A few years ago, I once met a friend for breakfast in Malleshwaram. Her room-mate also tagged along and was someone who grew up in Delhi and was new to Bangalore. She asked me how can there be so much fuss over an Idli (“dont you get it everywhere? What’s the difference?”). While I felt like telling her what’s the fuss about, thankfully, she answered her own question after having a plate of Idli at Veena Stores (“this is so soft!”).
This my friends, in short, is why there can never be enough fuss about idli. Dobara mat puchna!
I have already written a fairly detailed article on where you get the best dosas in Bangalore. In fact, this one is far more details and I’d strongly recommend you read this if you like details.
This is a far more straightforward list of some of the best places you get idli. If you follow me on Twitter, you may have noticed a thread I had written on “World Idli Day” last month on the same lines. (I do wonder which noble soul declared this day)
So anyway here goes the list. Many of these places serve lip-smacking Dosa, puliogare, bisibele bath, chow chow batch etc as well.
Brahmins Coffee Bar, VV Puram - The undisputed GOAT place for Idly Vada and Chow Chow Bath -
Also know for: its kick ass chow chow bath and filter coffee
Bengaluru Cafe, Jayanagar
Also known for: the top 3 butter masala dosas in the city
Naivedyam, Jayanagar - the spongiest idlis with some spicy chutney
Also known for: kickass masala dosa and a spicy shavige bath
Taaza Thindi, Jayanagar
Also known for: some people like the dosa but I like their chow chow bath
Lakshmi Nataraj Refreshments, Naghrathpet:
Also known for: their ghee masala dosa and decent lunch thali. I think their USP is probably the chutney
Murugan Idly Shop, Krishnagiri (technically in Tamil Nadu) and many places in Chennai
Also know for: a super soft Podi Idli
Rameshwaram Cafe (Indiranagar, JP Nagar etc), Cafe Amudham and IDC Kitchen (Koramangala Indiranagar, Gandhinagar, Residency Road)- all 3 serve the same ghee soaked podi Thatte Idli. I prefer IDC kitchen over the other 2
Sree Srinivasa Hotel, Banashankari
Also known for - an extremely unique pudina masala dosa
Chikkana Tiffin Room, Sheshadripuram and Cubbonpet
Also known for: the khali dosa
Iyer Idly, Thippasandra and Koramangala
Late edit - I honestly find it a little overrated but I guess its better than a regular darshini
Veena Stores, Malleshwaram
Also known for: the bisibele bath, savige bath and puliogare
Samrat Restaurant, now at Church Street
Also known for: your go to place for Karnataka style sambar
Sree Krishna Cafe, Koramangala
Also known for: a tam style place where you get great pongal and appam stew (the tam version)
MTR, Lalbagh (the original one):
Also known for: the masala dosa and the lunch thali. Strongly recommend the rich coffee as well
SN Refreshments JP Nagar
Also known for: the spicy sambar and chutney and the masala dosa
Sri Raghavendra Stores, Malleshwaram
Also known for: Shavige bath
Shree Idli Corner, Shivajinagar
SLN Mudanna (multiple outlets including Jayanagar, Cubbonpete etc)
Also known for: the unique Sabaki masala dosa (I’d strongly recommend the sabaki bath dosa)
I’ll list down a few more without pics:1
Sri Srinivasa Hotel Basavanagudi (kick ass dosas as well)
Kote Idli Mane, Kanakapura
Arogya Ahara, HSR Layout
22. Umesh Refreshments, Sheshadripuram (better now for the GOAT podi masala dosa)
23. The Filter Coffee, Kalyan Nagar/Indiranagar (tam style new age sit down place)
24. Sree Sai Dosa, Rajajinagar (know for it's underrated masala dosa)
25. Vishnu Thatte Idly, Domlur, Malleshwaram
26. Udupi Sri Krishna Bhavan, Balepet
27. Shri Renukamba Thatte Idli, Bidadi
Happy breakfast hunting!