My wife and I decided to check this place out. We live in Vienna and we wanted to try all the restaurants Vienna has to offer. Well, if you are trying to do the same thing, you can just skip this restaurant. We walked in Amma to see that it was a little busy for the dinner time. It wasn't overly crowded, there was just enough people for us to believe that it was good. We placed in our order for to-go. It took them 1 and half hours to get our food! I felt stupid waiting there. I asked the guy at the counter for updates and each time he did apologize but there was no resolve nor any results to get us our food any quicker. After following up with 1 of the 3 people working at the counter, the guy tells us that next time we should call ahead instead. What the heck does that mean? I guess it means that we should call in our food order, then wait 1 and half hours at home before picking up the food at the restaurant. Am I being harsh too on them? I mean it is a vegetarian menu, its not like they had to slow cook any meat. I've been to other vegetarian places with fast service and better food. Anyways, unless you are curious for yourself, I recommend NOT to try this place. read more

3.5. Came here with a large group on a saturday afternoon. We were able to put 2 tables together. We ordered at the counter and service wasn't fast but not super slow either. Dosas take time, and I was told that the Rava Masala dosa that I ordered would take at least 15 minutes, and I was fine with that. Folks behind the counter were patient and nice in answering questions about spice levels and items on the menu. They catered to one person in our party who had a gluten allergy and to me, as I asked them to reduce the amount of cut up chilies. Great prices! read more

Amma Vegetarian Kitchen - Vegetarian Near Me - Vienna, Virginia

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I stopped into Amma Vegetarian Kitchen today before a few errands in Tysons. My gf is a vegetarian and I usually enjoy the veggie Indian food, so this place looked like a worthwhile stop. I was surprised at first to see that it was an "order at the counter" type place, but that was not a problem at all. After some short deliberating we ordered the Tofu dosa and Potato Dosa. Both were delicious. I enjoyed the Tofu dish more, which surprised me. They were accompanied by sambar, which was a nice spicy veggie side dish. I was quite happy with the food, as it was ready in about 6 or 7 minutes, and pipping hot. The meal definitely didn't blow me away, but it was very delicious and CHEAP. Two bottled drinks and the two dishes were $20. You really can't beat that. I was full and was very satisfied by the meal overall. I would like to check out the georgetown location and see if it stacks up. read more

This place used to be really good but looks like in recent times it's gotten crappy. The food doesn't taste as good anymore. The service was never great but it's gotten even worst (rude staff). Prices have gone up but the quantity you get has gone down. It's too bad because it used to be really good. But glad I found a new place that's much better then Amma's. It's called Chennai Express in Chantilly. Similar food but bigger menu, friendlier staff, better prices, and the food is amazing. read more

I love this place. I try to eat here anytime I'm in Vienna, except after a visit to my Dentist. South Indian vegetarian cuisine, nearly always served with a side of spicy vegetable stew; swimming with root veggies, okra, and curry leaves as well as salty coconut cutney. I love the rava masala dosa, a cream of wheat pancake spiked with fresh cilantro and green chilies crisped with ghee on a griddle and filled with spiced/curried mashed potatoes. YUM! read more

I take everybody I know here. It's fantastic, cheap, vegetarian indian food. The service is quick and friendly, and the environment is casual, almost resembling a deli, except for the aroma of indian food that fills the air. The spicy sauce they provide is delicious, and I'm usually really bad with spicy things (my mouth is already watering just thinking about it) but their green sauce that's provided in little plastic shot glasses is delicious! Painful, but delicious. The masala dosa is my favorite and i get it every time. There is a line of pastries and other things in a little glass case, and I always try at least one of them, even if i don't know what it is. It's vegetarian, so i trust it! read more

