Saravanaa Bhavan

My new favorite Indian restaurant! Kaima Idli is very unique and tasty. Ravi Masala Dosa is the best I’ve ever had, and the lassi here is great. Great tiffins, teas, and very clean and neat. My mom said the food is reasonably priced. I will definitely be back.

We ordered two types of dosa — Rava masala with onions and butter masala. Ah, the butter dosa was extremely delicious; we never expected it to be so good. The Rava dosa, tatte idli, paneer butter masala, butter naan, and Gobi Manchurian were delicious too. The medu vada was just okay — it wasn’t completely cooked inside, and the outside color was also just average. We also had filter coffee, which was quite expensive at around 4–5 bucks. The paratha was okay as well. Overall, I would give it a 4 out of 5. It’s a good place for pure vegetarians, with a few items that were really outstanding.

We went to Saravanaa Bhavan for a quick lunch based on a local recommendation, and in fact, we were driven to this place by a friend who lived in Houston. Saravanaa Bhavan is not new to us, as there is already one in Singapore, and we just wanted to experience what it is like in the US. It did not disappoint at all, and in fact, we were super full with the lunch we had here. We ordered Mango Lassi, our all-time favorite. We ordered the Special Meal Thali with Poori, which was delicious and very, very full. Just to remind that the Special Meal quantity is big and its difficult to finish all in the plate. The place is very easy to approach. Plenty of parking atleast during the lunch hours. The Restaurant itself is very clean and there is an open kitchen concept so what we see is what we get. We will go again to this place for another good meal.

The taste, quality, and hospitality were all the same as before. I didn't feel I was missing out on Chennai Saravanaa Bhavan, which was a wonderful and fulfilling experience. I ordered the vegetarian thali on a weekday, and it was very filling. I particularly enjoyed the large puri paired with vegetable kurma and chana masala; both were delicious. The two types of desserts were also delightful. The portion of curd and the two papads were generous. However, when I requested an extra serving of rice, they informed me that it would incur an additional charge, unlike the curries. Overall, I had a fantastic experience today and no longer feel the need to miss Chennai Saravanaa Bhavan.

Very fast service. Food was there in 1 5 minutes start ordered. Quality is good. Spacious, not loud.

Went there for lunch. Did the Idli, masla dosa and palak paneer with garlic naan. Very good food. Service was good. Food came quick.

Update 9/14/25 updated to 2 star: we came here for a Sunday night dinner and were thoroughly disappointed. Gobi Manchurian was old and soft not crunchy how it usually has been. I ordered aapam as it was a Sunday special and the appam was overdone and coldish, not soft but crispy. My partners food didn’t arrive until i was done eating and then we asked them to take it off but they didn’t. Kept delaying saying it’s coming and it’s on the way. Then later it finally arrived and we didn’t even end up touching his course and they still charged us anyway. On top of that the server was expecting a tip. I don’t know, will need to find another spot. Another family for dinner had other issues with their food. I guess the quality is deteriorating by the day. Previous 4 stars about 1 year ago: Too spicy but very satisfying. This was my only meal for the day as you really don’t even think about eating anything else after this!!

As a franchised restaurant, the expectation is that they will serve the authentic Saravana Bhavan recipes. Unfortunately, they have their own take on the dishes. Their curd vada has chat inspired sauces all over it. The plantain bajji is loaded. I'm unsure what made them innovate when there isn't a necessity.

It had been a while since I stopped by Saravanaa for a bite to eat. I can say that it was very nice to re-visit some fond memories. The interior was spacious and clean, I still love those floral looking lights that hang from the ceiling! Our server was attentive and prompt in taking our staggered orders. The food was flavorful, with the palak matar being creamy and generously portioned. The naan was buttery and flaky and complemented it well. The start of the show however, was the coffee! That was the experience I wanted to recreate, and it was perfect! A nice place for a casual bite!

