I have never really had a taste for dosas, or so I thought, before I came to Bangalore two years ago. But as promised, the city of Bangalore has a way of converting anyone into a Bangalorian, whether it be the ‘da’s you add at the end of your sentences or the immense love for dosa. Like any Indian state, Karnataka also has its food as its pride, and rightfully so. The rice batter warming up and bathing in butter while you wait for it to strike the perfect balance between crispy and soft is all the comfort I need in my comfort food. Need a convenient way to get around the city to find the best dosa spots? Consider Savaari’s Bangalore car rental service for a hassle-free journey, ensuring you reach every dosa delight.
Table of contents
- Dosa from dosha- The accidental eureka
- Following the dosa trail
- Mavalli Tiffin Room (MTR)- The taste of authentic Bangalore
- Vidhyarthi Bhavan- The best college canteen
- Umesh Refreshments- The crisp of Indiranagar
- Kamat Bugle Rock- The rava rendezvous
- R K Dosa Camp- The battleground of dosas
- Sri Guru Kottureshwara Davanagere Benne Masala- The melting benne mountain
- Hotel Dwarka- The khali dosa that leaves you full
- 99 Variety Dosa- The sea of dosa
3. Dosa- the way to a foodie’s heart
Dosa from dosha- The accidental eureka
The origin story of the dosa deserves to be known. It all began in the kingdom of Udupi under the rule of Chalukya King Someshwara Ⅲ, when a young brahmin boy wanted to feel “high” by consuming alcohol. But it was not to happen because alcohol wasn’t available to brahmins then. So, this young boy decided to take matters into his own hands by trying to ferment rice to make alcohol and failing. He accidentally spilt the fermented rice on a hot pan, which cooked to take the form of the south Indian crepe. In fact, the word “dosa” originated from the word “dosha” in Kannada, which means something evil, offensive or criminal, which is what the young brahmin boy did by trying to consume alcohol.
Following the dosa trail
No matter the origin, the search for the best dosa in Bengaluru is one of the best to-do things in Bengaluru, is what I was told when I was new to the city. Any dosa connoisseur will tell you that the dosa you like says a lot about you. So, I booked a cab in Bangalore and set out to find my dosa in the bustling city, and here is how it went.
Mavalli Tiffin Room (MTR)- The taste of authentic Bangalore
The first place I was dragged to by “the dosa club members” was MTR. They said that it was what the soul of Bangalore would taste like. And one bite into the Authentic Bangalore dosa and I felt like that was my introduction to the city. Starting in the year 1920, the blood and sweat of two brothers made the dream of the first MTR. Now, several restaurant outlets exist throughout the south of India, Dubai, Singapore and London. It ranks very high on the list of famous masala dosa in Bangalore. Breakfast in MTR always gives you a sense of sweet nostalgia.
‘Historic place. They have retained that old nostalgic look and feel for the place. Went for a lunch. Dose was crispy and yummy, so was poori and rave idli. Best dosa in Bangalore. Dining tables were clean and spacious. Serving was quick and neat. Wash basins and bathrooms were clean as well.’
Sainandan Kaipu- Customer
Timings: 6:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.; 12:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
It is closed on Mondays.
Location: There are many outlets of MTR, but the first one is at 14, Lal Bagh Main Rd, Doddamavalli, Sudhama Nagar, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560027
Specialities: authentic bangalore dosa, masala dosa, rava idli, pure filter coffee and Kesari bath.
[Also read- 10 Indian food items that you must try once in a lifetime]
Vidhyarthi Bhavan- The best college canteen
As I entered the streets of Gandhi Bazaar, I was transported to a movie from the 1960s. Colourful streets, full of tiny shops selling little doses of happiness, crawling with people, all waiting in line for the desi ghee dipped dosa in Bangalore. I wanted to try the sagu dosa because the owner, Mr Adiga, recommends it specially.
Interestingly, it started as a canteen for students of National High School and Acharya Patashala. I came to know of this through a very serendipitous encounter with an old man who I met here who told me that 40 years ago, he used to come here as a student. I don’t know if it was the nostalgia in the place or the flavour of ghee reminding me of my mother cooking, but I felt at home here.
Timings: 6:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.; 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.
It is closed on Fridays.
Location: 32, Gandhi Bazaar Main Rd, Gandhi Bazaar, Basavanagudi, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560004
Specialities: sagu dosa, ghee Masala dosa, filter coffee, kara bhath and kesari bhath
Umesh Refreshments- The crisp of Indiranagar
Going back to basics, next on my list was the paper masala dosa. As we walked into Umesh Refreshments, I realised that there was no seating in the place. I started complaining, but then the dosa arrived, and the tomato chutney brought me to my knees. There is a reason that paper masala dosa is the OG, it’s thin, crispy, it’s just mind-blowing. I remember thinking to myself that I’ve found my dosa. People had told me that Umesh serves the best dosa in Indranagar, and I wasn’t going to question it after the meal I had.
Timings: 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
It is open on all days.
Location: XJ9R+99J, 13th Main Rd, HAL 2nd Stage, Doopanahalli, Indiranagar, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560008
Specialities: rava dosa, podi masala paper dosa and podi idli.
Kamat Bugle Rock- The rava randevous
I woke up one morning after a difficult few days and craved the taste of dosa, so I opened the Savaari car rental app and booked an hourly rental. The experience of eating in south India comes from the banana leaves, at least for me. And Kamat Bugle Rock gave me just that. I ordered the rava dosa, and as I took the first bite, I felt a loud “oomph” escape my mouth. The place has a friendly dine-in set up and is a perfect stop on the way to the Bugle Rock. Honestly, I would go the rock again just to eat the rava dosa there.
