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    Udipi Cafe

    3.6 (214 reviews)
    InexpensiveIndian, Vegetarian
    Open 11:00 am - 3:00 pm, 5:00 PM - 9:30 PM
    Updated over 3 months ago

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    UDIPI CAFE ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Recommended Reviews - Udipi Cafe

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    My plate #1
    Lou C.

    Came to Upidi Cafe for the all-you-can-eat buffet because I crave for vegetarian food, especially Indian food. I have been here early this year but I didn't have a chance to thoroughly investigate what I was eating. I think it serves in the style of Thali as round plate divided with sides in smaller bowls. Since it's a buffet, I can take little bit at a time until I'm familiar with the taste. I also got more knowledge from eating Indian food frequently since I started foodie exploration early 2023. The buffet line is organized by hot and cold, not separated by entrees, starches, sweets and salads. So I started to indulge with standard thali entrees and breads. Starches are Poori (puffy bread), Vada (donut looking thing), Idly (rice cake) and Set Dosa (pancake looking bread). My favorite is to break poori open and use it to scoop curry or chutney. I actually like every bread they serve for different tastes. My favorite desserts are Semiya Payasam (vermicelli kheer in sweet milk) and coconut rice. My favorite rice is biriyani, of course, more flavors than plain rice. My favorite entree is Mutter Paneer (cheese is creamier than other restaurants) and Jackfruit Curry. When it says spicy and red, it is very spicy. I usually bring some yogurt based sauce (not sure exact name) to cool my palate if I accidentally consumed spicy food. Overall, $14.99 makes my wallet happy and tummy happy. Buffet lunch is only served on weekdays from 11 am to 2:30 pm. Remember, it's closed on Mondays.

    The food was substandard. The sweets are frozen, however the service was really good. The guy in the front desk was very nice and accomodating

    Mysore masala dosa (with sambar and chutneys), combo with masala dosa, idli, vada, upma, kesari bath
    Sunreeta B.

    Service was great, although the wait time was on the higher side for a not-so-full sunday dinner hour. Had the alu bonda, and the mysore masala dosa. The combo thali also came with a small dosa and one idli, vada, and a portion of kesari bath and upma each. Flavors were on the subtler side which I personally liked, but maybe worth considering for some people. Found out from the owner, Mr Satheesh that he also started the Udupi Cafe in Monroeville, Pittsburgh (it was the first one) along with a few others who are still there. I loved the appetizing tomato rasam that was served before the meal! First experience of Indian food in Houston was decent, but I will perhaps always be more conservative with my praise for Indian food!

    1. Bhel Puri
    Yasser H.

    Had stopped by here recently to grab some vegetarian snacks. After being seated, I noticed some photos of Anthony Bourdain with the owner, so I had to ask about the details. He told me that Anthony Bourdain would his restaurant every time he was in Houston. The owner was very friendly and he did stop by every table to say hi and engage in a casual conversation. I ordered Bhel puri, a dahi puri, samosas and masala dosa. The items were good and filling. I was satisfied with the taste. Samosas were in point and served with two different types of chutneys. They have an extensive list of items on the menu, especially dosas. A nice variety of them. The service was up to standards. This is actually a sit down restaurant with table service. I plan to be back b

    Podi Dosa with Masala
    Clarisse D.

    We visited the restaurant for lunch buffet over the weekend. The Vegetarian restaurant is located close to a busy intersection and easy to find. Pros: - we were seated promptly by the waitress who was courteous - The owner invited us and was gracious **, much appreciated - Having visited India and being a frequent foodie of Asian restaurants- we noticed a fantastic South Indian spread of more than 20 dishes in the buffet; - we tried just about every dish from Idlis, Vadas, curd rice, 6 types of curries, sambar, rasam, 3 types of sweet dishes, 3 chutneys, 2 types of rice. - They also offer 3 different types of Dosas as part of the buffet - which was delicious and well made. - the waitress was consistently prompt and courteous Now the cons: - parking is tough to find and the few spaces in front are filled up, with little to spare elsewhere - the idlis and Vadas were missing the authentic taste - it was either the lack of fenugreek or consistency in the batter. - it just didn't taste right; - Having tasted authentic South Indian food this place just lacked the taste, texture and flavor with multiple dishes. - There are wayyy too many pictures of the owner with some Indian folks all over the walls; I googled some of the folks and learned they were Indian actors and musicians; it was an overdose of personal glory; The food was not up-to the authentic South Indian taste;. Could be that we may have visited on the wrong day or the cook was on holiday. Wish the owner and staff the very best. -

