Amma's Kitchen

A good spot in the Cincinnati neighborhood if you are craving for some southern Indian cuisine. The service here is always decent, never had a bad experience with that in so many years. The food is good and hits the spot if you are craving some dosa, nothing extra ordinary though. If they make the chutneys more authentic or flavorful that might help elevate the taste of the dishes. It feels like it is more catered for the American customers. Everything in the menu is good but I feel the dishes are lacking something. They do offer buffet at really affordable prices. The place is clean and hygienic. It is also a completely vegetarian kitchen which may be a plus for many.

I was so excited for a South Indian buffet! I don’t think I even tried any of the main course items (naan or rice or biryani or curries). They had idli, vada, pongal, dosa, 2 different chutneys, sambar, rasam, curd rice, and dahi vada as well. These are just what I remember on top of my head. I loved the food and will be looking forward to come back again.

My husband and I drove a long way to visit this restaurant for their South Indian lunch buffet, but unfortunately, it fell short of expectations. While the variety was decent but the taste was off, and what was more concerning was that most of the items were served cold. Despite bringing this to the staff's attention, no corrective action was taken, which was disappointing. The service was also lacking, and to top it off, the restroom was not in a great shape. Given the price point of $15.99 plus tax, I expected a much better experience. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this place and won't be visiting again.

I liked some of the recipes and hated others for instance Idli Vada sambar were awesome while samosa, overpriced tea are horrible I do understand that taste is subjective but i think few items could definitely see improvement Buffet is good spread on table in terms of items was descent, dosa is brought to table, chutneys at buffet tasted very different than ala carte orders, staff is helpful and they restock items promptly. If you are in the area one visit is recommended, either you may like or dislike it.

The menu got many favorite items and inside ambiance is live, to our expectations. It was a big disappointment on food taste, knowing Amma kitchen will have some south Indian flavor and quality to ordered food items (medu vada,veggie cutlet,masala dosa,onion masala dosa). Sambar and masala dosa got no taste and completely off and chutney seemed no blend to it. Medu vada seemed fresh but veggie cutlet nothing but simple potato paste binding with crunchy stuff. Onion masala dosa seemed fancy but it's masala, the plain potato paste with fresh onions. Never had this kind of so plain stuff and price is reasonable for these items, not for the taste buds. If looking for authentic south Indian food, it’s not the place to choose from. Other menu items and buffet particulars might be good but will not try any more in this place.

Reasonably priced. Curry options are flavorful and fresh. Buffet items change daily. Carry out portions are generous. For lunch, I make a habit of arriving early for the best dining experience.

Absolutely love it. Indian comfort food at its best. Low key atmosphere. Lunch buffet is always great. May just be the best kosher joint in the USA, imho!

Amma’s Kitchen was wonderful. I was so homesick for some home made South Indian food and this place made me feel like I was back home. I loved the atmosphere, the selection of food, and the service very much. The taste was awesome and you can easily tell that Amma’s Kitchen really cares about their customers by the way that the food is fresh and tasty. I will definitely be visiting again. Thank you for a great Sunday! 🥰🥰

My wife and I visited Amma's today specifically because they had Dosa's. Maybe a weird motivation, but the result we also got to enjoy some fantastic vegetarian Indian food. The outside of the restaurant is very underwhelming, but like most things you can't just the experience by the cover. And many people will agree, because it was packed almost from the time we arrived till when we left. We loved everything we ate! The dosas were made fresh and were very crispy and delicious. There were quite a few options of rice, lentil and curry based dishes ranging from mild to spicy. We will 100% be back. Soon.

This place is a gem for all lovers of Indian food and all vegans and vegetarians! The whole menu is vegetarian with all vegan options labeled (and there are many!!). I like my Indian food SPICY and I never seem to get it spiced to my preference at other places, but when I order a 10+ at Amma's it comes out perfect! Love this place!!

Delicious food and a frequent rotating menu. I've been going almost once a week since first trying this place for the lunch buffet.

Amma's is my go-to lunch spot, as their buffet is incredibly vast in options and affordable. Everything on their menu is vegetarian or vegan, they include common allergies as well. Lunch is self serve, and so many people come so it can be a bit loud at times. For dinner, you can order off of their large menu and enjoy a very peaceful atmosphere with your meal. The owner here is such a sweetheart, and really cares about her restaurant. It is clean, well-ran and (most importantly) the food is delicious!

Stopped by to eat and my friend and I were met at the door by management and after looking at us decided since we were big girls and couldn't read vegetarian he told us we don't serve meat we're vegetarian. So insulted, won't go back.

I'm not even a vegetarian, and I eat here all the time. Lunch buffet is great, very tasty.

