15 Best South Indian Restaurants In Delhi Recommended By A South Indian

People flock to Juggernaut for their impeccable South Indian thaalis, and rightly so! This vegetarian joint is known to serve the yummiest South Indian food along with other northern delicacies. Known for their 'fine coastal dining', the ambiance is very Mahabelly-like and family friendly. I have ordered from them on Zomato so many times when sick and needed a loving dose of homemade-like rasam to cure my woes. They are quite affordable too! (Heads up, their sambhar can be a little sweet, but that's what makes them unique!). 

Zomato Rating: 4.4/5 

Must-try: Podi ghee idli, Mia pesarattu, Rasam and papad

Timings: 6 AM to 11 PM

Price for two: INR 1,200

Social Media Handle: Instagram

As someone who has spent many a fond afternoons at Carnatic Cafe, it is almost my second home. It is peaceful to work at, grab a book, or spend some alone time on a solo date. Modelled as a home-style South Indian kitchen, the dosas at Carnatic are lovely. Start your meal with their buttermilk, and as for dosas, skip the staple masala and ask for the Malleshwaram 18th Cross or the Rava Coconut. Also, try their traditional South Indian filter kaapi. With a lot of outlets opening up in Delhi, the latest being at Sunder Nursery, you can't miss a Carnatic Cafe when you pass by one!

Zomato Rating: 4.8/5 

Must-try: Malleshwari dosa, Benne Khali dosa, Obbattu, Filter kaapi

Timings: 9 AM to 10:30 PM

Price for two: INR 400

Social Media Handle: Instagram

Saravana Bhavan is a staple name in anyone's search for South Indian restaurants. Back home, while so many of its competitors may have taken over, it still remains a heritage spot, cocooning so many memories of an early morning beach walk or an evening market haul and chilling with a plate of mini idlis, pineapple kesari, and the quintessential filter kaapi and vanilla ice cream. Sadly, one of its earliest outlets in Chennai had to shut down, but the friends we have made over kaapi and mutual love for dosas is undeniable. In Delhi, it was my first (and still the only) South Indian restaurant whose menu I know by heart. I have had their sambhar as a comfort beverage and called it a day over their paniyarams and bhajjis. Also, it is great fun taking your North Indian friends along for lunch, getting the thali, and watching them savour the experience of eating on a banana leaf. 

Zomato Rating: 4.3/5 

Must-try: Tamilnadu unlimited meals, mini meals, kuzhi paniyaram, filter kaapi

Timings: 7 AM to 11 PM

Price for two: INR 700

Social Media Handle: Instagram

A South Indian restaurant with a bar? This resto-bar took us by surprise with their unique south Indian dishes and a Madras take on their cocktails (cc: their filter kaapi mud slide and puliyogare mix picante). The interiors are warmly lit with cosy tables and rattan furniture resembling an evening in a Tamil household. Their menu has the best of Chettinad, Andhra, and Madras, and they do both vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes with a coastal finesse. Their sambhar? Authentically made with dollops of ghee, vegetables, lentils, and no extravagant turmeric! Their chutneys would make my mother say, "Oh, I make this at home". For appetisers? Spicy idli croutons, Andhra baby potato fry, chicken 65; for mains, bisi belle bath, rasam rice, Ambur chicken biriyani, and for dessert? Their coconut mousse and litchi payasam will not disappoint! If you are looking for a South Indian restaurant that serves a Chennai-fied version of cocktails, then Vellam is where you should head. 

Zomato Rating: 4.5/5 

Must-try: Bisebellebath, Rasam rice, Mini idli croutons, Andhra chilli chicken, and Chettinad prawn rice; Drinks: Kerala Coastal Breeze, Spicy Aam Panna Puliyogare Picante, Filter Kaapi Mudslide

Timings: 12 PM to 11:30 PM

Price for two: INR 3,000

Social Media Handle: Instagram

LBB Tip: Their name, Vellam, translates to 'jaggery' in Tamil, an important ingredient in every kitchen. 

This Bangalore superstar is finally in Delhi with its live dosa counter, calming blue and white interiors, intimate seating style, and its aromatic allure of freshly brewed filter kaapi. Conversations over kuzhi paniyarams, bhajjis, ghee podi thattu idli, and benne masala dosa just hit the right note! Their heritage South Indian meals cured my stomach and soul and tasted like home-cooked food on a banana leaf. We would definitely be going back here for our next South Indian fix and cute conversations. 

Zomato Rating: 4/5 

Must-try: Ghee podi thattu idli, benne masala dosa, Amudham meals

Timings: 9 AM to 11:15 PM

Price for two: INR 500

Social Media Handle: Instagram

You would have seen them all over your Instagram feed; the restaurant that serves Kerala-style crab, cheesy paniyaram, and filter kaapi softie! Looking straight out of a Tamil comic, this cosy cafe is where you can get your South Indian fix on days when work is too long and you want to lunch like at a good, peaceful place. I love their coastal-themed interiors, and the background music, which features Tamil and Malayalam songs, ties the experience together neatly. Would absolutely recommend lunching here if it's a day that's testing your temper and you are doing your best to keep it together. 