    Hands down my favorite restaurant in Houston. Strictly vegetarian, flavorful, wonderful place with excellent service and, a thorough gentlemanly owner. Loved the rawa masala special dosa and the Brahman thali. Even the non- South Indian items were good. Mango lassi was sublime.... This is our new to-go place. [[HIGHLIGHT]]I hope they update the decor soon.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]

    Mysore masala dosa
    Sunny B.

    With so many great Indian options in Hilcroft, I was not impressed with Udipi Cafe. I would likely go to Honest or Shiv Sagar if I am craving chaat-style food. I ordered a masala dosa and the potato filling inside was very plain. It was completely mild and lacked seasoning. The coconut chutney was also plain and watery, not the usual creamy taste you would expect from coconut chutney. I also tried the samosa chaat, which comes in a unique style compared to other Hilcroft restaurants. There is no yogurt and the samosa is cut up into the chaat mix. This dish had more flavor than the masala dosa, but I felt that it was missing the extra tangy taste of yogurt.

    Miny Thali
    Rabia S.

    I got the Miny Thali for lunch & chose the paneer tikka masala & avial (veggies made with coconut milk). It came with the options of poori or roti - I chose roti, but they gave poori. I ate the rice with the curries, but I didn't try the daal or sambar. The paneer tikka masala was good, and the avial was not bad. The beans were just boiled, but they were okay mixed the paneer masala. The payasam was good, too. Overall, it was okay.

    Shana C.

    The owner was super kind and helpful. Before the pandemic I would enjoy their buffet. Now that there is no longer a buffet I didn't know what to order. He made a great recommendation and I enjoyed every bite. I still don't know the names of the things I ate on the mini platter, but it was all tasty.

    Aditi M.

    For once I thought I'd ditch the yelp reviews and order from a restaurant with not so great reviews and I was soo soo wrong! This is the worst Indian restaurant based on my soda experience. I ordered food through doordash and the one star I give here is for timely doordash delivery. The Mysore masala dosa had every part of it done wrong. The soda was thick, the podi was just a lot of salt, the chutneys were bland and cold, the so called sambar was I don't know what. Disappointed to be disappointed:( I was craving for dosa and was really hoping for good food.

    You can see this from the parking lot, so you will know if you are in the right place
    Daniel L.