So this is my first time reviewing a South Indian restaurant so I apologize if this sounds like such a noob review. I also haven't had a lot of experience with authentic South Indian food (my mom makes it but that doesn't count since we're obviously not from there) However, in my defense, this food was literally amazing! ATMOSPHERE: Don't expect anything fancy. Very informal hole in the wall kind of place. They do, however, have a very large fridge for you to pick out Indian sodas and juices (Limca, Thumbs Up, Maaza, etc.) SERVICE: Good service. You go up to the counter and order and then they will call your number for you to pick up. They make the food ridiculously fast! FOOD: Sambar - OMG THIS IS SOOOOO GOOD. Spicy and full of large chunks of veggies. They also use a lot of hing (mmmmmmmmm) Dhai vada - This was okay, I've had better. The vada itself was very good though. Sambar vada - The awesome vada + the awesome sambar = mouth-watering Onion chili masala dosa - They make the dosa very large and fill it with copious amounts of onions, chilies and potato with chutney powder all over it and a side of coconut chutney and sambar. This was so goooooood. I'm officially addicted. I'm not South Indian but my when my mom makes it it's pretty damn good and I tend to not like restaurant dosa but this restaurant is obviously authentic and know what they're doing. It's amazing! Paneer dosa - Not as good as the above stated dosa. Not enough masala in the paneer. Actually, the paneer tasted a little sweet and the rest of the dosa was quite plane (no chutney powder on it). Filtered coffee - I'm assuming this is authentic South Indian coffee which I've had elsewhere before. This was great and I highly suggest getting this with your food! I am looking forward to coming back here! read more

If you are not familiar with southern Indian food, you might want to check out the menu online before coming in. I felt like an idiot spending 10 minutes trying to figure out what to order, and we ended up getting a potato based appetizer, entree, and side dish. I appreciated that the staff didn't act annoyed or visibly supress giggles. We started with the Samosas, which were perfect. The golden raisens added just a bit of sweetness, and the green sauce was very fresh and spicy. We then had Rava Dosa--a delectable crepe with big chunks of ginger, scallions, and chiles cooked into it. The potato bhaji and masala were also both great! The textures and flavors were fantastic. I'm not going to describe them further, because I'm not sure what was what. For only $21.95 my husband and I both ended up stuffed, with that pleasant tingly feeling in our mouths from eating so much delicious spicy food. read more

When I need a Dosai or some other Southern Indian treat, but don't want to sit down in a restaurant this is my go to spot. The food is well done particularly for the price, and I have not been disappointed. I will echo the sentiments of many of the other reviews and say that unless you have to eat there I would suggest take-out. The decor is shabby at best, and doesn't create an atmosphere that makes me want to hang around and eat there. Decor aside though, as a vegetarian having more than 3 or 4 choices on a menu is a special experience for me, and I relish it each time I visit an all vegetarian restaurant. It's even better when all of the options are grrrreat! :) They do a good job of packing everything up for you with all the sauces and everything though if you do take out, and as I've said I've always been happy with the result. It makes for a delicious Indian meal for a very affordable price right in the comfort of my own dining room. :) The Rava Masala Dosa is delicious, and the Amma Feast is a good option if you can't decide what to get or are new to this type of food. Either way, I'd say check this spot out if you are an Indian food fan. read more

Love not so oily South Indian food ? Vegetarian ? Amma's Kitchen is for you. I liked their food so much, its fresh, its tasty and its not overly oily. I was told that there would be a long wait but surprisingly we felt the service was pretty quick. Don't except much if you order Chhola Bhatura since this place is for South Indian food. What I liked most about this place is the fact that their food tastes so home like. I so wish Amma's Kitchen was close to my place so that I can go there anytime :) read more

Ok, let me explain. The food here is good but I gave it only 2 stars because the customer service here just blows. Im not sure why but when I come here to get food, the guy behind the counter acts like he is doing me a favor. There was a time where they were having 15% discount and I wanted to get a couple of things. The guy said (very snidely), "You can only get discount for 1 item". This started me thinking they are being cheap about a couple of cents when they should be happy people are coming to their restaurant and buying their food in a down economy. read more

