SARAVANAA BHAVAN: Authentic South Indian Vegetarian Cuisine in NYC

SARAVANAA BHAVAN Introduce

A Taste of Chennai in the Heart of Manhattan

For New Yorkers seeking an authentic and flavorful journey to South India, SARAVANAA BHAVAN stands out as a true culinary landmark. Tucked away on Lexington Avenue in the vibrant Kips Bay/Curry Hill neighborhood, this restaurant is a haven for vegetarian food lovers and a global destination for devotees of traditional South Indian cuisine. The moment you step inside, you're greeted by a casual and inviting atmosphere, often buzzing with a diverse crowd of college students, families, tourists, and locals alike. It's a place where you can feel the energy of a bustling Indian eatery, with the comforting aroma of sambar, spices, and fresh dosas filling the air. The authenticity of the flavors is a key highlight, with many diners noting that the food tastes just as it would in Chennai, India, where the international chain originated.

SARAVANAA BHAVAN’s menu is a comprehensive guide to the staples of South Indian vegetarian cooking. It's a place where you can find everything from the classic steamed rice and lentil patties known as idly to the vast and crispy paper-thin dosas. Their commitment to offering a purely vegetarian menu, with a strong emphasis on vegan-friendly dishes, makes it an inclusive and reliable choice for those with dietary restrictions. While it can get busy and sometimes has a wait, especially during popular dining times, the fast and attentive service ensures that the wait is well worth it. For a city that prides itself on its diverse food scene, SARAVANAA BHAVAN represents a cornerstone of authentic, delicious, and accessible vegetarian dining.

Location and Accessibility

SARAVANAA BHAVAN is situated at 81 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10016, USA. Its prime location in the heart of Manhattan makes it incredibly convenient for a wide range of visitors. The restaurant is located in a bustling area, easily reachable by various subway lines, including the 4, 5, 6, N, Q, R, and W trains, making it an easy trip from almost anywhere in the city. The central location also means it’s a popular spot for both lunch and dinner, drawing a steady crowd throughout the day. For those who prefer to drive, both free and paid street parking are available, though finding a spot can be challenging, as is typical in a dense urban area like New York City. The restaurant is also committed to accessibility, featuring a wheelchair-accessible entrance, restroom, and seating, ensuring a comfortable experience for all guests.

Services Offered

SARAVANAA BHAVAN provides a full range of services to accommodate all dining needs, whether you're looking for a quick meal or a more traditional dining experience.

Dine-in: The restaurant offers a casual and bustling dine-in atmosphere with table service. It’s a great place for a sit-down meal with friends or family, and they accept reservations to help you plan ahead.
Takeout & Delivery: For those on the go, the restaurant offers takeout and no-contact delivery, allowing you to enjoy their authentic cuisine in the comfort of your own home or office. Curbside pickup is also available for added convenience.
Catering: They provide catering services for special events, making it easy to share the authentic flavors of South India with a larger group.
Breakfast and Brunch: Unlike many restaurants, SARAVANAA BHAVAN is open for breakfast and brunch, offering traditional South Indian breakfast items like idly and dosa from the early morning.

Features and Highlights

Beyond its delicious food, SARAVANAA BHAVAN has several features that make it a beloved institution in New York City's culinary landscape.

Extensive Dosa Selection: The "Dosa Corner" is a major highlight, offering a huge variety of dosas to choose from, ranging from the classic Plain Dosa to specialty items like the Mysore Masala Dosa and the unique Cheese Dosa.
Great Coffee and Tea: The restaurant is praised for its authentic beverages, particularly the Madras Filter Coffee and Masala Tea, which are a perfect complement to any meal.
Vegan-Friendly Options: A significant portion of the menu is naturally vegan, and the staff is knowledgeable about which dishes are prepared without dairy or ghee, making it a reliable spot for vegans and those with dairy allergies.
Authentic Thalis: The South Indian Thali is a popular choice, offering a complete and balanced meal with a variety of curries, rice, bread, and sweets all on one platter, providing a great way to sample multiple flavors.
Casual and Friendly Atmosphere: The ambiance is casual and family-friendly, welcoming everyone from solo diners to large groups. The service is often described as fast and welcoming, contributing to a positive dining experience.
Halal-Certified: As a fully vegetarian and vegan-friendly restaurant, SARAVANAA BHAVAN also offers Halal-certified food.

Contact Information

For more information, to place an order, or to make a reservation, you can contact the restaurant directly.