    I need to quit smoking, doctor's orders. I need to quit drinking, court orders. This is a strict veg only resto so I had to quit meating for the afternoon as well, Udipi orders. I had to schlep all across town to get here, so my expectations were a bit high considering the start-up "expenses" of time and the frustration of sitting in gas-brake-honk Houston traffic for over an hour to get to and through one of the busiest intersections in the city of 59 @ Hillcroft. Notwithstanding that the end of the year is quickly approaching and I am dangerously short of my 100 yelp reviews for the calendar year. So I needed to pick up a fork and put some work in. The weekday buffet is priced to move at $8.99 which explains why this is a pretty popular joint for people that have time in their weekday lunch schedule to come down here. I don't live or work near here. The weekend buffet comes with a penalty tax of "you don't live or work in this neighborhood" bringing it up to $10.99. There was a table with a really cute teen/young adult with a UH-Downtown t-shirt on, so at least someone in the resto drove further than I did today just for lunch. If you didn't know, a buffet under $10 basically means that if you eat anything you got your money's worth because fair is fair. A buffet that nips past $10 in the wallet issues a challenge that you now not only need to get your money's worth but you will be tracking it closely with the ol' stomach ledger. So now you know why it is on like Donkey Kong. The lunch buffet begins at 11am and extends to 3pm. When we walked in at 1pm there were no available tables and thus a wait for a table. We nearly left for one of the other restos on the Hillcroft Strip. But I had already been propositioned by a prostitute out in the parking lot, so I mostly just didn't want to experience that again so soon from a ho that ain't ever heard 'no' before. I don't need to pay for it, hon, until I lose slightly less than half of all my stuff in a divorce then I paid for it just then I suppose. There are booth-ish seating areas flanking the east and west walls and the main dining area is composed of long tables, even though they are pushed together, you still get people at "other tables" smushed in so close they kind of get all up in your business (jalapeno business) which one lady on our row from an unaffiliated table was staring a hole in me as I was telling a hilarious story and otherwise just being beautiful. The buffet station flanks the south wall. You can pick a flat ceramic plate (don't!) or get one of the tin metal partitioned plates (yes). Edgar V.'s review was most helpful in this respect. I am glad I invested the time to read through all of the reviews otherwise I would have not seen his and would have made the ceramic plate mistake. Crisis averted. The server guy takes care of refilling water pretty regularly. So I have to say that this is pretty good service for a casual "buffet" sort of place. The only real strike against Udipi is that the "spicy" dosa I requested was not spicy at all. Not even that white lady that thinks toothpaste is spicy would think this dosa was spicy. Bring muh heat, or go home. To that end, the spicy onions were my favorite aspect of the actual buffet line. They weren't hot at all - and they were less hot than how Cuisine India down by JSC does it - but they still were the single source of any amount of heat in my mouth, so it paired with everything to give me what I want as a nice profile finishing on all of the other veg items. The buffet options are relatively numerous considering it is veg only. Every item available was fully stocked and the guy kept refilling stuff so nothing was ever "out" which is the bane of my existence down at the buffet lines. I can't ding Udipi too badly on the ho out in the parking lot. She was hurtin' for a squirtin' because of numerous socioeconomic factors and lack of access to education, infrastructure, and real opportunity where she probably grew up. I don't think Udipi contributed to that at all. But still, my mother would not have felt very safe or secure coming to this business with that kind of thing happening in the parking lot right in front of this biz. The lack of spiciness in the dosa and the ho out front obviate a fifth star but other than that: wear sweatpants, bring an appetite, don't expect much heat, and you are in business with a pleasant veg only lunch, baby.

    Ellen C.

    A couple of friends and I recently dined here, hoping for the best because it's kind of "our thing" to eat glorious Indian food together and I'm not going to lie, I have led them astray more than once (which I directly blame on Yelp and my inability to make decisions solely on my own). Initial impression was that this is a bit hole-in-the-wall-ish as most places on Hillcroft. I had been to the Sugar Land Udipi Cafe a billion and one times by now and I immediately noticed that the Hillcroft location still retained the olds school menu (I believe the Sugar Land one changed ownership and the new owner decided to class it up, I mean, the menu items are probably still the same, but anyway!). Being that I'm a fool for nostalgia (and I cannot handle change, as it can be extremely psychologically scarring for me as I am pretty much an old grumpy fart these days (verified by several close acquaintances)), that made me inexplicably happy. I opted for the Spring Dosa and my friends also ordered some dosas. The samosas were pretty unremarkable, but edible, so that was that, but the service was impressive. We were doted on constantly, our water glasses closely monitored and replenished like clockwork, a couple sips until depletion. The restaurant was fairly barren when we arrived, but gradually filled up with a handful of large families getting their grub on. Service remained steady and pleasant, which matters a great deal to me because there's nothing worse than being regarded with stern resentment by your waiter/server. Oh yes about the dosas, well okay, they're a bit wimpier than what I typically receive at other Indian restaurants. Sure, it was still a substantial amount of food and I ate it for breakfast (heartburn included!), but Udipi wasn't exactly generous with the potato cabbage-y filling. It's okay, I'm sure this type of thing varies from day to day. It was still delicious and we were all pretty satisfied. So good job me and Yelp, for not dragging my friends to another FAIL eating adventure.

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    The thali was kinda bland ...but the Alloo parata and onion pakoras were yummy! The servers were nice and prompt!