Kind of regular but was never here on a weekend and I realized they have a whole separate weekend special menu- As of now it is: Idiyappam Appa Tatte Idli Ghee podi tathe idli Vegetable bonda Mysore bonda Masala vada Rava idli So had to change all planned items in my head and purchase weekend specials- and that was a good choice .... it was worth it. Priced reasonable definitely to try

Can't describe how much I love this comfort food. The mini ghee idli with sambar was the absolute best. And the filter coffee, just heaven. Also loved the poori masala and the sweet kesari. My friends who ordered the dosas were also devouring it. This place is an absolute must when in Houston. Customer service is also really good.

Authentic south Indian food. Service is good also. They have an open kitchen through which you can see how the food is prepared

The food was tasty and delicious, pricing is perfect. Loved the lassi and naans!! Definitely best choices for Veggie Indian options

I mostly go here for dosa only so can't comment on other menus but dosa is on point. Never too crowded during weekend lunch time and service is quick. Love their onion rava dosa!

Food is always a hit or a miss at this place. Today the food was average or below average. The chili paneer and mango lassi were the only really good things I had today. The dosa was just a bit bland and the chutneys didn't taste as good as they have in the past. The waiters are waiting near you the whole time and don't give you space. There are definitely other better Indian restaurants you could spend your money at.

New favorite spot for sure. This place is so much better than the Maharaja Bohg. Clean facility, great food, kind service. I absolutely loved the mini idli. You can ask for it separate or with the sauce, and the latter was the way to go. The coconut chutney with it was great as well. 5/5 I don't know that many dishes so I got the thali (special meal) and I'm glad I got it. Can't remember what all I had but I loved the sweet tapioca and all the curries. The yogurts were ok. I loved that my thali came with a huge fried puri and the other light flatbread thing. Both were yum. 5/5 My friends also enjoyed their meal :) Good stuff all around!

One of the worst place!!!! Big time cheaters! They charge for the food that was not even ordered! When we inform them they don't bother to even listen! Worst staff and manager too! Not worth keeping a penny of tip too!

Loved this place! Overall a 4.5/5 for me. Stop by if you're craving dosas and South Indian fare (more snack-like / street foods) or just want tasty Indian food that's beyond chicken tikka masala and saag paneer. Dosas are like big crispy crepes made from a batter of rice or lentils. They're usually served with chutney and sambar (lentil stew), but Saravanaa served their savory coconut and green (cilantro?) versions on the side. The sambas was delicious as well. You can choose fillings in the middle (potato is a nice way to start!) or have it plain. There's a big kitchen window to watch them make these massive dosas, and they are impressively long when they arrive to the table! As the ultimate finger food, the dosa's edges were crisp and flavorful, and the middle with filling was soft but not falling apart. So much fun and so much yum! The Uttapam I looks like a little savory pizza made from the same dosa batter but thicker and with more toppings on top. It's soft instead of crispy but is also scrumptious! Served with the same chutneys and sambar as the dosa/other main dishes. The thali (lots of little dishes) was okay but not that impressive for me-- many of the offerings were too similar for my tastes, and nothing stood out. They had a tasty sweet lemony dessert with the thali though! There's a bit parking lot and the service was friendly. One of the best dosas I've had in town and definitely fun for any adventurous friends who have never had one before! Definitely coming back :D Check them out~

We like this place food and service were good. Portion wise is not bad neither. Prices range is quite reasonable. It's completely vegetarian restaurant. They have a big paper dosa like 2 feet long.

Craving for South Indian food ordered take out which included thali, bisibellabath, pongal and masala onion dosa. Was disappointing to see only chick peas in the curries that were given in thali(4 curries) and not sure why they gave raita and curd. But overall for price was decent meal. Pongal was really good but very pricy for the portion sizes, same goes for masala onion dosa which tastes decent lacked flavor In filling and onions were cut too big and inconsistency in cuts. Bisibellabath wasn't good same goes with sambar which I had high hopes for was very disappointing. Onion bhajji was horrible wouldn't recommend getting it. Ambiance was gloomy and smelled weird to me. Overall would go back for thali and pongal.

