My husband and I were craving for some delicious south Indian food and a lot of friends suggested this restaurant so we decided to check it out. We went on a Sunday and were excited to try their special thali. My husband got vada and masala dosa. We also got a tea. The ambiance itself was welcoming and took us back to India. The servers were sweet and helped in selecting our dishes. The food came out pretty quickly. The thali itself was so colorful and looked delicious. I couldn't wait to dig in. There was papad, rasam, sambar, paneer gravy, avial, dal, roti, rice, payasam and a few more surprises. All the dishes tasted amazing! I loved that nothing was overly oily. My husband loved the vada and masala dosa. He said it tasted authentic and not too heavy. The dosa was crispy. The tea was delicious too. It was the right temperature and the flavor was perfect. We will definitely be coming back soon to try more dishes. Highly recommend checking them out! read more

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I love the idea of this restaurant - great menu, but it's pure chaos. The manager came to our table after we told him we couldn't get past ordering our drinks. He said he would take our order, and he didn't write anything down. We ordered, a lot of tables weren't as lucky. We got half the stuff we ordered and then he came back and said we could get the rest next time. I kid you not. The place was full, and lot of head in hands. A line out the door and people were hungry. Really great food, wasn't even sure if we got anything we ordered. Wild technique of running a restaurant. I think we had a good time because I was with my husband and we were being entertained. The dance of the servers - who didn't understand English and couldn't speak any languages from India. I think they were speaking an Asian language. The servers kept bringing other people to speak with us. It was performance art with really good food. It was a Friday night around 8. You might want to go on a weeknight. We'll go again then. In the end, I'm not really sure what it was we ordered, but it wasn't what we got. The manager kept saying, we could get it next time and gave us a bag to pack everything in. Was a strange evening - kind of like if Chuck E Cheese was a Hindi hangout and there were no video games, just people somewhat aware it's a restaurant milling around. A lot of potential, the food we got was good, but I think it was for a table across the room that kept eyeing it and calling over the servers and pointing over at us. I think we had mango and rose lassi drinks. People who were ordering to go looked in their bags and shook their heads, looked at the line and took what they got. We're looking forward to going back when they're not so over-taxed. read more

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Walking into the store, the Indian food smelled great and it was very spacious. There is a divider for the buffet area and the kitchen from the seating, which makes the restaurant feel a bit nicer as otherwise it would be one big room. The staff was very nice, there were two main ladies, one who did not speak English and one who came to serve us, not very traditional but not something I would complain about at all. Unfortunately we came at 3:20 pm, and the thali closed at 3 pm. We were quite sad about this, the thali looked amazing but we should not have dilly dallied so long for lunch lol- however if there is a way for it to be more apparent that would be nice. the google maps info says know before u go and says get the mango lassi and thali but nothing about when it closes. The dosa and curd rice came out fairly quick, about 10-15 mins. The dosa was the meal that came with a vada and idli, they asked if we wanted more sambar and we said yes so they brought out more with the idli. The dosa came out pretty cold though, maybe they had to wait for the vada and idli to come out because they were hot. But the dosa was like fairly crispy a little soggy though bc of how it was cold but since everything else was warm it was still good. The vada by itself is pretty sweet, maybe they added a little sugar to make it fluffy, but I was not a fan of that. The potato masala that came w the masala dosa was quite flavorful, the onion and potato were soft and the mustard seeds had really infused th eir flavor well. The sambar was fairly good, but not as flavorful as other sambar that I have had. The peanut chutney had a really strong peanut flavor and not a ton of spice, not how I usually like it but still quite good- I am pretty picky with chutney. The Szechuan tofu fried rice came out a while after the other items, about 10 minutes later but this was fine since we were sharing. It came with fried cauliflower on the side. I tried the rice and tofu by itself first, it's not like normal fried rice it's very bright and refreshing, not super oily and quite flavorful. I think this is due to the no egg, but it seems pretty simple in ingredients. The fried cauliflower is absolutely amazing, crispy and soft on the inside, it's like a flavorful zesty maybe sour taste- I love this type of fried cauliflower I've had it before so I'm a little bias. The curd rice honestly was pretty standard, maybe even a little below, I would not get it again a la carte, I have had curd rice that is much more flavorful but if it came on the side of something else I would not complain. It came with lime pickle and normally I have mango pickle or Alma pickle and I did not like the sour at all, but this is personal preference. The mango lassi was also standard, the google AI said it's praised for authentic mango lassi but it tastes just like the other lassi I got at a different store, except this one is 7.99. I'm not sure if they make it different but I do not think this is worth it for 7.99 (I was craving it though, and I probably would get it again if I was craving it bad lol) The Baddam halwa (ground almonds w ice cream) is pretty good, I was really surprised this was 9.99 as well, I'm not sure why desserts here are so expensive. I thought the warmth and flavor was good, my dad was saying the almonds should've been sautéed a bit more because they taste a bit raw and then I noticed that. Still good though, happy with ordering it. read more

