Amdavadis have a long love affair with dosa, but the city’s South Indian scene has changed. There’s far more on offer than a masala dosa with a side of sambar. Karnataka-style benne dosa, Chettinad roasts, thatte idli and Onam sadhya on a banana leaf are now easy to find, and that’s before you get to the filter coffee debates. We sorted through the noise to bring you the 10 South Indian restaurants in Ahmedabad that are worth the trip.
Quick answer
The best South Indian restaurants in Ahmedabad are Vaani – A Southern Tale (Ambawadi), Kovallam (Navrangpura), Sankalp (multiple outlets), Bennepuram – Sacred Flavours Of The South (Ellisbridge), Naivedyam – Flavours of Bengaluru (Navrangpura), Dakshinayan (Navrangpura), Dakshin Bhojnam (Sola), Ishtaa (Bodakdev), Daksheen Narmada (Bodakdev) and SambharSa (Prahlad Nagar). Head to Navrangpura for benne dosa and filter coffee, and to Bodakdev and SG Highway for spacious family dining.
At a glance
| # | Restaurant | Area | Must-try | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vaani – A Southern Tale | Ambawadi | Benne dosa, banana-leaf thali | Family meals |
| 2 | Kovallam | Navrangpura / Gurukul | Benne dosa, thatte podi idli | Breakfast |
| 3 | Sankalp | Navrangpura / SG Highway / Thaltej | Mysore masala dosa | A classic dosa |
| 4 | Bennepuram | Ellisbridge | Benne Mysore masala dosa | Students, casual meals |
| 5 | Naivedyam | Navrangpura / Jodhpur | Benne garlic roast dosa | Bengaluru-style dosa |
| 6 | Dakshinayan | Navrangpura | Ragi dosa, paniyaram | Old-school dining |
| 7 | Dakshin Bhojnam | Sola / ISKCON | Chulha masala dosa | Weekend family outings |
| 8 | Ishtaa | Bodakdev | Ghee roast dosa | Jain-friendly breakfast |
| 9 | Daksheen Narmada | Bodakdev | Bahubali dosa | Banana-leaf dining |
| 10 | SambharSa | Prahlad Nagar | Benne podi dosa, kothimbir vadi | Office lunches |
1. Vaani – A Southern Tale, Ambawadi
If you want one restaurant that covers the whole South, start here. Vaani offers a fine-dining take on Karnataka and Andhra cooking, and it is best known for its benne dosa, ghee podi button idli and traditional banana-leaf thali. The benne menu goes beyond the classic to include benne masala, Mysore benne and a benne ghotala dosa. The space is calm, which makes it a good pick for family dinners and for bringing out-of-town guests.
- Must-try: Benne dosa, ghee podi button idli, neer dosa, filter cold coffee
- Best for: Family meals, festive sadhya
- Address: Sun Avenue One, Manek Baug Road, Ambawadi, Ahmedabad 380015
- Hours: 8:00 AM – 11:00 PM, all week
📍 Google Maps: Vaani – A Southern Tale
2. Kovallam – The South Indian Kitchen, Navrangpura
Kovallam is small, always busy and very dependable. The Mithakhali outlet sits on a quiet lane in Navrangpura, and the benne dosa, podi dosas and filter coffee draw regulars back every week. Its menu also has fun extras such as Schezwan idli and masala boondi. Go before 8 PM to avoid a queue. A newer branch opposite Drive-In Cinema in Gurukul serves the west side.
- Must-try: Benne dosa, thatte podi idli, rasam vada, coconut sheera
- Best for: Breakfast, quick dinners
- Address: Krupashankar Joshi Marg, near Cadila House, Mithakhali, Navrangpura, Ahmedabad 380009
- Hours: 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM and 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM
📍 Google Maps: Kovallam, Navrangpura · Kovallam, Gurukul
3. Sankalp, Navrangpura, SG Highway and Thaltej
No Ahmedabad dosa list is complete without Sankalp. This homegrown brand has fed generations of Amdavadis and has become a byword for South Indian food in the city. Food writers have long pointed to its Mysore masala dosa and its spread of coconut, garlic, green and tomato chutneys. For a special occasion, Sankalp Signature serves the same menu on the 18th floor of Sankalp Square in Thaltej.