Amazing vegan options at lunch. Made a stop on way back from a road trip, and will be back!

The food is excellent. Must try their paneer butter masala curry. The staff is very good. The music vibes and ambiance is excellent.

I was in the mood for Indian and meeting up with a friend and Amma's Kitchen was the place we found. We came in around 12:30 and were easily able to find a spot. It's obvious that most people that come in know what they're doing (there wasn't a menu presented unless asked, but the obvious choice was the buffet). So if you're a newbie, find a table and they'll come fill your water glasses shortly! I was excited for the buffet, able to try everything and go back for seconds? Count me in! I think it was around $11 for the buffet. Couldn't tell you what I got, so check out my picture. All was very yummy and I didn't even realize it was vegetarian. When I got my second plate the naan was a little crispier and darker than I'd prefer. Altogether, it's a solid choice for Indian.

I've tried a few vegetarian Indian restaurants in my time. This was the first one that was Kosher certified, and indeed, the crowd aside from me was a mix of Indians and Orthodox Jews. I was aware of the association between Jewish culture and Chinese food, particularly in New York, but discovering this place in suburban Cincinnati surprised me. You learn something new every day. The food is typical South Indian, and I was very happy for the opportunity to order a combo with dosa with some appetizers. Indeed, I was so excited I apparently made a mistake, because when my crepe arrived with no spiced potato filling, I was a bit peeved only to realize that I had specified I wanted the spicy podi powder inside, but I hadn't actually asked for the masala. So it was my omission. Conversely, the tea I most definitely did order never arrived, which I had forgotten by the time I finished my food, but which I still apparently paid for. So if I'm being generous, the star off is for service not hitting the mark. But while the place is fairly spartan and remote to the center of the city, I have nothing bad to say about the food. I got a mixture of rice and lentils called pongal, which was a large portion and a contrast in texture to the freshly fried lentil donut. Of course my crepe was lentil-based as well. This cuisine works magic with lentils. The spiciness of the podi powder and the mix of chutneys made for a very satisfying meal. If I had more room I'd order more. And indeed, seeing that they do a buffet, I could definitely see returning for that if I was hungry.

Killer vegetarian Indian lunch buffet, which was all vegan (other than some salad garnishes) when I went on a Wednesday. And for a $12 plus tax, it's a screamin' good deal. It was moderately busy when I visited around 12:45pm, with fresh batches of dishes being refilled frequently. I tried a little of almost everything, which included about 6 main dishes, noodles, 2 soups, a delicious Gobi Manchurian, and a desert. I was stuffed and happy for little $. And the staff are friendly and attentive. What more can you ask for? Highly recommended.

The food and service was outstanding! Best naan we've had in a long time! Very clean interior.

Very good! We had dinner here tonight and thought it was great! We ordered the Chili Bajji appetizer and it was delicious. Fried stuffed chili pepper served with mint chutney and tamarind sauce. My husband ordered the Chili Paneer - spice level 10 (1-10 spicing). I ordered the Malai Kofta - spice level 5. We also ordered the Batura and my husband ordered a Plain Lassi. We both enjoyed our entrees and the batura. My husband liked my dish so much that he kept reaching over and eating my dish too. The service was quick and very friendly. We will definitely stop back in soon.

My grandson absolutely loves Indie cuisine! I didn't think he'd like the vegetarian cuisine but he tried the takeout at Amma's and LOVED IT! I'm a southern granny so I love to cook and eat my comfort foods. In moderation of course! He talked me into trying the Nan with some sauce from his meal and now I'm HOOKED!! Truly delicious and not too expensive which is important when you feed a village lol! The staff is friendly and the service was great. We stop for takeout often!

We got the dinner for 2 and it was so much food. We both were wanting to try the mulligatawny soup and so that worked out and we each got a vegetable cutlet which was one of the best I've had. 2 potato dosas came out next and they were solid. Had 3 half sized entrees of veg curry, paneer masala and dal and all 3 were great with the garlic naan. It even had a dessert. South Indian food seems to always be more fresh and light and exactly the perfect feeling. This dinner for 2 was worth every bit and had plenty of leftovers.

