Best Dishes at Saravana Bhavan

Idly are soft, fluffy steamed cakes made from fermented rice and lentil batter. Unlike dosa's crispness, idly are tender and light, traditionally eaten for breakfast in South India. They arrive in a stack of three, meant to be broken apart and dipped in sambar or chutney. This is a classic preparation that shows the quality of the fermented batter.

A dosa is a thin, crispy pancake made from fermented rice and lentil batter, folded around a filling of spiced potato. At Saravana Bhavan, the dosa is distinctly crispy yet remains tender inside. It comes with sambar (a tangy lentil soup) and coconut chutney for dipping. Reviewers note to tear off pieces and scoop up the curries — one dosa per person is never enough.

Mixed vegetables (cauliflower, carrots, peas, beans) cooked in a mild coconut milk-based curry. It's the vegetarian equivalent of richer meat curries but still packed with spice and flavor. Commonly ordered with rice or flatbread, though at Saravana Bhavan it's excellent with dosa or idly for scooping.

Fragrant basmati rice layered with vegetables (carrots, peas, beans, peppers) and slow-cooked with cumin, cardamom, and bay leaves. The result is rice where each grain is separate but infused with spice flavor. This is a complete meal in one bowl — hearty enough for lunch or dinner, and vegetarian-friendly while being deeply satisfying.