Fantastic Dosas And Where To Find Them (in Bangalore) 2026 Edition
With over 27 years of experience in consuming and critiquing dosas from across South India, I consider it my personal responsibility to review and rank Bangalore's dosas each year, so that young, impressionable palates are able to differentiate hype from mastery.
Before we rank them, let me share three things. First, I am a Kannadiga from Mangalore (and Udupi) by blood but I was raised in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. Which means, unlike most of you, I love both sambars: the tangy, tamarind-forward, spicy, sharp Tamil sambar, and also the sweet, coconut-rich, jaggery-laced, Karnataka-style sambar. And I love both dosas, the thick, buttery, gently tangy Udupi-style dosas I grew up around, and the thin, crispy, rice-forward Tamil dosa. They are my two eyes, I have seen the world through both of them, and will never be able to choose one over the other. Second, the experience of eating the dosa matters to me as much as the taste and quality of the dosa, which means I don’t want to feel like I’m rushing through my meal desperately in a refugee camp. Third, please remember that there is no “correct” kind of dosa. Every culture down south has their own kind and there’s plenty of variety. With that disclaimer, let us get to ranking the best dosas in Bangalore in 2026.
At number six comes the Ghee Dosa at Shree Krishna Kafe in Koramangala. This was the first outstanding Tamil dosa I ate in Bangalore, and it continues to endure, holding its own against hordes of ghee-flooded dosas. A cute girl once used this to dosa to seduce me and it worked. She is gone but this dosa is often on my mind. So why does Shree Krishna rank so highly? SKK offers crisp dosas made from the quintessential Tamil dosa batter. Their sambar is heavy with dhal and flavour and spices, while their coconut chutney has almost none, allowing the latter to stay in the background as a vital supporting actor. They use quality ingredients, avoid dumping soda into their food, and let you leave the restaurant feeling full and healthy, as opposed to the debaucherous feeling that one feels after eating at Rameshwaram Cafe. SKK also makes the list because they offer seating and table service, so that you don’t feel stressed and rushed like refugee who is scrambling and fighting for a meal. I’ve always been happy that the dosa-hype-mob hasn’t found SKK and that food influencers are turned off by its humble interiors and terrible, anti-instagram lighting. The result is a relaxing dining experience. If you visit, make sure to also try their podi idli. Its special because the idli is tossed over and over in wok with ghee and curry leaves and spices, and the layer of red spice is charmed onto the idlis rather than coated onto it.
At number five comes the Pesarattu dosa at Babai Tiffins, HSR Layout. You didn't see that coming, did you? Pesarattu breaks from the Tamil and Karnataka styles: at Babai, it is a green-gram-and-rice dosa with a savoury, dense bite rather than the airy crispness of a classic fermented dosa. The peanut chutney is the right accompaniment: nutty, punchy and assertive enough to cut through the dosa’s richness. When I dream of this Pesarattu dosa, i see visions of its insides shining with with tiny bits of roasted onions.
At number four comes the Pudina Masala dosa at Sri Srinivasa Hotel in Basuvangudi. Yes they’re going to make you buy a token, wait for forty minutes, but its worth the wait. Its one of the genuinely unique dosas of our times. And its one the few dosa joints with long lines that does not spray 100ml of ghee onto your dosa to make it tasty. So what makes it so unique in my opinion? It is a crisp, butter-roasted dosa with a mint-forward potato filling: vivid green, aromatic and unlike the standard masala dosa. What stays in mind is the contrast: a heavy-handed butter roast delivers a shatteringly crisp exterior while the crumb underneath stays spongy (like really SPONGY) and thoroughly soaked in that herbaceous filling. Yes, not everyone likes palya, and that's why the palya-to-dosa ratio pulled tight enough that the mint never drowns out the crunch. You'll love and admire the contrast. And the spongy layer is so soft and wondrous that you'll think about it for the rest of your day. I must admit though that the wait times are horrendous and can dampen the experience. Go early, very early. And take a weird book with you and read it, and get asked about it, and make friends. You’ll build a reading habit, make a friend, and eat a wondrous dosa, that’s three birds with one dosa.
