The first time I went to UlavacharU Tiffins was back in 2024. I remember it being a pretty great meal and had the opportunity to visit again earlier this month. The first time we went was for lunch. It was busy but they had a few tables open. We had no idea what to order then and just went with what we saw others eating. It all tasted great then and we loved it. It was very authentic as we were the only non-Indians dining. On this recent visit, it was a Friday evening so parking was very limited and there was a wait. There's a waitlist you can join when you arrive, and it wasn't too bad with our party of 7. Again, we really didn't know what to order beyond the dosas. We did look up a few and asked the server as well. But we were pretty much going in blind again. On this visit, I did notice that someone would go around with refills on the chutneys and what not. So this time we knew to ask for a little more of this and that. My favorites were the coconut peanut one and the ginger one. The restrooms are accessible outside the restaurant, which is a bit of a pain. And there is signage everywhere to monitor your car as break-ins happen often, so that's not the most comforting. I would be amazing if they could offer a separate menu with a few explanations of what everything is. Overall, we enjoyed our meals both times and introduced a few people to it as well, and they loved it too. read more

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This place is super crowded in evenings and throughout the day but rightly so. 1. Podi Idly - Just try it everytime or first time u go 2. Best Podi Idly in the universe so far not eaten better Podi Idly and I have travelled enough (I mean it) read more

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Delicious dosas served astonishingly quickly no matter how packed the restaurant is. Ambiance is utilitarian but clean and tidy. I've eaten there twice for brunch, both times there was a modest wait but diners cycle through quickly. I've ordered the Masala Dosa on both visits, the dosa is crispy, potatoes are nicely seasoned. The dish is accompanied by a nice selection of chutneys. Out of all of it, the sambar is probably my favorite, I would happily eat an entire bowl of just this. First visit I had the filter coffee which was quite good, second visit I had the chai which was also tasty. If I had to pick one, I'd go with the coffee. read more

A very traditional South Indian vegetarian restaurant specializing in breakfast items like dosa, uthappam, and idli. On my most recent visit, I ordered a masala pesarattu since I had never had it before. It tasted more earthy than a regular dosa but was otherwise pretty similar. Every item comes with an assortment of chutneys and sambar. read more

Sometimes a South Indian just wants a nice big dosa for breakfast/brunch, so I took to yelp to find recommended in the area. I came across UlavacharU Tiffins and decided to visit with a friend on a Saturday. It was actually quite busy with all tables full. Luckily we didn't have to wait too long before seating. I got the onion rava dosa and some kaapi :) real ones know. I definitely felt like I had a little piece of India at home because it really hit the spot. Nice crispiness on the dosa, with great flavor from the rava and red onions. I liked all of the chutneys and alternated between them. Solid sambar too. Only thing I didn't care for was the podi idly. The ghee taste was too heavy and I didn't like that it was served with the podi on top vs to the side. Made the idly soggy. Still, there's a lot of authentic flavor here! read more

UlavacharU Tiffins - Onion rava dosa - Indian Near Me - Santa Clara, California

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Visiting the Bay Area this weekend, tried the vegetarian tiffins spot that serves Indian vegetarian breakfast and snacks. They open early as 8:30 and serve home style breakfast. The place has a decent sitting area with multiple tables and is good for groups, minimal table side service you get your food brought it very quickly. Now about the food We tried a few types of breakfast From the specials chitti sambar idly and chitti ghee idly - comes with three chutneys Ginger, Peanut and tomato. With about 12 tiny idlies. The idlies are tasty but felt chewy but good, the ghee idly is nicely immersed in Ghee (butter). We did get some Indian coffee along with our breakfast. Next is the Hot Pongal and Poori with Masala, Pongal was good but was a little dry, the masala needs some more spices to cater to Indian traditional flavor. Overall good experience, tasty food, simple menu and fast service. If you are in the Bay Area go here if you like some morning Indian breakfast. read more

