Nice dosas. They have all kinds of stuff - indo Chinese, Punjabi, chat, South Indian etc. overall good stuff!
(4)
Sougata S.
Great taste, value for money. I usually have dosas, have been less impressed with their buffet.
(4)
Ameet C.
Seems like food was stale as most of the people in our party started showing diarrhoea symptoms after eating here. They need to serve fresh food.
(1)
Avinash G.
Really frustrated with the service!!!! Didn't expected that a dosa might take more than 45 minutes!!! Might be the taste is good but felt frustrated with the service.
(1)
S D.
This is a great place for vegetarian south Indian food. I used to love the weekend buffet, and recently tried some items off the menu after not going for a few years due to moving away from the area. The masala dosa was very good and I had an lentil ball dish that was so interesting, spicy and delicious. The decor could use some updating, and it is in the corner of a strip mall so it's not necessarily a romantic spot or anything. It's definitely worth the trip, though!
(4)
Vidhyasankar N.
An average South Indian veg restaurant. I wish they knew how to make tasty coconut chutney, it's not rocket science. I'm not sure if they are still serving frozen parathas from Indian store.
(3)
Maureen D.
This was my 5th wonderful experience at dosa temple. Although it is a 45 minute drive from my house, it is always worth it. My party of 7 was promptly seated at noon, though the lunch rush arrived about half an hour later. The waitstaff immediately saw to us, and food was served quickly. We chose to order off the menu rather than get the lunch buffet this time, but I have have enjoyed the buffet in the past. Several of my dining companions ordered dosa, which were enormous, crispy and delicious, filled with the ingredients of their choice. I enjoyed a bowl of light lentil soup and the uddapam. The only reason I do not give this restaurant five stars is because of the facilities and the ambience. The seating is fairly minimal and dated, the decorations are not not particularly attractive, there is a pothole in the hallway on the way to the bathroom, and the bathrooms are dark and cold. With a little updating this restaurant could be a legitimate gem, but I will continue going there us for the delicious food.
(4)
Keerthika V.
Ordered South Indian thali and mirch pakoda.. The thali is worth the try and valid for the cost.. 2 desserts,3 gravy , sambar and rasam with roti and rice..nice combo!!!
(4)
Russell K.
I am a big fan of Dosa Temple. Very good vegetarian south Indian food. I love their Madras Tiffin combo and Vada curry. They have good variety of dishes in their Lunch buffets on weekends.
(5)
Jasmine N.
Excellent weekend lunch buffet with masala dosa served at the table. We visited Dosa Temple Restaurant after visiting nearby Lakshmi Temple. Great efficient waitstaff. Very clean restaurant with delicious food.
(4)
Alex C.
I've been to Dosa more times than I can remember and I can confidently say I've NEVER had a bad experience or food that wasn't delicious. This is my friend and I's favorite spot in all of the metro Boston for Indian. There are a lot of unique menu options (cheapest around too!) that set them apart from most Indian restaurants, and there buffet is unbeatable. Make sure to try the Ghobi 65!
(5)
Vijay A.
Very authentic South Indian vegetarian fare! Good service and Affordable! We had the Buffett and it was covering all aspects of South Indian lunch cuisine!
(4)
Bp S.
For a South Indian place, idly was under cooked....generally not good food. Not sure why people have given this high rating ...disappointed.
(2)
Raul R.
This is my favorite South Indian restaurant since I came here .. It's distinctly Tamil unlike most others I try are Telugu of Andhra style .. There dinner thali is better than buffet imho .. And definitely not a place to eat North Indian
(4)
Ketan B.
This review is solely based on the thali they serve and I was not happy. My first issue is the roti. What's up with just one roti? Nobody in this world serves one roti for a thali. It's not easy to finish up the three vegetable servings with just one roti. Secondly, the vegetable servings themselves. The paneer masala had only and only two 3/4'th square inch paneer pieces with a huge load of masala. Same goes for the other two. A thali should have an ample amount of vegetables and just sufficient amount of curry to go with it. Unfortunately, these guys served a lot of curry and hardly any vegetables. There is no dearth of rice in the thali though. But if one want to get a thali, he or she doesn't just want to be stuffed with rice. On a couple of occasions before, I've tried their dosas and they are probably the best I've had in the New England area.
(3)
Shilpin M.
Best south indian food in the region !!! Love the onion rava masala dosa. Sunday buffet is awesome with variety of both south indian and north indian dishes.
(5)
brendan l.
This is my favorite Indian restaurant to eat at, especially because its all vegetarian! It is my favorite because it is very original tasting and tasted very high quality home cooked style. They have a huge buffet on the weekends for lunch and a friendly staff. I would fly back from Austin, TX just to have a meal from Dosa Temple!
Good place for south Indian food. Dosa is their speciality so go with that. They are not really north Indian food specialist. Stick with what they do best - south Indian food. Place may not look like much and service is decent. Would recommend to anyone wanting to try good Indian food.
(4)
Skye G.
Pay cash get 5% off the check. BYOB Go shopping at Market Basket on an empty tummy didn't sound like a good for the wallet so we stopped in to grab a bite. I usually order strong flavored meat dishes but now that I am trying to make veggies my primary and this place popped up. Mr G and I shared. We started with a Masala Dosa which was filled with potato. I wish it had more fillling and thought it was on the empty side. It looks huge when it is served but I was a little bummed. We also shared an entree, the Aloo Gobi. Cauliflower and tomato were pureed into smooth sauce with potato and onion chunks throughout. I am a sucker for "gravy" and wanted to dump the rice into the bowl and eat it with a spoon but I refrained. However, I plan to do that next time. However, if you are looking for pieces of cauliflower you won't really find it in this dish but I LOVE IT! It was more than enough and we left feeling full and happy. The place is tucked in the corner and has a basic indian feel. The place is always busy and I watch people in and out when I am next door getting my nails done. They don't serve any meat here so for me it made it a little easier to order, although I still have to ask and make sure I am not getting anything made with butter.
(4)
Neda S.
Heard great things about this place & the Indians eating here were certainly very pleased. Having gone with children, it was not a child friendly restaurant. The menu was a bit different than the regular Americanized ones we'd seen. We needed help but the waiter didn't have patience to answer our questions. We left feeling disappointed as we love Indian food & were looking for local restaurants as we had just moved in the neighborhood.
(3)
Praveen P.
Finally, our wait was over. After three frustrating years searching for authentic South Indian cuisine in Boston, we stumbled on to Dosa Temple. Boy, was that serendipitous! This quaint little restaurant, hidden inside a shopping plaza in Ashland is definitely best-in-class when it comes to serving up delectable South Indian cuisine - because it has the one magic ingredient that all the other wannabe Indian restaurants serving South Indian dishes do not have - a chef and staff who are from Tamil Nadu. We went for lunch on a Sunday and were delighted to find staples like Avial and beans porial, all cooked to perfection, in the mild, flavor-rich, oil free tradition of typical vegetarian cuisine from the region. I cannot recommend a better place for the dosas, idlis and vadas, with a delicious assortment of chutneys and some amazing sambar to go with them. Bottom line, if you ever want to taste the amazing vegetarian cuisine from south India, look no further - just visit Dosa Temple.
(5)
Marrin C.
FYI. They don't deliver. Even though their menu says they do. Even when you call and say you want delivery, they don't tell you they don't deliver. Just have you wait for your good that will never come! Food isn't bad though.
(1)
Brian W.
We stopped in for a late lunch during the week having never had Dosa or Southern Indian food. The decor was a little dark and outdated, but everything else was simply great. We told our waiter (I think he was the owner) that we were new to this food and he spent lots of time describing the ingredients and understanding what we might like. Simple enough, we ordered one of each of the lunch menus as they were essentially a little bit of everything. Every bit of the food was amazing. The service was great and we will be back often. We even liked dosa so much that we went to a local Indian grocer to get some prepared mix and that was even great to have at home.
(5)
Abinaya S.
Went here for the sunday lunch buffet and was quite impressed. This is one of the best traditional home-style south indian food you can get in MA. The buffet menu was simple, but the style and taste of cooking was just too good. My favourites were the rava masala dosa and idly manchurian. Samosa was pretty good too. They were seasoned very finely and the smell was perfect like it was coming right from madras. LOL. It was a relief to savour this authentic home-style south-indian food after a long time and the added pleasure was they played ARR tamil songs. can't ask for more. Just loved the experience and planning my next visit sooner.
(4)
Julie L.
Wonderful South Indian offerings. Ordered the Thali and the Madras Tiffan. Both came with an ample sampling of food! Loved the idli sambar. The dosa presentation was awe-inspiring. The sheer size was incredible (and delicious). I only wish there was a description of the individual dishes included in the thali. If you want to dip your feet into South Indian cuisine, definitely check out Dosa Temple. Just watch out - South Indian is spicy, spicy, spicy!
(4)
Maya S.
One of the best places for south Indian food in Boston. The buffet here is really good and food is pretty hot/warm compared to a lot of other places. Would definitely recommend the idli manchurian and the onion rava dosa!
(4)
Aarti C.
Hands down the best South Indian vegetarian restaurant in the Boston area! The food is as authentic as it gets (fyi I'm a South Indian myself). The few North Indian dishes they serve has a South Indian kick to it which I love. South Indian style paneer masala or chole bhature anyone? Delish! The Sunday buffet lunch usually has some of the popular/regular/staple South Indian items (idli, dosa, rasam,sambar,chutney,curd rice) but they always have 2/3 new items under veggies and desserts. It usually gets crowded on Sunday afternoons so make sure you get there early (11:30ish). Dosa T is my go to place for a quick-casual-no frills-fingerlicking-ImissMom dining!
(5)
Nihit M.
Love their food, being a vegetarian I this restaurant is a boon to me. Their portions are great, staff professional and food tastes great
(5)
S S.
I have lost count of the number of times I have been here. I think I go at least once every week to satisfy my idli-dosa cravings! It reminds of a typical Udipi joint you woud find on the streets of South India. :) So my staple here is always idli - 3 piece idli with sambar and chutney..makes me so happy! The next is dosa - I've tried different varieties (the podi dosa, mysore masala etc.) but nothing stands out, for e.g. the red paste in the mysore masala dosa is pretty tasteless, but the dosa is good. They're nice but not excellent! I have also had the rava masala dosa - pretty good. The gem that I discovered recently was the channa bhatura..wow! I don't like deep fried foods but I have to make an exception here! And please have the coffee - it's like filter 'kappi' and I have to try really hard to not have a second cuppa!
(4)
Praveen M.
One of the best places for authentic tasty South Indian food. Reasonable prices for high quality food.
(5)
Sachin M.
