy and fluffy dosa filled with potato masala and served with chutneys and sambar. This is the vegan version of the benne dosa that is usually made with ghee. The dosa is different than standard dosas as it is very crispy on the outside and soft and fluffy in the middle. It is quite oily but that is to be expected from a dish that is normally made with generous drizzles of ghee. - ratna cafe sambar idli (8/10): two pieces of idli soaked in a pearl onion sambar. The pearl onions make this sambar unique by adding a slight sweetness and tang. The idli soaks up the sambar so i would recommend eating it fresh so that it does not get soggy. WOULD I GO BACK? Yes! The food is reasonably priced and has tastes like home cooked food.

    Photos
    Mylapore - Sunnyvale - Inside on a early weekday morning

    Inside on a early weekday morning

    Mylapore - Sunnyvale - Filter Kapi(Coffee)

    Filter Kapi(Coffee)

    Mylapore - Sunnyvale - Mini tiffin- rava kesri was awesome. Idli and wada with sambhar werre awesome too.

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    Mini tiffin- rava kesri was awesome. Idli and wada with sambhar werre awesome too.

    Veggie Garden - E6. Mongolian Vegetarian Chicken Lunch

    Veggie Garden

    4.4(670 reviews)
    5.6 mi
    $$

    I've been hearing rave reviews about this place from friends and family in the area and it does not…read moredisappoint! The food isn't an exact one-to-one match for what it's mimicking, but the flavor is so good and you feel even better after eating it. I loved the gobi manchurian the most. It was crunchy with a great meaty texture. The fish was a bit tougher than regular fish, but the flavor was spot on and I didn't mind the extra texture. The space is small and filled up quickly during dinner, but the service was super friendly and fast. Our waitress was happy to show us what the dishes looked like and explain what they tasted like, which was really helpful. I'll definitely be back to try more of their mock meats and dishes.

    I was running some errands nearby, so I decided to grab takeout. I went with General's Chicken and…read moreBlack Pepper Chicken Chow Mein. When I arrived, there were plenty of parking spots, and the restaurant was empty. The parking lot is a bit small, so I imagine it can be tricky to find a spot when it's busy. I can't say much about the ambiance or service because it was a quick in-and-out experience. When I got to my car, I immediately vented the General's Chicken container and left the plastic bag open because I wanted to make sure it was still crispy when I got home. Note to the restaurant: I really appreciate when restaurants cut holes in the corners of containers for crispy/fried foods to keep them from getting too soggy. Having some venting for the steam to escape really helps. General's Chicken was my go-to before I went vegan, so I was really excited to find a vegan version. When I ordered on DoorDash, the General's Chicken had three spice levels: Medium, Mild, and Spicy. I went with Spicy, but the sauce didn't taste spicy to me at all. It was also super gingery, which I'm not used to. The sauce wasn't bad, but it didn't remind me of the typical General Tso sauce I'm used to. That said, I did enjoy the crispy texture, broccoli, and bell peppers. I'd rate this a 3.5/5. Yelp AI mentioned that the Black Pepper Chicken was the highest-rated item, so I decided to try the Black Pepper Chicken Chow Mein. At first bite, I was unsure of it, but as I kept eating, I enjoyed it more and more. I love that they include so many veggies, it really adds to the dish. I would give this a 4/5. Overall, I thought the food was good. I can definitely see myself ordering other items from here next time I get a craving for Chinese takeout.

    Photos
    Veggie Garden - Inside restaurant

    Inside restaurant

    Veggie Garden - A5. 2 Piece Vegetarian Buns

    A5. 2 Piece Vegetarian Buns

    Veggie Garden - B10. Thai Ice Tea (made with oat milk)

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    B10. Thai Ice Tea (made with oat milk)

    Wildseed - BANANA FRITTERS

    Wildseed

    4.3(1k reviews)
    9.2 mi
    $$

    Wow. Could not have been happier with the food!…read more Will present the food in the order I would recommend: Banana fritters- soft clouds of fried dough, over some rum dark chocolate sauce. Divine! 7/5 Curry cauliflower over a red non spicy sauce. Refreshing! The flavors blended together with the flavorful but not overpowering flavor, with the well balanced sauce underneath. Could not stop eating it. $17 8/5 Mezze plate - the coconut feta was very creamy and good, I really enjoyed the pomegranate arugula salad with pickled onion and with the pieces of falafel inside. The flatbread was a little hard, but good. The eggplant was good and hummus also good. $32 price a little steep for the platter 6/5 Impossible cheeseburger - classic impossible burger. The standout item was the fries, quite good! Crisp outside and soft inside. 5/5 French toast - ok, a little dry, the berry sauce was good but lacking a little dynamic flavor maybe some citrus? 3/5 Cookie with vegan ice cream. Alas, pastries are still difficult to make well vegan 3/5 Service was a little distracted and hard to order. Bussing was very on top of it. I will return for the top items

