Annapurna Cuisine

Where To Eat Biryani In LA

"Annapurna is a vegetarian southern Indian restaurant in Culver City with a menu featuring specialties from the chef’s home city of Chennai. Dishes across the menu here are spicy, rich, and deeply aromatic—and the biryani is no exception. Filled with carrots, potato, peas, cauliflower, green beans, fresh mint, and dozens of spices, this is our favorite vegetarian version in town, and one that should be ordered whether you eat meat or not." - brant cox

21 Enticing Indian and South Asian Restaurants in Los Angeles

"Culver City’s Annapurna offers Southern Indian dishes like dosa, uttapam, idli, and more. It also just happens to serve delicious pav bhaji. Those avoiding onion and garlic will find plenty of options too." - Virali_Dave, Eater Staff

21 Enticing Indian and South Asian Restaurants in Los Angeles

Where To Get Indian And Pakistani Delivery in LA - Los Angeles - The Infatuation

"Annapurna is a vegetarian southern Indian restaurant in Culver City with a menu featuring specialties from the chef’s home city of Chennai. Dishes across the menu here are spicy, rich, and deeply aromatic. This includes spinach masala dosa, cheese uthappam, and one of our favorite biryanis in LA. There’s a lot of excellent South Asian restaurants on Venice Blvd., but make sure you prioritize Annapurna. Takeout and delivery available on most major apps, or by calling (310) 204-5500." - Brant Cox

Annapurna Cuisine Review - Culver City - Los Angeles - The Infatuation

"Annapurna is a vegetarian southern Indian restaurant in Culver City with a menu featuring specialties from the chef’s home city of Chennai. Dishes across the menu here are spicy, rich, and deeply aromatic - and the biryani is no exception. Filled with carrots, potato, peas, cauliflower, green beans, fresh mint, and dozens of spices, this is our favorite vegetarian version in town and one that should be ordered whether you eat meat or not. photo credit: Matt Gendal" - Brant Cox

Janu 04

Google

We had a delicious meal and absolutely loved the experience! We tried Bisi Bele Bath, Chana Bature, Ghee Roast, Curd Rice, and Sambar Vada each dish was flavorful, authentic, and perfectly spiced. The Bisi Bele Bath was comfort in a bowl, the Chana Bature was rich and satisfying, and the Ghee Roast was incredibly crispy and aromatic. The Curd Rice is the perfect finish to a wholesome South Indian meal.

Shalz S

Google

The food and service were both excellent. The menu is all vegetarian.We ordered dosas, which were a bit oily but still tasty. The kothu paratha was very authentic and had just the right level of spice as we requested. However, the restaurant felt quite cramped with too many tables. Removing the unused buffet area would help declutter the space and make it more comfortable for diners.

Anirudh Ravikumar

Google

Excellent flavors, Dosa was great, the selection was good as well. Some items were not offered but were on the menu. We had a family of 11 that were able to sit but space felt cramped. Food took longer than expected but wait-staff were professional and friendly to keep us updated. Only reason this was a 4 v 5. Food was amazing, no complaints at all.

sri ram

Google

Writing this review in May 2025 but tried food in Jan 2024 and i still remember the taste. The best restaurant in the area. Tried dosa, pongal and pulav all 3 are best in taste if i go to LA . If i ever go to LA again i will definitely try this restaurant again.

Gavin “GJM_reviews” Meichelbock

Google

Not bad, definitely above average, but I’m not rushing back. The best thing I got was the bread that came with the Channa Masala. It was super light, buttery, kind of sweet and the bottom was crispy which provided it a great bit of texture. The Masala itself was good but it tasted exactly like the Hyderabad Baingan ka Bartha. I will say, both dishes were packed with flavor, it just happened to be the same one. The dosa is impressively large, but is a useless vessel for the dips it comes with. 80% of it is too thin and crispy, think the burnt end of a pancake, to actually carry or complement the dips. It is fun to eat through because it is so large and the bottom is a bit thicker so it can pick up some sauce, but other than that, it’s unremarkable. The Gualb Jamun for dessert tasted like a soggy donut hole. It was fine but I would it order it again. While Annapurna Cuisine is serving up very authentic Indian food, it isn’t close tot he best I’ve had.