Address: 81 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10016, USA
Phone: (212) 684-7755

What is Worth Choosing

With an extensive menu, choosing can be a delightful challenge. The Dosas are, without a doubt, the main attraction. The Masala Dosa, with its spiced potato filling, is a timeless classic that is a must-try for any first-time visitor. For something with a bit more of a kick, the Mysore Masala Dosa is highly recommended, featuring a spicy red chili garlic chutney. The Rava Dosa, known for its lacy and crispy texture, is another excellent option. If you're dining with a group or want to try a little bit of everything, the South Indian Thali is an exceptional value and a great culinary tour of the region, featuring a curated selection of dishes served with rice and bread. The soft and fluffy Idly and Medhu Vada are perfect appetizers, served with a variety of chutneys and sambar. The Channa Batura, a fluffy fried bread served with a rich chickpea curry, is a hearty and satisfying meal on its own. To round off your meal, don't miss out on their desserts like the sweet and delicate Badam Halwa or the classic Gulab Jamun. For a true taste of South India, be sure to order their signature Madras Filter Coffee to end your meal on a perfect note.

SARAVANAA BHAVAN Menu

Appetizers
2 Pieces Idly $11.99
Steamed rice & lentil patties served with varieties of Chutney, sambar & gun powder
14 Pcs Mini Ghee Idlies $11.99
Mini idlies immersed in sambar garnished with ghee
1 Idly & 1 Vada $11.99
Combination of one steamed rice & lentil patty & one lentil doughnut
Kaima Idly $11.99
Deep fried mini idly sautéed in regional spices served With raitha
2 Pieces Medhu Vada $11.99
Crispy lentil doughnut served with sambar and chutney
2 Pieces Sambar Vada $11.99
Crispy lentil doughnut immersed in sambar garnished with Onions & cilantro
2 Pieces Rasa Vada $11.99
Crispy lentil doughnut in spicy south Indian lentil soup
2 Pieces Curd Vada $11.99
Crispy lentil doughnut in fresh yogurt garnished with grated carrot and cilantro
2 Pieces Potato Bonda $11.99
Crispy potato dumpling served with sambar & chutney
Pav Bhaji $11.99
Fresh garden vegetables cooked in tomato gravy with onions, Garlic, ginger & served with Indian style burger bun
Rasam $9.99
A spicy lentil soup. A south Indian Specialty
2 Onion Bajji $11.99
Sliced onion dipped in Bengal gram batter & deep fried Served with sambar & chutney
2 Plantain Bajji $11.99
Thick plantain slices coated with chick pea batter deep fried served with sambar & chutney
2 Chilli Bajji $11.99
Chilli slices coated with chick peas deep fried served with chutney and sambar
2 Mysore Bonda $11.99
Lentil dumplings deep fried served with sambar & chutney
2 Vegetable Bonda $11.99
Lentil dumplings stuffed with mixed vegetables & potatoes Deep fried

Dosa Corner
Plain Dosa $12.99
Thin rice & lentil crepe
Masala Dosa $13.49
Thin rice & lentil crepe filled with spiced mashed potatoes and onions
Onion Dosa $12.99
Thin rice & lentil crepe topped with onions
Onion Masala Dosa $13.99
Thin rice & lentil crepe filled with potatoes and onion
Milagaipodi Dosa $13.99
Thin rice & lentil crepe filled with a mixture of grounded dry spices containing dry chillies, lentil & sesame seeds
Milagaipodi Onion Dosa $13.99
Thin rice & lentil crepe filled with a mixture of grounded dry spices containing dry chillies, lentil & sesame seeds topped with onions
Ghee Roast Dosa $13.49
Thin rice & lentil crepe sprinkled with ghee
Ghee Masala Dosa $13.99
Thin rice & lentil crepe filled with potatoes and onions
Paper Dosa $13.49
Thin lengthy rice & lentil crepe
Paper Masala Dosa $13.99
Thin lengthy rice & lentil crepe filled with mildly spiced mashed potatoes and onions
Cheese Dosa $13.99
Thin rice & lentil crepe filled with grated cheddar cheese
Cheese Masala Dosa $14.49
Thin rice & lentil crepe filled with grated cheddar cheese and potatoes and onion
Rava Dosa $13.99
Thin crispy wheat & rice crepe mildly spiced
Rava Masala Dosa $14.99
Thin crispy wheat & rice crepe stuffed with mildly spiced mashed potatoes and onions
Onion Rava Dosa $14.99
Thin crispy wheat & rice sprinkled with sliced with onions
Onion Rava Masala Dosa $14.99
Thin crispy wheat & rice crepe stuffed with mildly spiced mashed potatoes & onions
Milagaipodi Onion Masala Dosa $13.99
Thin rice & lentil crepe filled with a mixture of grounded dry spices containing dry chillies, lentil & sesame seeds & mashed potato
Onion Chilli Rava Dosa $14.99
Thin crispy wheat & rice crepe topped with chillies & onions
Onion Chilli Rava Masala Dosa $15.49
Thin crispy wheat & rice crepe topped with chillies & onions
Dry Fruit Rava Dosa $16.99
Thin crispy wheat & rice crepe garnished with dry nuts & raisins
Kara Dosa $14.99
Spicy thin rice crepe with spices, onions & potatoes
Paneer Dosa $15.99
Thin rice crepe filled with spicy cottage cheese masala
Mysore Dosa $13.99
Red Chilli chutney spread on thin rice & lentil crepe
Mysore Masala Dosa $14.99
Red chilli chutney spread on thin rice & lentil crepe filled with mashed potatoes & onions
Mysore Onion Dosa $13.99
Red Chilli chutney spread on thin rice & lentil crepe
Mysore Onion Masala Dosa $14.99
Red Chilli chutney spread on thin rice & lentil crepe filled with onion and mashed potatoes