- Must-try: Mysore masala dosa, Sankalp special idli, cheese chilli uttapam
- Best for: Classic dosa cravings, big groups
- Addresses: C.G. Road, opp. Municipal Market, Navrangpura · Plot No. 3, near Rajpath Club, SG Highway, Bodakdev · Sankalp Square 3B, Sindhu Bhavan Marg, Thaltej (Signature)
- Hours: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM (Navrangpura). Signature closes between 3:00 PM and 7:00 PM.
📍 Google Maps: Sankalp, Navrangpura · Sankalp, SG Highway · Sankalp Signature, Thaltej
4. Bennepuram – Sacred Flavours Of The South, Ellisbridge
Bennepuram is one of the newer names on this list and one of the most exciting. Two young entrepreneurs run it inside BVR EK near Gujarat College, and they focus on doing the basics well: crisp dosas, soft idlis, and sambar and chutneys that taste like home cooking. The star dish is the Benne Mysore Masala Dosa, which is buttery, crisp and generously spiced.
Don’t stop at dosa, though. The tomato rice and rasam rice are comforting, homestyle plates that are hard to find elsewhere in the city. The restaurant is clean and bright, and the service is quick and friendly. It works as well for a solo lunch between college lectures as for a late dinner with friends.
- Must-try: Benne Mysore masala dosa, tomato rice, rasam rice, rava kesari, buttermilk
- Best for: Students, casual meals, late dinners
- Address: Ground Floor 04, BVR EK, opp. Inder Residency, near Gujarat College, Ellisbridge, Ahmedabad 380006
- Hours: 10:00 AM – 11:30 PM, all week
📍 Google Maps: Bennepuram – Sacred Flavours Of The South
5. Naivedyam – Flavours of Bengaluru, Navrangpura
For Bengaluru-style darshini food in Ahmedabad, go to Naivedyam. It is known for Karnataka-style cooking, including ghee podi masala dosa, benne garlic roast, soft idlis, pineapple kesari and filter coffee. Also order the live tawa idli, which is similar to Hyderabad’s spot idli. The original Swastik Cross Road outlet is compact and can feel crowded, so the newer Jodhpur branch in Satellite is the roomier choice.
- Must-try: Benne garlic roast masala dosa, thatte idli, live tawa idli, filter coffee
- Best for: Authentic Bengaluru-style dosa on a budget
- Address: Shop 4, Narnarayan Complex, Swastik Cross Road, C.G. Road, Navrangpura, Ahmedabad 380009
- Hours: 10:00 AM – 11:00 PM (until 11:30 PM on weekends)
📍 Google Maps: Naivedyam, Navrangpura · Naivedyam, Jodhpur / Satellite
6. Dakshinayan, Navrangpura
Dakshinayan is an old favourite at the St. Xavier’s College corner. The dining room is decorated with South Indian motifs, the servers wear traditional lungis, and the menu includes molagapodi idli, uttapam and Chettinad-style dosai. The ragi dosa and paniyaram are dependable orders, and the medu vada and filter coffee have loyal fans.
- Must-try: Ragi dosa, paniyaram, molagapodi idli, Chettinad dosai
- Best for: Old-school dining, business lunches
- Address: 104, ABC-2, St. Xavier’s College Corner, Navrangpura, Ahmedabad 380006
- Hours: 11:00 AM – 10:45 PM (opens at 8:00 AM on Sundays)
📍 Google Maps: Dakshinayan
7. Dakshin Bhojnam, Sola and ISKCON
Dakshin Bhojnam is a pure-vegetarian restaurant with a large following, serving both traditional and fusion South Indian dishes in a cosy setting. Diners like the chulha masala dosa, the panchratna uttapam and small touches such as water served in wooden bottles. On weekends the Sola outlet can have a long wait, so arrive early.
