Cherylynn N.
Yelp
4.25 STARS
Dosa Corner got that zero waste concept down solid!
They took over Al's Place and kept EVERYTHING nearly the same...
Same blue and white color scheme inside and out.
Same furnishings, tables, and chairs.
Same plants above the entrance door...well, the living ones at least.
Same Aesop hand soap bottles in the restroom.
It was like déjà vu.
Hell, even "Al's Place" is still written on the entrance door.
In today's economy, that's the way to do it.
Focus on the food and to hell with the décor!
From the folks behind Aaha Indian Cuisine is Dosa Corner serving North and South Indian Cuisine. Takeout, delivery, and indoor dining available. Their yelp page says, they have outdoor seating but they've removed the sidewalk seating. Maybe they'll add it back later?
M E N U
* Idly (savory rice cake), Vada (fritter), Dosa (crepe), Uttapam (thick crepe), Biryani, and Meat + Veggie Curries. No naan, chapati, or paratha. No alcohol at this time.
Grand opening promo: 10% off until 6/30/23.
F O O D
* Masala Dosa ($12): https://tinyurl.com/59em48hb
--Add cheese (+$2)
The dosa was beautifully golden brown and soft with crispy edges (made from fermented rice + lentil batter), filled with spiced mashed potatoes (masala) with a sprinkling of cheese for a salty sharpness: https://tinyurl.com/yebfh824.
Half the dosa was good enough for a small meal. I placed the leftovers in the airfryer for dinner and it was just as delicious with an even crispy exterior.
Dosa accompaniments:
--Sambar: The lentil veggie stew was scalding hot, hearty, and comforting with tender cauliflower and carrots. Good spice level for those who like spicy foods.
--Chutneys (L to R): Ginger: fav; flavorful and zesty w/ heat, tomato: tangy and acidic, peanut: nutty, and coconut: tropical and sweet.
* Goat Shahi Korma ($17)
--Requested spicy
The korma gravy was well-spiced, creamy, and slightly nutty. I appreciate that spicy = spicy. There were more bones than actual goat meat. And, the bones were sharp so beware (!!!), you can easily puncture your gums/roof of your mouth if you're not careful. What meat there was, was tender tho.
S E R V I C E
Kind server but slow food service for being empty; I encountered the same thing at their sister resto.
Visited right when they opened for lunch and it took about 25 minutes for the food with no other diners and no takeout/delivery orders. I hope efficiency will improve once they get dialed in.
A M B I A N C E
Same exact as Al's Place...low-key and casual with seating for about 30 people.
P A R K I N G
Street parking only. On the quieter part of Valencia before the hot mess of the new bike lanes so parking is not as challenging.
Overall, Dosa Corner serves very solid dosa and accompaniments that IMO is better than their sister resto, Aaha and neighboring competitor, Udupi Palace. Looking forward to returning for their Indo-Chinese dishes and the Ghee Roast Masala Dosa!