Karandi’s is a tiny, two table South Indian dosa specialist on food street in Karama. It’s located right next door to Chat Bazaar, opposite soon to open Kolkata biryani and Mughlai specialists, Arsalan. Like most of the restaurants on this famous Karama food strip, Karandi’s also has a number of tables and chairs outside which, at 07:00 in the morning (when they open) is not too bad to sit at. Beyond 08:30-09:00 it starts getting uncomfortable. Evenings should be better.
Their dosas are easily among the better ones I have had in Dubai; almost crispy and not at all oily. The masala in mine was simply fantastic. The sambar was very good too.
This is another restaurant which serves its idli-vada dip with the idli and vada broken into pieces. Whatever the reason, although both were good, neither was fresh from that morning.
I loved their chutney though. Karandi’s also serves a delicious filter coffee in traditional copper dabarah and tumbler (which I always find difficult to handle because they’re invariably too hot when the coffee is first served).
Service at Karandi’s is friendly, fast and far more personalised than the bigger, more established dosa places like Venus and Sangeetha. Visit Karandi’s if you are looking for a small café buzz. Otherwise quality and price are very similar to the others. At this time of year, I would factor in the inconvenience of having to sit outside (or squeeze into one of the two tables inside) to whatever decision you make.
Waste NOT. Want NOT.
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