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Udipi Cafe

3.6 (214 reviews)
InexpensiveIndian, Vegetarian
Closed • 11:00 am - 10:00 pm
Updated over 3 months ago

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UDIPI CAFE ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Casual
Outdoor seating
Good for kids

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Recommended Reviews - Udipi Cafe

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Reviews With Photos

My plate #1
Lou C.

Came to Upidi Cafe for the all-you-can-eat buffet because I crave for vegetarian food, especially Indian food. I have been here early this year but I didn't have a chance to thoroughly investigate what I was eating. I think it serves in the style of Thali as round plate divided with sides in smaller bowls. Since it's a buffet, I can take little bit at a time until I'm familiar with the taste. I also got more knowledge from eating Indian food frequently since I started foodie exploration early 2023. The buffet line is organized by hot and cold, not separated by entrees, starches, sweets and salads. So I started to indulge with standard thali entrees and breads. Starches are Poori (puffy bread), Vada (donut looking thing), Idly (rice cake) and Set Dosa (pancake looking bread). My favorite is to break poori open and use it to scoop curry or chutney. I actually like every bread they serve for different tastes. My favorite desserts are Semiya Payasam (vermicelli kheer in sweet milk) and coconut rice. My favorite rice is biriyani, of course, more flavors than plain rice. My favorite entree is Mutter Paneer (cheese is creamier than other restaurants) and Jackfruit Curry. When it says spicy and red, it is very spicy. I usually bring some yogurt based sauce (not sure exact name) to cool my palate if I accidentally consumed spicy food. Overall, $14.99 makes my wallet happy and tummy happy. Buffet lunch is only served on weekdays from 11 am to 2:30 pm. Remember, it's closed on Mondays.

The food was substandard. The sweets are frozen, however the service was really good. The guy in the front desk was very nice and accomodating

Mysore masala dosa (with sambar and chutneys), combo with masala dosa, idli, vada, upma, kesari bath
Sunreeta B.

Service was great, although the wait time was on the higher side for a not-so-full sunday dinner hour. Had the alu bonda, and the mysore masala dosa. The combo thali also came with a small dosa and one idli, vada, and a portion of kesari bath and upma each. Flavors were on the subtler side which I personally liked, but maybe worth considering for some people. Found out from the owner, Mr Satheesh that he also started the Udupi Cafe in Monroeville, Pittsburgh (it was the first one) along with a few others who are still there. I loved the appetizing tomato rasam that was served before the meal! First experience of Indian food in Houston was decent, but I will perhaps always be more conservative with my praise for Indian food!

1. Bhel Puri
Yasser H.

Had stopped by here recently to grab some vegetarian snacks. After being seated, I noticed some photos of Anthony Bourdain with the owner, so I had to ask about the details. He told me that Anthony Bourdain would his restaurant every time he was in Houston. The owner was very friendly and he did stop by every table to say hi and engage in a casual conversation. I ordered Bhel puri, a dahi puri, samosas and masala dosa. The items were good and filling. I was satisfied with the taste. Samosas were in point and served with two different types of chutneys. They have an extensive list of items on the menu, especially dosas. A nice variety of them. The service was up to standards. This is actually a sit down restaurant with table service. I plan to be back b

Podi Dosa with Masala
Clarisse D.

We visited the restaurant for lunch buffet over the weekend. The Vegetarian restaurant is located close to a busy intersection and easy to find. Pros: - we were seated promptly by the waitress who was courteous - The owner invited us and was gracious **, much appreciated - Having visited India and being a frequent foodie of Asian restaurants- we noticed a fantastic South Indian spread of more than 20 dishes in the buffet; - we tried just about every dish from Idlis, Vadas, curd rice, 6 types of curries, sambar, rasam, 3 types of sweet dishes, 3 chutneys, 2 types of rice. - They also offer 3 different types of Dosas as part of the buffet - which was delicious and well made. - the waitress was consistently prompt and courteous Now the cons: - parking is tough to find and the few spaces in front are filled up, with little to spare elsewhere - the idlis and Vadas were missing the authentic taste - it was either the lack of fenugreek or consistency in the batter. - it just didn't taste right; - Having tasted authentic South Indian food this place just lacked the taste, texture and flavor with multiple dishes. - There are wayyy too many pictures of the owner with some Indian folks all over the walls; I googled some of the folks and learned they were Indian actors and musicians; it was an overdose of personal glory; The food was not up-to the authentic South Indian taste;. Could be that we may have visited on the wrong day or the cook was on holiday. Wish the owner and staff the very best. -

Hands down my favorite restaurant in Houston. Strictly vegetarian, flavorful, wonderful place with excellent service and, a thorough gentlemanly owner. Loved the rawa masala special dosa and the Brahman thali. Even the non- South Indian items were good. Mango lassi was sublime.... This is our new to-go place. I hope they update the decor soon.