At number three comes the Davangere Benne Dosa at Sri Guru Kottureshwara Benne Dose in Vijaynagar. I want yout to forget all your impressions and experiences of the Davangere dosa from other restaurants, and I beg you to leave all your baggage behind as you begin the long journey to Vijaynagar to savor this dosa. Everything you’ve had before is a cheap copy, a counterfeit, a fraud, and a mockery. Cleanse your mind, wipe away all your old memories, and let your desire be reborn as you move towards this dosa. SGKBD has earned a serious reputation among Benne Dosa devotees for bringing a version of Davangere-style butter dosa to Bengaluru. The original outlet is opposite Bapuji Dental College in Davangere, and the Vijayanagar outlet was launched as the restaurant’s first Bengaluru branch. For the uninitiated, it is distinct from both the Tamil paper roast and the Mysore masala dosa: smaller, thicker and softer, closer to a buttery flatbread-dosa hybrid than a lacy crisp. It's paired with generous amounts of butter (not ghee) applied liberally to the tawa and the finished dosa, plus a side of mashed potato preparation, rather than the standard potato palya, and the signature coarse chutney. I cannot wait for you to taste these crispy, melt-in-your mouth dosas.
At number two comes the butter masala dosa at Airlines Hotel on Lavelle road. The fact that a restaurant sits under the canopy of a massive, 60-year old banyan tree alone should make it a treat to visit.It is a drive-in restaurant, with a lovely open-air garden and a history that reaches back to 1968. The Benne (Butter) Masala Dosa is the reason people still make the pilgrimage: a thin, crisp dosa laid with a generous, unapologetic slab of butter before the classic potato palya goes in, so the butter melts straight into the crumb rather than sitting decoratively on top. It is rich in the way only an old Bengaluru institution can get away with. And for those who like it spicy, the dosa features a light smear of kempu (red) chutney, so every bite gets a hit of it under the mellow potato. The filter coffee served here is excellent in both taste and presentation, and makes it to my Top 3 in Bangalore list. Airlines Hotel also has a divine connection for those interested. What do I mean by that? Given that you’re eating under a Banyan tree, there are dozens of birds above. And I’ve noticed that its a great way to test your karmic balance. Only the most rotten, selfish and cruel among you will be defecated upon mid-dosa. Those of you that are pure, righteous and have a heart that is not heavy with guilt, can eat freely without worry. Tis a great place for a first date, thanks to this acid test. Is that boy really that nice or does he operate from under a veil of deceit? The crows shall tell you.
At number one is the ghee dosa at The Filter Coffee, Indiranagar. Lets start with all the supporting elements that make this dosa one of the best. There’s ample seating, which means if you’re dining as a larger group, you’ll have a comfortable experience (though there is a wait time). The lighting and ambience and vibe are quite nice. And most importantly, there are seats by the kitchen counter that let you watch as your food is being prepared. You can hear the fiery sizzle of water hitting the dosa kal as it is being refreshed by the dosa master. You’ll see him spin and spread the batter like an artisan, spray it with ghee, scoop masala onto it, and garnish it with with chopped greens and onions, and even wait patiently as he watches the dosa cook into its final form. The ghee dosa and ghee masala here are exceptional. They come with some delectable accompaniments: authentic sambar, perfect milky-white coconut chutney, and some exciting green chutney (kothamalli) and orange chutney (small onion and chilli base). Their other hits include the Venn Pongal, and their phenomenal idlis which are solid in hand but melt once in your mouth. Their coffee is also good and serves as a nice finish to a hearty meal.
Legendary dosas that exist above and beyond this list:
The Masala Dosa at MTR is one of my all-time favourites. I eat it almost every other month, almost out of duty. It is unlike anything else on this list. The dosa is made with red rice and urad dal instead of the usual parboiled rice. A green chutney masala is spread inside before the potato filling is added, so the flavour comes through in every bite. An extra cup of ghee is provided with each dosa, which is nice - they make the ghee-flooding a consensual act - very woke of them :) You can simply return the cup of ghee if you don’t want to flood your dosa with it.
The Masala Dosa at Taaza Thindi in Jayanagar (called Arogya Ahaarain HSR, a sister concern, so exact same quality) proves that great food does not need a huge price tag. It is crisp, simple, and priced like it is still 2002. It quietly humiliates places charging four times (you know who I mean). I’m also a fan of their idlis, crisp vadas and their upma (upitu).
No honourable-mentions list would be complete without the Benne Masala Dosa at CTR, also known as Shri Sagar, in Malleswaram. The restaurant is more than a century old, and its dosa is roasted with a slab of white butter thick enough to spot from across the room. It is served on the same steel plates it always has been, to a queue that never seems to shrink, no matter how early you arrive.
These three are not on the numbered list because ranking them would feel almost disrespectful. They belong in a category of their own.
If you go and actually eat every dosa on this list, then tweet me at @kjb_ak on X, and you will unlock a rare, hidden secret dosa in your DMs. Good luck to you.