Madras Mantra Decatur

"Hitting up the vegetarian Indian buffet at Madras Mantra is a brilliant lunchtime move. At just $14 per person, this efficient buffet line is a go-to for on-the-clock meals, while the quiet booths offer sanctuary for those days when your last shred of small talk died in yesterday's Zoom meeting. Slide in with a bowl of hearty tadka dal, savory beet poriyal, or thick eggplant potato curry, and tune out." - juli horsford, jacinta howard, nina reeder

"For more than a decade, Madras Mantra’s original Decatur location has been a go-to for vegetarians seeking big flavors and a smorgasbord of exciting options. Here, South Indian food shines in dishes like savory beet poriyal and thick eggplant potato curry. Dinner is a la carte, but if you stop by for the fast-moving lunch buffet, you can fill up on everything from crispy mushroom manchurian to a comforting dal for only $14. That’s also when this restaurant really fills up with solo diners, lunch break buddies, neighborhood regulars, and seniors meeting up for a meal." - juli horsford, jacinta howard, nina reeder

"Madras Mantra features many south Indian vegetarian dishes like spicy rasam soup, its popular lentil stew sambar, chili paneer, and dosa and uttapam variations. The menu also includes familiar north Indian entrees like dal palak — a spinach and lentil stew — choley masala — a stew of garbanzo beans — and south Indian regional fare such as the fiery hot gutti vankaya curry made with banana peppers and peanuts. Chutneys are available in takeout containers. Madras Mantra includes two locations in Decatur and Marietta. Vegan and gluten-free dishes are marked on the menu." - Eater Staff

"While they offer a la carte for dinner, their AYCE lunch experience has our hearts—and our budget's approval. At $14 per person, Madras Mantra’s entirely vegetarian Indian buffet is like a playground for non-meat eaters who want to fill up on more flavorful things than just a boring salad bar. Here, you'll be joined by Decatur’s lunch break buddies, neighborhood regulars, and seniors having meet-ups over crunchy mushroom manchurian. The restaurant is roomy. And the buffet, which does South Indian food very well (the savory beet poriyal and thick eggplant potato curry in particular), moves quickly. So this place works for on-the-clock lunches just as well as it does for days when you want to tuck yourself in a corner with a bowl of hearty tadka dal and tune out the world. Food Rundown Mushroom Manchurian This is maybe the best thing at the buffet. Crispy batter-fried mushrooms are tossed in a thick, tangy, and spicy glazewhile the mushrooms stay perfectly crunchy. Beet Poriyal This dish is delicious, and balances earthy-sweet cubed beets with a mild kick from the spices. Eggplant Potato Curry Thick and hearty, this is a great dish for when Atlanta weather turns rainy and gloomy. The potatoes act as a natural thickening agent, making this spicy dish more velvety. Tadka Dal Tender lentils swim in a flavorful, soup-like broth infused with spices (we’re guessing some heavy cumin), and chilies add a nice layer of heat. Medhu Vadai The crispy, golden lentil fritters are soft inside, nicely spiced with hints of cumin. They’re the ideal dunking companion for tangy chutney or hearty sambar." - Jacinta Howard

"An Atlanta staple for decades, Madras Mantra includes two locations in Decatur and Marietta. The menu features many iconic south Indian dishes like spicy rasam soup, the popular lentil stew sambar, and dosa and uttapam variations, all ideal for gluten-free or vegan diners. The menu also includes familiar north Indian entrees like dal palak — a spinach and lentil stew — choley masala — a stew of chickpeas — and south Indian regional fare such as the fiery hot gutti vankaya curry made with banana peppers and peanuts. Chutneys are available in takeout containers. There’s a sister restaurant, Madras Chettinaad, in Alpharetta." - Nandita Godbole, Eater Staff