Nandini Sankaran

Google

The food was very simple/saadvik and tasty. The Gobi Manchurian felt a bit raw, could’ve been cooked better. Veg biriyani and fried rice were really good. Paneer butter masala was also good (not in pic). The staff were very friendly and served well.

Nandini Mazumdar

Google

Really delicious and authentic South Indian food - the onion dosa, the sambhar idli and the pav bhaji are good, though my favourite dish is the bisibele bhaat, which was absolutely outstanding. Fast service and reasonably priced. Highly recommend!

Ashish Aggarwal

Google

High quality clean vegetaría Indian food. Some of the best chai and chole bhatura in SoCal, hands down They usually run out of chai everyday 1-2 hours before they close. So get it quick lol The bhindi is ok but literally everything else is OUTSTANDING. Chole bhatura are my go to, and it ALWAYS hits the spot Paneer and masala dosas are solid, can’t go wrong Rasmalai usually great Service is good but because they’re always so slammed, opportunity for improvement One of the best vegetarian South Indian restaurants in LA!

Jay A.

Yelp

Was in a business event in Culver City thru 500 PM yesterday. Traffic was horrific, needed a place to chill for an hour or two. Had not been to Annapurna since before the pandemic. I needed a comfortable place to relax, enjoy South Indian home cooking. Pulled into their parking lot at 520 PM. Tons of spaces. Whew, time to relax. The place has not changed over the years. Same decor, same staff. I was back home at Annapurna. MASALA DOSA $12.95 In 2020 this item was $7.50. Yesterday it was $12.95. Clearly inflation has had its greatest effect on the food industry. The dosa was huge, light and crispy. It was a textbook perfect dosa. The filling was light and flavorful. The sambar, which accompanied the dosa, was hot and spicy - as it should be. The coconut achar was thick, creamy. It was delicious. I wish they had a place like this in Palm Desert. All I can say is I miss Annapurna. Tons of food. Fortunately, I was starving. SWEET LASSI $3.95 Perfect lassi. Thick, creamy and not overly sweet. Service was decent. Staff were kind as always. Can't wait to return. These folks clearly understand South Indian vegetarian cuisine. If you're reading my review for the first time this is a must try.

D L.

Yelp

I would NEVER ever recommend to order food to go EVER. The three times I've ordered to go it's always been a disappointment. Most recently 12/31 around 6pm. The food took way longer than quoted(that's not a problem) but once we finally received our order it was ice cold and not the correct order. Like wtf Eaten here at least a dozen times. The food was always delicious when eating in. Do not expect decent service here though. They don't care about customer service even when you're a regular tipping 20%. Used to be friendly now just the opposite. I didn't want to post this but honestly Annapurna has lost a big step with their attitude towards guests. And the food was horrible on our last visit to go.

Ryan H.

Yelp

i've never had full vegan indian food... until now! had a smorgasboard of stuff with some friends. for a new adventurous meal, it was all tasty, spicy, and fun to experience. tbh i can't name all the dishes. there was a spinach and (cottage cheese? some kind of cubed cheese?) thing that was good over rice. a big flaky pasty with potato inside that you also dip in sauce. some very spicy sort of red rice that was really good but made me sweat very quickly. and the only thing i didn't love some mushroom thingy that had a sweet tang to it. my bud who suggested this place is full on indian so i knew he knew what was good and he was chomping away! all other tables were also feasting and seemed to be enjoying. atmosphere here is cafeteria style, not much charm. but i could tell everything was authentic and everyone was enjoying. i could see it in their eyes, i could feel it in how voraciously everyone was eating. a good tasty spot. absolutely zero frills in terms of style, but highly authentic and enjoyable.

Maruko X.

Yelp

Ambiance: old fashioned vegetarian restaurant, spacious inside, packed parking lot shared with other merchants Service: the server was so rushed, and I had to order under pressure without even got the chance to check their menu Food: numerous items on their menu, various options for vegetarian food Masala Dosa - **** Crepe stuffed with spiced cooked potatoes, served with Sambar and Chutney, one of the most popular items, thin and crispy, sour taste, recommend Spicy Masala Uthappam - ** Special South Indian Made Pizza / Pan Cake with Varieties of Toppings, spiced potatoes with onion & chilly, garnished with cilantro, plain taste Mushroom Mutter Masala - *** fried button mushrooms and peas cooked tomato creamy gravy, spicy taste Price: moderate portions and affordable prices, about $20~$25 per person, however, the food quality wasn't great, and it caused stomach pain afterwards

Mika C.

