ThayirSadam

I was intrigued by the traditional name of this South Indian place and decided to check it out during my first visit to Berkeley. Although the curd rice seems to be the star of the place (and much reviewed), I went for the idli vada combo with a filter coffee. Also, out of eye hunger, I ordered Maggi. The portions were quite small for a full meal, so it’s better suited for a quick snack. The idli batter tasted a bit sour, possibly over-fermented, and the filter coffee didn’t quite live up to expectations. That said, the place itself has a cozy and casual vibe.

We ordered their signature dish, the ThayirSadam, along with curry puffs, masala bites, and filtered coffee. Everything tasted fresh and was excellent The coffee was foaming up top and rich. Great place but really wish they served dosas I would come here every week if they had dosas

We had the yogurt rice (with some toppings) and the masala bites (if you've heard of paniyaaram, it's basically that with potato masala filling). I was just looking to have my comfort meal and that's exactly what I got. The place itself was cozy too.

Delicious, hearty, healthy vegetarian south Indian vegetarian food like I never had before! The staff are very friendly and the atmosphere is very nice. It's my new favorite lunch spot in Berkeley! The medium TS with oats and lots of toppings is a solid meal!

Got the rice yogurt bowl with toppings and the medu vada.. Both very freshly made, tasted amazing and filling! the vibe of the restaurant is soulful and soothing.. would recommend going here!

I’ve been wanting to try Thayir Sadam for a while and finally got the opportunity on a recent trip to Berkeley! It’s so rare to find good South Indian food, and especially more specific types of South Indian food like this, that it was awesome to see this concept in action. If you’ve never had Thayir Sadam (the base is a South Indian yogurt rice), you’re missing out. It’s the perfect balance of simple food but unique execution, and this restaurant nailed it! They offer a ton of customizations on the menu, as well as auxiliary snacks and drinks (both the puffs and filter coffee were excellent). I’d definitely recommend trying a few new things next time you’re here! The ambiance inside the building is great, and offers a good amount of seating as well. Service is fast and they’re very helpful when you’re trying to figure out what to order! I got to meet one of the co-owners during my visit and he extended excellent hospitality during my time at the restaurant. I’ll definitely be back!

I was at this joint last month, the thayir saadham (curd rice) was prepared after I placed the order. The ingredients were all fresh. They top off the rice with pickle, fried curd chillis, some seasonings. They give you the options to choose the toppings you want in curd rice. It definitely tasted like home made stuff. Hope they will be able to keep up the quality in the future.

A fresh and authentic rendition of the classic comfort food - made of rice, freshly made yogurt, and seasoning for flavor. This is served with Indian pickle and crispy appalam. There is a toppings bar - mango, carrot, cucumber, coconut, dry fruits, grapes, kiwi, paneer, and garbanzo. We loved it. There is a nice seating within the restaurant. @dr.pal.manickam will be delighted - 2Fs checked - Fermented and Fiber (through vegetables)!

super comforting home style south indian food! their onion samosas are so good and i love their idly and sambar. also really refreshing curd that is healthy and delish. overall great spot with amazing ambiance, service, and food!

I've been wanting to try Thayir Sadam for a while and finally got the opportunity on a recent trip to Berkeley! It's so rare to find good South Indian food, and especially more specific types of South Indian food like this, that it was awesome to see this concept in action. If you've never had Thayir Sadam (the base is a South Indian yogurt rice), you're missing out. It's the perfect balance of simple food but unique execution, and this restaurant nailed it! They offer a ton of customizations on the menu, as well as auxiliary snacks and drinks (both the puffs and filter coffee were excellent). I'd definitely recommend trying a few new things next time you're here! The ambiance inside the building is great, and offers a good amount of seating as well. Service is fast and they're very helpful when you're trying to figure out what to order! I got to meet one of the co-owners during my visit and he extended excellent hospitality during my time at the restaurant. I'll definitely be back!

I think this is a great place. The ingredients are very fresh and appear to be good quality. The bowls are healthy and robust. The people working there / owners are friendly and helpful. The place is also CLEAN! Including the bathroom. Why not 5 stars? The food was completely inedible to me, as a spice wuss. You can choose "no spice" when you order (off a kiosk, not from a person), but many of the toppings are spiced, which I didn't know. I tried really hard to eat it and just couldn't. I'd love if they indicated what was spicy, or had a protein that was non-spiced as an option for people like me. Also, the water cups were very tiny, though they did offer refills. So it's a pretty good place if I gave it 4 stars even though I had to throw away the meal and go eat elsewhere. I'd definitely recommend it to anyone I know who is not a spice wuss.

Ok I was really intrigued when I saw the signage outside (Thayir Sadam means Curd Rice in a couple of South Indian languages). Curd rice was definitely a go-to comfort food for my family while growing up so I was excited to check out the menu. It was cool to see that you could really customize your bowl to your taste (from size to toppings to spice level etc). I got the medium spicy Thayir sadam with carrot and cucumber toppings and mango pickle. It was so good - I wolfed down the whole thing in a matter of minutes - something I don't usually do for a vegetarian dish! I also got a chai to go which was solid. Look forward to coming back the next time I'm in Berkeley!