First time visiting and had the Rava Masala Dosa. It was phenomenal, so full of flavor! Definitely will visit often on my way home from work. read more

This place is poorly managed. I initially got introduced to this place by recomendation by a friend that had been there once and said the food was not bad. My initial perception of this place was not great. At first, I thought possibly they were just so overwhelmed with business, and that they were short staffed. I walked up to the counter and the guy behind the register looked at me as if I had a third head. It was my first time there, I was hoping for a welcome, or maybe a brief description of the ordering process and possibly some recommendations. Instead, I got a look of, why are you here, and what do you want!!! Okay, so I dismissed the attitude, and ordered the chick peas and lentil soup. As I sat to wait for my food, I noticed the tables had not been cleaned and the floor was dirty with spilled food. Used napkins had been just thrown anywhere by some lazy customer (s). It was a couple minutes, and the food was ready. It was good, but too spicy, they doused it with way too much hot peppers. I decided to return once again the following week, hoping this time for a better experience. NOPE! Same looking dirty place and the same angry looking zombie behind the counter. I was starving, so I opted for carry out instead. I ordered the same thing, chick peas, and the lentil soup. WHY IS IT COSTING MORE?? The same angry zombie from the other day, behind the counter said, "its carry out", carry out?!??? I did not even bother asking, but it is clearly NOT mentioned in the menu. Plastic dining in, plastic carrying out! Idiot!! The angry zombie and everything about this place sucks! There is another game in town, go to Food Corner, they are good, service is sketchy still, but food is better, and they dont charge extra for carry out! BTW:::: JERK ZOMBIE----- I WON'T COME BACK!!!!! read more

I, sad to say, was disappointed in my visit to Amma. After driving past it everyday on my commute to work, I was looking forward to making my first trip yesterday with my boyfriend for lunch. The interior isn't anything special, and we didn't have a problem with that. But there was a vibe to the place that didn't quite welcome you to come in, relax, and enjoy your food. It's a quick turn around kind of place. This feeling was pushed more so by the man behind the counter. Whom my boyfriend and I assumed was an owner. Between the two of us we ordered the Masala Dosa, Chole, Onion Chili Masala Dosa, Lemon Rice, Masala Tea (Chai), and the Mango Lassi. Our bill came to $30.50. We were satisfied with our choices. Many picked based off of other reviews we had read on Yelp. When our order was yelled out my boyfriend went to pick up our food and bring it to our table. The first thing we both noticed was that everything on the tray except for the fork, knife, and straw was styrofoam. Now, I'm not a huge hug-a-tree hippie kind of person and neither is my boyfriend, but we both were turned off by this. Our drinks were also served in styrofoam cups...which couldn't have been bigger than 8 oz each. Even though the Mango Lassi was amazing, I don't think it is worth paying $3.60 for a little 8 oz cup. My Masala Tea was only $1.80 but tasted more like watered down warm milk. I was very disappointed by it and don't recommend it to anyone. The other thing that bothered my boyfriend and I, though I think him more so than me, was the fact there always seemed to be a microwave in use. I believe it was to reheat the smaller appetizers, but still, neither one of us were a fan of this method. All in all, the food wasn't too bad, but I don't think we'll be making another visit to Amma. P.S. The photo of the food you see on the black trays is accurate. One of those plates cost about $8 and most likely will not be enough to fill you up. read more

if you want to see what inhaling food looks like, watch me eat dosa. Rava. Masala. Dosa. crispy lentil crepe w hot green chilis on the outside. fluffy, filling, curry-flavored & piping-hot potatoes on the inside. dip on the side of coconut chutney make mini-burritos with the potato filling, and then dip in the chutney. who would have thought coconut and curry potatoes would make the such an interesting flavor combination. I love rava masala dosa forever. read more