The buffet was below par compared to other south indian restaurants.
(2)
Varshnya S.
Update: Never expected such a drastic change over from my last experience. Everything tasted yummy. We felt like ordering many more items but unfortunately our stomach reached the saturation point. Trust me, this place has the best South Indian food and will not disappoint you. The waiters also did their job perfectly. Waiting to go back again very soon.
(5)
Ash N.
I found a dead cockroach in my dish. The waiter treated me as if he was doing me a favor by giving me a fresh plate. Will never go back to this restaurant - not very appetizing. Customer service is mediocre.
(1)
Angels s.
Good south indian food. Taste was fine. not great. Place /ambience is good. Will be back i guess.
(3)
Meera V.
I have been eating at Dosa Temple since they opened. I had dinner there tonight. I love the food which is consistently of very good quality and taste. The dosas are excellent and so is the accompanying coconut chutney and sambhar (vegetable sauce as an accompaniment). Love their vadas (lentil fritters) which are hot and crisp. Their chhole bhature is great. They are not known for North Indian food so the bhelpuri and other dishes are only average. I love their South Indian coffee and the desserts! The service is very good and they are friendly and warm.
(4)
Kash M.
Got hooked on Dosas when I was visiting India (Madras) in 2003. This place is a good reminder of the food I had back then. Quite small place usually filled with Indians, but food is good.
(4)
Ronald S.
We were on our way from Boston to CT and decided to take a little detour for some South Indian foods .. always looking to try something new along the way, and we were pleasantly surprised by Dosa Temple. With the help of yelp and our GPS we had no problem navigating to this slightly out of the way unassuming strip mall, tucked into the corner near Dunkin Donuts. It is a pretty simple interior, not overly decorated or fancy, indian pop music was playing and the place wasn't too crowded (we were there pretty late for lunch, toward the end of the buffet times) We made it in for a buffet, and all the food was very good. They brought us small Dosa when we sat down, and we went back up to the buffet a few times to try some different things - the spice level here (for buffet) wasn't too over the top, not too crazy. Finding great little vegetarian places like this is always exciting, and we will definitely be back to Dosa Temple.
(4)
Michelle W.
Got the idli vada and Mysore masala dosa and podi masala dosa. The Mysore dosa was very flavorful, slightly spicy, with a potato filling that was soft and had the tight amount of flavors. The podi dosa was too flaky, too much powder which made that dosa even more dry tasking and the potato filling was not cooked enough for my liking. The sambar was delicious and the idli was very good. The water tasted bad and the place seemed outdated. I didn't like how they vacuumed a little during dinner. Place seemed to have a lot of Indian customers which is always good to see at an Indian restaurant. Overall, good was good but I probably wouldn't come here unless I was already in the area.
(3)
Joshua B.
23 Jan 2014 Had lunch. Ordered a batch of the masala vada appetizer and a lunch special thali (tasting plate) that included a masala dosa, 2 iddli, a vada, some sambar (lentil soup) etc. Masala vada - ok but not great. The sambar and coconut chutney that came with it were very good. Lunch Thali - Masala dosa was excellent. Iddli, very good, Doughnut shaped vada - very good. Overall the food was very good and I look forward to returning. Service - our server was very friendly and polite Price $14 including tip Decor - The restaurant's slightly run down decor doesn't bother me much but isn't terribly attractive.
(4)
Gaurav K.
Best South Indian food in New England area.... I usually drive here once a month from Rhode Island just to try their authentic South Indian food... I wish they could open more branches around MA and RI...
(5)
Joel F.
Dont not eat here, especially buffet. the food is often stale. Also avoid the Paneer dishes, I have been down with severe diarrhea after having the buffet! I'd not recommend this place, try Framingham which is few miles away the quality is far superior and better choices.
(1)
Karen C.
Like many a previous review. We had high hope for this restaurant. It was recommended by friends in the area. Two days of intestinal distress later. We will not be back. That and combined with lousy service and no help I trying to navigate the menu since we were new to Dosa. Discount for cash. What type of scam is that.
(1)
Tulan K.
I am compelling to give 5 stars to indian rest and that also a south indian rest. but i guess it really truly does deserve it. So we drove from N. Andover to Boston to ashland to get to try this new rest out. The atmosphere is very quite and settled and the there is not much to the decoration and ambiance as all south indian rest are. We were quickly seated and quickly our orders were taken. For appetizers we got Chilly idly which was recommended by fellow yelpers and it was quite good. For dinner all four of us ordered Madras tiffin which consisted of Dosa (says masala dosa but u can get ur choice), Veggie utthapam, Two idlis(mind blowing), one vada and one desert with the condiments of Sambar coconut chutney and tomato chutney. This was good collection for first timer to try everything south indian . The prices were very cheap and decent prices. the appetizer was around 8.00 bucks while the tiffins were 13 each. We also had coupons from entertainment book for the place which were upto 8.00 each. so we used two of those. Those took off 16 bucks from the bill and since we paid in cash there was additional 5% discount. Out total cost was $14/PP including food, one drink, one appetizer and tips. Which is considering very cheap. GO THERE AND EAT IF YOU LIKE THE TASTE OF SOUTH INDIAN FOOD. THE BEST IN MA
(5)
D P R.
Terrific place. Great comfort food. Their pessarattu-upma is very delicious. Very warm owners and waiting staff. Very reasonably priced.
(5)
Mohun K.
Dinner on 12/12/12: the rasam knocked my socks off! It was great. Had the mini idli appetizer and the onion/tomato uttapam. Love this place, will visit again!
(4)
Kulveer C.
The filter coffee is amazing. So is the Rasam and all the dosas we had. Mysore masala dosa , Rava dosa were exceptionally good ... The service is great and I don't see a reason why I won't be visiting again ...
(5)
Ranvir R.
This is my first review on Yelp.I am an Indian and have good taste for Indian food.I was trying to find a good South Indian joint.After reading the reviews on Yelp we decided to go to Dosa Temple,It was a good 30 min drive,but it was definitely worth it Chilli Idly is definitely worth trying.Dosa and chutney both were excellent.We tried three different Dosa,Mysore masala,Rava Onion and regular masala dosa all were very good.Big Crispy and fresh stuffing. Red chutney is the best chutney they have.Conconut chutney could be better thought. Service is excellent.Ambiance is simple and clean very homely.Toilets were very clean. We plan to go there soon again.
(5)
Rosy G.
I had buffet here today. It was terrible. All items were cold. Vegetarian biryani stank of stale potatoes. Dessert was extremely sweet as if chef is in love with sugar. The only thing I liked in buffet was dosa. It was fresh and hot.
(1)
Gautham D.
Dosa temple is a typical South Indian restaurant nothing fancy about this place. The food is decent and is mostly good. The reason it gets only 3 stars, 1) it is in the middle of nowhere, 2) The decor is old and moldy 3) When you step in the place and step out you smell like a spice factory and you really need to change your clothes. Bottom Line: Want decent south Indian food, go to dosa temple
(3)
Matthew G.
Had the weekend lunch buffet today and it was fantastic. I tried a bit of everything on the buffet and loved it all. With the buffet comes their signature dosa, served to you hot, crisp, and perfect. The place was busy with only a few tables empty. The staff was engaging and the service was instant. As mentioned in other yelp reviews, they put their money into the food instead of the decor - my heros! Not cheap at $11.95 - but they earn it with value and selection. To compensate for the higher price than I was expecting, I went next door and did my weekly shopping at for the Market Basket (instead of the usual Roche Brothers).... saving many times the cost of the buffet - does this mean I can go back mid-week?
(5)
Dee P.
(9/7/13) Myself and my wife had gobi manchurian, rava masala dosa and onion uttupa. Food taste was mediocre ( taste matched exactly to that of MTR. Ready mix rava dosa). The reason why 1 start and not 3 stars is because both myself and my wife are suffering from stomach bug after eating here .... 4 says of at least suffering making a bad decision of having dinner here. Never going back there. Good luck if you decide going there :/
(1)
Sai C.
Pros -- Has big servings and cheap-ish food -- I am an indian, who eats and is LEARNING to cook (so learning to taste differences in ingredients). Cons -- Dosa is definitely NOT Bangalore style (crisp on the outside, soft on the inside). Too thin and no substance to the dosa! -- Truly horrible north indian food -- spice was distributed in food properly -- The naan was not hot AND too stretchy (i.e., made and re-heated for me!)
(2)
Ajay S.
Best South Indian in Mass.. Hard to get to but worth the drive if you like south indian.
(5)
Anvi D.
I loved their food, it tasted great. But I gave one star for the following reasons 1. Seating area was not clean 2. During my time in the restaurant, I noticed couple of rats running around 3. One of the waiting staff would clean the tables, then rub her hand on to her clothes and serve food/water with those same hands. 4. Finally to top everything, a rat ran over my foot. And I completely lost my appetite and temper at that point. 5. Just to warn you, my husband who usually has no problem digesting any food no Matter how it was prepared, fell sick with diarrhea after this food. So, my final recommendation is I would NOT suggest this place to people who care about cleanliness, hygiene of food preparation( as God only knows how many rats might be in ther kitchen). But if you just care for the taste, then go for it at your own risk. I will never visit this place again for all the above mentioned reasons.
(1)
Sunny S.
we went to the buffet, it was terrible the dosa was served at our table, well maybe a teaspoon of filling, and the crepe was terribly tasteless as for the buffet , the only thing that was good was the dish with squash, that was very tasty. and the idly was ok the sambhar was really bad, watery and no taste; the chutneys were all terrible, raita was watery. im not sure how one can mess up chutney the rice dishes were dry, so dry i added raita to them to add moisture will not go back. sorry
(1)
Meena V.