Yelp

ONE OF THE BEST INDIAN SPOTS IN LA!!! Shoutout my friend Luke for putting me on. They suggested the Aloo Gobi and Masala Dosa and yes absolutely delicious!!! Service was so great and a great place to come with friends and family! It's pretty causal. And they have a parking lot!

Atul P.

Yelp

On our second visit to Annapurna. Stopping in for an early Sunday dinner. Place seems moderately busy.

Praveen B.

Yelp

Hits the spot! The channa bhatura was absolutely perfect! They ran out of bhatura so they offered puri channa for our second plate. Chutney and Sambhar had the perfect taste too. Turns out we were a bit late at lunch so a number of the items were not an option. Perhaps we'll give it another try on a future trip.

Shirin B.

Yelp

Overall, very solid place for Dosa and other South Indian dishes! We came here on a holiday so it was super packed, but we were still seated quickly. The masala chai is delicious and the absolute must get is the chili paneer. It's soft and not fried and coated in schezwan sauce. The samosa chaat was also very good, and I was honestly quite surprised. The mysore masala dosa we had came with sambhar and tomato and coconut chutney's. Pretty standard, but done well. Annapurna is a must try!

Laura D.

Yelp

Absolutely the best vegetarian Indian food in L A. The somosas are to die for. Love this place and get here as much as possible. Great masala dosa too, all different kinds. On weekends mobbed with Indians. Authentic.

Pras J.

Yelp

It is one of the best restaurants in LA for South and North Indian cuisine. I wish they could restart serving rava dosa.

Fouzan K.

Yelp

This place is a joke. If you like your Medhu Vada stuffed with peppercorn this is the place for you. As for the Dosa it came out extra oily and ice cold, on top of that they gave me a small scoop of potatoes for that Big Oily and Cold Dosa. You're better off taking your business elsewhere. If you want good authentic HOT food go to Artesia. This is not the place. As far as service non existent.

Mary N.

Yelp

Best Indian food in the city. From the moment you walk in, you're greeted with a warm welcome and ushered into a world of tantalizing aromas and exquisite flavors. The menu is a masterpiece, offering a wide selection of traditional Indian dishes that are prepared with the utmost care and attention to detail. Each dish is a work of art, with flavors that dance on your palate and leave you craving more. A must-visit for anyone looking for the best Indian restaurant in the Culver City vicinity.

Sankit G.

Yelp

I stopped by with a big group of family and friends for early dinner at 6 and it was easy to get parking and table. We ordered mix of entrees - dosas, curries, and chaats. I found samosa chaat quite good and above average. It's a bit spicier but you can tone it down with the yogurt on side. I found cauliflower Manchurian also good, crispy and hot. Will surely recommend these two appetizers. We ordered Plain Dosa, Masala Dosa, and Paper Masala Dosa. I felt dosas were average, and the only difference between paper dosa and masala dosa was the length. I thought paper dosa should have had been crispier and bigger, but here it was just bigger. So would rather recommend radically different dosas to order for groups like paneer dosa, masala dosa so different ones taste different. We also got curries - gobi Matar, Bhindi masala, kadhai paneer, yellow daal. While yellow daal was good, the taste of Bhindi and kadhai paneer seemed the same. It has the same base with different veggies in it. Whereas gobi was a bit on the creamier end. I found the place overall above average though service could surely be better. The staff will stand around looking at the table but won't proactively pickup empty dishes, or place the new plates on the table by themselves, rather just lift it in air and wait for someone to hold and pass them themselves.

Jacinta C.

Yelp

Best masala dosa in LA. It's just perfect and people have been friendly too. They have a coconut chutney which is also delicious.

Michelle S.

Yelp

The ambiance was beautiful!! The service was great 5 stars and food was delicious ! Definitely will recommend

Paul S.