6 years later, but the quality and service is outstanding loud eating at this place is a must

I'll be the first to admit, I had some serious doubts about this place. Between the sketchy neighborhood, empty parking lot, and rude person who kept answering the phone like he was at home, I almost did an about-face and kept it moving elsewhere. But the rule that typically applies to other ethnic establishments (ya know, when they're so hella rude, hole-in-the-wall, means the food is fire), apparently applies here too. The food is 5-star. The service tethers around 2-stars. I desperately wanted vegan Aloo Saag. The menu showed no sign this, which is one of my favorite dishes, but they offer other palak (palak and saag both mean spinach) dishes, so I called to inquire. I was ecstatic when he said they could make vegan Aloo Saag for me! ALOO SAAG - Ordered spicy. OMG it was divine! And despite the light appearance of the dish, it was indeed spicy. I couldn't have been happier. CHILI GOBHI & GOBHI MANCHURIAN- Both delicious! Chock-full of flavor in both versions, with the chili being the slightly spicier version. Vegetable Samosas- It's hard to mess up samosas. Theirs is just seasoned so well; it makes it extra scrumptious. Their tamarind sauce is so good. Poori - I prefer poori to naan, which works out for me since few places offer vegan naan anyway. Their poori is excellent. When I returned on my birthday, I ordered Poori Aloo. When I got back to my hotel I noticed my poori was empty inside; no aloo (potatoes) was present. I also noticed a "soup" was included with my meal. I thought, "Oh, wow! They give you free soup!" which is not odd as some cultures offer a soup before your meal. That soup was yummy! It had potatoes and spices. When I called to advise that I was given plain poori instead of Poori Aloo, I was informed that the masala aloo is served on the side. So that "free soup?" You guessed it. That was the aloo for my poori. *insert major side-eye right here* I'd never heard of such. It's usually cooked inside the bread. Maybe they did it this way because it was a carry out? I don't know, but it left me a lil peeved. Aside from the poori snafu, I cannot deny the superbness of their cuisine. Indeed, this is the best Indian cuisine I've had since Phoenix. This place is 100% vegetarian, with many of the dishes being vegan or modifiable to vegan. Open for carry out orders during COVID-19.

Went Sunday for the buffet, which was terrific. The place indeed is a bit worn and definitely could use a refresh, and there is little service, but the food is very tasty. My favorite was the Gobhi Manchurian, a fried cauliflower dish, but everything I tried was delicious. The buffet was replenished often, so the food was fresh and hot. I look forward to returning.

The food here in this place has always been amazing! Provided I would say they are outstanding for their Idli , vada, dosa stuff. I personally love their coconut chutney and their sambar! The pongal is also a must try at their place . If you are interested in trying any indo Chinese , I would recommend you to try their chilli idly ! It is a little spicy thou but for some reason they serve that with white rice (I know! Weird combo) but that when mixed takes away some spice. Make sure to finish your eating with some typical South Indian filter coffee and you won't regret it. Happy eating

wasn't expecting this food to be the way it was, but that's not a negative thing! very different from other vegetarian indian food i've had! it was really good though! the lassi was good enough, a bit more spice to the mango than others i've had, i liked it! i wasn't a huge fan of the appetizer and chutney, but the paneer was good!

Holy moly, good food. Even though I don't know what I am eating, everything is really good. The buffet is killer. The Ghobi Monturion (don't know if I spelled that right) was great. There is not much service, but we come for the food and that is what we get. We love it every time. I know someone from Detroit who drove all the way here just to try Amma's Kitchen. Highly recommended

My experience was just okay at this restaurant. The buffet had a great variety, was priced reasonably, but was only lukewarm at best. This could have been due to the fact I visited 2 hours after the lunch buffet opened. There was a language barrier, I have a doctor's medical exemption stating I cannot wear a face mask and they did not seem to understand. I just grabbed a face shield from my car and that seemed to do the trick. My main issue with the food is I can tell the vegetables used in the cuisine have been sprayed with toxic chemicals/pesticides. I detox regularly and felt highly poisoned after consuming their lunch buffet. The Monsanto Glyphosate on the vegetables was too much for me.

Simple South Indian food with a homely feeling. We were on the road for a few days and were tired of all the greasy and meaty food so when we got here for lunch one afternoon it was a welcome change! Simple menu and yummy food.

Overall, everything we had was delicious and there was ample food left over for 2 meals among 2 people. Nothing was too spicy unless you asked for more spice. I got the spring vegetable dosa and my partner got the masala dosa. Both were delicious. The dosa, although seems big, was delightfully thin and paired well with the sauces they gave us. We also got the assortment plate, which I highly recommend for how much they give you. The sauces with the plate were really delightful as well. I am giving them 4 stars, because while we enjoyed the food, we waited 15 minutes more for our food than they had said we would, but I would definitely come back again!

The food here is amazing - I've been several times and everything I've ever ordered was fabulous! They don't serve alcohol but you're welcome to bring in your own. The service is a little bit slow so if you're in a huge hurry, it may not be the best option. But if you're in the mood for a delicious, leisurely dinner, this is a great spot!