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    The dips that come with the dosa are amazing! Will definitely visit here again! Must go for South Indian cuisone

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    Shri Balaji Bhavan

    Shri Balaji Bhavan

    3.9
    (423 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$

    We had a nice vegetarian dinner at Shri Balawi Bhavan. The onion masala dosai was great. The butter…read moremasala dosai was delicious and buttery as the name implies. We topped off our meal with a very strong Madras coffee. Overall the meal was great. If you want an authentic South Indian vegetarian meal then try Shri Balaji Bhavan.

    I'm a huge fan of thali, and we usually go to Shiv Sagar. However, I saw a social media promotion…read moreoffering a free chaat with the purchase, who can say no to free chaat? The shopping center is fairly small with limited parking, and unfortunately there isn't much shade, so it can get extremely hot. One thing to note is that they're closed on Tuesdays. Ordering was simple. You grab a menu, place your order at the register, and our food arrived in about five minutes. Before ordering, I clearly requested no cilantro on everything because I have a cilantro allergy. Unfortunately, the complimentary papdi chaat came out covered in cilantro. I had to send it back to be remade, which was frustrating since food allergies should be taken seriously. The thali itself was good. It had a nice level of spice, came with three chapatis, rice, and a good variety of curries. At $11.99, I thought it was a good value. As for the papdi chaat, I still prefer Shiv Sagar's version. It has a more generous portion of potatoes and chickpeas, and if I remember correctly, it's also about a dollar cheaper. My only other disappointment was the loyalty program. I asked to join when paying, but was told that I should pay first. Once paid, the transaction had already been completed and it won't let me join. Perhaps they think we are a one time customer, so why join the program? Overall, I'm glad I gave this place a try and found another Indian restaurant in the Gandhi District. I'd definitely come back for the thali, but I hope they improve their attention to food allergies and make the loyalty program process more welcoming.

    Photos
    Shri Balaji Bhavan
    Dahi Puri
    Dahi Puri
    Restaurant dine in area

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    Restaurant dine in area
    Shiv Sagar

    Shiv Sagar

    3.9
    (413 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $

    My friend and I stop by there for lunch and no regrets there. We loved it so much. I have a strict…read morediet of no onion and no garlic and they are willing to accommodate. The cashier and the server were patient since its our firat time. We've ordered the Masala Dosa, samosas, and a chickpea dish. All are yummy choices. You can ordered at the counter and then sit down or just sit anywhere and order from your phone. But if you have a strict diet, you must speak to them in person. There are booths and tables for you to choose from. Lighting is great for nice dining atmosphere. Must TRY!

    We very rarely go to the Hilcroft area, but after seeing so many rave reviews, we decided to give…read morethis place a try and had high expectations for the food. Unfortunately, our experience was quite the opposite. The first thing we noticed when we entered the restaurant was a strong, unpleasant smell. Since we had specifically gone there to try the food, we still decided to dine in. We ordered chai, Mysore masala dosa, chole bhature, and samosas. None of the dishes really stood out. The food was just average; not terrible, but definitely not worth making the drive for. The chai in particular had almost no flavor, and we couldn't even finish it. Overall, it was a disappointing experience, especially given the hype. There are many better options in the Katy/Richmond area where you can find great food in a much more pleasant dining environment. The smell inside the restaurant was also concerning, as it raises questions about hygiene and food safety standards. For context, we visited on a Saturday morning around 11:30 AM, so it wasn't late in the day or close to closing time. Based on this experience, I wouldn't prefer to visit again.

    Photos
    Indoor seating area
    Indoor seating area
    Bombay Sandwich
    Bombay Sandwich
    Shiv Sagar

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    Biryani Factory

    Biryani Factory

    4.1
    (219 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$

    Did a DoorDash order on Monday in mid-March since we didn't feel like cooking. They had some deals…read moreso we got a couple BOGO items and we love Indian eats. Our order included potato samosas (BOGO), the chicken 65 (BOGO), goat curry, palak paneer, and garlic naan. Samosas and the chicken 65 were both delicious; dip both in that mint sauce with the samosas to kick up the flavor. Be careful as the chicken 65 (mini fried chicken bites) have spiciness to it with a good amount of chili powder and pepper kicked in. The goat curry was alright, don't know if I would order it again as the grease was overwhelming. I wasn't a fan of the palak paneer, found it too runny and it was leaking when it was delivered to us. Also the garlic naan was a bit hard in the middle; maybe it's due to the packaging? Wouldn't mind ordering here again but we'll definitely do some different items. Hopefully the samosas and chicken 65 are still on the BOGO status cause we'll definitely take those again.