Mysore masala dosa
Sunny B.

With so many great Indian options in Hilcroft, I was not impressed with Udipi Cafe. I would likely go to Honest or Shiv Sagar if I am craving chaat-style food. I ordered a masala dosa and the potato filling inside was very plain. It was completely mild and lacked seasoning. The coconut chutney was also plain and watery, not the usual creamy taste you would expect from coconut chutney. I also tried the samosa chaat, which comes in a unique style compared to other Hilcroft restaurants. There is no yogurt and the samosa is cut up into the chaat mix. This dish had more flavor than the masala dosa, but I felt that it was missing the extra tangy taste of yogurt.

Miny Thali
Rabia S.

I got the Miny Thali for lunch & chose the paneer tikka masala & avial (veggies made with coconut milk). It came with the options of poori or roti - I chose roti, but they gave poori. I ate the rice with the curries, but I didn't try the daal or sambar. The paneer tikka masala was good, and the avial was not bad. The beans were just boiled, but they were okay mixed the paneer masala. The payasam was good, too. Overall, it was okay.

Shana C.

The owner was super kind and helpful. Before the pandemic I would enjoy their buffet. Now that there is no longer a buffet I didn't know what to order. He made a great recommendation and I enjoyed every bite. I still don't know the names of the things I ate on the mini platter, but it was all tasty.

Aditi M.

For once I thought I'd ditch the yelp reviews and order from a restaurant with not so great reviews and I was soo soo wrong! This is the worst Indian restaurant based on my soda experience. I ordered food through doordash and the one star I give here is for timely doordash delivery. The Mysore masala dosa had every part of it done wrong. The soda was thick, the podi was just a lot of salt, the chutneys were bland and cold, the so called sambar was I don't know what. Disappointed to be disappointed:( I was craving for dosa and was really hoping for good food.

You can see this from the parking lot, so you will know if you are in the right place
Daniel L.

I need to quit smoking, doctor's orders. I need to quit drinking, court orders. This is a strict veg only resto so I had to quit meating for the afternoon as well, Udipi orders. I had to schlep all across town to get here, so my expectations were a bit high considering the start-up "expenses" of time and the frustration of sitting in gas-brake-honk Houston traffic for over an hour to get to and through one of the busiest intersections in the city of 59 @ Hillcroft. Notwithstanding that the end of the year is quickly approaching and I am dangerously short of my 100 yelp reviews for the calendar year. So I needed to pick up a fork and put some work in. The weekday buffet is priced to move at $8.99 which explains why this is a pretty popular joint for people that have time in their weekday lunch schedule to come down here. I don't live or work near here. The weekend buffet comes with a penalty tax of "you don't live or work in this neighborhood" bringing it up to $10.99. There was a table with a really cute teen/young adult with a UH-Downtown t-shirt on, so at least someone in the resto drove further than I did today just for lunch. If you didn't know, a buffet under $10 basically means that if you eat anything you got your money's worth because fair is fair. A buffet that nips past $10 in the wallet issues a challenge that you now not only need to get your money's worth but you will be tracking it closely with the ol' stomach ledger. So now you know why it is on like Donkey Kong. The lunch buffet begins at 11am and extends to 3pm. When we walked in at 1pm there were no available tables and thus a wait for a table. We nearly left for one of the other restos on the Hillcroft Strip. But I had already been propositioned by a prostitute out in the parking lot, so I mostly just didn't want to experience that again so soon from a ho that ain't ever heard 'no' before. I don't need to pay for it, hon, until I lose slightly less than half of all my stuff in a divorce then I paid for it just then I suppose. There are booth-ish seating areas flanking the east and west walls and the main dining area is composed of long tables, even though they are pushed together, you still get people at "other tables" smushed in so close they kind of get all up in your business (jalapeno business) which one lady on our row from an unaffiliated table was staring a hole in me as I was telling a hilarious story and otherwise just being beautiful. The buffet station flanks the south wall. You can pick a flat ceramic plate (don't!) or get one of the tin metal partitioned plates (yes). Edgar V.'s review was most helpful in this respect. I am glad I invested the time to read through all of the reviews otherwise I would have not seen his and would have made the ceramic plate mistake. Crisis averted. The server guy takes care of refilling water pretty regularly. So I have to say that this is pretty good service for a casual "buffet" sort of place. The only real strike against Udipi is that the "spicy" dosa I requested was not spicy at all. Not even that white lady that thinks toothpaste is spicy would think this dosa was spicy. Bring muh heat, or go home. To that end, the spicy onions were my favorite aspect of the actual buffet line. They weren't hot at all - and they were less hot than how Cuisine India down by JSC does it - but they still were the single source of any amount of heat in my mouth, so it paired with everything to give me what I want as a nice profile finishing on all of the other veg items. The buffet options are relatively numerous considering it is veg only. Every item available was fully stocked and the guy kept refilling stuff so nothing was ever "out" which is the bane of my existence down at the buffet lines. I can't ding Udipi too badly on the ho out in the parking lot. She was hurtin' for a squirtin' because of numerous socioeconomic factors and lack of access to education, infrastructure, and real opportunity where she probably grew up. I don't think Udipi contributed to that at all. But still, my mother would not have felt very safe or secure coming to this business with that kind of thing happening in the parking lot right in front of this biz. The lack of spiciness in the dosa and the ho out front obviate a fifth star but other than that: wear sweatpants, bring an appetite, don't expect much heat, and you are in business with a pleasant veg only lunch, baby.