My new favorite Indian restaurant in Cincy! Came here for the dosas and loved everything we ordered; Gohbi Manchurian, Samosas, Coconut Tomato Soup, Paneer Dosa, and Paneer Butter Masala. Service was great and prices were also very reasonable

Amma's is South Indian (i.e. vegetarian) -- so all the flavor comes from spices. They are, in fact, spice-wizards. I frequently get the Channa Masala and the soups... they're gluten free, and have a distinct, "sharp" spice profile. The Sambar is heaven. One of the other crowd favorites is the Amma pickle; it's actually a seasoned lemon rind -- (((imagine how perfect you'd have to be with spicing to get that one right. )))

Great food in a very unassuming locale. South Indian cuisine is different than typical North Indian restaurants. Go with an open mind it's very helpful if you are open to new taste experiences. Dosas are a great way to start and introduction to South Indian cuisine and Amma's will not disappoint

Very Accommodating Place! Very tasty and Delightful! Always family oriented! Flavors rock out this world! Always assuring great service!! Stays committed to the goals of providing a peaceful place to dine and have beautiful large families and leaders around. Beautiful safe buffet options.

One of the best places for South Indian food. It has a lot more authenticity to the taste than we have had at other places. However, takeaway or home delivery would be better for this place since their ambiance and dine-in service sucks!! Food: We went there a couple of times to try their Dosa, Bisibelabath, Podi Idli and Rasam. What I particularly loved here was their Rasam and Bisibelabath. Rasam was one of the best I had tasted across the US. Bisibelabath was spiced well and was made with ghee, so quite heavy as well. Podi Idli was great - quite spicy and appetizing. Dosa was good - nothing great but nothing bad as well. Ambiance: This place has a very typical restauranty ambiance. While one would expect some good South Indian feel to the place, it doesn't make much effort there. It appeared to me that their major business came from takeaways and home deliveries since there are many Indian families and bachelors living around this area - so it may not have made sense for them to invest much in the ambiance part and rather focus on the food. Staff: The staff was quite good, except once when we arrived close to the closing hours and they were visibly anxious to kick us out past 9PM as they started to turn off some of the lights while we were eating and started moving around, waiting for us to finish the food so that they can clear the plates. Not comfortable with the same, we just got the rest of the food packed and left. Looks like customer service isn't their forte.

Amma's Kitchen is my favorite! Everything on the menu is incredible. I love the variety of amazing vegan options (and how clearly they label them)! The people there are unbelievably warm, friendly, and accommodating. I can't recommend it enough!

This is the perfect place for vegetarians. I tried the vegan lunch buffet, $10.99 on weekdays. It included a made to order plain or masala dosa. My favorite thing I ate was their gobi Manchurian - or fried indochinese cauliflower. The eggplant and sambar dishes were good. I think 10.99 was a little high pricepoint for the items available, there were several lentil type items. I didn't really like the vegetable korma or spinach daal flavor profiles. I would definitely go back though just for that gobi Manchurian and liked the buffet overall! The staff was friendly and parking lot was not crowded on a weekday for lunch.

Delicious food. We tried a variety of appetizers and every single option we tried was delicious. One was a cauliflower curry and the other was an assortment of lentil donuts and frittatas. For the main course, I got a dosa. My staple dish at any southern Indian restaurant. My usual go to is the onion masala dosa, however this time I tried the paneer dosa and it was delicious! It looked like a breakfast burrito almost, which is quite different than what a normal dosa usually looks like, but I can't complain. The flavor was all there! They don't serve any alcohol at the restaurant, but it is BYOB. Will definitely come back here again to try more!

The food here is so good I could cry! I appreciate them clearly labeling their dishes based off of dietary restrictions. This has been my new favorite spot to grab dinner since I discovered this hidden gem a few weeks ago.

This place was okay? I had the dosa which I've never tried before since i usually opt for curry dishes when I get Indian food so it was much different! The dosa was lacking in some flavor in my opinion and the chutneys/soups added some more flavor but not much! I think I need to try this place again before deciding if it's worth going to it? Very nice & fridndly staff though!

Typical Indian food. I enjoyed everything I've eaten, very hot, taste fresh. Myself vegan I did have a lot to choose from which I appreciated. I walked in while buffet being served, I plated white rice and few other items. From kitchen, I ordered Masala Dosa and I kinda liked it, wasn't enough potatoes for me. Crepes are amazingly delicious. Restroom needs more attention. Everything else was very clean. Music a bit loud. Atmosphere pleasant, everyone minded to themselves (their own table.) family oriented, cultural indeed. Price was very inline. I'll definitely come back.