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This was my first time visiting Ulavacharu Tiffins in Santa Clara, and overall, I had a good experience. I tried the **Ghee Podi Masala Dosa**, which came with four different chutneys and sambar. The dosa was flavorful, and the variety of chutneys made it even more enjoyable. It definitely satisfied my South Indian food cravings! I also ordered the **Mysore Bonda**. It tasted good and was freshly prepared, but the wait time was quite long. I had already finished my dosa by the time the bonda arrived, as they seemed to be busy preparing other tiffin orders. Overall, the food was tasty and satisfying. I would definitely come back for the South Indian flavors, though I hope the wait time for individual items can be improved. read more

Pesarattu very average. No taste. Rava Dosa decent. Chutneys - coconut and peanut good. Ginger decent, could have had lesser sugar. Tomato chutney good. Sambar decent. Long waitlist, efficient staff. Quick service. read more

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We came on a weekend for breakfast/brunch and expectedly, there was a wait. We got our name on the wait-list through the QR code and the line moved pretty fast. Our table was ready in no time. We ordered- - Rava masala recipe - Filter coffee - Idli vada combo - one Poori with kurma (they were nice enough to accommodate our request of wanting just 1 Poori - I love when restaurants are flexible!) - Filter coffee Everything was great, amazing flavors including all the chutneys. Definitely recommend. read more

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Best dosas ever! If your non-veg friends ever doubt vegetarian food you should definitely bring them here! I don't often crave dosas or idli but after having this place I crave it all the time! I have tried kara dosa, rava dosa, podi idli and podi dosa. And nothing I have had has been not 10/10. The crispness of the dosa is unmatched and the flavors are so good, I especially love the podi flavor. The sambar is good too and the best part is the ginger chutney. The ginger chutney is the reason I keep coming again and again. They add so much ghee after eating it you will def need a nap or 2. All this for a preety good price point too! Most of the stuff is less than 15$ Parking is a bit tough especially on weekends or dinner time. Service is so fast and order comes out fast. It's more of a casual place where you can go fir a quick bite read more

Quick in and out for this tasty vegetarian meal. They can even make it Jain. Lots of variety on the menu I didn't even know what was what so I just tried one of their popular items which was a dosa platter. It was huge. I also got their masala chai which was a nice warm treat after. The sauces had a kick to it but it was tasty and you can tell it was a popular place for people. The dishes were between 9-12$ which is pretty amazing for these days. I went on a Tuesday and it was still really busy for dinner. It came out so quickly and it was easy to pay and leave too. Great choice for some dosas and South Indian food. read more

UlavacharU Tiffins - Dosa - Indian Near Me - Santa Clara, California

Delicious podi idly and crispy masala dosa. Yummmm! Service is so fast and efficient. Stopped by on a sunny Sunday. It was busy and full but not chaotic. We sat down immediately, ordered right away and had our food not even 5 minutes later. So good, so easy, prices are reasonable- a bit more affordable than other places like this. Will absolutely come back. read more

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A great spot for authentic and delicious South Indian food! I got the ghee podi onion masala dosa, and it was crispy, packed with flavor, and came with plenty of chutneys and sambar that I happily refilled several times. While the dosa had a lot of onions (in their defense, I did order an onion masala dosa and I might just go for the plain masala dosa next time), it was really well made and came out quickly after we ordered. The restaurant was busy with simple seating, but we got a table just a few minutes after arriving on a weekend afternoon. Would definitely recommend! read more

UlavacharU Tiffins - Ghee Podi Onion Masala Dosa - Indian Near Me - Santa Clara, California

This place is first come first serve. Weekends might have some wait time so better to have some buffer. Delicious south indian food, lot of options , and fresh snack boxes on the front counter. Definitely a great place also for a nice brunch, lunch or dinner. And great staff. We ordered dosas this time along with filter coffee read more

