Tucked away in the basement of Flushing's oldest Hindu temple, the Ganesh Temple Canteen serves up delicious, budget-friendly South Indian vegetarian fare, with crispy dosas and family-style seating making it a local favorite.
"Founded in 1993 and located in the basement of Flushing’s Ganesh temple, this place serves a strictly vegetarian menu of South Indian dishes. That means multiple varieties of dosa, plus uttapam with a choice of stuffings, and idli in several formats. There are vegetable curries and rices, too, in a family-friendly setting. Remove your shoes to visit the Hindu temple upstairs, where everyone is welcomed." - Robert Sietsema, Nadia Chaudhury
"Serving South Indian vegetarian fare since 1993, the Ganesh Temple menu is aimed at worshippers, but everyone is made welcome (the entrance is around the corner on Holly Avenue). Consult the posted menu for specials, and order chaats, dosas, uttapams, idlis, and rice dishes at the counter. Tiffins feature small versions of signature dishes; red onion sambar vada (savory donuts), and mirchi bajji (deep fried chiles)." - Eater Staff
"Ganesh Temple Canteen is a Flushing institution. The basement cafeteria is under the city’s first and oldest Hindu temple, and you’ll see temple-goers and tourists alike flock to the basement for idlis, sambar, and big buttery dosas. You won’t find better dosas in town, and everything on the menu is vegetarian. The canteen is a basic operation with communal tables and folding chairs, but it has just as many devotees as the deities upstairs. Buy some take-home snacks while there, and make sure to check out the gift shop on your way out. " - carina finn koeppicus, kenny yang, neha talreja, bryan kim, molly fitzpatrick
"This Hindu temple cafeteria in Flushing is well known among the Indian community and the most serious of Indian food enthusiasts.You’ll see temple-goers and tourists alike flock to the fluorescent-lit basement for idlis, sambar, and big buttery dosas. Everything on the menu is vegetarian, and you won’t find better dosas in town. It’s a barebones operation with communal tables and folding chairs, but it's got just as many devotees as the deities upstairs. Buy some take home snacks while you wait in line to order, and make sure to check out the gift shop on your way out." - neha talreja, carina finn koeppicus, bryan kim
"Founded in 1993 and located in the basement of Flushing’s Ganesh temple, this place serves a strictly vegetarian menu of South Indian dishes, running to multiple varieties of dosa, plus uttapam with a choice of batter inclusions, and idly in several formats. There are vegetable curries and rice casseroles, too, in a family-friendly setting. Remove your shoes to visit the Hindu temple upstairs, where all are welcome." - Robert Sietsema