    As a repeat visitor to the Biryani Factory, I highly recommend it for its delectable spices chicken…read morebiryani and accompanied with Raita (Yoghurt Sauce) Order mild on the dishes. Try spicy before couldn't handle it. My favorite appetizer is Gobi Manchurian is fried cauliflower with special sauce The service was impressive, the owner ensuring that we were thoroughly satisfied.

    Photos
    Banner was attractive
    Banner was attractive
    There were 4 pieces of chicken in the Chicken Dum Biryani
    There were 4 pieces of chicken in the Chicken Dum Biryani
    Entire order of chicken curry had 1 small piece of chicken and tasted stale

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    Entire order of chicken curry had 1 small piece of chicken and tasted stale
    Kathmandu Curry and Bar

    Kathmandu Curry and Bar

    4.2
    (202 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$
    Vegetarian friendly
    Happy hour specials

    I implore you to come here for the momos. They are delish. We got fried goat momo (10) doused in…read morechili sauce (medium spice). They had a nice chewy bite to them. So flavorful, and not too spicy. What was spicy was the pani puri, so be mindful of the kick. On the opposite side of the spectrum was the Kathmandu curry which comes with a side of naan or rice. It was a lot more mild compared to the other dishes, but it balanced well with the momos. Service was attentive and made sure we were taken care of. They advertise themselves as fine dining. They had pre-rolled silverware, but other than that it was pretty casual. They have a TV displaying gorgeous Himalayan scenery that I was staring at in awe the entire time, so don't be surprised if I book a fight to Nepal.

    We came here unexpectedly as the restaurant next door was out of dishes that we were looking for…read more Since the FIFA World Cup is going on, they had nicely decorated the ceiling with different flags & had multiple TVs setup so you can watch the game. Nice table service, and nice ambiance. The Vegetable Manchurian was amazing, we got it in mild, and it still had soo much flavor. The noodles and Malai kofta were good. We got them in mild; so kids can have them too. Garlic naan was excellent, so soft & fluffy. Overall, it was a great experience as we're craving Indo Chinese food. We'll be back! Oh and nice Mocktail menu too! The pineapple drink with tahin was delicious.

    Photos
    Signature item--Chicken Momo
    Signature item--Chicken Momo
    Newari platter, healthy and balanced nutrition.
    Newari platter, healthy and balanced nutrition.
    Mouthwatering Biryani

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    Mouthwatering Biryani
    Angara Kabab & Karahi

    Angara Kabab & Karahi

    4.4
    (99 reviews)
    0.0 mi

    I had a pleasant lunch at Angara Kabab & Karahi recently. Parking space was plentiful in front of…read morethis table service restaurant. My order was for the butter chicken for $15 and I added some garlic naan for another $3.50 along with some lemonade ($3). Both food items were delivered together about 10 minutes after ordering. The food was delicious. The butter chicken was made with tandoori chicken bathed in a slightly spicy and creamy butter and tomato sauce. The naan came with very 2 large slices and tasted as advertised. Garlic and butter always go together and this bread was well worth it. This meal tasted very good and satisfied my hunger. Table service was good here. I would order this meal again and be happy to return.

    Angara you wouldn't notice from the street, so it's a little like a hidden gem. Their specialty is…read morekabab and karahi, hence the name. + The curries are excellent (shinwari chicken and beef kebab), lots of flavor. + The hyderabad chicken dum biryani was good, comes with salan and raita + Pricing is fair, a little cheaper than Aga's + They have peshwari naan, which is a personal favorite of mine, not too many places have it. + They offered complimentary samples of their chai, which was rich and delicious + Friendly staff + Clean restroom - My fiancee ordered the mango lassi, while the rest got water. We assumed it would be tap, but we got bottled. Fortunately, the charge was only $1. I would recommend clarifying with the restaurant / and the restaurant the guest. - Fiancee didn't think the lassi had enough of the mango flavor and didn't like that it came with whipped cream - Several items were not available, the shinwari special (soup), and borani bademjan (eggplant). I would recommend Angara if you're looking for karahi in Hillcroft. Plus they cater!