House of Uthappams
Plain Uthappam $12.99
Think rice & lentil pancake
Onion Uthappam $12.49
Thick rice & lentil pancake topped with onions
Vegetable Uthappam $13.49
Thick rice & lentil pancake topped with mixed vegetable
Onion Peas Uthappam $13.49
Thick rice & lentil pancake topped with onions & green peas
Tomato Peas Uthappam $13.49
Thick rice & lentil pancake topped with tomatoes & green Peas
Tomato Onion Chilli Uthappam $13.79
Thick rice & lentil pancake topped with tomatoes & onions & chilli
Tomato Onion Uthappam $13.49
Thick rice & lentil pancake topped with tomatoes & onion
Onion & Chilli Uthappam $13.49
Thick rice & lentil pancake topped with onions & chillies
Milagaipodi Onion Uthappam $13.99
Tomato Uthappam $12.49
Thick rice & lentil pancake topped with tomatoes
Tomato Peas Onion Uthappam $13.49
Thick rice & lentil pancake topped with tomatoes & green Peas and Onion

Bread Corner
Chappathi $13.49
Thin soft whole wheat bread served with two curries Mashed Potato & Kurma
Parotta $13.99
Delicious south Indian fluffy bread served with two curries, mashed Potato & kurma
Poori $13.49
Fried fluffy whole wheat bread served with two curries, Mashed potato & kurma

Thalis
South Indian Thalis $21.49
Rice, Chappathi (1), Sambar, Rasam, Kurma, Kootu, Poriyal, Special Kuzhambu, Curd, Special Raitha / Sweet Pachadi, Papad, Pickle & Sweet
Mini Meals $18.49
Bisibelabath, Bagalabath, Special Rice of the day, Poriyal, Papad & Sweet
Mini Tiffin $15.99
Rava Kichadi, Mini Ghee Idilies, Mini masala Dosa & Sweet
Business Meal $18.99
Poori (1), Rice, Sambar, Rasam, Poriyal, Yogurt, Papad, Pickle, Sweet

Rice Corner
Bisibelabath $12.99
Rice cooked with lentils & mixed vegetables served with papad
Bagalabath $12.99
Rice mixed with yogurt, Cashews, grapes & mustard seeds served with pickle
Ghee Pongal $12.99
Steamed raw rice and lentil with scrapped coconut, cashews & south Indian spices served with sambar & chutneys
Vegetable Biryani $13.99
(Served only on Weekends & Holidays) Basmathi rice cooked with mixed vegetables & spices served with raitha

House Specialities
Rava Kichadi $12.99
Roasted Sooji cooked with onion, tomato, carrot Green chillies, & green peas sautéed and flavored With herbs & Served with sambhar & chutney
Channa Batura $14.99
Big fluffy bread served with chickpeas masala
Mixed Vegetables Parotta $14.50
Sliced parotta tossed with Indian spices & vegetables served with onion raitha
Adai Avial $13.49
Pancake made of varieties of pulses served with Kerala style sauce made of garden fresh vegetables, coconut paste and spices