- Must-try: Chulha masala dosa, panchratna uttapam, kuzhi idli, benne dosa
- Best for: Weekend family outings
- Addresses: Savan Mall, opp. Pinnacle Grand Hotel, Sola · Shivalik Shilp, ISKCON Cross Road
- Hours: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM
📍 Google Maps: Dakshin Bhojnam, Sola · Dakshin Bhojnam, ISKCON
8. Ishtaa – Truly South Indian, Bodakdev
Ishtaa opens at 7 AM, which makes it one of the best places in Ahmedabad for an early South Indian breakfast. The pure-vegetarian menu has a strong Jain section, and the rustic, spacious interiors suit families. The ghee roast dosa and rava onion dosa are the standout orders, and the sweet coconut chutney tends to surprise first-timers.
- Must-try: Ghee roast dosa, rava onion dosa, Jain dosas, coconut delight
- Best for: Early breakfast, Jain diners
- Address: Ground Floor, Sun Orbit, behind Rajpath Rangoli Road, PRL Colony, Bodakdev, Ahmedabad 380059
- Hours: 7:00 AM – 3:00 PM and 6:30 PM – 11:00 PM
📍 Google Maps: Ishtaa
9. Daksheen Narmada, Bodakdev
Come here for the theatre of it. Standouts include the oversized Bahubali dosa, soft thatte idli and podi masala dosa, and meals are served banana-leaf style. A meal costs about ₹600 for two. The interiors have a calm, temple-town feel that makes a long lunch easy.
- Must-try: Bahubali dosa, thatte idli, podi masala dosa, filter coffee
- Best for: Banana-leaf dining, group celebrations
- Address: Bellagio Road, opp. Maruti 360 Luxury Apartments, Bodakdev, Ahmedabad 380058
- Hours: 8:30 AM – 11:00 PM
📍 Google Maps: Daksheen Narmada
10. SambharSa, Prahlad Nagar
SambharSa is Prahlad Nagar’s go-to South Indian spot, and it greets every table with a complimentary rasam shot. The benne podi dosa is the main draw, but regulars also swear by the kothimbir vadi and the kulfi. Its combo platters pair dosas, rice dishes such as bisi bele bath and puliyogare, and idli-vada sides, which makes it an easy office lunch.
- Must-try: Benne podi dosa, ghee podi idli, kothimbir vadi, Malabar paratha with kurma
- Best for: Office lunches in the corporate belt
- Address: Showroom 001-B, Parshwanath Esquare, 100 Feet Road, Prahlad Nagar, Ahmedabad 380015
- Hours: 8:30 AM – 11:30 PM
📍 Google Maps: SambharSa
Frequently asked questions
Which is the best South Indian restaurant in Ahmedabad?
Vaani – A Southern Tale in Ambawadi is the best all-rounder for Karnataka, Kerala and Andhra dishes. Kovallam and Naivedyam in Navrangpura are the top picks for benne dosa and filter coffee, and Sankalp is the city’s most trusted name for a classic masala dosa.
Where can I get the best benne dosa in Ahmedabad?
For benne dosa, go to Naivedyam (Navrangpura), Kovallam (Navrangpura), Bennepuram (Ellisbridge), Vaani (Ambawadi) and SambharSa (Prahlad Nagar).
Which South Indian restaurants in Ahmedabad are open for breakfast?
Ishtaa opens at 7 AM. Vaani and Kovallam open at 8 AM, and Daksheen Narmada and SambharSa open at 8:30 AM. Dakshinayan opens at 8 AM on Sundays only.
Are South Indian restaurants in Ahmedabad pure vegetarian?
Most are. Sankalp, Ishtaa, Dakshin Bhojnam and Vaani serve vegetarian menus, and Ishtaa has a dedicated Jain section. If you need strictly Jain or no-onion-garlic food, check with the restaurant before you order.
How much does a South Indian meal for two cost in Ahmedabad?
Most restaurants on this list are mid-range. For example, a meal for two at Daksheen Narmada costs around ₹600. Budget-friendly spots like Naivedyam can cost less.
Which area of Ahmedabad is best for South Indian food?
Navrangpura and Ellisbridge have the densest cluster: Kovallam, Sankalp, Naivedyam, Dakshinayan and Bennepuram are all within a few minutes of each other. Bodakdev and SG Highway have the bigger family-style restaurants.
Timings are as of September 2026 and can change. Check the Google Maps listing before you head out. Know a dosa spot we missed? Tell us on Instagram at @amdavadgully.