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Madurai Kitchen is the latest South Indian restaurant to occupy this unusually recessed internal corner suite in the Miracrest Plaza of Miramar. I don't particularly enjoy the parking lot here because the spaces were narrow, and it can be difficult to maneuver your vehicle. What makes this place different than its predecessors is that the menu was all vegan and vegetarian items. On the night of my visit, there were tables set up on one side of the dining room for a thali buffet with curries and sauces that I had not encountered before. One menu sheet was dedicated to seven kinds of Chaat. The main menu had two pages with appetizers, soups, dosas, and curries/gravies on one side. The other side featured tandoori, house specials, biriyani, breads, rice, and Indo-Chinese entrees. The Vegetable Samosas were my choice for an appetizer. Two fried pastry shells were filled with seasoned peas and potatoes. Mint cilantro and tamarind chutneys were provided for dipping. The shells were fairly crispy. For an entree, I picked the Tofu Masala with minimal heat requested. Soft tofu cubes were simmered in a tomato-onion gravy seasoned with aromatic spices. The gravy was creamy and flavorful. The order came with a healthy serving of white basmati rice although I could have used more to soak up the sauce. For the price and quality of my takeout order, I gave a four star rating to Madurai Kitchen. read more

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We first got to try Madhurai Kitchen when they catered an event we attended, and the food immediately stood out. Later, my husband stopped by to try their weekday thaali and came back equally impressed. After two great experiences, we decided to go all in and try the weekend special Maha Thaali--and it absolutely blew us away. The spread was a true feast with a huge variety of dishes, each one authentic, flavorful, and unique. The portions were more than generous--definitely plenty for adults. I do wish there was a kids' or mini thaali option because they would have loved having their own version to choose from as they struggled to do justice to their thaalis. The weekend Maha Thaali comes with unlimited refills, but honestly we had trouble finishing the first serving itself. Everything we tried tasted incredibly authentic and thoughtfully prepared. Prompt and good service. Highly recommend if you're looking for a delicious and memorable South Indian feast! read more

Madurai Kitchen - Podis and ghee at the tableside - Vegetarian Near Me - San Diego, California

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Our first time here on their Dosa Nights on Thursdays. It was a fairly busy night for them even though it was a weekday. The owner was very welcoming and got us seated right away at a table for 2. Initially, we were hesitant about the unlimited dosa option since it might be too much for one person, but the owner promised us we wouldn't regret it and we'd definitely love it. The promise was kept, and we walked out happy and full. Coming to the dosa night options themselves, it included pongal, one idli, 3 types of chutneys, vada, sambar, rasam, and rava kesari along with six types of dosas that we could order unlimited: Karam dosa, Masala dosa, Onion dosa, Mysore Masala dosa, Plain dosa, and Podi dosa. Chutneys and podi with ghee were also served as requested. I tried Karam dosa and Onion dosa. I just devoured Karam dosa as soon as it appeared on my plate. I may be picky about vada, I didn't fully finish it since it's oily for me, but everything else tasted so good, and this dinner definitely took me back to India for a couple of hours. Surely coming back to their other dishes. Keep it up, Madurai Kitchen! read more

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Delicious. Real authentic South Indian food. I eat there once a week. Love it. They have a huge menu including North Indian and Indian Chinese dishes. Highly recommend. read more