Zomato Rating: 3/5 

Must-try: Chili cheese kuzhi paniyaram, onion patti samosa, Ghee podi idli fries, Devilled chicken, Rawa fry belanji, filter kaapi softie ice cream

Timings: 12 PM to 11:30 PM

Price for two: INR 1,200

Social Media Handle: Instagram

This was one of the first South Indian restaurants I swung by with my family, and it soon became our tradition to dine here when they were in town. We are big fans of their cloud-like idlis and ghee dosa. They also have a unique Unicorn dosa that looks as pretty as it tastes! Their Andhra thali is their bestseller simply because of how good it is! 

Zomato Rating: 4.1/5 

Must-try: Unicorn dosa, Button idli, Mla pesarattu, Mysore rava masala dosa

Timings: 9 AM to 10:30 PM

Price for two: INR 450

Social Media Handle: Instagram

Contact: 8595689304

Rattan furniture, spacious verandah, motifs of Lord Narayan and his various avatars, the scent of sandalwood, and the divine hum of nadaswaram: Padmanabham. And the food? Sheer divinity! Served in golden and brassware, their thalis are a picture of home-cooked food in banana leaves on a plate. The hotel is a hub for corporate meetings, catch-ups, and friendly hangout sessions,. 

Zomato Rating: 4.4/5 

Must-try: Unlimited breakfast, Padmanabham special south Indian thali, Jil jil jigarthanda

Timings: 11 PM to 11 PM

Price for two: INR 800

Social Media Handle: Instagram

Contact: 8882900900

A destination for all who love Kerala food, the restaurant came to life because its founders craved a home-style, traditional Keralite fare. The menu features food influenced by the Syrian Christians, traditional Nairs, the Malabar region’s Moplah coastal cuisine, and authentic food from the toddy shops of Kerala. They also have a special 'Home Made Better' menu where you can get single-serve portions like porotta with tomato fry and chicken curry with rice at INR 199 and INR 249, respectively (exclusive of taxes). They also have Kerala-style cocktails, from Puli Murugun to Depot Spice. 

Zomato Rating: 4.3/5 

Must-try: Tamilnadu unlimited meals, mini meals, kuzhi paniyaram, filter kaapi

Timings: 12 PM to 11 PM

Price for two: INR 1,500

Social Media Handle: Instagram

Zambar offers South Indian fare from four different states—Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh. If you’re spoilt for choice, the chicken Chettinad, Malabar vegetarian stew, and Alleppey prawn curry are good bets. Tuck into their seafood platter for some coastal goodness and wash it down with their Jaggery pudding, smooth and sweet! Not a fan of sweet dishes? Try their cucumber smash for a cooling drink.

Zomato Rating: 4.1/5 

Must-try: Seafood platter, Jaggery pudding, Ghee roast mutton curry

Timings: 11 AM to 11 PM

Price for two: INR 1,200

Social Media Handle: Instagram

Contrary to its name, you’ll also find Indian Chinese options here, but we suggest sticking with their South Indian menu. We recommend sampling their uttapams (especially the paneer and Nilgiri) and a side of fried idlis along with their vegetable stew and idli chaat! And, happy news, they do a mean Puliyogare, so you can rest assured that your tamarind rice cravings will be satiated here! 

Zomato Rating: 4.2/5 

Must-try: Tamarind rice, Raagi dosa, Filter kaapi

Timings: 8 AM to 9:30 PM

Price for two: INR 500

Social Media Handle: Instagram

Naivedyam is a popular name associated with the best South Indian restaurants in Delhi list. You cannot go wrong while choosing from the dosas, idlis, and vadas here. If you’re looking to switch it up, definitely get the curd rice and lemon rice. It is a safety net to fall back on when you are craving some piping hot comfy sambhar, idlis, and a gulab jamun to tie up the meal.

Zomato Rating: 3.9/5 

Must-try: Lemon rice, Vegetable idlis, Rasam vadai, Rava upma

Timings: 11 AM to 11 PM

Price for two: INR 800

Social Media Handle: Instagram

We love the crispy dosas, aromatic korma, and the velvety rava kesari at this small joint in Vasant Kunj. They also have a branch in Malviya Nagar and serve as a comforting pit stop on the way to your next shopping spree. They have been around for 10 years, so you can rest assured on the quality and evolution of their taste and dishes that hit super close to home. 

Zomato Rating: 4.2/5 

Must-try: Mysore rava dosa, Rava kesari, Mini idlis

Timings: 8 AM to 10:30 PM

Price for two: INR 400

Social Media Handle: Instagram

Contact: 011 4108 5797

For authentic and delicious fine dining of dishes across the coasts of India, Sana-Di-Ge should be your pick. If you love authentic coastal seafood, you should not miss getting your tastebuds introduced to their Yetti Rassa, Jumbo Manji, and other non-vegetarian fare. 

Zomato Rating: 4.7/5 

Must-try: Mushroom varuval, Drumstick soup, Yeti Rassa, Jumbo Manji

Timings: 12 PM to 10:30 PM

Price for two: INR 2,700

Social Media Handle: Instagram

Contact: 9560095974

Karnataka Food Centre is a popular dosa-idli hotspot, and their onion rava masala dosa, Mysore masala dosa, paper plain dosa, and the Maharaja Sajjige dosa are must-tries. End your meal with the delicious rava kesari. They also serve a unique globe of half pongal and half kesari if you dig a mix of sweet and savoury goodness. 

Zomato Rating: 4.4/5 

Must-try: All their dosai

Timings: 8 AM to 10:30 PM

Price for two: INR 500

Explore something new at these new in-town restaurants in Delhi!