Decent food at reasonable prices! I've been here many times with my family, and I can absolutely say that it's one of my favorite South Indian restaurants in Houston. Staff is friendly and professional, and they can be very accommodating with requests. For example, one thing that's important to know is that the food here can be quite spicy - and I say this as someone who enjoys relatively spicy food. Even mild can be on the hotter side. However, if you are direct about exactly what you mean by that, they can accommodate your request, even though it's uncommon for the restaurant to go that mild. The Gobi Manchurian? Crispy, flavorful, phenomenal. Masala dosa? A bit on the softer side, which is perfect if you're like me and not a fan of a super crispy type. The masala itself has always been flavorful, although it can be greasy sometimes. Mango lassi? Sweet, thick, and creamy - absolutely perfect. I highly recommend giving this place a chance and will keep coming back!

Came here for an early dinner on a rainy day. We were seated immediately and the place was pretty empty. ATMOSPHERE: Standard for a restaurant in this area. Spacious seating and a quiet interior. I appreciated how clean the restaurant felt. FOOD: Friend and I both ordered the vegetarian thali (platter). This basically has a variety of small dishes of dal, curries, vegetable mixes, yogurt, dessert, poori, and rice. This dish was not clearly written on their menu, so you have to ask for it. The food was good, and I'd say the dishes were 50:50 for ones that were flavorful and ones that were bland/meh. Luckily, since there are so many to choose from in the platter, you'll probably get at least one that you like. My favorite was their dal lentil soup. SERVICE: Could be better. While our order was taken quickly, we weren't checked-up on during our time there despite the restaurant being pretty much empty, and it was hard to get our waitress's attention for requests. PRICE/VALUE: For the thali, the value is great. You get a ton of food for ~$14, and a large variety of food too. Overall, this is a tried and true vegetarian Indian chain. If you want to try a decently authentic Indian thali/platter, this is a solid choice, but there are definitely better options in the area, food quality and service-wise.

Came here for a late lunch with a very large party and they accommodated us with very short notice- which was very much appreciated. My favorites were gobi 65, gobi Manchurian, masala dosa and the channa Bhatura. The food came out really quick, hot and sooo delicious!! Everyone in our party really enjoyed the food and the excellent customer service that was provided. Their gulaab Ajman is also delicious! Can't wait to come back for more dosa. If you're looking for vegetarian cuisine that will have you wanting more.. this is the place!!

Very good vegetarian Indian spot. Very good food and service. I would recommend trying if you have not. I will be back.

I thoroughly enjoyed a Thali dinner at this location. The food is always served fresh and quickly the staff is friendly and very attentive to your needs while dining in.

The restaurant is a fine place with a good spread of vegetarian choices. The venue is on Westheimer and has ample parking spaces. We visited for dinner and the restaurant was bustling with activity. The hostess seated us quickly and the service was excellent. The food was well made and the portions were sufficient. Pricing was appropriate Will be going back !!

Always a great spot for a dosa fix and their chime bhature is unmatched. Great for families and large groups are accommodated greatly. Kids options are great with idlis and cheese dosa or puri by itself.

Attentive customer service. Clean. Great portions for the price! My Indian friend said that this was her favorite place to get Thali and Dosa, and so I had to give it a try. Heard this place is a huge international chain too. I can't speak on the authenticity, but I did enjoy trying Thali with the different sides in the fitted bowls! There was so much food that I was only able to finish half. My friend mentioned that the menu is usually extensive, but they'd shortened it since reopening. The menu was one sheet, double sided this time. I liked how we were able to see the kitchen from the outside. Most of the cooks were wearing masks... except for one. That was a little bit concerning, but I felt safe other than that. Would come again!!

Definitely felt like a little piece of home. Loved the coconut chutney, but was a bit disappointed by the appetizer (Chili Paneer). Service was nice, and ambiance was as well. Music was a bit louder than expected. Staff still had masks on, so that felt comfortable. Would recommend.

It is a very authentic Indian restaurant in houston, but it is VEGETARIAN. The flavors were spot on, and their portions were more than one person can finish! Definitely bring an extra person or two!

Superb food specially the rava masala dosa. Excellent service and staff. Ambiance of the restaurant is very good and lively.

Saravanaa Bhavan serves tasty vegetarian foods from South India that are healthy and wholesome. Go here with a good appetite so that you can enjoy every dish to its fullest. This restaurant is always bustling with activity and the service is quick. You can see the chefs in the kitchen making various kinds of bread. Every dish has a distinct flavor and the staff is friendly and accommodating.