Ellen C.

A couple of friends and I recently dined here, hoping for the best because it's kind of "our thing" to eat glorious Indian food together and I'm not going to lie, I have led them astray more than once (which I directly blame on Yelp and my inability to make decisions solely on my own). Initial impression was that this is a bit hole-in-the-wall-ish as most places on Hillcroft. I had been to the Sugar Land Udipi Cafe a billion and one times by now and I immediately noticed that the Hillcroft location still retained the olds school menu (I believe the Sugar Land one changed ownership and the new owner decided to class it up, I mean, the menu items are probably still the same, but anyway!). Being that I'm a fool for nostalgia (and I cannot handle change, as it can be extremely psychologically scarring for me as I am pretty much an old grumpy fart these days (verified by several close acquaintances)), that made me inexplicably happy. I opted for the Spring Dosa and my friends also ordered some dosas. The samosas were pretty unremarkable, but edible, so that was that, but the service was impressive. We were doted on constantly, our water glasses closely monitored and replenished like clockwork, a couple sips until depletion. The restaurant was fairly barren when we arrived, but gradually filled up with a handful of large families getting their grub on. Service remained steady and pleasant, which matters a great deal to me because there's nothing worse than being regarded with stern resentment by your waiter/server. Oh yes about the dosas, well okay, they're a bit wimpier than what I typically receive at other Indian restaurants. Sure, it was still a substantial amount of food and I ate it for breakfast (heartburn included!), but Udipi wasn't exactly generous with the potato cabbage-y filling. It's okay, I'm sure this type of thing varies from day to day. It was still delicious and we were all pretty satisfied. So good job me and Yelp, for not dragging my friends to another FAIL eating adventure.

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3 years ago

The thali was kinda bland ...but the Alloo parata and onion pakoras were yummy! The servers were nice and prompt!

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The dips that come with the dosa are amazing! Will definitely visit here again! Must go for South Indian cuisone

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Quan Yin Vegan Restaurant

Quan Yin Vegan Restaurant

4.2(329 reviews)
4.3 mi•Chinatown, Alief
•$$

I was in town for work and was amazed to find food that is not only vegan but really, really good!…read moreService was great! Will be back again for sure :)

I love this restaurant, if I lived closer, I would be here every week! Ha!…read more I was introduced to this restaurant via Lou MC (a fellow Yelper/friend of many years), he had a UYE here and I was one of the attendees. I came back for a solo lunch on Sunday, the restaurant wasn't packed. It's not a modernized place, but it is clean and there was no roaches in sight! There isn't a weird odor either. It appears to be family owned as the two times I've been there is a lady, a young guy, and an older man to be working. My absolute favorites are the veg grilled chicken (my mouth is salivating as I type this), veg fried rice, veg fish, veg meatloaf, and the string beans with veg meat pieces. The sweet and sour soup is tasty too. With the grilled veg chicken; that's the star of the show! Lays on a bed of lettuce with cucumber and tomatoes on the side, the faux chicken tastes way better than grilled bird. The flavor is slightly sweet, but savory and has grilled tips. It's chewy texture and full of flavor with each bite. I think they marinate it with something because it's so divine! The fried rice resembles the non-vegan version; flavorful on its own, but once I add the soy sauce the flavor intensifies into yummy goodness. It has tiny pieces of fried tofu to replace the eggs and loaded with veggies. The meatloaf is doused in savory sauce, but the faux meatloaf is tasty too. The veg fish in the sweet and sour soup was very yummy; the soup broth smooth and didn't have any chunky parts of vegetables. When I went yesterday, there was numerous calls for takeout orders. This place is popping! I was served chrysanthem tea loose leaf; the taste wasn't overpowering and it tasted like water. Very subtle. Oh and the dumplings are good too! Thick in size and crunchy hard shell, not soggy. Huge portions and matched with inexpensive prices. This restaurant is a win win in my book. Despite busyness, they appear to handle it well and don't have long wait times for your meal to arrive. The flavor and portion profile reminds me of Trendy Vegan. You'll get more bang for your buck! Service is cordial; the waiters and waitress doesn't seem too interested in table service or getting to know you. That's alright since I was watching a movie as I ate. If I had to rank Asian vegan options: Quan Yin (#1), Trendy Vegan (#2), and then Pine Forest (#3). Located in a huge parking lot, you'll sure find a spot to park.