    Photos
    Angara Kabab & Karahi
    Goat chops
    Goat chops
    Angara Kabab & Karahi

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    India's Restaurant

    India's Restaurant

    3.8
    (571 reviews)
    1.6 mi
    $$

    I have been eating here for 40 years! Amazing food and great…read moreservice. The staff is top notch.

    Recognition hasn't been the problem for India's, as they're often mentioned when discussing Indian…read morelunch buffets. Their longevity (#1) of a near half century is nothing short of impressive, earning a nostalgic place in the hearts of many Houston diners, a good number of whom trace their first Indian cuisine experiences at this very location. While I do wish their success, it's hard not to point out minor mishaps in different aspects of the overall restaurant experience, which include: :: Awkward stares from the staff as they hover or stand in the middle of the room. It's understandable that they're monitoring to help where needed, but even then I will have to flag them down for water, napkins, or the bill. :: Buffet maintenance. They're semi-quick to replenish, but extremely slow at maintaining the cleanliness. Splatter from the daal makhani, a serving spoon not returned to the same serving tray, or even customers forgetting to close the bins at the dessert station (#2) could all be mitigated by a designated person keeping it tidy. :: Food quality. The tandoori chicken has been dry, the saag paneer could be creamier, and chicken tikka masala has had their bland days. Even the naan can be a bit too dry at times. Thankfully I've fared better with the chana masala and paneer makhani. I would also steer clear of their fruit punch. :: Decor is dark and dated. It still reminds me of a place that is stuck in time, which for most experiences are usually my favorite. The natural lighting during lunch alleviates this slightly, but the dinner hour makes this place feel like eating in an older hotel lobby. The vibes are most definitely challenging. :: Foodflation. Another price hike in the last year brings the buffet price to just under $22. While it's a nice jump from what it was previously, it does leave me wishing for more, especially when the prices keep climbing. ___________ (#1) 46 years. (#2) Because flies love mango mousse and rice pudding.

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    Mango Mousse
    Mango Mousse
    Buffet hodgepodge

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    Buffet hodgepodge
    Naga's South Indian Cuisine

    Naga's South Indian Cuisine

    4.0
    (55 reviews)
    5.3 mi

    We went there during Father's Day weekend. We got there just before noon, and there was a 20-minute…read morewaiting time. To get in line, you scan a QR code and join a virtual queue. The crowd kept coming, and by the time we were done, the line appears to have grown to 1+ hour. Tip: Come early, especially on weekends! There was a sign saying that dining time is limited to 1 hour - completely understandable. Most of the clientele are South Asian - a good sign. The interior is clean and pleasant. The weekend buffet doesn't come cheap. We paid around $27 per person before tax or tips. But you get what you pay for - probably around 40 items, more than any other Indian buffet we have been to. This includes vegetarian items, meat dishes (chicken/lamb/fish), dessert, and drinks - including chai tea and rose milk. The quality is very good. We left absolutely stuffed.

    I visited Naga's with a group of friends for their unlimited buffet and left with mixed feelings…read more The buffet is priced at $25 per person for both the vegetarian and non-vegetarian options, with drinks charged separately. The spread includes a good variety of South Indian dishes, mainly Tamil and Telugu cuisine, with plenty of vegetarian and non-vegetarian curries, rice, dosas, and other traditional favorites. The food was definitely on the spicier side. While there was a decent selection, I found the overall taste to be fairly average. Nothing was particularly memorable, and I didn't feel it justified the price. The restaurant itself was clean, the ambience was pleasant, and the staff was courteous. The biggest downside for me was being handed the bill while we were still eating. At an unlimited buffet where you're paying a fixed price, it made the experience feel rushed and took away from the relaxed dining atmosphere. Overall, it's an okay spot if you're specifically looking for an unlimited South Indian buffet, but for $25 per person, I expected a more memorable meal and a better dining experience.

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    Buffet line
    Crab curry
    Crab curry
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    Udipi Cafe - indpak - Updated August 2026

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