My friend recommended Madras Café for authentic South Indian food. It was so delicious! I ordered the tomato dosa and loved it. Others also said the mysore masala dosa was their favorite. The dosa portion sizes were generous and they came with 3 chutneys and sambar. The restaurant was pretty busy when we went on a Wednesday night, but the wait was worth it. Would love to come back.

So yummy! This was my first time having proper South Indian food, and it was very good. It's located in a plaza next to the Madras supermarket, and line was out the door for a Thursday lunch. There was a nonstop flow of take-out orders too. This place is popular for a reason! They are working like busy bees in the kitchen, but it still understandably took a while for our food to come out. Love that they are so low-waste as well. The tomato masala dosa was definitely my favorite. The tomato masala flavor is complex and delicious, and went well with the perfectly cooked (chewy, but with the slightest crunch - really interesting texture!) dosa. I loved it! The scoop of curried potatoes in the middle make it more filling, and the chutneys were delicious. The onion rava masala dosa was completely different from the tomato masala dosa - it's completely fried and topped with onions. I liked the texture of the regular dosa more Update: I went back and tried the Mysore Masala Dosa and I LOVED it. It's like the tomato masala dosa but with chili pepper. It's not too spicy though! I think this will be my new regular. The filter Coffee is delicious too. One thing to note is the wait does get very long on the weekends for lunch. Tomato Masala Dosa.

Nostalgia place for me to be comeback. I used have dinner here since 2008 and recent days their quality and taste of the food has gone down. This idly is like a semi rock stone made up with rava rice not a proper Chennai style idly. And one of their all time favorite is veg koththu…I don’t want to comment and I left the food almost of them and left. They have a huge customer base, I see that it’s full but try to give the best possible food like before.

They are always busy. For 4 of us, we like to share our meal for variety. We ordered a dosa. A favorite because of the crispy texture and fun potato filling the center. The vada was like a crispy donut, tasty with 3 different sauces to dip. Also ordered a paratha, fun food with the layers and same 3 different sauces. We finish it with mango lassi or a tea. We always appreciate the meal here. We ordered chana bhatura and a cone dosa. Very well done. The crisp and flavors are great.

Good experience at the extremely popular Madras Café. We decided to reach at the opening time 8.30 am from ~40 miles away, because we didn't find a seat on a previous afternoon visit. They run out of space pretty soon, I heard. Sambhar and chatni were okay. I was expecting them to be a little more typical. Dosas, Uttapams, Idli and Medu Wada were amazing. Very delicious! Filter coffee wasn't up to my expectation. Either the coffee was too strong or the sugar was less sweet, even after adding so much of it. My FOMO is over, finally. I would recommend trying if you are in the area but travelling specifically for it isn't needed.

Authentic South Indian Breakfast! Very fresh food and fast serving restaurant! Be ready for little bit wait time on weekends. Several beverages are also available to accompany your breakfast. We had filter coffee and tea. Nice seating areas. I prefer to go here so many times.

Amazing food. One of the rare places where everything on the menu is tasty. The filter coffee is really good. I was surprised to eat such good Chhole bhature at a South Indian restaurant. A must try! Amazing food, quick service. Authentic Indian vegetarian food.