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Quan Yin Vegan Restaurant - Inside seating area

Inside seating area

Quan Yin Vegan Restaurant
Quan Yin Vegan Restaurant

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Tue Tam - Mi xao don

Tue Tam

4.7(55 reviews)
5.0 mi•Alief

Tuệ Tâm is one of my favorite vegan Vietnamese restaurants in Houston, and it never disappoints…read more Starting with appetizers, the fried egg rolls are an absolute must-order -- crispy and perfectly seasoned. The salt and pepper crispy tofu is a standout with bold flavor and a satisfying crunch. The lemongrass tofu is well-seasoned and solid, and the mushroom-based chicken nuggets are honestly one of my favorite appetizers on the entire menu. The fried pancake rounds out the appetizer options nicely as well. On the rice dishes, there's plenty to love. My wife loves the shaking tofu fried rice and orders it every time we visit. The combo fried rice and shaking beef fried rice are both great choices, and the special pot rice is a comforting, satisfying option. The hardest part of dining here is choosing a favorite entrée. The grilled fish platter -- crafted from tofu and seaweed -- is a masterpiece. But it's in fierce competition with the fried chicken rice, made from mushrooms and exceptionally delicious in both flavor and texture. I genuinely can't pick just one. Whether you're a longtime vegan or simply someone who appreciates great food, Tuệ Tâm is absolutely worth a visit. Highly recommend!

This was such a random spot! I spend a lot of time in china town and never knew this was here and…read morethat it was mostly vegan. A couple things to note: 1. It is not 100% vegan. For some reason, they have 1 item (egg roll) that is not vegan. 2. Service is full service style without full service quality. Would be a better setup if we could order at the counter and sit down because that's pretty much the level of service we received anyway, so just keep that in mind going into it. 3. It was pricier than expected. We spent $50 on the items shown here. I wouldn't say I was pleased with what we spent vs what we received. Overall, the food was a mixed bag.. the soup didn't have a ton of flavor despite it being one of their most popular dishes. The 'snails' were really interesting and I enjoyed them. For $20 I wouldn't get them again but they were fun to try. The steak dish was definitely the highlight. It was so good that my non vegan boyfriend bet me $1 it was real steak. It wasn't. Overall, I think it's worth a try but it's unlikely I'll be back anytime soon. Maybe to pick up the steak dish. Beside that, Trendy Vegan offers really good Asian cuisine at a more reasonable price point.

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Tue Tam - Restaurant

Restaurant

Tue Tam - Hu tieu mi

Hu tieu mi

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PappaRich - Roti Prata with Rendang

PappaRich

4.4(277 reviews)
3.1 mi•Chinatown, Sharpstown
•$$

PappaRich is my favorite Malaysian restaurant in the Houston area. I've been going to them since…read morethey first opened, and they have always been consistent and never failed to impress. The restaurant is small and clean. The servers are always nice, and the foods are always delicious. I recently stopped by around 5pm on a Saturday for an early dinner for two. It wasn't busy yet when I first arrived, but more and more customers started coming in as it got closer to dinner hours. I always have to order my two favorites: Steamed Hainese Chicken Rice set and the Roti Canai with Beef Rendan. The steamed Hainese chicken here are some of the best in Houston area. It's always super tender and flavorful. I absolutely love the roti canai here. It's always light, fluffy, and just right, and I don't think anywhere else makes them as good as PappaRich.

PappaRich is a popular Malaysian restaurant that originated in Malaysia, and has grown to over 100…read morelocations worldwide. It's one of the only 2 US locations, with the other being in New York. You can visit them on Bellaire Food Street. It's a clean restaurant. We walked in and were immediately greeted and sat by a nice woman. We came because we were craving one thing only: Hainanese Chicken. They also have the fried option as well, but we decided on steamed. We got the half chicken and it was enough to feed 2 people. The chicken was so tender. The chicken rice was cooked perfectly, so moist and flavorful. The chicken, rice, some scallion ginger, a bit of sriracha: the perfect bite! We also had the mixed skewers (beef and chicken). The dipping sauce was good. I prefer the chicken over the beef skewers. The beef skewers were a bit tough. I wasn't the biggest fan of the seasoning they used. However, if I were to get these again, I would just opt for the chicken skewers only. If you never had Malaysian food, I recommend giving this place try. I will definitely be back to order the fried hainanese chicken.

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PappaRich
PappaRich - Sizzling beancurd

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Udipi Cafe - indpak - Updated June 2026

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