Tnagar Café is a newly opened, 100% vegetarian Tamilian restaurant in Karama. Every single one of their seventeen staff members have recently flown in from some part of Tamil Nadu – Vaṇakkam! My special thanks to @abu.curly for flagging this hidden gem. Located a few doors down from the original Tamarind Terrace on 7B Street in Karama, Tnagar is more restaurant than café and is split in two by a small eatery called Urban Fusion. Those familiar with that part of Karama will know that there is plenty of RTA parking available. An added bonus for people seeking to enjoy Dubai’s winter weather is that Tnagar has set up an outdoor dining where I had my din-dins.
A view from the street 
Interior 
Interior 
The dosa, idli and vada specialists 
From left to right: Shanmugasundaram, Chef Kumar and Steward Kumar 
Shanmugasundaram
Chef Kumar and his very capable kitchen staff prepared my South Indian breakfast favourites (and yes, I realise I was there for dinner but please, I’m on a low carb diet and just couldn’t resist pigging out on stuff I know and love). They started me off with a Tamilian classic, a Podi Dosa which was served with a trio of exceptionally delicious chutneys; coriander, coconut and the one I liked most, tomato. The sambar was superb. Next up was a Vada Dip topped with chopped onions – yuuum. And finally, they brought me what turned out to be pièce de résistance of my meal, the lightest, fluffiest idli I have had in a long time. So much so that I asked to have it with gunpowder mixed with sesame oil rather than sambar – oh man, it was amazing.
Podi Dosa 
Inside a Podi Dosa 
Masala for my Dosa 
Gunpowder mixed with sesame oil 
Superb Idli 
Vada Dip 
Excellent Filter Coffee
Tnagar Café offers a thali for lunch which @abu.curly couldn’t stop raving about. At AED18 for their unlimited thali, I’m sure it wasn’t only the quality he was smiling about.
The other thing which will bring a smile to your face is their genuinely friendly service. I was amazed at how well oiled a team they have for such a young establishment – well done to them. My special thanks to Chef Kumar and stores manager, Shanmugasundaram who looked after me throughout my enjoyable meal. I love South Indian food and have been to many, many South Indian restaurants in Dubai. Like a hit pop song, Tnagar Café enters the charts very close to the top – worth a detour.
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Xerxes physically dines at, or orders from, each and every venue he reviews. He pays in full for whatever he and his companions eat, drink, take away or occasionally throw at each other. Xerxes accepts no money, gifts, discounts or free meals in return for reviews or favouritism. What you have read was NOT influenced in any way by the venue. Join me on Instagram @ravenousxerxes or email me on xerxes@dellara.com.