Desserts
Badam Halwa $6.99
Ground almonds cooked in honey & butter
Gulab Jamun $5.99
Dry milk & cottage cheese balls immersed in sugar syrup & rose water
Rava Kesari $4.99
Roasted sooji sweetened with sugar, mixed with raisins & nuts garnished with ghee
Rasamalai (2pcs) $5.99
Cottage Cheese rounds in sweet milk
Mango Rasamalai (2pcs) $4.99
Cottage Cheese rounds in sweet milk

Beverages
Madras Filter Coffee $3.99
Masala Tea $3.99
Lassi (Sweet & Salt) $5.50
Mango Lassi $5.50
Sodas $2.50
Butter Milk (Chaas) $5.50
Masala Milk $5.50
Green Tea $2.85
Badham Kheer $5.50

White Wine
Red Bank Chardonnay, Lronstone (California) $7.24
Sauvignon Blanc, Indaba (South Africa) $7.24
Riesling, Dr, Loosen (Mosel, Germany) $8.30
Pinot Grigio, Villa Del Borgo (Friuilm, Italy) $8.26
Fume Blanc, Dry Creek Vineyards (Sonoma) $8.34
Pinot Grigio, Zaccagini (Abruzzo) $9.36
Chardonnay, Rayond "Reserve" (Napa) $9.38

Rose Wine
Rose, J Lcolombo "La Cote Bleu" (Provence) $8.28

Champange & Sparklers (Only by Bottle)
Prosecco, Zonin (Italy) $30.00
Charles De Fere (France) $28.00

Beer on Top
Guinness $8.00
Heineken $8.00
Kingfisher $8.00
Stone IPA $8.00

Bottle Beer
Bira White Low-Bitterness Wheat Beer, India $8.00
Stella $8.00
Taj Mahal (Indian) $8.00
1947 (Indian) $8.00
Miller Lite $8.00
Kingfisher, Larger (Indian) $8.00
Bluemoon, Golden Co. $8.00
Stone IPA, Escondia, CA $8.00
Amestel Light $8.00
Corona $8.00
Heineken $8.00
Budweiser $8.00

Introductory Combos
Combo - 1 $10.49
2 - Idly + Coffee/Tea/Soda
Combo - 2 $11.49
2 - Idly + 1-Medhu Vada + Coffee/Tea/Soda
Combo - 3 $10.49
2 - Medhu Vada + Coffee/Tea/Soda
Combo - 4 $11.49
Pongal + 1-Medhu Vada + Coffee/Tea/Soda
Combo - 5 $11.49
Rava Kichidi + 1-Medhu Vada + Coffee/Tea/Soda
Combo - 6 $11.49
Upma + 1 - Medhu Vada + Coffee/Tea/Soda (Combo-6, Sat & Sun only)

Other Items
Mini Tiffin $14.99
14pcs Mini Idlies $9.99
Sambar Vada (2) $9.99
Plain Dosa $10.49
Masala Dosa $11.49
Ghee Dosa $11.49
Ghee Masala $12.99
Poori (2) $11.49
Chappathi (2) $11.49
Bisibelabath $10.49
Rava Kichadi $10.49

Dosa Corner
Onion Dosa $11.49
Thin rice & lentil crepe topped with onions
Onion Masala Dosa $12.99
Thin rice & lentil crepe filled with potatoes and onion
Milagaipodi Dosa $12.99
Thin rice & lentil crepe filled with a mixture of grounded dry spices containing dry chillies, lentil & sesame seeds
Milagaipodi Onion Dosa $12.99
Thin rice & lentil crepe filled with a mixture of grounded dry spices containing dry chillies, lentil & sesame seeds topped with onions
Milagaipodi Onion Masala Dosa $13.99
Thin rice & lentil crepe filled with a mixture of grounded dry spices containing dry chillies, lentil & sesame seeds topped with onions
Paper Dosa $11.49
Thin lengthy rice & lentil crepe
Paper Masala Dosa $12.99
Thin lengthy rice & lentil crepe filled with mildly spiced mashed potatoes and onions
Cheese Dosa $12.99
Thin rice & lentil crepe filled with grated cheddar cheese
Cheese Masala Dosa $13.99
Thin rice & lentil crepe filled with grated cheddar cheese and potatoes and onion
Mysore Dosa $12.99
Red Chilli chutney spread on thin rice & lentil crepe
Mysore Masala Dosa $13.99
Red chilli chutney spread on thin rice & lentil crepe filled with mashed potatoes & onions
Mysore Onion Dosa $13.99
Red Chilli chutney spread on thin rice & lentil crepe
Mysore Onion Masala Dosa $14.99
Red Chilli chutney spread on thin rice & lentil crepe filled with onion and mashed potatoes