Update: Highly recommend on rainy days, and weekday lunch time. Less people, no wait, and food comes out perfect. Dosas long and crispy, not floppy and folded, deep fried items were fried well, not greasy, even masala tea actually came out before we were done eating, not half an hour after! Original: Our favorite local watering hole for comfort food that has withstood the test of time. It is a vegetarian place but as meat eaters, we don't miss it when we come here. As with anywhere, consistency can be an issue but overall, they get it right. Some days dosas can be a bit thick or soggy, or a tad burnt and bitter, but they are better than other dosas that we have tried up and down the Peninsula. No food has a buttery ghee odor or taste which is great for us. The green and orange sides that come with dosas are not overwhelmingly coconuty like they can be at other dosa places (except of course, for the pale green coconut chutney). For those who dislike coconut, the green one is the least coconuty but it depends on the day. The spicy Kara dosas are our favorite, as are the channa bhaturas. They can be a bit oily and thick at times, but the chole masala that comes with is always delicious and the right consistency. The idlis and uthapam are also solid. Recommend dine-in over to-go for dosas in particular. Dosas lose their crisp edges, and sometimes you get someone else's order so do check before leaving. Good to know before you go:. Dont go too hungry as you will have to wait (this is why we don't have more pics, we generally are so starved by the time we get our food that we just tear in) The procedure is you go inside, place your order and pay, then wait for them to seat you. The food sometimes arrives right away, but sometimes one dish arrives, and the next arrives after you are done with the first. Sometimes they forget, so you might have to remind one of the staff. Particularly the chai has a tendency to be forgotten, where we sit with empty plates for another 20 min or so, after inquiring about the MIA tea.

Very nice Indian Resturant, specializing in South Indian food. They have done a very consistent job of maintaining the menu, quality and quantity of the good. One can try various options like Dosa, Idli, Idli-Vada and or Uttampam. Their chai is a must have, very nice dine and presented in traditional South Indian style. It's right next to the Madras Groceries, easy way to do the errand in one go if you are hungry! Enjoy the taste treat called Madras Cafe!

Loved the Authentic South Indian dishes. The pongal was soulful, light fluffy and so comforting, one can taste the ghee. The Medu vada was crisp and delicious. The rava dosa was so flavourful and the chutneys were simply Devine. Can’t stop praising the simple yet so delicious food. We over indulged by ordering a plate of mini podi idlis and mango lassi. Soft idlis with the podi an awesome combination. The filter coffee is a must as it completes a South Indian meal. I was amazed at the simple decor and how the place was managed. One orders and pays first and then is seated and served. The crowd and lines of hungry customers shows how popular this restaurant is. After eating the first few bites I could justify the crowds and why people flocked this restaurant. Quick service and the best South Indian food in the Bay Area. A must visit. We left totally satiated and I even had a wonderful nap after my luncheon. Edited : Came back to Madras Cafe in my next trip to Bay Area SF. Can never miss an opportunity to dine in here. The food and my order was nearly the same. It’s Excellent and the taste is always the same as I remember or even betters After a big meal we even took a takeout for my breakfast the next day. Love ❤️ love ❤️ love ❤️ this place !!

Madras cafe is one of the good places to have South Indian dosas, uthappams, idlis and vadai. Flavors are good. Would come again.

We had Puri Idly, Idly Vada and Filter coffee. Taste was just about average. There’s seating outside too. Recommended

We have been coming here for many years given the choices of South Indian restaurants in the Bay Area it's been awhile since we last visited so thought of checking it out.... They have ample seating space inside & outdoor. Only thing is don't come here expecting it to be a quite restaurant it's extremely noisy ( inside) especially during weekends morning after 10 am having said that we were there by 8.30 am & saw the crowd started coming in few minutes later family as well as bachelors .... It's a very popular place. This time we tried - Medhu Vada Sambhar - the vadas were soft & nicely soaked in sambhar which was pipping hot. My husband enjoyed it very much. Mini Idli plate - mini Idli's were soft & I could taste little ghee on it again it went very well with the pipping hot sambhar & all the 3 chutneys. We shared the dish happily. Paper Masala Dosa - we ordered it crispy so it was not at all greasy while having it. Only thing is we got little disappointed seeing the potato masala which was very less but still we loved it. Idli plate- I was craving for more Idli's ... I love soft & pipping hot Idli's very much .... here the texture is little hard but still it was ok . Onion Rava Dosa - it's been years since I last had it ... it was good but I would have preferred it to be more brown. Veg Biryani (from weekend menu section) Togo to have latter ... which was nice . And lastly 1 filter coffee without which any South Indian breakfast is incomplete.... It was nice & strong. Here the service is excellent, they are very attentive the moment they see any empty dishes they will come & pick it up which is nice .... more space to have especially if it's a small table. Will come back again soon!!! Everything came piping hot so enjoyed having our breakfast... I would have love to

Hard and cold idli and raw medu wada. The two iconic madras dishes are a major fail. Rude service told us to leave as they wanted to seat others. We had barely finished eating. There are much better South indian restaurants.