I used to eat here years ago with lunchtime friends, but never took the time to really savor the multi-course options at Amma. This evening, several of us stopped in on our way to a show at Jammin' Java. I had paneer dosa; a couple of my friends had idlis and other dosas; somebody had masala dosa. We all had plentiful appetizers -- idlis, curries, fantastic chole, puri bread, paneer, coconut chutney, with lots of delicious drinks. By the time we were done, we'd all eaten twice as much as any of us wanted, and the entire bill was for (as I recall) $45. I groaned (pleasurably stuffed) for two hours afterward, and everyone else reported the same satisfaction. Please, please, please avoid the Taco Bell (just north of Amma) and the KFC (just south of Amma). You'll be happier, healthier, and better-fed (and you'll save money in the process) by heading straight for Amma. Besides, if you don't like your meal, call me -- I love their food and will gladly pick it up from you (at cost) if you're not satisfied. read more

I love the food!!! SERVICE Very nice people, when it's busy they can be abrupt... we've been going off and on for about 2+yrs, both take out and eat in. CLEANLINESS They are constantly cleaning after ppl leave, taking out or just checking the trash and refilling the ice... always on the move!! I can not remember using the bathrooms... I'll try to remember and repost later. FOOD We've tried most of it and loved almost everything. For me it's a matter of my taste preferences for the stuff I didn't like (it's me not you, haha!) The consistency is great... two years and it still tastes the same as when we first went there!! read more

This is basically a South Indian restaurant with a few North Indian food! I came here on a Saturday morning for breakfast! First thing I noticed was the "India smell" not sure if this is good or bad! Brought back memories of India!! The place was pretty empty. I immediately noticed that the few patrons that were there were all Indians which was a good sign for an Ethnic restaurant! The Bollywood Hindi music playing was pretty irritating & unnerving! The food was served in styrofoam plates & cups with plastic forks & knives. Otherwise the Vada, Sambaar & Coconut chutney was excellent! I also had Onion Chili Masala Dosa which was basically Masala Dosa with onions, chili peppers & chili powder sprinkled over the Masala filling! I should have probably ordered just the masala dosa or the plain rava dosa! It was all served sizzling temperature hot!!It was good experience! I would certainly consider coming back on another trip to Vienna, VA! read more

Amma Vegetarian Kitchen - Vegetarian Near Me - Vienna, Virginia

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It was very quiet when we went in for lunch. My co-worker and I, both non-Indians, were a bit intimidated by the menu. Luckily, neither of us are afraid to try something new. We shared an order of samosas, paneer dosa, masala dosa, and chole. The samosa were great. Both of the dosas were really good too but I preferred the paneer between them best (I also LOVE paneer dishes). The chutney sauce that they provide with the dosas was also very yummy. We were the only non-Indians in the place. The dosas/crepes were HUGE, but being the piggies we are, we managed to finish them regardless. In addition, everything had a nice kick -- and considering we both love spicy food, this was perfect. I will definitely go back. read more

I've actually found a place where I think the food is spicy! For this, five stars will be given. My friend and I each had a Amma's feast. Since we wanted to try their dosas, we shared one. Unfortunately, I'm not certain of the name as we asked the order taker (aka cashier) to suggest one for us. I know it had potatoes in it though. Also, I ordered a mango lassi. Everything was very delicious. As for the service, we only dealt with one person who was very friendly. Although it wouldn't have been beneficial for him to say so, he warned us that we were ordering too much food for the two of us. He was very helpful when we needed containers for left overs. The location is convenient as it is nearby some stores and such in Vienna. The ambiance and decor are not the best; however, no points will be taken as it is clear their main focus is their food. read more

This was such an awful and disappointing meal. This restaurant used to be better but I had not been back in a year. This is definitely my last time. Dosas not cooked all the way, not crispy, and very oily. Whatever they called ras malai was disgusting. No friendly staff. The tables are dirty. Just don't go. read more