Yelp

I always enjoy coming here. Solid option for South Indian food. Went on a Saturday for lunch and it was pretty crowded already. We ordered a ton of food: medhu vada, paper dosas, plain dosa, pongal, chana batura, and a variety of breads (naan, parathas). Food came out as it was made so everything was piping hot and crisp as desired. Sambhar was excellent and had enough moringa to satisfy the most devout traditionalists. The menu is extensive which I like but is probably unnecessary. They don't have rava dosa which given the vast menu choices seems odd. Next time I will try some non-veg faire. I always say that but never follow through because their dosas are just too damn good.

Anil P.

Yelp

The food at Annapurna is excellent. It is the best place for south indian vegetarian food - one of the healthiest and tastiest part of India. The dosas, idlis, uttapam, rice dishes, vadas, and all is so good. They do cut corners in terms of chutneys and sambhar, so some days you get a day old watered down and remade food. However, the service and process is horrible. It is so simple to create a service process for a 20 - 30 seater restaurant, yet the owners just mess it up every time. To get the order right, you have to order everything at one time. Things to improve - water service should be immediate with a jug on the table - I have had to go get my own water. Implement an order processing system. clean the tables with a clean rag, not a dirty one.

K K.

Yelp

Upon our recent visit couple of days ago, we had mixed experiences. The waiters were lazy to stretch an arm and place the plates on the table. He would just hold it until I get it. No employee washing hands code followed. The floors, chairs tables are all so unclean and in a filthy environment. We ordered Masala Dosa, the potato stuffing terrible taste, Sambhar watered down concoction of sugar and tamarind, the dosa itself not great. Uttapam: didn't cook through. Onion Rava Dosa: pretty good, would recommend Butter Naan: very fresh and good. Chole: very good. So it's a hit or miss, overall food and affordability is good. Portions not bad. Bathroom had cycles parked next to toilet Cleanliness and hygiene are at a zero, let's hope they clean up well for better stars. You are guaranteed to catch a virus here.

Mayank B.

Yelp

I tried Mysore Masala and very dry I have not tried other dishes Good and quick service

Peijean T.

Yelp

There are several Indian restaurants in this area, but Annapurna stands out for being all vegetarian and their immense menu of (giant) dosa! Their dosa are the size of a table, and are great for sharing. You can get the regular soft kind that's kind of like a crepe, or you can get the massive paper thin crispy one. I've tried both and they're both excellent but I highly recommend the paper thin one if it's your first time. They come with 3 kinds of dippable sauces including sambar (delicious Indian stew). It was so nice of them to give us more sambar when they saw we were running low -- we didn't even have to ask! Their curries are excellent, and I love how big the portions are for the price. It's one of the best values around. Before they reopened their indoor dining I would get their food to go, and I appreciate how their website offers you 10% on to-go orders. But I do prefer to eat inside because then you can fully enjoy the paper thin dosa as it's meant to be eaten -- hot and fresh and crispy! Food here runs on the spicier side! You can ask for less heat (they are very nice about it and do it) but it will still be spicy. So if you're sensitive to spice or didn't grow up eating Indian cuisine, be warned -- I still recommend trying this place out because it's delicious, just be prepared!

Ashleyann B.

Yelp

Annapurna's has a special place in my stomach because my partner and I are able to eat here together! They have a small selection of Jain dishes (no onion and no garlic) that accommodate my partner's allium intolerance, and these all taste delicious. Their dal masala is my favorite, and my partner's go-to is their paneer makhani. Our dishes each came with a side of rice, but we also order an extra side of naan. I'm just happy that we can enjoy eating Indian food tagain without worrying about a food reaction. We dined in for out first visit there and received friendly service. In addition to our meal, we also ordered chai and ras malai for our dessert and enjoyed that too. There's a parking lot here, shared with the other stores in this complex. They are also on Doordash!

Anj A.

Yelp

The kotamali dosa quality has gone down very immensely. It used to be so delicious now it was so different and tasteless. Even the cheese dosa we ordered was not the same as before. It was like they are trying to cut corners.

Shirley K.

