I have been to Udipi Cafe at least 7 times in the last 6 months. I'd like to say that, as of today, there is no other place I can think of that would earn 5/5 stars by me other than Udipi Cafe.
I wish I could remember everything from every experience and recount it all with perfect detail. But I'll just touch on some of the highlights and then give an overall summary.
From the first time I came here, they were very accommodating with me being vegan and also not being able to tolerate really spicy food. They assured me nothing had dairy, butter, etc. and made nothing extremely spicy. I had the rava dosa with potatoes and onions etc. and ever since then I've gotten it almost every time. It's one of my favorite dishes. We tried to order a bunch of things but they were randomly out of them, which wasn't really a big deal. So we got an appetizer platter of whatever they had lying around the kitchen... and to this day I still really don't know what each of them was!
They brought out a couple of random extra dishes without so much as a word and plunked them in front of us, quite clearly just because they had some extra sitting around in the kitchen. We weren't complaining!
Our second time, I went with a group of 3 and the total bill was no more than $40 and we had nearly half to take home as leftovers. Got some tasty appetizers and great dosas! And a veggie/curry-style dish that was okay, but the flavor didn't jump out to me too much.
One of the following times, I went with a group of 4 on a nice double date with my best friend. She's vegetarian so she got some things with cheese in them that I can't account for, but she seemed to love them. One cool thing about this time: the staff definitely recognized us because they just kept bringing out random extra things they had in the kitchen, which was really nice! Lots of tasty stuff.
One recent time right after I had gotten my wisdom teeth out and wanted a nice treat, we went here and got the dosa platter ($10.99) - I think this was definitely worth it. The portions could have been a little bigger but still for $11 it was at least two whole dosa's worth on one big platter. I also got the yellow dal dish and it was sooooooo good. The flavor was just right and the thickness was great. My favorite experience at Udipi by far. Everything we ate in that meal was just wonderful.
Last time I went, I tried to get the yellow dal again and it was different... go figure! It was spicier and more watery, and the flavor wasn't as sweet and savory. But I still enjoyed it. We got that big puffy bread thing with the chickpea dip, and it was too greasy. Our last experience was with a group of 5. Someone in the group got that unlimited appetizer deal and we all kind of took part in it. Also a pretty good deal. I guess the stuff on the front cover of their menu is definitely worth trying out.
The experiences here are different every time. I always love the food and am especially appreciative of the price. The food is worth the value. The staff are great, and I love their attitude. The focus isn't on superficial small talk and pointless conventions, but just on running a restaurant. They have random extra food sitting around in the kitchen? Well, why not bring it out and give it to these customers, if it's just going to go to the trash anyway? They don't stop by every couple minutes to ask how we're doing or to try to placate us with politeness, and I love how frank and straightforward it is. I like that it's a little crowded and a little dirty and a little sketchy. It's just perfect the way it is.
I'll definitely be back here again for many times to come.
HORRIBLE!! Â Bad food and rude service. Â This place was not anything like I imagined from the other reviews. Â Food was disappointing - dosas were soggy because no grease paper was used to line the plastic plates and mendhu vada came out raw. Â Restaurant was severely understaffed meaning no service. Â Had to "yell" at the waiter to get anything. Â Didn't help that the RUDE waiter was also processing payments. Â Brought up our displeasure with the manager and were told not to expect any service at a place that sells $3 dishes. Â AVOID!!
Review Source:I've been eating at Udipi for about 3 years and the dosa is always delicious. I usually have idli and mysore masala dosa, and its spicy, crispy dosa with delicious and relatively generous filling. Sambars and chutneys are all very tasty and I always leave with a full belly and not much damage to my wallet, Â as everything is reasonably priced.
Service is quick, but nothing to write home about and the cleanliness of the restaurant does leave something to be desired. Â I keep coming back for the delicious dosa!
Wish it were closer to my home!
Was driving by and I Â had an utthapam and idli/vada combo. Â Particularly happy since sambar/chutneys were not so spicy that your tummy and tongue burn! Â Took leftovers home and hubby liked the sambar too.
Owner/Manager particularly nice. Â Good service.
This was my first time eating at an vegetarian Indian restaurant and i have to say it was pretty good. Â I'm not a vegetarian and always have some kind of meat with my meal so i wasn't really expecting to enjoy this meal as much as i did. We got a couple of different styles of dosas and a tomato based curry dish with cottage cheese. Â We also got this puffed bread dish with chickpea dip that was also very good. Service was very good and the people are really nice.
