Anoop K.
Google
Lakshmi Vilas Restaurant in Sadar Bazar, Agra, is a bit of a legend—arguably the city’s oldest South Indian eatery, serving diners since 1956. With roots tracing back to Palghat in Kerala, the restaurant has long been a go-to for those craving flavours from south of the Vindhyas in the heart of the City of Taj.
A couple of days ago, while passing through Agra en route to Delhi, I made a deliberate lunch stop here. Our order covered a good spread: masala dosa, dahi rice, vada sambar, and a Kerala porotta paired with vegetable kuruma and raita.
The sambar leaned more towards an Udupi-style profile, which personally isn’t my favourite, though the coconut chutney was spot on. The tomato chutney packed a serious punch and was noticeably spicy. The masala dosa was enjoyable—crisp and satisfying—and the dahi rice, served with crunchy appalam, was comforting and well done.
The vada, unfortunately, didn’t quite hit the mark. That said, the Kerala porotta stole the show. Soft, flaky porottas with a flavourful kuruma and cooling onion raita made for a winning combination and easily the highlight of the meal.
Overall, Lakshmi Vilas offers a decent and honest South Indian meal, rooted in tradition. For anyone seeking authentic flavours from south of the Vindhyas while in Agra, this old-school institution is well worth a visit.