Yelp

We came here for their dosa and when we saw almost every table ordered the large plate of dosa (almost the length of the table), we knew we came to the right spot! They offer over 20 dosas to choose from and there's also a Mickey Mouse dosa available on the kids menu. We ordered the butter masala dosa with spiced potatoes and it was delicious! It was surprisingly filling too. Their masala chai paired well with the dosa and was a comforting beverage. One thing to know is that it takes longer for them to make your order, including the chai. However, the staff were all friendly and we enjoyed dining there. Clean spacious bathroom and free parking available.

Aditi M.

Yelp

If you want great south Indian food in Los Angeles - this is the place to go! It's super close to ucla and satisfies all your dosa cravings. Their dosa and uttapam are yummm and the sambhar has delightful flavors. This was my goto place for dosa and comfort food. They also have lunch buffet - it's all you can eat. They have a great variety of dishes, you can also ask them to make dosa for the buffet which is the best part.

zoie z.

Yelp

SO good. we got the butter masala dosa and channa batura. service was very smooth and attentive as well! there are no south indian restaurants up in ventura county so i was very excited to try this. we sort of randomly stumbled in here on a sunday afternoon after happening to be in culver city. all tables were pretty much filled with people coming in and out. super happy we found this place and i hope to come back!

Anika B.

Yelp

The best Indian food I've had in west side LA so far. Idli and samosa was ok. But chole batura was super good, tasted like how it is in india. Dosa was good, but I've had better elsewhere. The biriyani was nice, very aromatic. This will be my go to spot now for when I'm craving some classic Indian dishes in LA. Service was good. Not an ambient place, but the food makes up for it. They didn't have hari mirch though .

Ram S.

Yelp

This is the best South Indian restaurant in Los Angeles. Have tried them many times , literally everything on the menu tastes amazing and well cooked. Service is friendly and prompt and portions for food are generous. Our favorites here are the - Generous Sambar Vada and Sambar Idli - Onion uttappam which is crispy and tasty - all their dosas are large and nicely cooked. The combination of chutney and Sambar makes it delicious. - Paratha with kurma takes some time to make, but portion was huge and very tasty - chana bhatura tasted great - Tamarind rice tasted tangy, and portion was enough for 3 ppl to share - to top it off, the masala tea was a huge hit too Must visit place, probably the only South Indian vegetarian place around LA. Parking in the restaurant is quite tight

Johnn D.

Yelp

Best North Indian food ordered hyderabad baingan bhartha with biriyani, it was soooo good. Naans and kulcha's are crisp and thoroughly done and very delicious. Lot of times i feel like we eating raw dough but not at this restaurant.

Dev S.

Yelp

Flavorful South Indian fare where you can't go wrong. Everything tasted fresh and super tasty. Quick service and attentiveness

Hardik P.

Yelp

Some dishes are better than others. But overall nice. The Dosas are delicious. Service is ok , parking can be tricky.

Shveta A.

Yelp

Excellent food. Tried idli and onion Masala dosa both were very nice. The coconut chutney and tomato chutneys were delicious. Sambar was tasty and hot(not spicy hot but temperature wise). The only thing I would like to suggest be that please give little more sambar we had to ask for extra bowl of sambar. Neat and clean. Quick service, open kitchen. Owner was very humble he took the order himself. Will definitely go back and recommend this.

Sam S.

Yelp

Food is not bad for the area but the service is mediocre. Came in with friends who drove an hour for Rava Masala Dosa , it was about 1pm lunch time the guy just said sorry we can't make it as it takes too long to make it . The restaurant barely had 10 ppl there. Super disappointed. The quantity of sambar is like super small and was served like warm. We settled for Butter Masala Dosa was nice and crispy . Also ordered Paneer Dosa which was very soggy the paneer had no taste to it. I have been a regular here for many years I don't think I will go back here again.

Nirupam B.

Yelp

My go to place for the craving of indo-chinese. Fried rice and govi manchurion. Fully vegetarian restaurant. Great south indian food especially dosa.

Ananya J.

Yelp

I've eaten at Annapurna over several years and I've seen so many people here as cashiers and chefs. My wedding food was from Annapurna. I'd just like to take a moment to thank everyone here for such consistently good service. The food is great and the people here are friendly even when work gets busy. Thank you for sharing the gift of your talent here. It makes a difference coming here on a busy day and making an okay day better.