This place is not for yuppies and princesses. Honestly, you walk in, and it's like you've stepped into the 1970's. But you know what, I live my life all about the food, and I know I'm about to eat some of the best South Indian food in the area, so that's all JUST fine with me. Because really, who's thinking about the wallpaper when you're sweating from the heat and burn of eating too many wadas doused in perfect sambhar too fast? Also, they are usually playing Tamil/Telugu pop music. Appadi podu podu awesome! Seriously though, there are very few SOUTH Indian restaurants around, and this is one of the few that does it and does it right. Still totally authentic, unpretentious, but becoming more accessible to everyone else off late since the management switch (think explanations of what's what and English lettering on the menu). What to eat here: - Any South Indian dishes -- dosas, uthappams, etc etc - Their "thali" -- this is basically a "full meal," so you get a little bit of each course, and get to try all the standard parts of a classic South Indian meal. Might be a bit intimidating to a newcomer, but I'd just ask the slightly awk, but very friendly and well-meaning staff to tell you what's what. - Their weekend/ lunch buffets. Amazing. You get to try everything! This includes: -- South Indian treats like wadas, idlis, sambhar, COCONUT CHUTNEY, and fresh hot just-made dosas brought to your table as part of the buffet! -- Southie attempts at North Indian food like your usual tikka masalas, chole, kormas, etc. Not real North Indian food, but tikka masala made with sambhar powder instead of garam masala will always have its place in my heart. -- My favourite! Indian style Chinese food! Totally not Chinese-authentic at all, but if you've ever heard of "manchurian" at all, this will be your temple!! I don't know what it is that makes this flavour -- maybe it's the hot interplay of cumin/coriander/chili powder and MSG, but oh my god. It's incomparable to anything else. What NOT to eat here: - North Indian food. This includes naan, your usual tikka masala style dishes that you see everywhere, chaats, samosas, poori bhaji etc. Save that for other places -- it's the mf-ing Dosa TEMPLE, roll up your sleeves and eat dosas here!
(5)
merqurious z.
Don't be fooled by the dated decor. The food is one of the best south Indian food I have had in a US restaurant for a long time. Rava dosa, Mysore masala dosa and idli vada tasted really good. Portions were large. Gobi-Manchurian (dry) tasted just as it tasted during college days in India.
(4)
Sarav C.
As a Vegetarian and South Indian, rarely I find a restaurant that serves Authentic South Indian Vegetarian food. Dosa Temple is one of those and I love them for that. The food is very close to home and I travel all the way from Cambridge for a decent meal once in a while. Buffet is great and it allows me taste a lot of varieties at the same time. I always take my non Indian friends as well and teach them about the cuisine and what it an appropriate way to eat it.
(5)
Bryan S.
We ended up trying this place because it was recommended by friends and had decent reviews on Yelp. We went in on a Thursday night and it was empty , except for another family. We were immediately seated and got our waters. ( I know its an Indian thing to order water without ice, but all of us got our waters without and were not even asked if we wanted any). We got the buttermilk to drink, and I was satisfied with mine, though some thought the pieces of ginger and chilli were slightly overwhelming. We ordered the Dahi Aloo Puri ( wafer thin, hollow crisps, stuffed with yogurt, potato and an assortment of spices). Delightful one bite wonders...We also ordered the Bhel, which was really good too. Nessa ordered the sweet corn soup, which she claimed ( and I agreed) was neither sweet, and had an assortment of vegetation not native to the sweet corn soup we are used to. D got the Idly Vada soaked in sambar, his and my vada's were denser and not the light and airy we assumed them to be. For the main course I ordered the Thali, so that I could get a little of everything. The Rasam was very good and so were the Sambhar, and vegetable korma. I was barely able to finish everything on the plate. We also ordered the Mysore Masala Dosa and the Spring Dosa ( In my opinion nothing beats the Spring Dosa at Udipi in Shrewsbury). For dessert I got the Paysam, which wasn't all that good, it had a lot of condensed milk and was really thick and sweet. The decor was extremely lacking, but I have noticed that most South Indian restaurants are always like that. Minimal basic furniture, with poster pictures on the walls and Bright Tube lighting, with Christmas lights on the windows.The music was a little on the louder side and was more south Indian than Hindi pop (minus a star). Remember, you are not going in for the ambiance, its all about the food. What I found slightly weird was posted on almost every wall, take 5% off your check if you pay with cash. ( WHAT you don't like credit cards?? Who carries cash anymore??) and the minimum on credit cards was $15. Our whole group of 5 got a check of $15.75 a piece and he gladly ran all five cards ( + point). All in all a decent alternative to driving all the way to Udipi in Shrewsbury. But I still think the food at Udipi is much better than here.
(3)
Kevvu K.
Awesome dosas. Veryy bigggggggggggggggg ones. Chilli paneer was very soft. Truly recommend.
(5)
Deepak K.
I have been to quite a few of the "reputed" Indian restaurants in the Boston area but the food here is so much better than all of them. Very authentic south Indian fare, which is very rare in and around here. The buttermilk is a must have and so is the spicy rasam. Definitely going back again
(4)
Josh W.
So Good!
(5)
Enday G.
Authentic Indian food. The best Indian food I ever had outside India!
(5)
Jay B.
I'm South Indian, and I know South Indian food. I've grown up eating it, and my grandma was one of the best cooks around. In short, the food here is as close to what my grandma made as I have tasted since she passed away. Totally authentic and outstanding. The place is completely clean and hygienic. You should know that, like excellent Mexican food, the GI effects of eating high-quality Indian food can be intense, especially for those not used to it. This isn't to say that you will get sick, just that the spices used are strong and not everyone is used to them.
(5)
Geoff m.
Dosa Temple is as good as it gets !!!!!!!! I am an American who loves South Indian food, having first tasted it in London at the legendary Woodlands. Dosa Temple is authentic, fresh and extremely tasty. And did I mention how inexpensive it is ? We had Vegetable Bhaji and Paneer (cheese) fritters for starters. I would have preferred them a bit crunchier but it was a weds night and it was a bit slow. They might have microwaved the bahji!! Then we moved on to a veggie uttapam which is a rice flour based pizza like concoction and an onion and potatoe dosa which spilled over the plate. We also had a potatoe and onion dosa that was crispy and very large. The lentil broth and other chutneys were fresh and great compliments. Also had a masala chai that was spicy and yummy. No alcohol is served. I didn't ask if we could BYO. Also if you pay in cash there is a 5% discount. 2 people - full and immensely satisfied for under 30. Great Job Dosa Temple.
(5)
Samantha B.
Dosa. temple. is. not. dirty. I have never had issues with their sanitation. Just to get that cleared up. I found out about this restaurant from a boston vegetarian website, and was willing to make the trek out to Ashland for the fact that it's a) Indian, and b) vegetarian. I visited South India and have been craving the food ever since. It's hard to find much South Indian food, short of the token dosa that's usually mushy rather than crispy. They have chickoo shakes...chickoo is in the sapote family, and I'd liken it to a chocolatey date. They also have Indian sodas that I have yet to try. I always order the Madras Tiffan, which is a jumbo offering of all of the south indian staples: dosa, uthapam, coconut chutney, vadai, and sambar. I was in awe when I saw the *massive* dosa coming our way. There's something about being served food that's bigger than your face that just makes you feel warm inside. The whole process of South Indian food is just fun. You have a little bit of this and that, get to eat with your hands and dip, dip, dip. So yes, I didn't know that one of the dishes was my dessert, and dipped some dosa into it, but my happiness could not be soured. The coconut chutney and potato masala are speckled with black mustard seeds and taste like everything I love about South Indian cuisine. It's also very filling. Next time, I need to make a point of ordering the cone shaped dosa, just because it's a cone. Since visiting South India, I've been on the search for the quality of masala chai that I had there, with little luck. The masala chai at dosa temple isn't quite on par with what you'll get in South India, but it's as close as you'll get. Love it, love it. p.s. Stop by the latin american grocery/convenient store/christian library next door, your one stop shop for tortillas, el salvadorean flags, and a bible.
(5)
Steve R.
Okay, I am new to Indian food in general, and I am a meat lover. But the Dosa Temple has some fantastic food. We did take out and everything was delicious. We will definitely go back!
(4)
Panna P.
Quaint place. Looks like a dive from the outside. The inside is surprisingly roomy and very clean. Food is very good. We ordered south indian and were very happy with it. As I'm from south India myself that sould mean something! Service was efficient and non intrusive. Would definitely recommend it to anyone!
(5)
Dhaval A.
I recently visited the restaurant the umpteenth time and I must say I was very impressed. It has a very dated decor but it has excellent food. I ordered from the indo chinese section of the menu and the rest of my party ordered the south indian food. The good thing about the indo chinese is that this restaurant gets closest to the actual indo chinese food, the bad is that they use black pepper to spice the food, which is not so cool. The reason they dint get the full 5 stars is because on some days the food is iffy and I am not sure what the reason is but their record has not been consistent. But either ways the food is tasty on good days. I'd definitely go back, and recommend everyone else to try it out!
(4)
KoreanSoup S.
I love this place. 'semi' hole in the ground in a good way. Best indian food I've found/been taken to in (near) the city thus far.
(5)
Ben M.
My wife and I traveled in South India for a few weeks a couple of years ago, and ever since coming back have been looking for authentic, tasty, South Indian veg food. Most of the Indian food in the United States (or at least in Boston, as far as we've found) is North Indian, which tends to be heavier and is made with more cream than South Indian food. Dosas and chai were one of our favorite cheap meals in India, so we were delighted to find this place.. First, the food. We've only had the dosas, but overall they are outstanding. The dosas themselves are light, crispy, not oily, and tart and flavorful. The chutneys that are served with the dosas are equally excellent. My only (minor) critique of the dosas is that the potato filling is a bit "mushier" and had less chunks of potato than what we had in India. Still, overall very good. Of course, nothing will be as good as in its country of origin, but I can't imagine finding dosas in the Boston area that are as good as this. Second, to address criticisms about service. We have been here twice, each time served by a different waiter, and have found the service to be attentive, prompt, and efficient. It's important to keep in mind that this is not an American restaurant, but really does an excellent job of recreating the Indian dining experience, from the food, to the service, to the decor. Try it, and you won't be disappointed.
(5)
Suresh B.
Agree with other reviews ! This place is really really good. The ambiance is ok, nothing very fancy but the food overcomes the ambiance part. I'm South Indian and have always been reluctant to go to Indian restaurants in Boston area because of the quality of food but we wanted to give this place another chance since the restaurant is under new management. Dosa was really yummy and fresh, the sambhar and chutney to go along with dosa was very tasteful. We also ordered Thalli and Kotthu Parotta (small pieces of bread mixed with spices). Service was also good - the waited had smile on his face which is sometimes difficult to find in Indian restaurants (don't know why :)). I highly recommend this place ! Authentic south Indian vegeterian food at its best, you should definitely experience it !
(5)
Todd b.
We went to Dosa Temple last night. New to the area; my vegetarian wife was pleased to find a local place. Going on a recomendation from South Indian friends, I was curious to find out how South Indian food differs from the more common (in the U.S.) Northern Indian cuisine. We shared two dishes and took food home - bill was $24 with one diet coke. The Temple Special Masala Dosa was great. A delicate and flavorful crepe made from lentils wrapped around curried potatos and spicy lentil power. It came with 3 dipping sauces allowing for a wide variety of tastes. On the server's suggestion we also ordered the South Indian Thali - a steal at $12.95. It is a tray with various bowls of food arranged on top - two kinds of rice, bread, 4 curries, a sweet dessert made from vermicelli and milk, some homemade yogurt, 2 kinds of soup, pickled veges, a kind of lentil donut, and possibly some stuff i missed. It was all very good and the spices rang out in their complexity. Spiciness varied in each dish but we never had anything too hot...something we might ask for when we go back. All and all this is a place that we are glad is just one town over from where we live - definitley going back.