UlavacharU Tiffins - Kara onion masala dosa - Indian Near Me - Santa Clara, California

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A bustling late night spot for dosa!! Lots of people 9pm on a Saturday. They have a small parking lot that was packed! My picture doesn't do it justice, but the masala dosa I ordered was everything I wanted. I need to sit down and eat in the restaurant next time so I can enjoy the crispiness. Onion uthappam is flavorful, but initially a bit oily. However, I air fried it the next day and it somehow tasted even better! Favorite chutney is definitely the coconut one. My only note is I wish it came with 1 more variety of chutney for my to go order! read more

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Many locals recommended Ulavacharu so decided to check it out with my family on a Sunday around 5pm! There is a small parking lot in the front and back of the restaurant. It was not too busy when we arrived. We ordered the Ulavacharu Dosa, Kara Onion Dosa, Kara Masala Dosa, and Poori with Chana. Food was ready within 10 minutes. Dosas (3.5/5): Huge portion! The Ulavacharu dosa was unique - have not seen this dish in other restaurants. We asked for the dosas to be spicy which they definitely were, but they were a bit burnt. Furthermore, the sambhar could have been more flavorful and it was a slightly too thick because of too much daal. Poori with Chana (4/5): Also generous portion size! The poori was tasty but the chana had a bit too much cardamom in it. It would have been nice if a slice of lemon was provided on the side with the chana as it would have brightened up the flavor. Had leftovers for the next day Overall, I would consider coming back to Ulavacharu. The service was quick and the flavors were solid read more

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Best medu vada in the Bay Area! We always come here for a quick bite, and this is our staple order. The food is consistently fresh, flavorful, and served fast. Friendly service and great quality every time. read more

UlavacharU Tiffins - Medu Vada - Indian Near Me - Santa Clara, California

Co worker brought me here as she raves about this place. Totally vegetarian but alright with me as I can get my dosa fill. You order at the counter and they bring food to you. You can have refill on the sauces and lentil soup. My butter dosa masala was amazing. It was huge and so crispy! It hit the spot! She got a mix platter not ire what it was called but just as good too. I also got onion pakora. Which they had mix veggie ones. See pictures. Come here to get your fix of tiffins. read more

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Tried South Indian for the first time today here! Got two of their most popular items: podi idly and the masala dosa. The idly was ok, and the dosa was pretty good. But maybe I need some more time to adapt to this cuisine. Til next time!! read more

It looks like a regular south Indian restaurant, but don't be fooled. It has amazing Telugu tiffin items. So why did I take off one star? The spicy food is too spicy for my taste and the inside decor is as normal as it can get although it looks hygenic. Even though some things are spicy, they have done a great job of marking the spicy food in their menu. The allam pachadi and the peanut chutneys are my favorite. The malli dosa is outstanding too. The mysore bondA was good but it's not the traditional mysore bonda. It's what we call mangalore bonda in our place. Overall it's a great place if you know what you are going in for. read more

UlavacharU Tiffins - Mysore bonda - Indian Near Me - Santa Clara, California

Don't come to this place !! I ordered a Dosa and they took at while to prepare it. It was a busy day so I was understanding. After 40mins my food still hadn't came. So I asked and they never made it in the first place! read more

Best dosa I ever have. I used to not like dosa until I tried it here. The only thing is it can be a bit inconsistent. In the 3 times I tried here, only 2 times that the dosa was good. There was 1 time the dosa came out cold and soft not crispy and tasted a bit plain. The poori is great but the Kurma's taste is a bit strong for my taste. I loved the Pongal, very warm and cozy. Just remember to watch out for the peppers. Service is a typical Indian restaurant service. Fast to deliver and then they will leave you alone until to ask for something specific. read more

UlavacharU Tiffins - Ghee Podi Onion Dosa, Poori with Kurma, Pongal - Indian Near Me - Santa Clara, California