Not the cleanest place and the waiter coughed all over the menus while handing them to us.
4 stars for food
4 stars for wait service
2 stars for cleanliness
Went here for lunch and it wasn't so crowded. Â I got the dosa platter, which was a LOT of delicious food for just ten bucks. Â My friends got the thali (unlimited platter) and the chole bhatura (chickpea dip with a puffed bread). Â All the dishes were very tasty, but I recommend the chickpea dish the most! Â I didn't think I would like this vegetarian restaurant since I love meat and always order meat dishes when I eat out, so five stars for being cheap and unexpectedly nommy :)
Review Source:Good: Food. Yum! We ordered South Indian thali which is an assortment of many curries, rice, yoghurt and sweet. OMG! Sambhar is the best I have tasted in a long long time.
Staff. Host was wonderful. He was chatting with customers at every table and gave almost everyone something extra just for the fun of it. We ordered three 3 buttermilk (Best Indian style buttermilk I have ever had in US) and he brought us a large pitcher. And refilled it for free, wow! That's customer satisfaction.
Bad: Oh the wait! This place gets super crowded. First you might have to wait a long time to get seated. There is no 'waiting system' where someone will greet you, take your name and tell you how much it might take before you get a seat. Customers literally stand in a queue staring at the diners guessing which table might be close to finishing their meal. You'll get your food fairly quickly though at times it's hard to get the attention of the waiters. For us it was well worth the wait, however I saw some customers leaving because of the either they were in queue for a long time, or the service didn't give them much attention. Definitely points for improvement.
Oh, did I mention it's 2 hrs drive from my place. Sigh!
I went here for lunch and expected just moderate food quality after one glance at the interiors but the moment I tasted the Rava kesari in my unlimited Thali I was speechless.It was too good and I infact asked for 1more and 1 for To go .My hubby tried the Dosa platter and it was simply superb.So far this is the best South Indian restaurant in New Jersey.
Review Source:This restaurant is wonderful. The people working there were generous, gracious, and thoughtful. The food was delicious and well priced. We
ate thali, which was a sample of several curries (unlimited portions). At one point, one of our group mentioned how much she liked one of the dishes and our waiter brought out an extra dish, before being asked. Yes, it has very simple decor but the food and service make this a must visit location.
My husband and I come all the way from SI, to eat here. Â First let me tell you this restaurant is not classy or fancy, but it does fill my husband and my appetite for Dosa's, uttapham and samosa chaat, rather than going to Jackson Heights, Queens (beats the traffic and horrible parking).
The service is pretty fast and the quality of the food is excellent. Â It's like mom and grandma was in the kitchen or if you were in India. Â The price is awesome...you can be filled for $20...what more can you ask for. Â
If your watching your weight, try the spring dosa, but if you want a nice kick, try their mysore masala dosa. Â The rava dosa is even as great as well. Â Just writing this is making me very hungry. Â Their mango lassi is refreshing, which I wish they just give us the entire pitcher instead of just the small glass.
It's a little out of the way, from Edison (little India), but it's so worth making the journey out here.
Went there looking at the reviews on Yelp, the food was horrible. The guy who takes the order doesn't know the difference between Idly and Mini Idly (which is mentioned available to be only on weekends, and I was there on a weekend), he wasn't even sure and did not even bother to check. The Sambar was bland, it is supposed to be a South and North Indian restaurant(as per their Menu) and I atleast expected the Chole Batura to be good as I saw it is being operated by Punjabi people, but NO, it tasted just like it was made with Instant (Parampara, note it) Masala. I didn't expect this at all
Review Source:This is a modest small place. Nothing fancy about the interiors.
We ordered the dosa, idli and wada.
The mysore dosa was yummy and so was the idli. Both the chutneys were yummy.
The wada seemed stale and kinda re fried.
The owner (an elderly gentleman) took great care to see that all the customers were satisfied with the food and service.
They gave us generous refills of sambar. Also we got rasam and buttermilk as soon as we sat down (even before we ordered). I guess the kids on the table did the trick.
We also ordered the thali and I must say except for the chapati, all the dishes were delicious.
The food is great...the ambiance functional. Not a lot of place so just functional enough to have a meal. The price is reasonable.
Highly recommend...just focus on the south indian menu!!
4.5 stars.
This is an unassuming spot in a typical Central NJ strip mall but don't let its exterior fool you. Udipi's dosa game is spot-on, and if you don't order their Dosa Platter (a steal at $10.99) or their Paper Masala Dosa, you will be sorry.