(4)
Emily A.
If you are craving a dosa, this is the place to go. Its probably the most authentic south indian restaurant in the area.
(4)
G J J.
Pretty good, not great, not amazing. Probably hidden for most American unless you know about this place from an insider.
(4)
Amanda B.
My husband and I go here often. We're both vegetarian, and love to visit veggie restaurants. Each time, we order the temple special thali because we like the variety. This platter is more than enough food for two. The peas paratha and malai kofka (sp) are also delicious. The food here is somewhat heavy, but tasty. The owners are also very nice.
(4)
Bindiya T.
Went there in search of good South India food. We tried their buffet and was not at all happy with the south India/north India/chinese food taste. Honestly, my rule of thumb is never try north Indian food at a South Indian restaurant but ended up trying it here as their South Indian food was very mediocre. The Dosa stuffing was tasteless, Idlis were not soft, sambhar was very watery. I am not sure if I would have had a different experience with a-la-carte. Will still have to keep looking for a good South India restaurant around Boston.
(2)
J B.
We came here for the (100% vegetarian) lunch buffet and all 3 of us LOVED it. I wish I lived closer to this place, it was so nice to be able to eat (really good) all vegetarian Indian. It's worth the trip to Ashland.
(5)
Anurag M.
Good food, simple decor and good customer service
(4)
Steve R.
I've visited India a dozen times in the last 15 years, so I humbly submit that I am an authoritative judge of various Indian cuisines. Dosa Temple is one of the best pure-veg South Indian restaurants in the northeast, on a par with South Indian around NYC (yes, I mean Jackson Heights) South Indian. The restaurant in this location has changed names (and ownership?) a number of times. I recall having good South Indian in this same spot about 12 years ago. (There used to be a great South Indian in the old Framingham train station, but alas, it closed a few years ago.) There have been times when the restaurant was not up to the cleanliness standards of fastidious diners, and service--especially at buffet times--can be spotty, but the food has always been top-notch. If you don't know South Indian cuisine, ask your wait-staff or the folks at the next table to recommend good South Indian dishes. Steer clear of Punjabi dishes like Bhindi Masala; Not that they're bad; they're fine. But you can get them at any Indian Restaurant, so why trek all the way out to Ashland to get them here? The Sunday post-temple brunch (the crowds have likely just had a visit to the Hindu temple about a mile away in Ashland) crowd is noisy & convivial. If you think, like the Chinese, that "hot and noisy" is a virtue of dining, you'll be happy here on a Sunday at noon. I am. On Vegan food: Many South Indian dishes are, in fact, vegan-friendly: Dosas, Uttapam, wadas... My recommendation for vegans is that if you want to experiment with different cuisines, first do a little homework, and learn about the culture and the cuisine. Wait staff at a cheap Indian restaurant will likely not have the faintest clue what "Vegan" or "non-dairy" means. Why should they? After all, milk is close to sacred in India (one uses it to bathe images of god), so in the Indian mind, what sort of lunatic would refuse it? I can think of few things more difficult than trying to be vegan in India. Trying to be veg. in Argentina?
(4)
Michael M.
Wow...I think I need to step in and defend Dosa Temple. I ate lunch here today as I'm writing this! I NEVER been sick by eating at Dosa Temple. Don't believe these idiots who say it's a health hazard! There's absolutely nothing wrong with the food, it's delicious, the restaurant is clean, and I've eaten there over ten times with no injury. I'VE NEVER BEEN SICK EATING HERE!!
(5)
Andrew M.
Pretty unfamiliar territory for me, but I found stuff I liked. They had a more interesting selection of breads than you find at a typical Indian place, and you get a lot of it for your money.
(4)
Bane B.
Nice vegetarian Indian food with south Indian specialty (dosa, idli, sambar, wada, etc) The fried stuff is non-greasy ! Consistent quality of food though the buffet prices may have risen over the past year.
(5)
Nikhil M.
This is a fantastic south indian restaurant. There are some dishes that are better than others, but overall food is great and reasonably priced. Not a fancy dining experience, but who cares - the food rocks.
(5)
B P.
I've been there for the buffet in 07 the food was very good. I am South Indian and I have never had dosa so close to the real thing anywhere in Massachusetts. Ok so.... if you have a dairy problem...don't order the Paneer!!!! Paneer is cheese...not tofu...in fact I would be concerned if they started serving tofu in an Indian restaurant! Yes and Indian tea is made with milk...it is usually made with 50% milk and 50% water. That's what makes South Indian tea different. The only issue I have with the place is the ambiance...its subpar. Kaopectate is right if you like North Indian food, like paneer, naan, tikka etc, this place is not recommended. South Indian food like dosa, vadda idli etc is definitely recommended.
(4)
Saurabh M.
Service sucks. Food taste varies. Not authentic.
(1)
Alex C.
Not impressed at all! Went there for their weekend lunch buffet! Rather expensive for what they are offering! Definitely had better south indian cuisine.
(2)
Steve M.
I am a regular at Dosa Temple. They do a nice buffet, lunch on weekends only. If it means anything, I am often the only westerner in the crowded restaurant for the buffet. This past weekend, during a break in the snowstorms, I went hoping for the buffet but as attendance was light, I had to order off the menu. My waiter suggested the South Indian Thali which is sort of a chef's choice buffet. I've had many of these dishes before, some on the buffet and no doubt about it, they were even better when not part of the buffet. One thing I do wish they would do with the buffet is include a paneer dish. My summary: Very highly recommended.
(4)
Kaopectate P.
ok. so allix t.'s review wasn't the best. they might not be the best at understanding what a vegan is, but 90% of the stuff is vegan and top notch. chennai woodlands is one of the only south indian restaurants in the boston area (the other two are in the ashland area also...i don't consider rangoli in allston as being south indian...not that great). onto the food.... the food is amazing. if you're looking for tikka masala or mutter paneer (the standard indian restaurant food)...do NOT go here. southern indian restaurants specialize in completely different dishes than than north indian restaurants (the ones commonly found). idli / dosa / sambhar / coconut chutney. these are some of the dishes that chennai woodlands makes best....better than anything in the boston area. so, if you know what south indian food entails...you've gotta try this place out...its worth the drive. if you're willing to try it out....go on a sunday for lunch when the buffet serves up a variety of food.
(5)
S A.
Mediocre to sub-mediocre. I am surprised they haven't met the same fate as Dakshin -- although I may be wrong in assuming they are as dirty as Dakhin restaurant in Framingham. But the last time I remember eating at Chennai Woodlands, it wasn't all that great. I have certainly had better south indian food in the most generic of restaurants across the US. They may now be surviving with better chances because Dakshin is shut down (health code violations)..... All I can say is if you have not eaten here, you are not missing much. Some points to them for having a website, although its a Blogger page.
(2)
ak k.
we went to temple dosa last night with the family i must say the food quality has gone way down since the last visit masala dosa were disgusting and the sambar was even worse the onion bhaji looked like it was re-fried. the pau bhaji was served cold when talked with the owner he keeps smiling. the potatoes had no salt this business is going to lose a lot of customers they should listen to the customers complaint. i know we will never go here again rather drive down to shrewsbury for some good south indian food.
(1)
Manish K.
Visited the place celebrating my wife's birthday. Big mistake in hind sight, should have probably taken her to Helmand (cambridge) or even the Indian Dhaba in Inman square. Judging by the name (DOSA temple), we ordered masala DOSAs, started eating, and figured out that the masala smelled (and tasted) weird, further research yielded the fact that it was spoilt (I know what spoilt masala smells and tastes like). Called attention to the fact, received a nod in acknowledgement (Yes, we heard you!!), no apology, nothing! Wife mentioned it to the manager when we left, he says 'Yes, I heard about it, it's probably the temperature' (BTW, it was a cold day). Didnt leave a tip, which was the strongest protest I could manage (without being uncivil, and making a scene), should have probably called the health department. Not what I would expect from a restaurant that has been receiving 5 star ratings from everyone. Have people forgotten what spoilt food tastes like? To be fair to them, I did like the Vada Sambar I ordered, the ambience, and service was quite quick and courteous, cleanliness in the restaurant/bathrooms was not an issue either. Not sure (after the spoilt masala incident) whether the kitchen is as clean??? Will not be visiting again!
(1)
andromeda G.
Dosa Temple is a great place to have some authentic VEGETARIAN south indian style food. I have been eating at this place from the past few years and have never had any issues with the food or the quality. The restaurant did change hands at one point of time from Chennai woodlands to Dosa Temple, but the quality has improved ever since. The Indian way of having water is cool water without ice. So if you need ice in your water then you will need to ask for it. The dosas(Crepes) are great and their other dishes (pooris, chana baturas, birayanis) are great too. There is plenty of parking available and the best times to visit are weekdays when it would be far less crowded. But if you like a quick lunch and would like to sample a variety of items then you can try the weekend buffet (Only weekends as they dont have a buffet on week days). The north indian dishes are great and can be had with either Rice or the Rotis (slimmer versions of the Naan and is made of wheat flour). I like the 5% off option using cash as this helps avoid the unneccesary credit card transaction fees for the restaurant and I get my 5% off too. So try that option if you carry cash. For people other than Indians I would strongly recommend visiting on the weekdays when it would be less crowded and you can have your lunch/dinner peacefully. Also you can ask any questions about the food and get a relaxed answer from the waiters.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
India is the birth place of Chicken Tikka Masala and Curries. Indian foods are prepared with a blend of finely mixed spices quite popular across the region. The spices develop the rich taste in Indian food enough to boggle your mind. The ever-increasing fan base of Indian food around the New York city is steadily increasing because of the large number of Indians who traveled to the land of dreams. The Indians also brought their very own vibrant, colorful, and aromatic authentic dishes for the people in the West. While most of the Indian population is Vegetarian, Indian food is great for people who are looking for vegan or vegetarian food option. If you are a Meat lover, don't get disappointed yet. Indian food also boasts of some popular non-vegetarian dishes too. Few examples are the famous Butter Chicken, Mutton Biryani and Tandoori Chicken are enough to satisfy your taste buds.