Great for an authentic South Indian snack or meal Quick service and spacious interior.

Super authentic South Indian cuisine. I traveled to India for work and have been craving the food ever since. This place took me right back, it was so delicious! The masala dosa and chili paneer were standouts for me. Will definitely be back!!

My best friend took me here to try. It was my first time in an Indian restaurant so I was a little nervous lol I don't remember the name but I got his usual (see picture) and it was really good!! I wasn't too fond of the sauces in the middle but the two on the outside were great. And the mashed potato inside was delicious. What I didn't get a picture of was the appetizer we had. It was like a chili spiced fried cauliflower. SO GOOD!

Came here for Sunday's brunch and ordered the thali. It said executive lunch on the menu as none of us can locate it. Waiter was friendly but couldn't really explain and elaborate on the menu. Understood it's a worldwide chain so we expected staffs to be more knowledgeable. The waiter brought us the thali and didn't even bother to explain what each dish was. We tried and food were a bit spicier than what we preferred. Good portion and a tad more expensive than on Hilcroft. Ample parking and quite clean.

Sarvanaa Bhavan is a good restaurant!! I loved the quality of the dosa and price was also amazing! One dosa is enough to feed two people! It was tasty, fresh, and good quality.

Came with the family for dinner on Friday. My mom was visiting from India, and only agreed to come out of the house to try South Indian food. Loved the food, especially the Onion Rava Masala Dosa, Bhatura and the gobhi Manchurian, kesari bath. Vicky our waiter was fantastic and helped us with making the right choices and also cautioning us about the portions and not over-ordering. Will definitely be coming back again. Thank you Vicky!

I absolutely love the Channa Batura! I ordered pick up and it was still delicious by the time I arrived home to enjoy it! The restaurant itself is very clean & the service is pleasant. :) I will be returning very soon !

Terrible food. Ordered on door dash and didn't receive my complete order and also what I received has bones in it!

Love the variety of great dosa here! I normally get the Combo #1 which has several small dishes and a huge "mini" dosa masala that is over a foot long. Very tasty and quick vegetarian restaurant without all the fuss.

Their menu is like the Cheesecake Factory menu. A giant book with a few pictures of the food. I got the Mysore masala dosa and it was amazing and crispy; just the way I like it. It is spicy. The chutneys and sambar were decent. We also got the plate of mendu vada, a bit pricey for just two vadas. I like this location a lot better than the sugar land one.

This is a nice place with lots of seating space. We ordered combo, Thalia and uttapam. Everything was so delicious and surely satisfied our taste buds. The place was super busy but still the service was amazingly fast.

We were in Houston this weekend and I was literally dying to try this place.. coz I love dosa!!! We had madras coffee, medu vada, masala dosa, onion uttapam and den madras coffee again!! It was real good. Quick service, we finished eating all of that in like 30 mins tops!! Soo quick that I could only take pictures of what I had ordered, my husband was already digging in food by the time I finished clicking my food!!

My second visit here and I enjoyed the Indian cuisine. Very flavorful and great prices.

Absolute trash. Anyone who rates it higher has no idea about South Indian food. Sambar and Chutneys were tasteless...Ootapam was not fully cooked....Sambar vadai was bad vadai just dropped into the tasteless sambar. The restaurant and its owners should be ashamed to call it a South Indian restaurant of repute..... save your money and go somewhere else. The quality of this place has been going down the drain for a while and the only people who give good reviews are those who don't know anything about South Indian food

World famous dosa and service for a reason! Love this restaurant. Always 5 stars!!!!!

Average food- or below average depending on what you ordered. They've clean place but the food or it's taste doesn't compete with what's offered in and around Houston! The veg Biryani was a joke. Entree sizes are a joke too esp compared to the prices they charge. Wouldn't visit this place when there are so many other delicious vegetarian options around for much cheaper price. Two stars here are for their ambience and service.