Navid M.

Yelp

Cozy, noisy, greasy...Wonderful!!! You rarely get greeted and are often waiting a while to order. You sacrifice service for taste and that's okay.

Oveja L.

Yelp

I have a love/hate relationship with this place. The food is delicious but the service leaves much to be desired. I went with a friend and was baffled by the fact that we ordered at the same time but they pretty much forgot about her dosa till in was finished. Then at the end of the meal the waiter tried to shoo us away almost immediately. The food is good but I'm not sure I want to return.

Pratyusha C.

Yelp

Went in this afternoon and it looked like they have new employees who were very laid back. Laidback to the extent, they only take half the order and walk away very casually while you are trying to give the remainder of the order only to come back after a few mins to ask "what were you saying" which happened twice and the third time, they probably thought I was putting in a big order so they didn't come back to ask what I was saying. The place was very chaotic. There were repairs and handymen Going in and out fixing things which obviously accompanied by a lot of noise. Very untidy which includes paper napkins. When I asked for fresh paper napkins because what they gave was not clean, the person took them, walked away carefully watching. Overall, I felt like we visited house of one of my friends who are lazy, casual , laidback and walk away while I continue to talk to do chores. I would have been very much okay in this setting if: 1) I weren't paying them. ESP now that their prices went up so much like 5$ per dosa 2) didn't go in hungry with a kid 3) thought they'd Atleast have a quiet environment They say, you will appreciate few things only after missing them. Their old staff was much better and maintained a clean, noise free environment. I wonder how long they'll sustain in business

Adanma N.

Yelp

Y'all...I don't know what other people saw in this place but this was NOT it dawg. We walked in and the place was dirty. It took them 5 minutes to clean the table for us finally to sit. The vegetable samosa was really good and the naan was BOMB (hence the two stars) but everything else was not good at all. They didn't have mango lassi or chai My friend got the yellow dal curry and asked multiple times if it had butter as she has a mild allergy. She was told no multiple times from the server and when she tried it she immediately tasted the butter. She asked the waiter to go back and check and sure enough, there was butter and they remade it. When they brought her food back there was no rice to accompany it like the first time and when we asked for it they just never returned. Never again.

Raja N.

Yelp

The food is legit and ethnic but the management and service sucks. They constantly mess up orders. They make folks wait for no reason. Absolutely no sense of regret when pointed out. My simple rice dish today took 40 mins when other dish went cold. Very insolent behavior when asked. Avoid this place if you want to be treated decently.

Shreya T.

Yelp

Delicious! The best South Indian food in LA. I've never had a dish here that I didn't like, and the food came out quick each time. Will return!

Corey K.

Yelp

Best Indian Food I've had in LA regardless of regional specialty. Both the dosais that people come for, as well as the vegetarian entrees are great.

Anup B.

Yelp

The manager here is a shameless and I'll-mannered. Forgot customer service. We got to the restaurant 15 mins before closing. The sign said open and they took us to a table, got us a menu. Few seconds after the manager walks in who seemed pretty upset of us being there late and tells me the kitchen was closed. We literally sat and had to leave with people around us all surprised. Awful and disgusting behavior! We will be filing a consumer complaint.

Davejeet S.

Yelp

Can't go wrong with their masala dosa, rava onion masala dosa. The service was quick. We did get some items with rava in it that we were told would take longer and did as advertised but worth the wait. We tried something new which we want to learn to make even. Typically we do Masala dosa and rava onion dosa. We tried the spicy uttapam and that was very good. Highly recommend it. Nice ambiance too.

H P.

Yelp

I don't usually post reviews but I had such a terrible experience today worth sharing. We had went there to eat dinner with my grandparents after picking them up from the airport. We had a group of six, and one gentleman who worked there told us to just grab whatever table opens. When a table had finally opened, about 20 minutes later, we went to sit there. However, another gentleman working there asked us if we were on the list. We weren't told that there was any list that we were supposed to be placed on by the first server. At this point, we were told to leave the table and go outside and we were then placed at the end of the line. Two individuals who had just walked in were then immediately seated. The second gentleman came outside and told us there was no point in waiting since they were closing soon anyways. This encounter was extremely disrespectful, mind you to have someone do this to your grandparents who spent the whole day flying. Sure the food is good, but it's not worth eating somewhere that doesn't respect customers and especially elders. If you get a table and be told that whatever you want is actually available, then be sure to buy a lottery ticket because it's your lucky day!