I have been to Madras cafe more than once for the simple reason that it provides all the authentic dishes with the same taste that we aspire for. The staff there is very attentive and prompt in dealing with the continuous rush of customers.

This was an interesting spot! Wanted to try what a dosa tasted like after seeing the massive size at a different restaurant. The inside was delicious, with spice and a crunchy but soft texture inside. Fair warning, if you’re not a fan of coconut I’d probably ask to leave out the provided sauces, since they’re all coconut based, except for the sauce in the bowl which was a bean-like dip. As someone completely unfamiliar with South Indian food, this was a great exposure! Will probably come back to see what the other dosa flavors are about!

Chutneys are very good here. I love the fact that they don't refrigerate them (unlike other South Indian restaurants in the US). Madras Cafe overall used to be very good and authentic sometime back. But nowadays, the restaurant's standards have somewhat gone down. Pongal and Vada combo is very good. Upma and Poori are also very good. Idli is a little hard -- wish they could make them softer. Dosa - most dosa items here are so-so at best. I honestly don't think their pricing is justified for some items (for example: Idli-Vada combo). From an ambience standpoint, they do offer good service given the crowd they get over the weekends. Keep in mind Friday evenings are weekends can get pretty crowded and the wait time sometimes are really long.

I visited with my friends a few weeks ago! The service was incredible, the food was outstanding and everything was vegetarian and/or easy to make vegan. I will definitely be coming back again and again. We ordered a wide variety of entrees and appetizers so we could share, and every single item was amazing. Loved it!!

*updated 05/07/2023 - Ordered upma which was amazing and portion size was goood. Also ordered chana bhatura- The bhatura was very well done. The chana was not north india like but that was not the expectation too. One thing that I really liked about this place is that they are generous with their chutneys. A nice pure veg restaurant. Ordered a podi dosa which was average and so was the filter coffee and kesari. The special uttapam was very bland. That being said, the green non coconut chutney and red chutney were bomb. I finished the green one without any dosa or uttapam. Nice place to grab a quick bite. The service is super fast.

Perfect home made Madrasi food. More than perfect Indian food for a travel-heavy day

This is our go to spot for south indian food. Between road trips to and from the city, we always stop over. No reservations needed, generally no wait - longest I have waited in 15 mins. The service is quick and everything is fresh. Great value for money! My go to order is Tomato dosa.

I'm from Chennai (AKA Madras) and walked in not expecting much except to fill my stomach with a dose of familiarity even if it's not the most authentic. However, Madras Cafe checked all boxes in offering an extremely authentic Tamil breakfast. The pongal was velvety-smooth and soaked in ghee (venn). It hit the spot and did what a well-made pongal has the power to do - make you crave for a siesta. Idli with podi was also wonderful. The sambar and the accompanying chutneys were spiced to perfection. Will keep visiting and recommending this place for as long as I'm in the Bay!

Thee best South Indian in the Sunnyvale area! Service is quick, efficient, love that you order at the counter, take a seat, and your food comes out quickly. You pretty much serve yourself water and grab your own utensils and cups, so there is not much customer service. When it comes to the food, this place never dissapoints when it comes to the food, and it is always consistent.

AUTHENTIC SOUTH INDIAN FOOD! This place can accommodate everyone somehow, its just magic haha With how popular this place is, my first visit was just so worth it. Very yummy, subtle tasting food. I wish they had more presence around California. But, if I visit san jose, I will make sure to stop by this place. Service, hospitality is nice, humble people. :)

Madras Groceries Supermarket, Food Court, and South Indian Veg Restaurant takes-up almost the entire strip! You can get a lot accomplished in one trip. The restaurant is one well-oiled machine, doing take-out orders, helping customers waiting to be seated, and serving hot freshly made delicious cuisine that is nearly authentic. Take your chance, it may seem crowded, but you will get served.