Indian food has gained reputation all over the world especially in the United States. You can find many places serving the appetizing Indian food across all major cities in the US. India is a diverse country with different food culture originated from different parts of the country. While the Northern region boasts tandoori dishes and korma offering royal taste, the Western Ghats offers sea foods that is made in naturally sweet tender coconut milk. The South Indian food servers a quality of different dishes made from rice accompanied with spicy chutneys, curries and famous sambhar. Also, the Indian sweets are a delight to relish. If you ever want to have a burst of sugar syrup in mouth, don't forget to try few Bengali Sweets. Be it spicy, tangy, or sweet flavor, you can find everything in the Indian cuisine. Be assured that the melody of spices will surely bring delight to you.
Meetali D.
Nice dosas. They have all kinds of stuff - indo Chinese, Punjabi, chat, South Indian etc. overall good stuff!
(4)Sougata S.
Great taste, value for money. I usually have dosas, have been less impressed with their buffet.
(4)Ameet C.
Seems like food was stale as most of the people in our party started showing diarrhoea symptoms after eating here. They need to serve fresh food.
(1)Avinash G.
Really frustrated with the service!!!! Didn't expected that a dosa might take more than 45 minutes!!! Might be the taste is good but felt frustrated with the service.
(1)S D.
This is a great place for vegetarian south Indian food. I used to love the weekend buffet, and recently tried some items off the menu after not going for a few years due to moving away from the area. The masala dosa was very good and I had an lentil ball dish that was so interesting, spicy and delicious. The decor could use some updating, and it is in the corner of a strip mall so it's not necessarily a romantic spot or anything. It's definitely worth the trip, though!
(4)Vidhyasankar N.
An average South Indian veg restaurant. I wish they knew how to make tasty coconut chutney, it's not rocket science. I'm not sure if they are still serving frozen parathas from Indian store.
(3)Maureen D.
This was my 5th wonderful experience at dosa temple. Although it is a 45 minute drive from my house, it is always worth it. My party of 7 was promptly seated at noon, though the lunch rush arrived about half an hour later. The waitstaff immediately saw to us, and food was served quickly. We chose to order off the menu rather than get the lunch buffet this time, but I have have enjoyed the buffet in the past. Several of my dining companions ordered dosa, which were enormous, crispy and delicious, filled with the ingredients of their choice. I enjoyed a bowl of light lentil soup and the uddapam. The only reason I do not give this restaurant five stars is because of the facilities and the ambience. The seating is fairly minimal and dated, the decorations are not not particularly attractive, there is a pothole in the hallway on the way to the bathroom, and the bathrooms are dark and cold. With a little updating this restaurant could be a legitimate gem, but I will continue going there us for the delicious food.
(4)Keerthika V.
Ordered South Indian thali and mirch pakoda.. The thali is worth the try and valid for the cost.. 2 desserts,3 gravy , sambar and rasam with roti and rice..nice combo!!!
(4)Russell K.
I am a big fan of Dosa Temple. Very good vegetarian south Indian food. I love their Madras Tiffin combo and Vada curry. They have good variety of dishes in their Lunch buffets on weekends.
(5)Jasmine N.
Excellent weekend lunch buffet with masala dosa served at the table. We visited Dosa Temple Restaurant after visiting nearby Lakshmi Temple. Great efficient waitstaff. Very clean restaurant with delicious food.
(4)Alex C.
I've been to Dosa more times than I can remember and I can confidently say I've NEVER had a bad experience or food that wasn't delicious. This is my friend and I's favorite spot in all of the metro Boston for Indian. There are a lot of unique menu options (cheapest around too!) that set them apart from most Indian restaurants, and there buffet is unbeatable. Make sure to try the Ghobi 65!
(5)Vijay A.
Very authentic South Indian vegetarian fare! Good service and Affordable! We had the Buffett and it was covering all aspects of South Indian lunch cuisine!
(4)Bp S.
For a South Indian place, idly was under cooked....generally not good food. Not sure why people have given this high rating ...disappointed.
(2)Raul R.
This is my favorite South Indian restaurant since I came here .. It's distinctly Tamil unlike most others I try are Telugu of Andhra style .. There dinner thali is better than buffet imho .. And definitely not a place to eat North Indian
(4)Ketan B.
This review is solely based on the thali they serve and I was not happy. My first issue is the roti. What's up with just one roti? Nobody in this world serves one roti for a thali. It's not easy to finish up the three vegetable servings with just one roti. Secondly, the vegetable servings themselves. The paneer masala had only and only two 3/4'th square inch paneer pieces with a huge load of masala. Same goes for the other two. A thali should have an ample amount of vegetables and just sufficient amount of curry to go with it. Unfortunately, these guys served a lot of curry and hardly any vegetables. There is no dearth of rice in the thali though. But if one want to get a thali, he or she doesn't just want to be stuffed with rice. On a couple of occasions before, I've tried their dosas and they are probably the best I've had in the New England area.
(3)Shilpin M.
Best south indian food in the region !!! Love the onion rava masala dosa. Sunday buffet is awesome with variety of both south indian and north indian dishes.
(5)brendan l.
This is my favorite Indian restaurant to eat at, especially because its all vegetarian! It is my favorite because it is very original tasting and tasted very high quality home cooked style. They have a huge buffet on the weekends for lunch and a friendly staff. I would fly back from Austin, TX just to have a meal from Dosa Temple!
(5)Victoria L.
I had such high hopes for this place. We just moved to the area recently, and having lived in 2 major cities over the last 5 years, we had no problem finding awesome Indian food. Finding Dosa Temple and seeing its good reviews gave me hope! And then we spent 2 days recovering from our dinner here and that hope was dashed. We ordered a mango lassi, paneer tikka masala, and korma, with samosas to start. The samosas were fantastic. The entrées, not so much. We were both left feeling a little woozy... and when my husband went to eat the leftovers, they gave him full-blown tummy troubles. We can handle the spiciest of the spicy foods, so it wasn't that... there was something wrong in the way it was prepared. I can't say I'll be back to try this place again. I don't think it's worth the risk!
(1)Noel S.
Good place for south Indian food. Dosa is their speciality so go with that. They are not really north Indian food specialist. Stick with what they do best - south Indian food. Place may not look like much and service is decent. Would recommend to anyone wanting to try good Indian food.
(4)Skye G.
Pay cash get 5% off the check. BYOB Go shopping at Market Basket on an empty tummy didn't sound like a good for the wallet so we stopped in to grab a bite. I usually order strong flavored meat dishes but now that I am trying to make veggies my primary and this place popped up. Mr G and I shared. We started with a Masala Dosa which was filled with potato. I wish it had more fillling and thought it was on the empty side. It looks huge when it is served but I was a little bummed. We also shared an entree, the Aloo Gobi. Cauliflower and tomato were pureed into smooth sauce with potato and onion chunks throughout. I am a sucker for "gravy" and wanted to dump the rice into the bowl and eat it with a spoon but I refrained. However, I plan to do that next time. However, if you are looking for pieces of cauliflower you won't really find it in this dish but I LOVE IT! It was more than enough and we left feeling full and happy. The place is tucked in the corner and has a basic indian feel. The place is always busy and I watch people in and out when I am next door getting my nails done. They don't serve any meat here so for me it made it a little easier to order, although I still have to ask and make sure I am not getting anything made with butter.
(4)Neda S.
Heard great things about this place & the Indians eating here were certainly very pleased. Having gone with children, it was not a child friendly restaurant. The menu was a bit different than the regular Americanized ones we'd seen. We needed help but the waiter didn't have patience to answer our questions. We left feeling disappointed as we love Indian food & were looking for local restaurants as we had just moved in the neighborhood.
(3)Praveen P.
Finally, our wait was over. After three frustrating years searching for authentic South Indian cuisine in Boston, we stumbled on to Dosa Temple. Boy, was that serendipitous! This quaint little restaurant, hidden inside a shopping plaza in Ashland is definitely best-in-class when it comes to serving up delectable South Indian cuisine - because it has the one magic ingredient that all the other wannabe Indian restaurants serving South Indian dishes do not have - a chef and staff who are from Tamil Nadu. We went for lunch on a Sunday and were delighted to find staples like Avial and beans porial, all cooked to perfection, in the mild, flavor-rich, oil free tradition of typical vegetarian cuisine from the region. I cannot recommend a better place for the dosas, idlis and vadas, with a delicious assortment of chutneys and some amazing sambar to go with them. Bottom line, if you ever want to taste the amazing vegetarian cuisine from south India, look no further - just visit Dosa Temple.
(5)Marrin C.
FYI. They don't deliver. Even though their menu says they do. Even when you call and say you want delivery, they don't tell you they don't deliver. Just have you wait for your good that will never come! Food isn't bad though.
(1)Brian W.
We stopped in for a late lunch during the week having never had Dosa or Southern Indian food. The decor was a little dark and outdated, but everything else was simply great. We told our waiter (I think he was the owner) that we were new to this food and he spent lots of time describing the ingredients and understanding what we might like. Simple enough, we ordered one of each of the lunch menus as they were essentially a little bit of everything. Every bit of the food was amazing. The service was great and we will be back often. We even liked dosa so much that we went to a local Indian grocer to get some prepared mix and that was even great to have at home.
(5)Abinaya S.
Went here for the sunday lunch buffet and was quite impressed. This is one of the best traditional home-style south indian food you can get in MA. The buffet menu was simple, but the style and taste of cooking was just too good. My favourites were the rava masala dosa and idly manchurian. Samosa was pretty good too. They were seasoned very finely and the smell was perfect like it was coming right from madras. LOL. It was a relief to savour this authentic home-style south-indian food after a long time and the added pleasure was they played ARR tamil songs. can't ask for more. Just loved the experience and planning my next visit sooner.
(4)Julie L.
Wonderful South Indian offerings. Ordered the Thali and the Madras Tiffan. Both came with an ample sampling of food! Loved the idli sambar. The dosa presentation was awe-inspiring. The sheer size was incredible (and delicious). I only wish there was a description of the individual dishes included in the thali. If you want to dip your feet into South Indian cuisine, definitely check out Dosa Temple. Just watch out - South Indian is spicy, spicy, spicy!
(4)Maya S.
One of the best places for south Indian food in Boston. The buffet here is really good and food is pretty hot/warm compared to a lot of other places. Would definitely recommend the idli manchurian and the onion rava dosa!
(4)Aarti C.
Hands down the best South Indian vegetarian restaurant in the Boston area! The food is as authentic as it gets (fyi I'm a South Indian myself). The few North Indian dishes they serve has a South Indian kick to it which I love. South Indian style paneer masala or chole bhature anyone? Delish! The Sunday buffet lunch usually has some of the popular/regular/staple South Indian items (idli, dosa, rasam,sambar,chutney,curd rice) but they always have 2/3 new items under veggies and desserts. It usually gets crowded on Sunday afternoons so make sure you get there early (11:30ish). Dosa T is my go to place for a quick-casual-no frills-fingerlicking-ImissMom dining!