Kedar D.

Yelp

Annapurna makes excellent South Indian food and does solid versions of pan-Indian curries and dishes, too. The menu is all vegetarian and amply vegan, but make sure to ask questions about butter, ghee, yogurt and cream, as they don't label their vegan items. I got the yellow dal fry ($9) which is vegan by default. This dish tasted hearty and hit the spot, though I wish it had been slightly less soupy in texture. The bhindi fry ($9) is vegan by default and was a nice rendition on the standard okra stir-fry, this time with some red bell peppers for color and added flavor. It wasn't too oily and came together well. Lastly, the karaikudi kothu paratha ($10) is also vegan by default and was savory and addictive. Kothu paratha is hard to find in Los Angeles (or anywhere) and consists of a paratha diced up and stir-fried or baked with a curry sauce and vegetables. Think of it as a South Indian (or Sri Lankan) noodle stir-fry. My main gripes with Annapurna are: 1. Like most Indian restaurants, it's buffet-only in the afternoon 7 days a week, meaning you can't get the best dishes they offer (such as the kothu paratha), before 5:30 p.m. That really sucks. 2. Also like most Indian restaurants, they close from 3:00-5:30 p.m. I've lost track of how many times I've somehow managed to end up at an Indian restaurant during their daily siesta. 3. There's no ambiance. This is a utilitarian spot in a dumpy stripmall and, of course, there's a Bollywood movie playing loudly at the front of the room. Don't come here looking for a quiet meal in a nice environment. All told, come to Annapurna for dinner and skip the buffet. If you're looking for even better South Indian food, check out Swagatham in West Hills (it's a long drive, but it's the best in town).

Angeline L.

Yelp

Hole in the wall restaurant that serves authentic South Indian vegetarian meals! Ordered a paneer pizza (reminded me of a Korean pancake) so flavorful. Absolutely loved my sweet chai as well.

Seth D.

Yelp

Writing this review mid food coma but stopped in fro some take out after work. Staff was very nice and recommended one of their popular dosas, which I got as well as the Chana masala. Everything was amazing, with the right amount of heat. This place will definitely enter my rotation for takeout!

Richa R.

Yelp

Consistency is the problem. Sometimes the food is really good, sometimes a little off and sometimes totally disappointing. Only advice is to kindly check the food before you serve or pack for takeaway.

J B.

Yelp

Rather underwhelming given the enthusiastically positive things I've heard about this place. Service is passable but a tad dreary. Food is decent, but nothing to write home about. A tad pricey compared to similar restaurants that deliver more value for what you pay for.

Where To Eat Biryani In LA

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21 Enticing Indian and South Asian Restaurants in Los Angeles

Where To Get Indian And Pakistani Delivery in LA - Los Angeles - The Infatuation

"Annapurna is a vegetarian southern Indian restaurant in Culver City with a menu featuring specialties from the chef’s home city of Chennai. Dishes across the menu here are spicy, rich, and deeply aromatic. This includes spinach masala dosa, cheese uthappam, and one of our favorite biryanis in LA. There’s a lot of excellent South Asian restaurants on Venice Blvd., but make sure you prioritize Annapurna. Takeout and delivery available on most major apps, or by calling (310) 204-5500." - Brant Cox

Annapurna Cuisine Review - Culver City - Los Angeles - The Infatuation

"Annapurna is a vegetarian southern Indian restaurant in Culver City with a menu featuring specialties from the chef’s home city of Chennai. Dishes across the menu here are spicy, rich, and deeply aromatic - and the biryani is no exception. Filled with carrots, potato, peas, cauliflower, green beans, fresh mint, and dozens of spices, this is our favorite vegetarian version in town and one that should be ordered whether you eat meat or not. photo credit: Matt Gendal" - Brant Cox