They are huge, come out piping hot, and come with a great coconut chutney. The platter itself has an array of 4 dosas/uppatham (sp?) and everything on it is amazing! I've also tried to all you can eat soup/platter option which is tasty, but I like to carbo-load on dosa's when I come here.
Friendly staff as well, and super affordable. Stop in!
Went here after a LONG time with my boyfriend last night and I think my fellow yelpers are totally right: this place is HELLA crowded at 9pm on a Friday! I'm talkin more crowded than a good bar at happy hour. Anyway, it's really tiny so beware (and don't expect stellar ambiance or seating service). We were seated in about 10 mins at a table for four (now I wouldn't have cared if we'd have had to wait slightly longer for a table that seats only two). We ordered the following:
- Paper dosa - just your plain old dosa. I've been to several dosa joints and while the dosa was good, there was one chutney and one so-so bowl of sambar provided. I mean really, if I'm paying $7 for a piece of dough, can't you throw in two chutneys?
- Paneer mysore masala dosa - this was decent but odd because the paneer itself had no flavoring.
Frankly, for $18 I've had much better experiences. The cherry on top really was when they squeezed a second family at our table. Are you kidding?
Bottomline: being Indian, I've experience this "anything goes" attitude quite frequently but I'm not spending $7-8 on fried dough for a terrible experience like this. Sorry guys but good customer service is everything at those prices.
Amazing vegetarian south indian food. Customer seems to be entirely local ( from around the area) and its good for groups and kids etc. The owner handles many requests and food is hygienically prepared. Try the thali and chutneys are great too. some desserts good but mostly good for entrees. Dont expect $$$ level service while paying $ and you wont be disappointed. I used to live around the area and frequented at least once a week. recently visited and decided to write a review.
Review Source:A great place for wholesome, satisfying South Indian food. I've always found the dynamic very interesting. Largely local patrons, generally small Indian families: middle-aged parents with kids in middle or elementary school, maybe some elderly couples. Â Absent-minded waiters --I've had one go off to answer his cell phone in the middle of taking our order. Â Bombastically enthusiastic but attentive management. All of this adds up to a restaurant which is comfortably unpretentious, as you might expect a local joint to be. Â It doesn't aspire to be anything more than it is; there aren't clippings of newspaper reviews blaring from the walls. Â It just makes solid food. Â I've enjoyed everything I've had here, Â from the healthier dosas to greasily indulgent chole bhattura to gut-busting thali platters (on the most ravenous of moods). Their coconut chutney is fresh and top-notch. One of our more regular eating-out spots.
Review Source:Udipi cafe serves delicious south indian cuisine. I usually come here for their  all you can eat thali platter. It comes with an assortment of curries, pickled veg, yogurt sauces, spicy veg, rice, and dessert. The dosa is very good and perfectly spicy. The guy who runs the place is hysterical though. He reminds me of the soup nazi. Never really smiles at you and sometimes even a little rude, but the food is worth coming here for.
Review Source:My favorite restaurant by far. Â The prices here cannot be beaten for the value and quality you are receiving. Â The food is never greasy or stale/old. Â I can rely on a fresh warm meal here according to the way I like my food made and that is with very high standards. Â Though is is not pages of variety I find that restaurants that keep it simple do the best in what they do and do not over complicate by offering a million options so I feel the variety is perfect and I go almost everyday. My only complaint is about the clients who come there and act so disrespectfully by dropping food on the floor or all over the table. Â I feel that many of these people could learn to eat with manners by not talking with mouths full or for that matter eating with hands full and dropping food all over. Â For this reason I strategically place myself in the one of two corners of the room to face a wall. Â I cannot fault the restaurant for this but I do wish they would tell some of their clients to behave more respectfully especially in regards to the screaming babies which does happen once in awhile. Â Other than that, this place is highly recommended to anyone who loves healthy tasty vegetarian south Indian food.
Review Source:Two words - rassam and pesaratu upama
Awesome rassam and terrific pesaratu upama. The place is small but please don't go by the size of the restaurant. The food and service are excellent. Mind you, this is a South Indian restaurant, so please don't expect good paneer, naan or any other North Indian delicacies. But they do make great rassam, Mysore masala dosa and pesaratu upama.
Highly recommended.
The food here is excellent and a great value. The decor leaves a lot to be desired, but that is the only negative about this place. Food came out quickly. Probably the best south Indian I've had outside India--in fact, even better than a lot of the home cooking you get in Tamil Nadu and that's saying a lot! I had the dosai platter which came with rava dosa, masala dosa, and uttappam. Delicious. My friend had the thali which was excellent. While north Indian places in the US are a dime a dozen, it is rare in my experience to find good south Indian--and this place is just the ticket. Excellent food! You will not be disappointed.