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If you are wait list for Mylapore and are too hungry, come to Ulavacharu tiffins. They are super fast and have a variety of chutney's (sauces) that are very unique and tasty! My fav dishes are the ghee idli podi (on the spicier side) and rava masala dosa. Rava masala usually takes longer to make, so some restaurants don't cook it over the weekend - not this place. I can order it anytime and it's crispy and tasty! This used to be a Japanese restaurant, so the decor is still reflects that with wooden panels - but the Indian god statues at the entrance are a great touch. read more

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I honestly don't get how this place has such great reviews. I've given it multiple chances, but it keeps disappointing. On my most recent visit, I ordered the Idly Vada Combo, Mysore Masala Dosa, and Poori Chole. Every dish fell flat. The dosa, chutney, and sambar were overwhelmingly salty and completely unappetizing. The dishes just lacked flavor. To make things worse, the tables were sticky, and the glasses and cutlery weren't clean. Overall, a really underwhelming experience. read more

UlavacharU Tiffins - MYSORE MASALA DOSA And IDLY VADA COMBO - Indian Near Me - Santa Clara, California

*Vegetarian Foodie Review* Ulavacharu Tiffins is our go-to spot for authentic South Indian dinner! I love how they clearly label vegan and vegetarian options, as well as spice levels. This casual, no-frills restaurant serves delicious, authentic Telugu food. Prices are super reasonable, especially for the Bay Area. Service is lightning-fast - we got our Mysore bonda in just 5 minutes! They offer a variety of snacks and sweets for purchase. We picked up some Chegodi and Mysore Pak, and my toddler devoured the Chegodi. The chutneys are amazing - my faves are the ginger-jaggery and peanut chutneys. We ordered: - Mysore bonda (not vegan): heavenly and tastes just like back home - Idly (vegan): soft and spongy, but not the best I've had - Rava masala dosa (vegan): unique and delicious, with a nice kick - Mysore Masala Dosa: so good and not spicy, perfect for my toddler to share And, although we didn't order it this time, their Kara Masala Dosa (vegan) is a must-try for spice lovers! It packs a punch, but be warned: it's not for the faint of heart. We always come back to Ulavacharu, and even take my parents here when they visit from India. They love it too! read more

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Overall, I enjoyed the food, but it felt very carb and start heavy. I had a variety of items served with a bunch of different sauces / curries. I really enjoyed the different sauces that were served with the items. I will preface my review by saying that this is likely just not my general genre of food. I don't think my lack of a 5 star review was due to the restaurant's execution. Portion sizes were overall quite good compared to what I've been receiving from other restaurants. * Samosas: These were great, and I felt a nice size. The outside stayed crispy even after traveling to go. The sauce served with it went well and was not too spicy. * Idly: This was my favorite of the following three items. Texture was nice, and it wasn't too heavy. * Vada: This was really dense and heavy - the sauces made up for it, but I didn't personally really like this and how dense it was * Pongal: Same as above - this "thick porridge / rice" was far too thick for me read more

UlavacharU Tiffins - Indian Near Me - Santa Clara, California

Back again! Went during weekday lunch this time and it was so easy to get seated, they didn't have the onion samosa or paneer puff at this time. Got the rava dosa again, big fan it really hit the spot! Place was quiet and warm read more

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This has turned into a must stop destination for us every time we are in the Bay Area. We used to hit this tiffins place for snacks on our way back home the past couple of years. However during our 2 most recent trips we physically dined here as well to check their tiffins section! Ian loves their Poori and their Rava Dosa. Punugulu, Garelu (Vada), Uthappam, etc. bring the taste from Vijayawada to the US! Love it! You seriously are missing out if Ulavacharu tiffins is not your frequent Andhra meal/snack destination! read more