    I was curious about Wildseed, as this is a plant-based restaurant and bar. They serve brunch,…read morelunch, mid-day, dinner, and even a HH option. We came here for brunch, and ordered: +the French Fries - with vegan chipotle aioli, vegan herb aioli, and curried ketchup +the Carbonara Pizza - with ruffled faba milk bechamel, english peas, red onions, fermented garlic, smoked tempeh bacon, lemon agrumato, and fresh cracked black pepper +the Carrot Lox Tartine - with levain, coconut cream cheese, cherry tomatoes, pickled red onions, dill, and capers +and, the Banana Fritters - with chocolate coconut rum sauce and powdered sugar For drinks, I went for the Homemade Soda (pineapple) and the Orange 'fancy juice' (prepared with grapefruit, carrots, orange, turmeric, and ginger). Both were refreshing. Service was friendly, and the inside is bright; I loved their white wooden beams. A great option for those who want a 'meat-free' meal. +plant-based offerings +friendly service

    Photos
    Wildseed - Menu cover

    Menu cover

    Wildseed - BEET TOSTADAS

    BEET TOSTADAS

    Wildseed - Probiotic bowl with neat balls

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    Probiotic bowl with neat balls

    Oh Baby Sushi - Omakase @ Oh Baby Sushi

    Oh Baby Sushi

    4.4(222 reviews)
    2.6 mi
    Vegan friendly
    Kid friendly

    such a satisfying meal. I don't remember eating this much fish in one sitting since japan…read more got the deluxe chirashi ($60) and the oh baby box ($60). Both were beautifully presented, and honestly felt well worth the price bc there was actually so much fish. oh baby box - this came with seared salmon toro, scallops, uni, ikura, and crab. The natural sweetness of the scallops, uni, and crab really stood out to me. The salmon belly was also incredibly fatty and perfectly lightly seared. deluxe chirashi - this came w/ hamachi, seared salmon toro, chu toro, sweet shrimp, walu, ikura, uni, scallops, tamagoyaki (and some white fish that i didn't recognize). I liked that the chef added his own twist to flavor of the fish (the truffle hamachi and yuzu scallops were 10/10)

    We were really excited to try this place after some friends had recommended it but unfortunately…read moreour experience fell short. Food - while the menu has many options (vegetation too!) we were a little surprised by the prices. Rolls start at about $24 each. This feels above average. The rolls themselves were good, no complaints. Miso soup was good too. Service - our waitress was very kind and professional but we felt VERY rushed. Some of us were still chewing our food before our plates were taken and the bill was offered. I specifically asked if they could wait some time before paying the bill but they brought it again after 2 mins. The restaurant was not full and it was not near closing time, so it was very confusing. At the end, our group went elsewhere for dessert so we could continue enjoying our outing together. We total lasted at the restaurant for 45 mins max for a party of 4. Unfortunately these aspects combined don't leave me excited to return :(

    Photos
    Oh Baby Sushi - Omakase @ Oh Baby Sushi

    Omakase @ Oh Baby Sushi

    Oh Baby Sushi - Negi Hama Hand Roll @ Oh Baby Sushi

    Negi Hama Hand Roll @ Oh Baby Sushi

    Oh Baby Sushi - Omakase @ Oh Baby Sushi

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    Omakase @ Oh Baby Sushi

    Vegetarian House - Chow Mien

    Vegetarian House

    4.2(1.3k reviews)
    7.7 miDowntown
    $$

    Excellent experience today. So appreciated Morna helping us with choosing and really caring about…read morehow we liked dishes. Three of us shared: crispy spring rolls, 4 - pronounced crunch and substantial contents and orangey dipping broth pleasant. Potstickers 4 - wonderfully crisp outside, contents had nice texture and brown dipping broth a good accompaniment. Pad Thai and Crispy? Chow Mein - tossup on which we liked best. Liked smooth texture of pad and tofu strips but one didn't care for the shrimp looking yam crescents. Loved the crunchy peanuts and wouldn't mind a bit more. Loved the mushrooms in chow mein. BBQ tempeh bowl with kale and carrots over rice - enjoyed spicy tempeh classic flavor. Shared Cacao pecan cake and New York cheezcake. Loved the subfloor pops and silky texture of both. Bravo to all and look forward to returning! Note: chose them from Bay Area Check Please reviews

    Interesting place to eat. The main restaurant is open during the weekends. They only have the…read moreoutdoor patio open during the week. I walked up to the window to see how they operate. I was informed that the patio is open and to order using a QR code at one of the tables in the patio. You have to sign in and create an account to order. It took me a minute to order. I wanted to try their specialty dishes especially because they have mushroom dishes and soy protein dishes. But by the time I was able to figure out how to order and sign up, I was pressed for time to order a meal and ended up ordering crispy spring rolls. Once your order is placed, you wait for a text to let you know your order is ready. Then I have to pick up at the window. Spring rolls were okay. I really wanted to try the crispy oyster mushrooms or the lion mane mushroom dish. Or even the Sea Fruits plate but I wasn't going to have enough time to enjoy them. The patio was fine. A few picnic tables. You bus your own table at the end. Everything they used was biodegradable. I wish it was a better experience. The food looked delicious in pictures, but eating in an outdoor patio, ordering from a QR code, and picking up your food from the window made for a sad and sub par experience.

    Photos
    Vegetarian House - Dancing Asparagus

    Dancing Asparagus

    Vegetarian House - Quinoa Sushi

    Quinoa Sushi

    Vegetarian House - Tom Ka Thai Soup

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    Tom Ka Thai Soup

    Madurai Modern Cafe - indpak - Updated May 2026

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