I was really craving some Indian chaat when I found out this place does a Wednesday Chaat Night, so I knew I had to check it out. I also brought along my non-Indian friend, who loves chaat just as much as I do. I drive along Miramar Road almost every day, so I'm honestly surprised I never noticed this place before. It's tucked away in a shopping plaza with plenty of parking. We arrived around 6:30 p.m., and it was already starting to get busy. After we were seated, we were told we could either order à la carte or choose the unlimited chaat option for around $20, which we went with. The spread included pani puri, all the ingredients to make your own papdi chaat, chole bhature, pav bhaji, aloo puffs, chai, and dessert. The pani puri was definitely the highlight for me, it was absolutely delicious. I also enjoyed everything else we tried. The manager was incredibly friendly and kept checking in on us throughout the meal. He took the time to explain the different dishes and made sure I was doing a good job introducing everything to my non-Indian friend, which I really appreciated. That said, I do think there's room for improvement. Other than the manager, none of the staff spoke English, so whenever we had questions, we had to wait until he was available. I was also expecting a bigger variety of chaats. While the pav bhaji and chole bhature were good, they're more like full meals than chaat. I would've loved to see ready made dahi puri, papdi chaat, sev puri, and a few other classic chaats instead of having to assemble some of them ourselves. Overall, we had a great experience, and I'd definitely come back. I saw other tables ordering the dosas, idlis and parathas, and they looked fantastic. Hopefully, they'll have a few more English speaking staff members in the future, but the food and hospitality definitely made the visit worthwhile. read more

Madurai Kitchen - Vegetarian Near Me - San Diego, California

Good food. Ambiance is Indian for sure :) service is typical. Like it :) I would love to have English translation of plates lol but weol that has nothing to do with how good the place is. read more

Madurai Kitchen - Weekend Thali - Vegetarian Near Me - San Diego, California

The menu has some "non-standard" stuff which I didnt see in other south indian places, like adai avial, jackfruit biriyani etc. Adds to teh variety. the paneer garlic mushroom fried rice was really good too. Thali is a good option as well. Good tea Havent tried the "core stuff" out a lot, like the dosas/uthapam/idli/vada etc, and I am not an expert in south indian food. but overall, liked the place Lots of space and seating Service is iffy, but I find service and food quality inversely correlated in most indian places, so theres that. read more

Best dosa and uttapam I had in Sandiego. I liked the quality of food, it tasted fresh and authentic South Indian food. They serve three chutneys of different flavours. Food is little bit on spicy side. Service was quick. Manager was caring and communicative. Ambience was good, quiet and clean restaurant. I would highly recommend trying out this place. read more

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Really great food as well as service! I definitely want to come back. Friendly staff as well!

We got a lunch special which was a plated buffet and a dosa. Everything was so flavorful and delicious. Servers were attentive and foot served was quick. Loved the music as well. We will be back here! read more

We went for a weekday lunch today on a friends recommendation. The restaurant primarily serves South Indian food and Indo- Chinese. They also have a thali which seemed very popular. The thali is awesome with 15-20 items and a great variety. The owner kept checking if we needed more food. He also did a good job of explaining the different items. I highly recommend this place for some different Indian food. We will be back to try the other items on the menu. read more

Poor service. Owner does not even know how to speak to customer. Food was decent but If you are getting unlimited thali during weekend forget about getting any refills. Most of the staff does not even understand English or indian food. read more

OMG what a hidden gem! Food was incredible! Tried items I've never had at other Indian restaurants and each was a complete delight. Staff was friendly and helpful, food was served in timely manner, place was clean and easy to find. I'd go out of my way to eat here again. read more

The food is incredible. We ordered the chole bhatura and the thali which came with hot and fresh plantain bhajis, rice, chapati, appalam and a wonderful spread of side dishes and two desserts. Amazingly, every single side dish was super tasty and incredible. The food looked so good and tasted even better that we dug in before taking pictures. Truly an authentic home cooked meal with the banana leaves on plates. Chef Srinivas and Muthukumar and their staff are super attentive and the service is amazing. So excited to come back, definitely my number one Indian restaurant in San Diego, and the entire USA. read more