Ordinary food. Find your own table.

Food was decent but wait was long! I ordered their medhu vada, Pongal, idly and dosa. We have to order in the counter and then wait for them to call us when the space becomes available. The restaurant was crowded during the dinner time and we had to wait for 20-30mins to be seated. The food didn’t reach my expectations either or may be I was too tired after waiting long. I will have to try their breakfast before making hard conclusions.

Amazing food. Never disappoints. Best South Indian food in Bay Area. Highly recommended. I can guarantee this will be your favorite place too. The chutneys, rasam and sambar are delicious.

Went on Saturday around 1pm. It was super crowded. One has to order first and wait for your name being called for a table and food served. I had Mysore Masala Dosa. It was worth the wait of 40 minutes. Loved the tomato onion chutney.

Awesome place for Dosas. Varieties of dosa available here in menu. Lot of breakfast, lunch and dinner options. They have separate chat corner also. Authentic taste for dosa, idly, vada and Sambhar. This place provides parcels also, which will be available little early.

Really tasty and authentic South Indian cusine. Reasonable prices and portions. Service was impeccable! Definitely would recommend. The sambar was on point, idli was nice and fluffy, and dosa was crispy on the outside, yet soft on the inside. Be aware, this spot is really popular, for good reason!

The restaurant has very good South Indian vegetarian fare. The food is not too spicy and just right for the palette. I usually build a good appetite before getting here. Quality has been pretty consistent from the time I have been visiting here (close to two decades now). They have Rava Kesari here (closer to Sooji Halwa) which is a very tasty dessert to try. Close it out with a south Indian style coffee! Very affordable prices for the amazingly high quality of food served here.

One of the best restaurants around for South Indian food. The dosas that I tried were crisp and tasty- served with multiple chutneys and hot Sambhar. This place also provides good Filter Coffee (a popular beverage in South India). It was a great experience and I would definitely visit again.

Good food, atmosphere is okayish! Usually super busy. Outdoor seating available. Must try🍽️ Mysore Masala Dosa Aalloo Puri Mango Lassi Kara Masala dosa ( Extra spicy is v spicy 🌶️)

Loved it. Really takes you to south India. Visited twice in three days. Opens at 8.30 am. Perfect breakfast.

The indian food is so authentic I had to watch a YouTube video to learn how to eat it. I'm not that big on indian food but the Mrs fell in love with the food. It's all uniquely shaped, beautiful and spiced up. I highly recommend checking it out if you're food adventurous.

Oh so good! Perfect, authentic south indian food. The only issue is the wait time especially during the weekends. Make sure to keep some buffer when you plan to visit.

I love going to this place for an early morning weekend breakfast! Some of the must-have are: 1) Onion Tomato Uthappam 2) Poori Masala 3) Madras Paratta 🙌🏼💯 4) Filter Coffee 💯 These are just my personal faves but most foods here are super authentic and delicious so you won’t be disappointed no matter what you order. The place tends to be crowded at all times so expect some waiting time.

Disappointed with dosa , the mysore masala dosa lacked crispness and the masala inside was missing basic flavor. The chutney was super cold and missed the freshness. The Kotha parota was total disaster it was cold and lacked any texture or flavor . Disappointed with overall dish and experience

Loved the Idli Puddu and Ghee Masala Dosa. Mysore Masala Dosa is really delicious too. Loved their Sambhar and Tomato Chutney. Have been here thrice in mere two weeks. One of the best authentic South Indian food I had in California. Filter coffee is a must try :)

My brother took me to Madras cafe for breakfast. Sharp 8:30am we were there and within minutes the restaurant was full. And the taste was soo good that it reminded me back home and ordered most of the dishes 😁. Few snaps added. Loved the food .