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Stopped by Uluvacharu for some South Indian food, and let me tell you--I loved it. The flavors were authentic, and everything hit the spot. I ordered the ghee onion masala dosa, and it was perfection. Super crispy, exactly how I like it, and it came with four chutneys--each one excellent in its own right. My personal ranking? Spicy, coconut, peanut, ginger (but honestly, you can't go wrong with any of them). We also got the Mysore bonda, and it was incredible. Piping hot, perfectly crispy on the outside, and fluffy on the inside. Basically, everything you want from a bonda. The sambar, though? It was a lil mid--didn't really stand out or impress me as much as the other dishes. But honestly, with everything else being so good, it didn't bother me much. Service was very quick and super friendly, which made the experience even better. You pay at the cash register on your way out, which keeps things simple. We were seated relatively quickly (about 10 minutes), though they do have a waitlist. Heads up: parking can be a lil tricky on the weekends, so plan accordingly. If you're craving solid South Indian food, this place is absolutely worth it. I'll definitely be back for another dosa fix! read more

UlavacharU Tiffins - Mysore bonda - Indian Near Me - Santa Clara, California

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Softest idlis I've had in the US. Doesn't get any better than this. Piping hot, slathered in podi (spiced powder) and ghee, it's something you can enjoy at any point in the day. Dosa and filter coffee were really good too. Must mention the chutneys that were delicious. read more

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This restaurant blew my mind with their authentic, flavorful food, generous portion, vegan menu, and super affordable and reasonable prices! I'm a fan of Indian food and this place has become one of my top favorite Indian restaurants to go to in the Bay Area! I came on a Saturday at 1pm and there was a long line of people waiting outside. You can get on the waiting list online and they'll text you when it's your turn. Parking was a bit tricky but there were free street parkings. The turnover rate in the parking lot was fast though. Many parking spots opened up within 5 minutes and I was able to find a great spot. As soon as you stepped inside the restaurant, you'll be greeted with delicious smells of all the spices that make Indian food so delicious and welcoming. Our server was quick to get our orders. After some debating, I went with the Podi Ghee Masala Dosa while my friend ordered Kara Masala Dosa. These dosas were on the spicier side and we both loved it! OMG the dosas blew me away!!! They were crispy but chewy and had that exquisite balance between an explosion of flavors and the rich textures in your mouth! The dosas came with a small bowl of soup and 4 different type of dipping sauces. My friend and I devoured our dosas and we were extremely happy and full at the end. While you're here, try their coffee and chai tea as well! Both are phenomenally out of this world! I'm Vietnamese so I have high standards for my coffees and teas and this place did not disappoint! If you need to go wash your hands afterward, the restroom is outside the restaurant, on the right. It was kept clean and tidy enough during my visit. Overall, lovely experience and I'm glad to add UlavacharU Tiffins to my list of awesome and authentic Indian restaurants in the South Bay. Highly recommend :) read more

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Great vegetarian Indian food. Had a great onion chili masala dosa with 4 chutneys and a buttermilk. Highly recommended read more

UlavacharU Tiffins - Masala Dosa - Indian Near Me - Santa Clara, California

Yummy dosas - not too crisp and not too soft - the Goldilocks of dosas :). Coconut chutney is excellent and the sambar is very tasty. We didn't try anything else, but I can definitely recommend coming for the dosas! read more

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Really great dosa for a great price. They didn't put as much potato as I would usually get in masala dosa but the chutneys were very flavorful. The ambiance is also good and the art on the walls are very pretty read more

If you like good South Indian tiffins, this place is for you. If you are looking for ambiance, you can skip it. The Dosa & Uthappam were yum! The peanut & coconut chutneys they came with were double yum!! Ambiance is super basic cafe style. read more