We needed pure vegetarian food from a fully vegetarian restaurant for a get-together with 35 family members and friends. We first spoke with Mr. Madan, who recommended excellent options and took the time to explain the dishes in detail, patiently answering our many questions. We then worked with Mr. Nagaraj to finalize our menu through several iterations. He guided us in determining the right quantities and helped us add the finishing touches to the menu. Despite our frequent changes, Nagaraj was incredibly accommodating, even when we increased the dessert order at the last minute. The food was delivered on time, and we were pleasantly surprised by the generous portions, which exceeded our expectations. Guests of all ages thoroughly enjoyed the meal and repeatedly commented on the exceptional quality and taste of the food. Many were delighted to take leftovers home as well. Overall, the quantity, quality, service, and pricing far exceeded our expectations. We wholeheartedly recommend Madurai Kitchen and will certainly return for future gatherings! Padma & Suresh read more

Very great customer service! The food was incredible! We also had Mango Lassi which was a yogurt based drink! Soooo so good! Okra was amazing, butter chicken to die for, and the cauliflower chicken! Can't believe it's not chicken! Great music and amazing vibe in there! Thank you so muchhh. read more

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Great food, good price and nice service! The staff members are friendly and they offer good deals for each day of the week.

This is based on our togo order. We got set dosa with korma and idlis. The set dosa is yellow in color, which was different from what I'm used to (in Karnataka) but for the first time in San Diego we ate something that tasted quite close to actual set dosa! Also the Togo order was neatly packed with a layer of banana leaf at the bottom -- so bonus points for that. The korma was tasty but excessively oily. I hope they fix it. The idlis and sambar were decent, and the chutneys were good and fresh. Was happy that they used fresh coconut in the coconut chutney. I hope they keep up the taste and quality. read more

We've been to Madurai Kitchen multiple times now. We've ordered a large variety of dishes, many of the dosa-s, gravy + naan items, the appetizers, noodles etc. The food has been of consistently good quality and the staff /owner are super-friendly. We will definitely visit again ! read more

So good and so authentic! We are from this part of india, and we've been to ear lunch here twice and both times the food was awesome. I had the "maha thaali" the second time and was blown away by how good each side was. The owner is super helpful and friendly though the remaining staff isn't as knowledgeable - just go in expecting this! read more

Extremely good food. Might be slow when Crowded, good ambience if you discard noisy customers.. Authentic taste and good service

Dosa were not that good. Sambar quantity was very small compared to the dosa . Service was ok . Nothing exciting.

Best South Indian food in San Diego area. The vibe is chill, prices are so reasonable, but the quality of food is really good. The chaat nights are the best. read more

This is the best South Indian food I have found in Southern California. My absolute favorites are the Rava onion Malala dosa and parata. They have several unique dishes I have never seen in any other indian restaurant. Many of their curries are unbelievably delicious. Highly recommend. read more

We ordered spicy dosa and parotta with kurma. Taste was mediocre and not fresh. Spicy dosa was serious habanero dosa, not sure where they got that crazy idea. Killed the joy out of dinner. Parotta was too thick and undercooked. Kurma was not fresh either. Filter coffee was too milky and like 'never again' Decoction probably was from morning. Coconut chutney was really good read more

We tasted the fried rice and the taste was not up to the mark . The service was good but the North Indian dishes are not the best.

The food was good I liked the veg fried rice with gobi and puri aloo the quality is great. Padma

I highly recommend this restaurant. I had a great experience with my family. The food was amazing and delicious. And, the service was also great. read more

Please be careful of the sliding scale pricing practices that Madurai Kitchen has. They will have one price mentioned online, the other on the restaurant menu and the third at the cashier's counter. Do not be duped by the fake smiles, they very well might get converted to 1.5 times more charge than the listed price. The owner Mr. Nagraj all while being hospitable charged me 1.5 times more for the special Mother's Day thali that I'd ordered today. I called him out and brought it to his attention. So please say something when you see something without feeling embarrassed because they definitely are not getting embarrassed by what they are doing. Also, if you are looking for good south Indian food nothing beats San idli veg restaurant in San Diego area. Dosa Studio has Thursday dosa nights as well and is way better and cheaper than Madurai. They do have chaat nights as well, so go and try that instead. Hope this helps. read more