(5)Nihit M.
Love their food, being a vegetarian I this restaurant is a boon to me. Their portions are great, staff professional and food tastes great
(5)S S.
I have lost count of the number of times I have been here. I think I go at least once every week to satisfy my idli-dosa cravings! It reminds of a typical Udipi joint you woud find on the streets of South India. :) So my staple here is always idli - 3 piece idli with sambar and chutney..makes me so happy! The next is dosa - I've tried different varieties (the podi dosa, mysore masala etc.) but nothing stands out, for e.g. the red paste in the mysore masala dosa is pretty tasteless, but the dosa is good. They're nice but not excellent! I have also had the rava masala dosa - pretty good. The gem that I discovered recently was the channa bhatura..wow! I don't like deep fried foods but I have to make an exception here! And please have the coffee - it's like filter 'kappi' and I have to try really hard to not have a second cuppa!
(4)Praveen M.
One of the best places for authentic tasty South Indian food. Reasonable prices for high quality food.
(5)Sachin M.
The buffet was below par compared to other south indian restaurants.
(2)Varshnya S.
Update: Never expected such a drastic change over from my last experience. Everything tasted yummy. We felt like ordering many more items but unfortunately our stomach reached the saturation point. Trust me, this place has the best South Indian food and will not disappoint you. The waiters also did their job perfectly. Waiting to go back again very soon.
(5)Ash N.
I found a dead cockroach in my dish. The waiter treated me as if he was doing me a favor by giving me a fresh plate. Will never go back to this restaurant - not very appetizing. Customer service is mediocre.
(1)Angels s.
Good south indian food. Taste was fine. not great. Place /ambience is good. Will be back i guess.
(3)Meera V.
I have been eating at Dosa Temple since they opened. I had dinner there tonight. I love the food which is consistently of very good quality and taste. The dosas are excellent and so is the accompanying coconut chutney and sambhar (vegetable sauce as an accompaniment). Love their vadas (lentil fritters) which are hot and crisp. Their chhole bhature is great. They are not known for North Indian food so the bhelpuri and other dishes are only average. I love their South Indian coffee and the desserts! The service is very good and they are friendly and warm.
(4)Kash M.
Got hooked on Dosas when I was visiting India (Madras) in 2003. This place is a good reminder of the food I had back then. Quite small place usually filled with Indians, but food is good.
(4)Ronald S.
We were on our way from Boston to CT and decided to take a little detour for some South Indian foods .. always looking to try something new along the way, and we were pleasantly surprised by Dosa Temple. With the help of yelp and our GPS we had no problem navigating to this slightly out of the way unassuming strip mall, tucked into the corner near Dunkin Donuts. It is a pretty simple interior, not overly decorated or fancy, indian pop music was playing and the place wasn't too crowded (we were there pretty late for lunch, toward the end of the buffet times) We made it in for a buffet, and all the food was very good. They brought us small Dosa when we sat down, and we went back up to the buffet a few times to try some different things - the spice level here (for buffet) wasn't too over the top, not too crazy. Finding great little vegetarian places like this is always exciting, and we will definitely be back to Dosa Temple.
(4)Michelle W.
Got the idli vada and Mysore masala dosa and podi masala dosa. The Mysore dosa was very flavorful, slightly spicy, with a potato filling that was soft and had the tight amount of flavors. The podi dosa was too flaky, too much powder which made that dosa even more dry tasking and the potato filling was not cooked enough for my liking. The sambar was delicious and the idli was very good. The water tasted bad and the place seemed outdated. I didn't like how they vacuumed a little during dinner. Place seemed to have a lot of Indian customers which is always good to see at an Indian restaurant. Overall, good was good but I probably wouldn't come here unless I was already in the area.
(3)Joshua B.
23 Jan 2014 Had lunch. Ordered a batch of the masala vada appetizer and a lunch special thali (tasting plate) that included a masala dosa, 2 iddli, a vada, some sambar (lentil soup) etc. Masala vada - ok but not great. The sambar and coconut chutney that came with it were very good. Lunch Thali - Masala dosa was excellent. Iddli, very good, Doughnut shaped vada - very good. Overall the food was very good and I look forward to returning. Service - our server was very friendly and polite Price $14 including tip Decor - The restaurant's slightly run down decor doesn't bother me much but isn't terribly attractive.
(4)Gaurav K.
Best South Indian food in New England area.... I usually drive here once a month from Rhode Island just to try their authentic South Indian food... I wish they could open more branches around MA and RI...
(5)Joel F.
Dont not eat here, especially buffet. the food is often stale. Also avoid the Paneer dishes, I have been down with severe diarrhea after having the buffet! I'd not recommend this place, try Framingham which is few miles away the quality is far superior and better choices.
(1)Karen C.
Like many a previous review. We had high hope for this restaurant. It was recommended by friends in the area. Two days of intestinal distress later. We will not be back. That and combined with lousy service and no help I trying to navigate the menu since we were new to Dosa. Discount for cash. What type of scam is that.
(1)Tulan K.
I am compelling to give 5 stars to indian rest and that also a south indian rest. but i guess it really truly does deserve it. So we drove from N. Andover to Boston to ashland to get to try this new rest out. The atmosphere is very quite and settled and the there is not much to the decoration and ambiance as all south indian rest are. We were quickly seated and quickly our orders were taken. For appetizers we got Chilly idly which was recommended by fellow yelpers and it was quite good. For dinner all four of us ordered Madras tiffin which consisted of Dosa (says masala dosa but u can get ur choice), Veggie utthapam, Two idlis(mind blowing), one vada and one desert with the condiments of Sambar coconut chutney and tomato chutney. This was good collection for first timer to try everything south indian . The prices were very cheap and decent prices. the appetizer was around 8.00 bucks while the tiffins were 13 each. We also had coupons from entertainment book for the place which were upto 8.00 each. so we used two of those. Those took off 16 bucks from the bill and since we paid in cash there was additional 5% discount. Out total cost was $14/PP including food, one drink, one appetizer and tips. Which is considering very cheap. GO THERE AND EAT IF YOU LIKE THE TASTE OF SOUTH INDIAN FOOD. THE BEST IN MA
(5)D P R.
Terrific place. Great comfort food. Their pessarattu-upma is very delicious. Very warm owners and waiting staff. Very reasonably priced.
(5)Mohun K.
Dinner on 12/12/12: the rasam knocked my socks off! It was great. Had the mini idli appetizer and the onion/tomato uttapam. Love this place, will visit again!
(4)Kulveer C.
The filter coffee is amazing. So is the Rasam and all the dosas we had. Mysore masala dosa , Rava dosa were exceptionally good ... The service is great and I don't see a reason why I won't be visiting again ...
(5)Ranvir R.
This is my first review on Yelp.I am an Indian and have good taste for Indian food.I was trying to find a good South Indian joint.After reading the reviews on Yelp we decided to go to Dosa Temple,It was a good 30 min drive,but it was definitely worth it Chilli Idly is definitely worth trying.Dosa and chutney both were excellent.We tried three different Dosa,Mysore masala,Rava Onion and regular masala dosa all were very good.Big Crispy and fresh stuffing. Red chutney is the best chutney they have.Conconut chutney could be better thought. Service is excellent.Ambiance is simple and clean very homely.Toilets were very clean. We plan to go there soon again.
(5)Rosy G.
I had buffet here today. It was terrible. All items were cold. Vegetarian biryani stank of stale potatoes. Dessert was extremely sweet as if chef is in love with sugar. The only thing I liked in buffet was dosa. It was fresh and hot.
(1)Gautham D.
Dosa temple is a typical South Indian restaurant nothing fancy about this place. The food is decent and is mostly good. The reason it gets only 3 stars, 1) it is in the middle of nowhere, 2) The decor is old and moldy 3) When you step in the place and step out you smell like a spice factory and you really need to change your clothes. Bottom Line: Want decent south Indian food, go to dosa temple
(3)Matthew G.
Had the weekend lunch buffet today and it was fantastic. I tried a bit of everything on the buffet and loved it all. With the buffet comes their signature dosa, served to you hot, crisp, and perfect. The place was busy with only a few tables empty. The staff was engaging and the service was instant. As mentioned in other yelp reviews, they put their money into the food instead of the decor - my heros! Not cheap at $11.95 - but they earn it with value and selection. To compensate for the higher price than I was expecting, I went next door and did my weekly shopping at for the Market Basket (instead of the usual Roche Brothers).... saving many times the cost of the buffet - does this mean I can go back mid-week?
(5)Dee P.
(9/7/13) Myself and my wife had gobi manchurian, rava masala dosa and onion uttupa. Food taste was mediocre ( taste matched exactly to that of MTR. Ready mix rava dosa). The reason why 1 start and not 3 stars is because both myself and my wife are suffering from stomach bug after eating here .... 4 says of at least suffering making a bad decision of having dinner here. Never going back there. Good luck if you decide going there :/
(1)Sai C.
Pros -- Has big servings and cheap-ish food -- I am an indian, who eats and is LEARNING to cook (so learning to taste differences in ingredients). Cons -- Dosa is definitely NOT Bangalore style (crisp on the outside, soft on the inside). Too thin and no substance to the dosa! -- Truly horrible north indian food -- spice was distributed in food properly -- The naan was not hot AND too stretchy (i.e., made and re-heated for me!)
(2)Ajay S.
Best South Indian in Mass.. Hard to get to but worth the drive if you like south indian.
(5)Anvi D.
I loved their food, it tasted great. But I gave one star for the following reasons 1. Seating area was not clean 2. During my time in the restaurant, I noticed couple of rats running around 3. One of the waiting staff would clean the tables, then rub her hand on to her clothes and serve food/water with those same hands. 4. Finally to top everything, a rat ran over my foot. And I completely lost my appetite and temper at that point. 5. Just to warn you, my husband who usually has no problem digesting any food no Matter how it was prepared, fell sick with diarrhea after this food. So, my final recommendation is I would NOT suggest this place to people who care about cleanliness, hygiene of food preparation( as God only knows how many rats might be in ther kitchen). But if you just care for the taste, then go for it at your own risk. I will never visit this place again for all the above mentioned reasons.
(1)Sunny S.
we went to the buffet, it was terrible the dosa was served at our table, well maybe a teaspoon of filling, and the crepe was terribly tasteless as for the buffet , the only thing that was good was the dish with squash, that was very tasty. and the idly was ok the sambhar was really bad, watery and no taste; the chutneys were all terrible, raita was watery. im not sure how one can mess up chutney the rice dishes were dry, so dry i added raita to them to add moisture will not go back. sorry
(1)Meena V.