My first time here... all the way from SF!!! So you can imagine the excitement of trying a new place that someone recommended. I'll start with the wait time and the waiting area: there's not enough seats. It's very crowded at the reception area... and to make it worse it's right by the door so there's always a lot of traffic going in and out so it feels a little claustrophobic while you're waiting (unless you wait outside!).... The ambience is average, the seating is very functional and basic, like it's meant to pack in a lot of people with little aesthetics! Sometimes it feels like elbow to elbow! We got ushered to our table after a 25 minute wait time - the littlest guest at our table (a three-year-old) was super hungry by this time, so we requested the table host to bring at least a quick order of idli to get our little champ started. The table host (Mani, I think his name is!) was a bit blunt and lacking customer service tone and empathy. Mildly put!!!! Anyway, after this first moment of service, we placed our orders and the little guy got his food. Being that I was visiting for the first time I clarified about the chutneys in my order of spicy dosa (Karam dosa) - the same table host said one is a coconut chutney, one is a peanut chutney, one is a ginger chutney, one is a tomato chutney, and a bowl of sambar. I asked if I could have the same spice powder that the dosa is topped with instead of the peanut chutney and the coconut chutney because I'm extremely allergic to both and I could have an asthmatic attack. The next few words that the table host spoke are indeed appalling to say the least. He said "it's our recipe. We cannot give it," so I clarified and I said I'm not asking for the recipe. I'm only asking for a side order of the same powder because I would like to dip my dosa with it instead of the chutney. Unapologetically, he continued saying "it's our recipe sorry we cannot give it" by which time I just gave up and I thought better not to talk to him. His name is Mani. In the meantime, another gentleman brought us a pitcher of Water & paper cups, and I asked him the same - he politely said "I don't think that comes as a side." I thought that was a reasonable answer and I said "thank you so much for clarifying" and I moved on! I dipped my dosa into the tomato chutney and managed to have it without killing myself over coconut and peanuts!!!! Regarding the food quality and taste: 1. Karam dosa - good. 2. Mirchi bajji - good. 3. Idlis - good. 4. Pongal - good. 5. A single vada (that was part of the idli order) - terrible!!! it was not cooked and the batter felt raw so we asked for replacement, which came out even worse!!! The attention to refilling a pitcher, or bringing extra spoons or papernapkins, or just paying attention to any table who may have a hand raised is totally lacking. I had to point out to one of the table host that the table in front of us had an elderly man who held his hand up for a good four minutes.. For my first time, I would say it was OK!!!! not planning on going back specially with the kind of tone used when clarifying or even accommodating food allergies! For crying out loud!!!! It's just podi. A tiny spoonful won't hurt - I have seen other Indian places that do substitute! read more

I love dosas and uttapams, but it's hard finding a good place in SF that's not a trek across the city. So whenever I'm in south bay, I try to convince my friends to get dosas with me. I randomly found this place because we needed to be in the area. The interior is quite large with lots of tables. Food comes out pretty fast. The dosas are quite large. I got the onion rava masala dosa. It was very crispy. The chutneys were pretty good as well. Lots of parking in the lot (both sides). read more

UlavacharU Tiffins - ONION RAVA MASALA DOSA - Indian Near Me - Santa Clara, California

ullavacharu dosa was bitter and not edible ! Ordered a new dosa and asked to take back Ullavcharu special dosa. At payment Front desk decided not refund and charged for the bad / inedible dosa claiming it was explained how it was done. The customer service sucks !!! The point was not about refund ( only 10 some bucks) but how they treated, extremely disappointing and don't think will dine here again ... back to Mylapore express ! read more

Fresh Indian breakfast food is here. After trying many tiffin centers this is ideal for all South indian foodies. Great service and casual ambiance. We ordered idly, dosa and Vada. They come with coconut chutney and sambar. Simple delicious!!! read more

UlavacharU Tiffins - Dosa, vada idly IDLY VADA PONGAL COMBO - Indian Near Me - Santa Clara, California

Great place! We go here regularly for breakfast. The wait times can be longer on weekend mornings. The ghee podi idli is a must try! Their ghee rava masala and their ghee podi masala are also great. The seating is comfortable and staff is very warm and welcoming. read more