Vegan! Filling and delicious. I feasted here: Lentil Doughnuts: A+, salty goodness on its own and the dipping sauces are a great addition. Garlic Naan: yum. Classic. Asst. Platter: A+, great selection and variety and they made it vegan. Perfectly made and paired well with the sauces. Saag Aloo: A, very saag and totally vegan Chili Gohbi: A, spicy, perfectly battered cauliflower and veggies. So good! Mysore Masala Dosa: A++, my favorite on the menu so far. Such a cool and unique dish with amazing flavor and texture. Tamarind Rice: C, boring unless you're really into rice, then it'll be perfect for you. I love that they don't jam any music, it's a peaceful setting. The service is zero frills and straight to the point, but hey, I'm not here to have my arse kissed by my server. I'm here to stuff my face and be left alone while I shamelessly do so..and that's exactly what I did. I will without a doubt be coming back for more, as should you!

Delightful! I go here every other Friday and have never been disappointed! So many delicious dishes, I love the special vegetable curry, and the Dosas ! Everything tastes so fresh and delicious

This place is a absolute find. The ambiance is a bit strange but don't let that fool you. The food is absolutely outstanding and delicious. From the Samosas to the Dosas this place won't let you down. It is both healthy vegetarian and tasty.

Delicious vegetarian food with perfectly blended spices. Try the gobi! Highly recommend.

As authentic as they come! This is absolutely the BEST Indian food in town, especially if you are vegan & gluten free! You can tell they care about the quality of their ingredients, and the true flavor of their food. The southern Indian dishes far outshine the heavy cream masked dishes of the northern Indian cuisine. I keep trying different things, and it's all so good

The lunch buffet is worth the money. Go in at 11:30a for a hearty South Indian brunch.

Shalom! This Indian restaurant is both Kosher and vegan! I called prime minister Modi and thanked him for that. I told him, "that the collaboration and innovation between our two ancient peoples is a true example of partnership and is a beacon of light in a sea of darkness and barbarism".

Used to really love this place. People are still nice and welcoming but it's gotten pretty dirty and needs thorough cleaning. Buffet lunch seemed old and reheated

Very authentic! Tried the Spring Roll Dosa (I was instructed to order one here by a fellow lover of Indian cuisine) and it was very different and delicious with accompanying sauces. The Baignan was nice and smoky. The paneer dish I ordered was unexpectedly sweet. I was a little underwhelmed by the curries, mainly because my spice level 8 was not spicy at all! But the naan was FANTASTIC! Interior was nothing spectacular, much like retired family-style buffet - they do have a buffet BTW - and the service was friendly. Prices are quite good. Overall, I wouldn't run back to this place upon first curry craving but I do appreciate the vegetarian only menu loaded with options!

There is a distinct familiarity with Amma's Kitchen's food. The podi-idli is the unsung hero of the appetizer section. Uthappams and dosas are classic. The lunch buffet has a large variety of dishes that change often. Neither the quality of food, nor the service has changed despite the ownership changing several hands in the last several years. I simply wish that the location was in a safer neighborhood.

The Rating I gave 2 is for the manager, I went for a buffet and he charged us extra 7 dollars saying, this is for an extra dosa, each person gets only 1 dosa but in real we had only one dosa per head. On asking why it's charged he dint give proper explanation and said the waiter has asked me to charge you extra. On asking call the waiter, he returned the extra amount by cash. Food: I would really give 4 star for the food it is and not for the ambience and environment. They got very good vegetarian food and will like it for sure. The place seems really not that comfortable and restrooms are slippy watery and you don't feel like to use it.

Had rava masala dosa and onion chilli Uttapam. Good service sambhar was very good . Madras coffee ended the deal with good review

The sunday lunch buffet was packed. So many families, and even though the thermostat was set to 70 it felt like it was 80. Beside being so hot though, the food was really tasty with some south indian staples that are more rare in cincinnati. For the unaccostumed, south indian food is usually all vegetarian and some dishes are named differently like saag paneer is palak paneer. There was vada(lentil donuts), ildi (rice cakes), sambar (lentil soup), dum biriyani (veggie fried rice), and channa masala to name some of my favorites. They also had chat which is a cold salad of various veggies, noodles, and maybe apples. It is very refreshing and tastes great with all the chutneys that are available. They also have quite a few desserts like gulab jamun (sweet fried dough balls), paak (sugar/butter bars), Payasam (sweet vermicelli), raita (yogurt rice), and rice pudding. Only thing missing is my favorite kulfi! Each buffet comes with one dosa, that is much smaller then the one you buy normally, but they are freshly made and brought to your table. Would definitely come back to eat thier tasty vegetarian dishes.