London is filled to the brim with excellent South Asian food, but few dishes have the same mass appeal as dosa. It’s a comfort food that is loved by everyone. In fact, have you ever met anyone who doesn’t like it?
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Popular across South India and Sri Lanka, central to Tamil cuisine, it’s made from a fermented batter of rice and lentils, cooked into a crisp, golden pancake. For those who have never had it, it’s best understood as a savoury crepe.
It comes in many forms. You have ultra thin paper dosa, thick buttery benne dosa, spiced podi dosa, classic masala dosa and there are a range of experimental versions too.
Not so long ago, finding a truly great dosa in London meant heading well beyond zone 1. Now, they’re available all across the city, appearing on menus at small cafes alongside some of our favourite spots. Here’s where to find the best.
Aryan Bhavan
Formerly known as Saravana Bhavan, this South Indian vegetarian institution can be found in various locations across the city, and across the globe. They have a site in Leicester Square, Wembley and Southall to name a few, and they offer a wide variety of dosa on their menu. Prices start at £6.95 for dosa, and they all come served with sambar, coconut chutney and spicy red chutney. Highlights include the paper roast dosa and the chef’s special aloo masala cheese dosa.
Various locations, nkaryabhavan.com
Tamila
The much loved sister restaurant of The Tamil Prince serves up three variations of dosa on their menu. The masala dosa, chilli cheese dosa and mutton curry dosa. The chilli cheese dosa comes folded in half and stuffed with a blend of mozzarella, cheddar, chilli and coriander. The spicy kick of the chilli goes perfectly with their homemade coconut and chilli chutneys. They’re quite small, so they’re more of a starter or side dish rather than a main.
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19-20 Poland Street, W1F 8QF, 39 Northcote Rd, SW11 1NJ, 8 Caledonian Rd, London N1 9DU, tamila.uk
Sagar
There are around 20 varieties of dosa on offer here, including house specials, all made fresh to order. The masala dosa stands out in particular. It’s done right, with a crisp golden batter and generous potato masala filling.
With three sites across Zone 1 and another in Hammersmith, it’s a reliable go-to, and you don’t have to book ahead of time.
Various locations, sagarlondon.com
Veg Chennai Srilalitha
This vegetarian South Indian favourite often flies under the radar due to its location, but if you’re willing to travel out to north or northwest London, this is one of the greatest. Their famous all-you-can-eat weekend buffet is £9.99 per head and it includes a rotating selection of South Indian staples such as dosa, vada, idli and more. Dosas start from £6.49.
Various locations, vegchennaisrilalitha.co.uk
Adyar Ananda Bhavan - A2B Veg Restaurant
A2B is famed for their signature ghee dosa, which comes rolled and standing upright like a party hat. The batter is drenched in ghee, making it crisp at the edges. The restaurant is unfussy, casual and perfect for big parties. served with three chutneys, red, green and coconut. The plain dosa and rava dosa are both priced at £5.95 which is a steal.
233-235 High St N, E6 1JG
Rasa N16
East London locals will know this is one of the many gems on Stoke Newington’s Church Street. Rasa serves up comfort foods from Kerala, and their dosas are crisp, light, and generously sized. If you’re not a huge fan of spice, Rasa’s dosa lean more towards the mild side compared to many other South Indian restaurants.
55 Stoke Newington Church Street, N16 0AR, rasarestaurants.com
