Shan
Google
This was my first time trying South Indian food in Singapore — and honestly, my first time having dosa here — and I was genuinely impressed by how many different varieties there are. MTR felt like a solid place for a proper introduction, and the food delivered on flavour. The overall experience, though, was a bit of a mixed bag.
Service:
The food came out incredibly fast — dishes started arriving not long after we ordered, which was great.
But the service quickly shifted into something less pleasant. The staff kept trying to clear our plates even while we were still eating, and they often assumed we were done with our shared dishes when we weren’t. It felt rushed, like they wanted the table turned over as quickly as possible.
After finishing our meal, we decided to get some takeaway items, and that’s when the service went from decent to bad. The waiting time suddenly became very long, our takeaway order was incorrect, a drink we ordered never arrived, and out of the two portions of plain idli we paid for, only one was brought out. It was frustrating, especially after a good dine-in start.
Ambiance:
The ambiance is nothing to shout about — functional, plain, and very no-frills. As a non-Indian diner, the place can feel a little intimidating to step into if you aren’t familiar with Indian eateries. I probably wouldn’t have tried it if not for my Indian friend’s recommendation.
Food:
Despite all that, the food itself was enjoyable and a great introduction to South Indian classics:
• Plain Idli — 5/10
Soft and spongey (akin to a plain tutu kueh/ putu piring), mostly a vessel for the green coconut chutney and tangy sambar.
• Sambar Vada — 6/10
Not used to the vada’s spongy texture, but the sambar was flavourful, familiar and comforting.
• Pudi Dosa — 7.5/10
Fragrant with a crispy base; the pudi seasoning packed a punch.
• Plain Dosa — 8/10
Tasty on its own and even better with the chutneys it came with.
• Rava Dosa — 9/10
The star of the meal — light, thin, crispy, and filled with soft potatoes.
• Curd Vada (cold dish) — 7/10
Tasty and cooling; the boondi added a fun crunchy contrast.
• Pudi Idli — 6/10
Very spicy but fragrant from the pudi seasoning.