This place is not for yuppies and princesses. Honestly, you walk in, and it's like you've stepped into the 1970's. But you know what, I live my life all about the food, and I know I'm about to eat some of the best South Indian food in the area, so that's all JUST fine with me. Because really, who's thinking about the wallpaper when you're sweating from the heat and burn of eating too many wadas doused in perfect sambhar too fast? Also, they are usually playing Tamil/Telugu pop music. Appadi podu podu awesome! Seriously though, there are very few SOUTH Indian restaurants around, and this is one of the few that does it and does it right. Still totally authentic, unpretentious, but becoming more accessible to everyone else off late since the management switch (think explanations of what's what and English lettering on the menu). What to eat here: - Any South Indian dishes -- dosas, uthappams, etc etc - Their "thali" -- this is basically a "full meal," so you get a little bit of each course, and get to try all the standard parts of a classic South Indian meal. Might be a bit intimidating to a newcomer, but I'd just ask the slightly awk, but very friendly and well-meaning staff to tell you what's what. - Their weekend/ lunch buffets. Amazing. You get to try everything! This includes: -- South Indian treats like wadas, idlis, sambhar, COCONUT CHUTNEY, and fresh hot just-made dosas brought to your table as part of the buffet! -- Southie attempts at North Indian food like your usual tikka masalas, chole, kormas, etc. Not real North Indian food, but tikka masala made with sambhar powder instead of garam masala will always have its place in my heart. -- My favourite! Indian style Chinese food! Totally not Chinese-authentic at all, but if you've ever heard of "manchurian" at all, this will be your temple!! I don't know what it is that makes this flavour -- maybe it's the hot interplay of cumin/coriander/chili powder and MSG, but oh my god. It's incomparable to anything else. What NOT to eat here: - North Indian food. This includes naan, your usual tikka masala style dishes that you see everywhere, chaats, samosas, poori bhaji etc. Save that for other places -- it's the mf-ing Dosa TEMPLE, roll up your sleeves and eat dosas here!
(5)merqurious z.
Don't be fooled by the dated decor. The food is one of the best south Indian food I have had in a US restaurant for a long time. Rava dosa, Mysore masala dosa and idli vada tasted really good. Portions were large. Gobi-Manchurian (dry) tasted just as it tasted during college days in India.
(4)Sarav C.
As a Vegetarian and South Indian, rarely I find a restaurant that serves Authentic South Indian Vegetarian food. Dosa Temple is one of those and I love them for that. The food is very close to home and I travel all the way from Cambridge for a decent meal once in a while. Buffet is great and it allows me taste a lot of varieties at the same time. I always take my non Indian friends as well and teach them about the cuisine and what it an appropriate way to eat it.
(5)Bryan S.
We ended up trying this place because it was recommended by friends and had decent reviews on Yelp. We went in on a Thursday night and it was empty , except for another family. We were immediately seated and got our waters. ( I know its an Indian thing to order water without ice, but all of us got our waters without and were not even asked if we wanted any). We got the buttermilk to drink, and I was satisfied with mine, though some thought the pieces of ginger and chilli were slightly overwhelming. We ordered the Dahi Aloo Puri ( wafer thin, hollow crisps, stuffed with yogurt, potato and an assortment of spices). Delightful one bite wonders...We also ordered the Bhel, which was really good too. Nessa ordered the sweet corn soup, which she claimed ( and I agreed) was neither sweet, and had an assortment of vegetation not native to the sweet corn soup we are used to. D got the Idly Vada soaked in sambar, his and my vada's were denser and not the light and airy we assumed them to be. For the main course I ordered the Thali, so that I could get a little of everything. The Rasam was very good and so were the Sambhar, and vegetable korma. I was barely able to finish everything on the plate. We also ordered the Mysore Masala Dosa and the Spring Dosa ( In my opinion nothing beats the Spring Dosa at Udipi in Shrewsbury). For dessert I got the Paysam, which wasn't all that good, it had a lot of condensed milk and was really thick and sweet. The decor was extremely lacking, but I have noticed that most South Indian restaurants are always like that. Minimal basic furniture, with poster pictures on the walls and Bright Tube lighting, with Christmas lights on the windows.The music was a little on the louder side and was more south Indian than Hindi pop (minus a star). Remember, you are not going in for the ambiance, its all about the food. What I found slightly weird was posted on almost every wall, take 5% off your check if you pay with cash. ( WHAT you don't like credit cards?? Who carries cash anymore??) and the minimum on credit cards was $15. Our whole group of 5 got a check of $15.75 a piece and he gladly ran all five cards ( + point). All in all a decent alternative to driving all the way to Udipi in Shrewsbury. But I still think the food at Udipi is much better than here.
(3)Kevvu K.
Awesome dosas. Veryy bigggggggggggggggg ones. Chilli paneer was very soft. Truly recommend.
(5)Deepak K.
I have been to quite a few of the "reputed" Indian restaurants in the Boston area but the food here is so much better than all of them. Very authentic south Indian fare, which is very rare in and around here. The buttermilk is a must have and so is the spicy rasam. Definitely going back again
(4)Josh W.
So Good!
(5)Enday G.
Authentic Indian food. The best Indian food I ever had outside India!
(5)Jay B.
I'm South Indian, and I know South Indian food. I've grown up eating it, and my grandma was one of the best cooks around. In short, the food here is as close to what my grandma made as I have tasted since she passed away. Totally authentic and outstanding. The place is completely clean and hygienic. You should know that, like excellent Mexican food, the GI effects of eating high-quality Indian food can be intense, especially for those not used to it. This isn't to say that you will get sick, just that the spices used are strong and not everyone is used to them.
(5)Geoff m.
Dosa Temple is as good as it gets !!!!!!!! I am an American who loves South Indian food, having first tasted it in London at the legendary Woodlands. Dosa Temple is authentic, fresh and extremely tasty. And did I mention how inexpensive it is ? We had Vegetable Bhaji and Paneer (cheese) fritters for starters. I would have preferred them a bit crunchier but it was a weds night and it was a bit slow. They might have microwaved the bahji!! Then we moved on to a veggie uttapam which is a rice flour based pizza like concoction and an onion and potatoe dosa which spilled over the plate. We also had a potatoe and onion dosa that was crispy and very large. The lentil broth and other chutneys were fresh and great compliments. Also had a masala chai that was spicy and yummy. No alcohol is served. I didn't ask if we could BYO. Also if you pay in cash there is a 5% discount. 2 people - full and immensely satisfied for under 30. Great Job Dosa Temple.
(5)Samantha B.
Dosa. temple. is. not. dirty. I have never had issues with their sanitation. Just to get that cleared up. I found out about this restaurant from a boston vegetarian website, and was willing to make the trek out to Ashland for the fact that it's a) Indian, and b) vegetarian. I visited South India and have been craving the food ever since. It's hard to find much South Indian food, short of the token dosa that's usually mushy rather than crispy. They have chickoo shakes...chickoo is in the sapote family, and I'd liken it to a chocolatey date. They also have Indian sodas that I have yet to try. I always order the Madras Tiffan, which is a jumbo offering of all of the south indian staples: dosa, uthapam, coconut chutney, vadai, and sambar. I was in awe when I saw the *massive* dosa coming our way. There's something about being served food that's bigger than your face that just makes you feel warm inside. The whole process of South Indian food is just fun. You have a little bit of this and that, get to eat with your hands and dip, dip, dip. So yes, I didn't know that one of the dishes was my dessert, and dipped some dosa into it, but my happiness could not be soured. The coconut chutney and potato masala are speckled with black mustard seeds and taste like everything I love about South Indian cuisine. It's also very filling. Next time, I need to make a point of ordering the cone shaped dosa, just because it's a cone. Since visiting South India, I've been on the search for the quality of masala chai that I had there, with little luck. The masala chai at dosa temple isn't quite on par with what you'll get in South India, but it's as close as you'll get. Love it, love it. p.s. Stop by the latin american grocery/convenient store/christian library next door, your one stop shop for tortillas, el salvadorean flags, and a bible.
(5)Steve R.
Okay, I am new to Indian food in general, and I am a meat lover. But the Dosa Temple has some fantastic food. We did take out and everything was delicious. We will definitely go back!
(4)Panna P.
Quaint place. Looks like a dive from the outside. The inside is surprisingly roomy and very clean. Food is very good. We ordered south indian and were very happy with it. As I'm from south India myself that sould mean something! Service was efficient and non intrusive. Would definitely recommend it to anyone!
(5)Dhaval A.
I recently visited the restaurant the umpteenth time and I must say I was very impressed. It has a very dated decor but it has excellent food. I ordered from the indo chinese section of the menu and the rest of my party ordered the south indian food. The good thing about the indo chinese is that this restaurant gets closest to the actual indo chinese food, the bad is that they use black pepper to spice the food, which is not so cool. The reason they dint get the full 5 stars is because on some days the food is iffy and I am not sure what the reason is but their record has not been consistent. But either ways the food is tasty on good days. I'd definitely go back, and recommend everyone else to try it out!
(4)KoreanSoup S.
I love this place. 'semi' hole in the ground in a good way. Best indian food I've found/been taken to in (near) the city thus far.
(5)Ben M.
My wife and I traveled in South India for a few weeks a couple of years ago, and ever since coming back have been looking for authentic, tasty, South Indian veg food. Most of the Indian food in the United States (or at least in Boston, as far as we've found) is North Indian, which tends to be heavier and is made with more cream than South Indian food. Dosas and chai were one of our favorite cheap meals in India, so we were delighted to find this place.. First, the food. We've only had the dosas, but overall they are outstanding. The dosas themselves are light, crispy, not oily, and tart and flavorful. The chutneys that are served with the dosas are equally excellent. My only (minor) critique of the dosas is that the potato filling is a bit "mushier" and had less chunks of potato than what we had in India. Still, overall very good. Of course, nothing will be as good as in its country of origin, but I can't imagine finding dosas in the Boston area that are as good as this. Second, to address criticisms about service. We have been here twice, each time served by a different waiter, and have found the service to be attentive, prompt, and efficient. It's important to keep in mind that this is not an American restaurant, but really does an excellent job of recreating the Indian dining experience, from the food, to the service, to the decor. Try it, and you won't be disappointed.
(5)Suresh B.