Review Source:Definitely a shade above the total waste of time and money south indian food places, of which there are tons in NJ. Inconsistency however - no surprise here - marks the menu offerings. The typical smugness that runs through all Indian restaurants is here as well, but thankfully low key. The rasam and pappadum welcome is - er- very welcomed. The sambhar and chutney always taste fresh but the degree of hotness (as opposed to spicyness) can vary a fair bit. The chana bhatura, though with a large single bhatura instead of the customary two, had always been my favorite, though I always felt bad as to how overpriced this item was. Until about a month ago, when they jacked up the price by a dollar and I drew the line. They just want to screw you knowing that it is a favorite menu item and a departure from the idly-vada-dosa routine. So I have mixed feelings, having enjoyed their fare overall for the past 5 years on a fairly regular basis.
Review Source:My roommate is South Indian and recommended this place as a good reminder of home cuisine.
I was the only non-Indian person eating at this restaurant -- a lot of families enjoying authentic food.
I enjoyed my Rasa Vada (Lentil donuts dipped in spicy soup Rasam), Onion Rava Masala Dosa (wheat crepe w/onions, potatoes & nuts) and my "Special Upma"(Cream of wheat cooked w/garden vegetables). Â They were all served with the same Sambhar & Chutney.
Sure, I would have prefered more variety of Chutneys & accompaniments but I thoroughly enjoyed my authentic "Indian family" experience!
Sidenote, I am an omnivore who didn't miss the lack of meat  in this well-balanced meal!
I really enjoy my food at Udipi every time I visit my family in new jersey, it is one of my reasons to keep going back. Â I would recommend the food to everyone and its hands down some of the best sambhar I have ever had. Â Although the owner / host can be quite rude and are absolutely not grateful that you're there. Â I have been there many times with family and there's always a wait because its quite popular and that's understandable but they're also rude and ready to kick you out even before you're done with your food.
Review Source:I grew up in this area and have seen it change over the years. Â Within the past 5 years, there's been an influx of Indian/Pakistani residents who've opened a number of restaurants, much to the benefit of the locals! :) Â As one would expect, restaurants spring up and then close, so I've tried a lot of Route 27's Indian restaurants. Â Udipi Cafe has maintained a stronghold on its competition and for me, is the reigning champ of Indian cuisine in this area. :)
With that said, expect to wait for a table on weekends! Â Due to the aforementioned, Udipi is well known and very popular. Â The restaurant isn't that large and you'll be bumping elbows with your table mates and bumping chairs with those around you. Â Furthermore, be prepared to hear your neighbors' conversations as Udipi is filled with families, which may indicate its affordability.
Now before you read any further, do know Udipi is a VEGETARIAN Indian restaurant. Â If that's an issue for you, I'm very sorry and you'll be as well because it's THAT GOOD! Â Do know my carnivorous brother and sister enjoy Udipi...and you may too!
Meals are made to your specifications and I always find it fascinating that the very friendly servers never write the order down when taking it---and always get the order correct! Â Each meal is more than satisfying---they give you a lot of food! Â I always order the channa masala which is excellent---be sure to specify the degree of spiciness you prefer. Â Soup, rice, raita, and pickles come with the dish and be careful with the soup---it only comes one way...SPIIIIICY!!! :)
Udipi Cafe is handicapped accessible with a nice sized ladies' room---don't know about the men's as I've never been. Â Tables can easily be shifted to fit a chair, but call ahead to be courteous---as I said, they are always busy so let them know so they can prepare.
And as the other reviewer posted, yeah, there's incense----as a migraine sufferer, it's a problem.
The best place for South Indian Vegetarian food! Â Their Veg Thali is my all time favorite. Â They serve you endless amounts of food, almost to the point you need to loosen up the buttons in your pants. Â The service is prompt and courteous. Â The servers keep asking you if you want anything constantly and are attentive and prompt.
The ambience is nothing to write home about. Â They have some soothing Indian instrumental music playing constantly. Â My pet peeve about this place is the incense sticks that they burn so much. Â Being allergic to the incense (asthmatic), I usually stuff my face and bolt outta here. Â The place is family friendly and is usually packed.
I love the kootu out here and always ask for second third helping
LOVE THIS PLACE. Â The only reason, I didn't give 5 stars is because of the incense. Sorry Udupi
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