1. Avoid chapathi or roti. They dont use wheat and they use maida (dont know what is maida in English.Please google it. I dont have time) 2. Avoid full meals. They dont know how to make rasam and sambar. 3. Avoid uthappam. Any uthappam. They dont know how to make uthappam. 4. Any tamilian ( people from the state of tamilnadu in India) will rate this restaurant as poor. North Indians and Americans dont know the real taste of dosa,uthapam,idli or pongal and hence it appears good to them. 5. Their side dish of channa is good and their batura is good. Other than that I dont want to try anything and waste money. 6.If you want authentic Tamilnadu dosa,Idli, sambar,rasam,curd rice, come to my house.My wife is a great cook and I will make her open a restaurant one day. read more

The dosas are spot on here. My husband and I both got the onion rava masala dosa and wow, was it delicious. The potato filling had just the right balance of spices, the sambar was hearty with just the right amount of kick, and the actual dosa was thin and crispy! My only complaint is that everything is served on styrofoam. Seriously? Get some steel plates like every other dosa restaurant. We will definitely be coming back here. read more

Indian food that's so so. Not bad, not great either. They've definitely improved the dine-in experience since I first visited a few years ago. Customer service is hit or miss, I've gotten great service & sloppy service, especially at peak business hours. read more

This place is really great! The best dosa place I have found in the DMV area thus far. My one complaint is that there is a bit of a wait time to get your food, esp on weekends, but that's probably because they are making the food fresh! I really really recommend you try the rava dosa, but it is very spicy with all the green chili so be warned! The chana bhatura wasn't very good, which was upsetting bc I love a good chana bhatura...but yeah the dosas and chutneys make up for it. read more

I was a longtime customer of the Amma's location in Georgetown but now that the location is closed, the Vienna location is the best bet for fast and cheap South Indian food. They hit all of the basics very well - the sambar is particularly good as are the dosas. I take some exception to the posts regarding poor service. First, this is a cafeteria style place so you can't expect the service from a sit down restaurant. Second, the people seem very friendly, but it probably helps to also be pleasant when ordering. Case in point: Yesterday, I arrived for lunch right at their closing time of 2:30 and one of the people in my party was in a wheelchair. The guys inside came out of the restaurant and placed a ramp on their back entrance and went out of their way to help us get in. Then they let us order even though it was probably 2:40 by the time we were seated. I give them five stars for food and friendly service. read more

Nice place for a quick, near authentic South Indian food in the DC metro area. Have tried many of the offerings here, and I particularly like the Rava Dosa, Masala Dosa. But, most often, the go to choice for me is the Amma's feast, which in terms of quantity is usually a little more than what I'd need, and in terms of quality, its been the same (awesome) for the last few years. If you like salt lassi/buttermilk, try it over here. Its really awesome. read more

I love this place. The food is delicious, and the price is right. I do agree the ambiance is, umm, horrible. It could use a paint job, some pictures and some new tables and chairs. but im not coming for the decor, i come for the delicious food especially at lunch time when I dont have that much money to spend. I get the Masala Dosa and Mango Lassi (my favorite). great for your digestion and metabolism(spicy). read more

Beware bad customer service, the manager has the tendency to blame the customer Went there for some Dosa and Idli with my family. The manager who is also the cashier gave me a number and said he will call out my number when the food is ready. I picked up the lassi and idli when he called out my number, the dosas were still pending. After about 10 minutes I heard my number and went to pick up my Dosas, the food was cold. I complained to the manger he said he tried calling my number several times, which was a complete lie. He was clearly busy attending to phone orders and new customers all at the same time. To turnaround and blame the customer for fault that is clearly on his side is very rude and speaks volumes about how much this establishment cares about its customers. We had to throw the cold Dosas and leave hungry and bitter. I have been going to Amma's since last 6 years and seen their customers service gradually decline, think this will be the straw that broke the camels back. read more