Agree with other reviews ! This place is really really good. The ambiance is ok, nothing very fancy but the food overcomes the ambiance part. I'm South Indian and have always been reluctant to go to Indian restaurants in Boston area because of the quality of food but we wanted to give this place another chance since the restaurant is under new management. Dosa was really yummy and fresh, the sambhar and chutney to go along with dosa was very tasteful. We also ordered Thalli and Kotthu Parotta (small pieces of bread mixed with spices). Service was also good - the waited had smile on his face which is sometimes difficult to find in Indian restaurants (don't know why :)). I highly recommend this place ! Authentic south Indian vegeterian food at its best, you should definitely experience it !
(5)Todd b.
We went to Dosa Temple last night. New to the area; my vegetarian wife was pleased to find a local place. Going on a recomendation from South Indian friends, I was curious to find out how South Indian food differs from the more common (in the U.S.) Northern Indian cuisine. We shared two dishes and took food home - bill was $24 with one diet coke. The Temple Special Masala Dosa was great. A delicate and flavorful crepe made from lentils wrapped around curried potatos and spicy lentil power. It came with 3 dipping sauces allowing for a wide variety of tastes. On the server's suggestion we also ordered the South Indian Thali - a steal at $12.95. It is a tray with various bowls of food arranged on top - two kinds of rice, bread, 4 curries, a sweet dessert made from vermicelli and milk, some homemade yogurt, 2 kinds of soup, pickled veges, a kind of lentil donut, and possibly some stuff i missed. It was all very good and the spices rang out in their complexity. Spiciness varied in each dish but we never had anything too hot...something we might ask for when we go back. All and all this is a place that we are glad is just one town over from where we live - definitley going back.
(4)Emily A.
If you are craving a dosa, this is the place to go. Its probably the most authentic south indian restaurant in the area.
(4)G J J.
Pretty good, not great, not amazing. Probably hidden for most American unless you know about this place from an insider.
(4)Amanda B.
My husband and I go here often. We're both vegetarian, and love to visit veggie restaurants. Each time, we order the temple special thali because we like the variety. This platter is more than enough food for two. The peas paratha and malai kofka (sp) are also delicious. The food here is somewhat heavy, but tasty. The owners are also very nice.
(4)Bindiya T.
Went there in search of good South India food. We tried their buffet and was not at all happy with the south India/north India/chinese food taste. Honestly, my rule of thumb is never try north Indian food at a South Indian restaurant but ended up trying it here as their South Indian food was very mediocre. The Dosa stuffing was tasteless, Idlis were not soft, sambhar was very watery. I am not sure if I would have had a different experience with a-la-carte. Will still have to keep looking for a good South India restaurant around Boston.
(2)J B.
We came here for the (100% vegetarian) lunch buffet and all 3 of us LOVED it. I wish I lived closer to this place, it was so nice to be able to eat (really good) all vegetarian Indian. It's worth the trip to Ashland.
(5)Anurag M.
Good food, simple decor and good customer service
(4)Steve R.
I've visited India a dozen times in the last 15 years, so I humbly submit that I am an authoritative judge of various Indian cuisines. Dosa Temple is one of the best pure-veg South Indian restaurants in the northeast, on a par with South Indian around NYC (yes, I mean Jackson Heights) South Indian. The restaurant in this location has changed names (and ownership?) a number of times. I recall having good South Indian in this same spot about 12 years ago. (There used to be a great South Indian in the old Framingham train station, but alas, it closed a few years ago.) There have been times when the restaurant was not up to the cleanliness standards of fastidious diners, and service--especially at buffet times--can be spotty, but the food has always been top-notch. If you don't know South Indian cuisine, ask your wait-staff or the folks at the next table to recommend good South Indian dishes. Steer clear of Punjabi dishes like Bhindi Masala; Not that they're bad; they're fine. But you can get them at any Indian Restaurant, so why trek all the way out to Ashland to get them here? The Sunday post-temple brunch (the crowds have likely just had a visit to the Hindu temple about a mile away in Ashland) crowd is noisy & convivial. If you think, like the Chinese, that "hot and noisy" is a virtue of dining, you'll be happy here on a Sunday at noon. I am. On Vegan food: Many South Indian dishes are, in fact, vegan-friendly: Dosas, Uttapam, wadas... My recommendation for vegans is that if you want to experiment with different cuisines, first do a little homework, and learn about the culture and the cuisine. Wait staff at a cheap Indian restaurant will likely not have the faintest clue what "Vegan" or "non-dairy" means. Why should they? After all, milk is close to sacred in India (one uses it to bathe images of god), so in the Indian mind, what sort of lunatic would refuse it? I can think of few things more difficult than trying to be vegan in India. Trying to be veg. in Argentina?
(4)Michael M.
Wow...I think I need to step in and defend Dosa Temple. I ate lunch here today as I'm writing this! I NEVER been sick by eating at Dosa Temple. Don't believe these idiots who say it's a health hazard! There's absolutely nothing wrong with the food, it's delicious, the restaurant is clean, and I've eaten there over ten times with no injury. I'VE NEVER BEEN SICK EATING HERE!!
(5)Andrew M.
Pretty unfamiliar territory for me, but I found stuff I liked. They had a more interesting selection of breads than you find at a typical Indian place, and you get a lot of it for your money.
(4)Bane B.
Nice vegetarian Indian food with south Indian specialty (dosa, idli, sambar, wada, etc) The fried stuff is non-greasy ! Consistent quality of food though the buffet prices may have risen over the past year.
(5)Nikhil M.
This is a fantastic south indian restaurant. There are some dishes that are better than others, but overall food is great and reasonably priced. Not a fancy dining experience, but who cares - the food rocks.
(5)B P.
I've been there for the buffet in 07 the food was very good. I am South Indian and I have never had dosa so close to the real thing anywhere in Massachusetts. Ok so.... if you have a dairy problem...don't order the Paneer!!!! Paneer is cheese...not tofu...in fact I would be concerned if they started serving tofu in an Indian restaurant! Yes and Indian tea is made with milk...it is usually made with 50% milk and 50% water. That's what makes South Indian tea different. The only issue I have with the place is the ambiance...its subpar. Kaopectate is right if you like North Indian food, like paneer, naan, tikka etc, this place is not recommended. South Indian food like dosa, vadda idli etc is definitely recommended.
(4)Saurabh M.
Service sucks. Food taste varies. Not authentic.
(1)Alex C.
Not impressed at all! Went there for their weekend lunch buffet! Rather expensive for what they are offering! Definitely had better south indian cuisine.
(2)Steve M.
I am a regular at Dosa Temple. They do a nice buffet, lunch on weekends only. If it means anything, I am often the only westerner in the crowded restaurant for the buffet. This past weekend, during a break in the snowstorms, I went hoping for the buffet but as attendance was light, I had to order off the menu. My waiter suggested the South Indian Thali which is sort of a chef's choice buffet. I've had many of these dishes before, some on the buffet and no doubt about it, they were even better when not part of the buffet. One thing I do wish they would do with the buffet is include a paneer dish. My summary: Very highly recommended.
(4)Kaopectate P.
ok. so allix t.'s review wasn't the best. they might not be the best at understanding what a vegan is, but 90% of the stuff is vegan and top notch. chennai woodlands is one of the only south indian restaurants in the boston area (the other two are in the ashland area also...i don't consider rangoli in allston as being south indian...not that great). onto the food.... the food is amazing. if you're looking for tikka masala or mutter paneer (the standard indian restaurant food)...do NOT go here. southern indian restaurants specialize in completely different dishes than than north indian restaurants (the ones commonly found). idli / dosa / sambhar / coconut chutney. these are some of the dishes that chennai woodlands makes best....better than anything in the boston area. so, if you know what south indian food entails...you've gotta try this place out...its worth the drive. if you're willing to try it out....go on a sunday for lunch when the buffet serves up a variety of food.
(5)S A.
Mediocre to sub-mediocre. I am surprised they haven't met the same fate as Dakshin -- although I may be wrong in assuming they are as dirty as Dakhin restaurant in Framingham. But the last time I remember eating at Chennai Woodlands, it wasn't all that great. I have certainly had better south indian food in the most generic of restaurants across the US. They may now be surviving with better chances because Dakshin is shut down (health code violations)..... All I can say is if you have not eaten here, you are not missing much. Some points to them for having a website, although its a Blogger page.
(2)ak k.
we went to temple dosa last night with the family i must say the food quality has gone way down since the last visit masala dosa were disgusting and the sambar was even worse the onion bhaji looked like it was re-fried. the pau bhaji was served cold when talked with the owner he keeps smiling. the potatoes had no salt this business is going to lose a lot of customers they should listen to the customers complaint. i know we will never go here again rather drive down to shrewsbury for some good south indian food.
(1)Manish K.
Visited the place celebrating my wife's birthday. Big mistake in hind sight, should have probably taken her to Helmand (cambridge) or even the Indian Dhaba in Inman square. Judging by the name (DOSA temple), we ordered masala DOSAs, started eating, and figured out that the masala smelled (and tasted) weird, further research yielded the fact that it was spoilt (I know what spoilt masala smells and tastes like). Called attention to the fact, received a nod in acknowledgement (Yes, we heard you!!), no apology, nothing! Wife mentioned it to the manager when we left, he says 'Yes, I heard about it, it's probably the temperature' (BTW, it was a cold day). Didnt leave a tip, which was the strongest protest I could manage (without being uncivil, and making a scene), should have probably called the health department. Not what I would expect from a restaurant that has been receiving 5 star ratings from everyone. Have people forgotten what spoilt food tastes like? To be fair to them, I did like the Vada Sambar I ordered, the ambience, and service was quite quick and courteous, cleanliness in the restaurant/bathrooms was not an issue either. Not sure (after the spoilt masala incident) whether the kitchen is as clean??? Will not be visiting again!
(1)andromeda G.
Dosa Temple is a great place to have some authentic VEGETARIAN south indian style food. I have been eating at this place from the past few years and have never had any issues with the food or the quality. The restaurant did change hands at one point of time from Chennai woodlands to Dosa Temple, but the quality has improved ever since. The Indian way of having water is cool water without ice. So if you need ice in your water then you will need to ask for it. The dosas(Crepes) are great and their other dishes (pooris, chana baturas, birayanis) are great too. There is plenty of parking available and the best times to visit are weekdays when it would be far less crowded. But if you like a quick lunch and would like to sample a variety of items then you can try the weekend buffet (Only weekends as they dont have a buffet on week days). The north indian dishes are great and can be had with either Rice or the Rotis (slimmer versions of the Naan and is made of wheat flour). I like the 5% off option using cash as this helps avoid the unneccesary credit card transaction fees for the restaurant and I get my 5% off too. So try that option if you carry cash. For people other than Indians I would strongly recommend visiting on the weekdays when it would be less crowded and you can have your lunch/dinner peacefully. Also you can ask any questions about the food and get a relaxed answer from the waiters.
(5)