The best South Indian restaurant in Houston!! I'm from Chennai, Tamil Nadu in India and LOVE South Indian food - particularly Dosas! This restaurant has the BEST DOSAS in Houston. I'm a regular and indulge in dosas here almost every weekend! Their paper masala dosa is to die for! I also loved the authentic South Indian chutneys and Sambars they serve. The staff is always welcoming, polite and friendly. Particularly Arif is very good at making recommendations and makes sure to accommodate all special requests. This place is a must visit for anyone who loves South Indian food and wants to try some delicious dosas and South Indian tiffin varieties!

I had been there before although this is the first, second and third time that I ordered a South Indian thali. How do you describe a Devine experience? The taste is what it's all about. Saravanaa Bhavan has hit the mark precisely. The service non intrusive and courteous. The place is CLEAN. Unless there is a Saravanaa Bhavan in heaven, it cannot be heaven.

This place is decent if you're looking for vegetarian south Indian food Interior is really well designed but food isn't They have variety of chutney (sauces) Dosa and Idli isn't as great as I thought Terrible service Waiter took our order and forgot about it we had to keep on reminding him Taste is okay and overpriced You can only go there for Filter coffee

If you are a vegetarian looking to spice things up, make Saravanaa your first priority. Once simply cannot go wrong with their housemade dosas. Cool vibe with open views of the kitchen. Saravanaa is one of the more traditional Indian restaurants and I believe this is one of the largest vegetarian chains in the world. For foodies out there...DEFINITELY A MUST

Kinda disappointed!! Vada tasted not fresh. We bought Puri, that was really good. Coffee was too strong, filter coffee hype was not there..

My fav South Indian restaurant all time. I come here to have rave dosai my fav and hot madras coffee. It's really good and all the chutneys they serve with the dosai is too good. Unlike any other North Indian restaurants, here is the only place you get four different quality chutney with good sambar. So dosai means, come over here without second thought. Thali Meals are good too. Kesari dessert they serve in thali is the best without fake ghee . Yes u can smell the ghee.

This place only recently opened up in Houston, Texas (December 20th, 2014). I was very excited because this place is famous worldwide for their masala dosa. When I first tried it here, I was not disappointed. Don't listen to the haters; if you want some authentic South-Indian food, try this place out. What to order: -Masala Dosa Pros: -Price Cons: -None

Just left here and the manager didn't help much, didn't go and check to see if food was ready. I had a pick up order for this place. Seems to be a nice place to eat. But service is HORRIBLE! Some short kid with a maroon shirt and black pants shake his hand at me after I was trying to ask him about an order. He didn't care nor cared I was even taking to him. I know he wasn't the cook or back of the house as his shirt wasn't dirty and I've worked in the restaurant industry for over 8 years and that kid was very unprofessional I wouldn't have him infront of the house if he worked for me. Wouldn't come here again! To eat or pick up food.

We found Saravanaa Bhavan while driving down Westheimer looking for a spot to heal our hunger pains. As soon as I saw "Vegetarian Indian" I made an immediate right into the parking lot. I love Southern Indian and was thrilled to see this place. Upon entering, I felt assured this was probably going to be pretty good. If you walk into a restaurant of a specific region's cuisine and find 95% of the customers are of the same regional background - you might have made a good choice. The interior was also upbeat and bright, which is also refreshing for an Indian restaurant. It also had a large windowed kitchen so you could see your food being prepared. We were lead to our seats, but I wanted to sit elsewhere and was appeased with no fuss. Our table was clean and had stainless steel water pitchers and cups ready to go. We scanned the numerous Dosas that were on the menu and once we made our selection our very nice server came over to take our order. First we started with the Mini Ghee Idly. They were soft and smothered in very delicious lentil gravy. I really enjoyed this dish. For the dosas we ordered the Rava Masala Dosa and Mysore Masala Dosa. They came out quickly and had tons of flavor. The Rava was very crisp and if you like them crispier I do recommend this one. My mysore was yummy and had crisp edges and nice spongy interior. The chutneys were also very scrumptious. I really loved the Coconut and Coriander. Our server noticed I was finishing up the coriander and came to ask if I wanted more. The mango lassi was also very delicious. I'm a fan of this place for sure and can't wait to go back and introduce it to my other South Indian loving friends.