Since I'm South Indian and my standards are naturally higher for my own food, I'd give this place 3 stars. The Mysore masala wasn't very spicy - the actual dosa wasn't that great and was more on the overdone side, but the masala inside was pretty good. The chutney was very mediocre and the sambar was decent. The guy at the front was a little standoffish but hey whatever - my friend was being a weird douche too. One time gig if you're desperate for South Indian food. read more

Go to place for decent snacks like vada rasam, samosa aloo ponda. Few dishes are hit and miss but for the most part price and quality of food is good and fresh read more

Definitely a hole in the wall, I think this restaurant use to be a fast food joint at one time and became a vegetarian Indian kitchen. Exact layout as any fast food burger joint in town. You order your food, pay for it, sit down and wait for it and they call your number to pick up the food. I will say the food is tasty and fresh. Portions are pretty good too. If you like Indian food without all the muss and fuss, stop in and try this place. read more

We ordered samosa,dahi vada and onion Rava dosa.Samosas are not fresh..the curry inside them looked stale..dahi vada was ok..dosa is bad.wont recommend this place read more

Amma Vegetarian Kitchen - Dosa - Vegetarian Near Me - Vienna, Virginia

This is not how a dosa should be. Very bland food and bad service. I would suggest no one come here. read more

Amma Vegetarian Kitchen - rava dosa - Vegetarian Near Me - Vienna, Virginia

Amma's is a vegetarian staple of the area. My favorite menu items at Amma's include the Amma's Special, a sampler which includes indian breads, sambar, and other favorites including desert. And of course a mango lassi (yogurt drink) is an essential addition to any Indian meal. Check out my photos and full review here: http://smallpicture.blogspot.com/2006/04/ammas-vegetarian-kitchen-in-vienna-va.html read more

Amma Vegetarian Kitchen - Food at Amma's - Vegetarian Near Me - Vienna, Virginia

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3.5*** I had come in a couple times in the past with my co-worker and she always ordered for the both of us and so I never knew what to get when not with her; so I wouldn't go. My Mom and I decided to we wanted Indian food one evening and so we headed to the restaurant. There is absolutely no ambiance...which doesn't bother me, but it may for other folks expecting it to be a bit fancier. Food is served on styrofoam and on plastic trays; they call your number when the food is ready. I asked the man at the counter what to order. He asked what I think I liked and then recommended the masala dosa and chole bathura...wow, yum. I am so glad we took his suggestion. The food was delicious! Coke machine on the side to get both water and sodas...Prices are right for the area, Vienna is high rent district, I will be back for another quick Indian fix. read more

The best onion rave masala dosa I ever had! They are the best south Indian place in the area. For me plus is, they are vegetarian so I get ample varieties. No one can beat their food, taste, quality, price and service. I have been to this place many times in several years and every time I am in the Vienna area, I would take that as an opportunity to go to this place. read more

Great service and good food. Did a takeout of masala dosa, mysore masala dosa, and idlis. Everything was delicious. The dosas are really filling! The sambar was a tad watery, but I liked that they had put a ton of veggies in it. read more

3.5 stars. Thanks to Shachi for organizing the dosa madness UYE, and for driving this car-less city dweller out to VA. Anyway, my mysore masala dosa was delicious, with potatoes, onions, and spicy chutney. I also got a side of coconut vegetables, and they weren't quite what I was expecting. I love coconut, but these could have used some spice to balance it, because the coconut was pretty much all I tasted. That didn't stop me from devouring it though. Overall, I thought the food was really good. Ambiance was a bit lacking, and the price point was just a bit to high for me to feel inclined to round up to four stars. I'll definitely be back if I'm ever in the area again. read more

I really enjoy Amma's every so often. If I order what I really like: the onion rava masala dosa, I walk out of there waddling more than walking. So heavy! So Sundays when they have their Upma special is really the day for me. The kids love the plain and masala dosas along with the vada and my wife digs the chole bhatura. Being mostly carnivorous, four stars is a big deal for a veg restaurant. read more