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    Udipi Cafe

    3.6 (214 reviews)
    InexpensiveIndian, Vegetarian
    Closed 11:00 am - 3:00 pm, 5:00 PM - 9:30 PM
    Updated over 3 months ago

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    UDIPI CAFE ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Recommended Reviews - Udipi Cafe

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    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. [[HIGHLIGHT]]I hope they update the decor soon.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]

    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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    4 years ago

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

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    Mensho

    Mensho

    4.5
    (400 reviews)
    3.3 mi
    $$

    Mensho changed my mind about ramen! I m usually a rice person but after I tried Mensho, oh men!…read moreThis place is insane! The spicy ramen is crazy spicy which I love the most! Also the yuzu is amazing, so flavorful and delicious. Tried fried enoki mushroom for the very first time and I m in love with it. I can easily finish it by myself. Servers are super nice and friendly. Knowledgeable about every single items. Helped us a lot for the orders. Comfy and cozy dinning area. The entire store is clean Located inside China town and planet of parking spaces. This is for sure a must visit restaurant in Houston.

    Mensho is a interesting ramen joint located in the Dun Huang Plaza close to a variety of…read morerestaurants so parking is limited unless you come early. I came by right before the dinner rush so I was immediately seated at the bar and greeted by the iconic "Irasshaimase!" (welcome in Japanese) by every wait staff so that was fun! The wait staff were very attentive and proactive so ordering the food and getting it took maybe less than 10 minutes. Onto the food: I originally came in because the website mentioned tsukemen and maybe that's my fault for not checking again on yelp itself (whoopsies!) but of course, they did not have it BUT they still had very solid options for ramen. I chose the signature because I wanted to see what Mensho was known for since my family has tried it when they first opened and enjoyed it. The noodles themselves were phenomenal and just the right amount of bounciness and chew. The chicken broth was so rich and creamy, you could pretty much classify it as tonkotsu because of how fatty and buttery it tasted. There was a trio of meats that were delicious but the only one that stood out to me the most was the chicken chashu because it was juicy and flavorful. The eggs, pretty solid and it came with two halves so essentially a whole egg which is my favorite part about eating ramen. The ambiance: it's trendy and aesthetically pleasing! However, it's gonna be busy and loud so if you're expecting a quiet, low-key joint, I would recommend coming in the morning when they open instead of around dinner time. The decor was gorgeous and the music was at a moderate volume. Final rating: I would come again and definitely bring some friends to join in because there's a lot of unique options and unfortunately, I can only eat for one so maybe next time, I'll try their Duck Matcha ramen.

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    Don't get this. Interesting concept to put matcha in, but I'm not a fan. No longer on menu as of April 2027

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    Don't get this. Interesting concept to put matcha in, but I'm not a fan. No longer on menu as of April 2027
    Tue Tam

    Tue Tam

    4.8
    (56 reviews)
    5.0 mi

    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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    Flying Idlis

    Flying Idlis

    4.2
    (256 reviews)
    2.0 mi
    $

    My mom is fond of dosas so we took her here while in Houston. Everything on the menu is vegetarian…read moreand they have a lengthy menu of dosas, their namesake idlis, and other carby, fried delights like samosas, uttapam, and vada doughnuts. My family is Burmese, and our cuisine shares a lot in common. Still, there were no descriptions on the menu so I needed help from the staff getting descriptions of each item. Fortunately we were the only customers there on the Thursday morning we visited the the staff was plenty helpful, patiently explaining each item to us. We got uttapam, idlis, vada doughnuts, and different kinds of dosa. Everything tasted fresh but exceedingly plain. I found a lot of items lacking depth of flavor and required a healthy dousing of the tamarind sauce some of the dishes came with. Everything started to taste the same and we would've left a lot of food untouched were it not for the fact that we hate to waste food. So we reluctantly ate it all. Reading the reviews now I see this is a commonly held opinion of the food here, which is unfortunate as it was the only dosa place I could find in Houston that was actually open for breakfast, which is when many people eat dosas.

    Solid South Indian restaurant in a strip mall - had breakfast here this morning with a colleague…read more We both ordered madras coffees and dosa's - masala for him and spicy paneer for me. My dosa was delicious and flaky and the coffee hit the spot, and he enjoyed his meal as well. Happy to return.

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    Udipi Cafe - indpak - Updated July 2026

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