Saturday & Sunday Only
Rava Dosa $13.99
Thin crispy wheat & rice crepe mildly spiced
Rava Masala Dosa $14.99
Thin crispy wheat & rice crepe stuffed with mildly spiced mashed potatoes and onions
Onion Rava Dosa $13.99
Thin crispy wheat & rice sprinkled with sliced with onions
Onion Rava Masala Dosa $14.99
Thin crispy wheat & rice crepe stuffed with mildly spiced mashed potatoes & onions
Onion Chilli Rava Dosa $13.99
Thin crispy wheat & rice crepe topped with chillies & onions
Onion Chilli Rava Masala Dosa $14.99
Thin crispy wheat & rice crepe topped with chillies, onions & Mashed potato

SARAVANAA BHAVAN Details

Service options
Outdoor seating
Curbside pickup
No-contact delivery
Delivery
Takeout
Dine-in

Highlights
Fast service
Great coffee
Great tea selection

Popular for
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Solo dining

Accessibility
Wheelchair accessible entrance
Wheelchair accessible restroom
Wheelchair accessible seating
Wheelchair accessible parking lot

Offerings
Alcohol
Beer
Coffee
Comfort food
Halal food
Healthy options
Quick bite
Small plates
Vegan options
Vegetarian options
Wine

Dining options
Breakfast
Brunch
Lunch
Dinner
Catering
Dessert
Seating
Table service

Amenities
Restroom

Atmosphere
Casual
Trendy

Crowd
College students
Family-friendly
Groups
LGBTQ+ friendly
Tourists

Planning
Accepts reservations
Usually a wait

Payments
Credit cards
Debit cards
NFC mobile payments
Credit cards

Children
Good for kids
High chairs

Parking
Free street parking
Paid street parking
Parking

SARAVANAA BHAVAN Photos

SARAVANAA BHAVAN Location

SARAVANAA BHAVAN

New York New York County New York Lexington Avenue

81 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10016, USA

SARAVANAA BHAVAN Reviews

An average rating of ★4.2 from 4417 user reviews.

south indian foodsambarmasala dosafilter coffeeuttapamgratuitymedu vadaindian vegetarianmini idlisbadam halwa

★ 5★ 4★ 3★ 2★ 1

Wow wow wow!! Highly recommend! This is a RUN don’t WALK!! Super authentic, the flavors brought me straight back to my trip in India I took a couple years ago. But if you know me you know I’m all about service…. And Raj went out of this world making it an experience I’ll never forget…. And will come back to. From recommending everything for us to eat to having a fun time! RAJ IS THE MAN!! Thank you for a great night and experience
August 18 · Efraim Hanai
Quite pricey, even by New York standards. Every dish felt overpriced for the taste.We ordered dosa, idly, and vada. The idly and vada were good, but the dosa was overly crispy—almost like paper—and the flavor was pretty mediocre. Overall, not great value for the cost.
July 13 · Roja
Good Food ! Authentic Taste ! Need to improve service !We have tried at different places in India and taste is very much same here as well. Thats a big plus point.We tried following :-1. Mango Lassi - 4/5 (Good)2. Ghee Masala Dosa - 5/53. Onion - Tomato Uthapam - 3/54. Masala Tea - 4/5
July 01 · Ashish Ani
Absolutely loved the authentic South Indian dishes—it instantly transported me back to my Chennai days. I ended up going there every single day during my 3-day trip to NYC! From parotta and plantain bajji to meals and the mini tiffin, everything was spot on. Honestly more authentic than the ones I used to go in Bay Area.I especially liked this branch for its warm service and top-notch food. While chatting with the server, I learned that the chef has over 15 years of experience—and it truly showed in the flavors. My only minor concern was the side dish for the parotta, which happened to be channa that day. They did mention that it changes daily, with options like mushroom masala and more.All in all, a fantastic experience—and of course, I wrapped it up with a comforting cup of filter coffee! ☕️🌞
April 04 · Ria
Went in Jan 2025. Good warm Indian breakfast on a cold day. Food was tasty and filling. Staff not attentive or particularly diligent, but did their jobs. Ambiance is warm due to the people - families eating and enjoying themselves - but that is not due to the setting of the restaurant itself nor the staff. The room was cold, lights buzzing, and everything a bit grimy and aged. Would come back for food with friends or takeout, but not to enjoy actually being there.
April 01 · A.