“Absolutely bonkers of food! The spread is not so high but what you get is absolutely amazing. Ambience is decent, worth the price, and food is great. Simply great and highly recommended! This is the best dosa in Bangalore”
Durgesh Jamwal – Customer
Timings: 12:00 noon to 4:00 p.m.; 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.
It is open on all days.
Location: Kamat Bugle Rock, Bull Temple Rd, near BMS College of Engineering, Basavanagudi, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560004
Specialities: Rava dosa and jowar roti meal.
R K Dosa Camp- The battle ground of dosas
I once met a Bangalorian who challenged me to an eating contest. Being a Punjabi, I was dead set on holding up my state’s honour. But then I was taken to RK Dosa Camp, and I saw the size of their family dosa and instantly knew I was losing. When I took the first bite, I almost felt like I would finish it all because it was just that good and later have a hajmola or something. But 20 minutes of struggling later, it was clear it would not happen. So, we asked around for anyone who would be interested in sharing with us and found a group of college-going students more than willing to eat with us. Six people, strangers, struggling to finish 2 dosas- the perfect ingredients for an anecdote that will be told forever.
Timings: 6:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon; 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
It is open on all days.
Location: # 320, 9th Cross, BTS Main Rd, Vinayaka Nagar, NGO Colony, Wilson Garden, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560027
Specialities: family masala dosa, pongal and pineapple kesari bhath.
Sri Guru Kottureshwara Davanagere Benne Masala- The melting benne mountain
As soon as I came to know that “benne” means butter, I knew I had to try the benne masala dosa. I asked around and everyone told me that Sri Guru Kottureshwara Davangere Benne Masala is the place to go. So I went, and I never wanted to come back out of that butter scented haven. Standing on the footpath and eating a benne bathed dosa is a feeling in itself. The potato is just the right amount of spicy and the dosa strikes the perfect balance between crispy and soft.
“I went to this place with my family. It’s NOT a fancy place, just a small simple joint at one corner but FOOD IS YUMMY. Dosa was absolutely delicious. They serve Dosa with Coconut Chuttney and Potato sabji-thingy (not our usual yellow potato sabji). Dosa was seriously awesome and I would love to go there again.”
Shreya Kulkarni- Customer
Timings: 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.; 4:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
It is open on all days.
Location: WHQC+H87, Subbarama Chetty Rd, NR Colony, Basavanagudi, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560004
Specialities:Benne masala dosa and chutney.
Hotel Dwarka- The khali dosa that leaves you full
I went to Hotel Dwarka with “khali dose” mission. The place is famous for its khali dose, arguably the most difficult one to master and even more challenging to distinguish. When I first heard about the place, I was not sold. I couldn’t believe that a place could be that popular based on the khali dosa. But after the visit, I stood corrected. I have no shame in accepting that Hotel Dwarka is in fact the best place to have the khali dosa in Bangalore. People from all over the city travel to this part of Bengaluru just for the dosa. I met someone who travelled 23 kms just because she had a bad day and she knew that the dosa would cheer her up. And if you live in Bengaluru, you know how big a deal that is.
Timings: 7:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; 3:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
It is open on all days.
Location: 7th Cross Rd, NR Colony, Basavanagudi, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560019
Specialities: khali dosa and coffee
99 Variety Dosa- The sea of dosa in Bangalore
After becoming a “member of the dosa club”, I made it my life mission to get everyone else into dosas as well. The first prey was my best friend from Delhi, who couldn’t stand dosa. So, obviously, I had to trick her into loving it. And 99 Variety became my partner in crime. The place is mind-blowingly creative. We went to the one in Koramangala, and it was way more crowded than I expected. I tried the paneer dosa, and my friend tried the beetroot masala dosa, and we understood immediately how a stall like this made it in the big leagues of Bengaluru. The owner told us that he moved here from Mumbai to start his business and it took off really fast once he started it.
“I don’t want to move into a hotel and expand my business. I am quite content with the pushcart and it is this informal setting that attracts people. I don’t think I would get the same response had I been housed in a hotel”
Prakash – Owner
Timings: 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
It is open on all days.
Location: There are a lot of branches, but the best one is at 43, 20th L Cross Rd, AVS Layout, Koramangala, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560095
Specialities: Paneer dosa, beetroot masala dosa and pizza dosa
Dosa- the way to a foodie’s heart
I could never imagine one dish having so many variations. The dosa was first made in the small town of Udupi and has since become an Indian favourite. It is a very versatile dish, with every person having a different way of eating it. Whether you eat it with sambar, chutney or just butter, a dosa can make you forget all your worries. On my journey to find my perfect dosa, I fell in love with it. I feel like dosa has a personality of its own, and my favourite is the classic yet fun paper masala dosa I always end up arguing a case for it being the best. Obviously, there is never a unanimous decision on the best dosa, but one thing no one can deny is “trying every variety of dosa” can definitely be on everyone’s list.
Explorations like this can be challenging in a new city, especially if you don’t have a vehicle. A lot of these dosa places do have seating arrangements, and not having someplace to sit and eat can be tricky. That’s when I thought of booking a Savaari – India’s leading car rental service. It would pick me up in the morning and drive me around. Interestingly, I got a lot of unique suggestions from the Savaari drivers. I’ve been able to shop, look around, and strike off multiple places from my list of things to do in Bengaluru, all thanks to Savaari’s experienced drivers. And it was all worth it.
I’ve given you a list of where to go and what to get. I’ve also told you how to do it in a city without a car! Now, there is no excuse for you not to find your perfect match of dosa.
Last Updated on January 17, 2024 by Swati Deol