Delicious, hearty, healthy vegetarian south Indian vegetarian food like I never had before! The staff are very friendly and the atmosphere is very nice. It's my new favorite lunch spot in Berkeley! The medium TS with oats and lots of toppings is a solid meal!

Thoroughly enjoyed my visit here today and got a medium bowl of chefs choice.... Aka I didn't know what anything was and asked the staff to put together my bowl lol Serious shoutout to them tho for explaining everything as I gazed at the menu like a deer Didn't think I'd be full from a medium bowl but it was very satisfying The spot is well kept, it's clean and lightly decorated.

Guys, you won't believe it. I got a yogurt and oatmeal bowl with pickled mango and blueberries for less than $20. You can get your yogurt fix for so so cheap right here in the heart of Berkeley. Definitely try the spices and various toppings. I mixed the mango, blueberries and paneer for a perfect breakfast. Also, their spices really add an earthy, numbing flavor. Definitely check it out!

Such a delicious vegetarian thali experience! They have all you can eat thali which they refill at table side, along with different starches and dessert including mango lassi. The restaurant is clean and tidy, with excellent service. My favorite dishes was a curry with edamame that was super flavorful as well as the rice porridge. Will happily go back again!

The masala idli was so so fire and the owner always checked and asked how the food was! Great customer service and best of all the filter coffee was so tasty.

Fantastic and hit the comfort food itch! Service was friendly and informal; ambiance is casual. No outdoor seating Edit: I've now been back a few times, and the quality is consistently excellent. The yogurt is made in the store, and tastes like the fresh yogurt my grandmother used to make. The portion sizes are generous. My favorite combo is mild chili, extra spice, mango, boondi, pickle, and peanuts. All the combos are good though, and I love that the seasonal fruit is perfectly ripe.

Clean, inviting atmosphere. It's a simple, yet unique concept and the food is truly amazing. Highly recommend it.

Excellent food. Kind owner. A taste of Kerala in Berkeley! We enjoyed the food and atmosphere very much.

Got the protein blast and spicy. It was a good and good enough portion size for 2 meals.

The food was pretty good, I kept it simple. Tempered with curry leaves and mustard seeds of course, and carrot, along w urga. Also had paniyaram. They were deep fried and yummy, though I was expecting a little more quantity wise for the price. Thayir sadam could have some more seasoning for the carrots. It would be in their benefit to expand to dosa, Vada, etc. The aroma of those foods wafting through the air might bring more people to check out the place. Maybe they could expand to desserts and more traditional drinks as well

Delicious and authentic South Indian comfort food at its absolute best. You won't find anything like this anywhere else in Berkeley. While yogurt rice may sound strange if you haven't had it before, give this place a shot because it will absolutely change your mind. Make sure to add toppings - it's what brings the flavor bursts to this comforting dish! Take this advice from a fellow Indian! This place is worth trying!

This is a great place to meet with study groups or clubs! They have great chai and affordable snacks!

Delicious, healthy, and fresh! The owner is very nice. This will definitely be my new regular

This place was so excellent! I really didn't know what to expect, but the chef was incredibly helpful in walking me through the menu. This was such comfort food, incredibly flavorful and textural that left me feeling full but not weighed down. If you are looking for something nourishing, protein rich, and vegetarian, Couldn't recommend more!!

So excellent. So wonderful. I hadn't had this dish before, and we really loved it. Our favorite toppings were the dried fruit, the paneer cheese, and nuts.

What a gem, right off campus. The owner is very kind and will walk you through how to order. You can tell he takes a lot of pride in the food, and it shows! The dish is savory, healthy, and comforting. And the toppings add a unique twist to a traditional dish - love the build your own bowl concept. The restaurant is warm and inviting- a homestyle experience that complements the delicious comfort food. It's impossible to find good South Indian food in the area, but this is the best I've had thus far. A must try!!

Service was extremely dissatisfying and disheartening. Due to the my food allergies, I inquired about food modification/substitution and the employee glared at me like he was completely baffled then offended. Ultimately, he refused to serve me or accommodate my food allergies in any way.

I was visiting Berkeley yesterday, and would drive the 1.5 hours just to come back to Thayir Sadam! The food was amazing! I had a savory bowl with all the fixings, and it was so fresh and delicious! The service was delightful! Having never tried this dish, they walked me through everything with patience and warm smiles. The Chai is delicious, unsweetened, so you can sugar it to taste. Love it here! Can't wait to come back! Thank you for feeding me with love you can taste!

I had the snack of the day and the made it fresh for me, super delicious Indian crepe batter fried in little balls with a chutney on the side. Very clean and comfortable place. All their other food looks tasty too!

Delicious food, really clean and comfy restaurant, wonderful service. Happy to see more good south indian food in the area now :)

Tasty, refreshing South Indian food! Spice level was just right and the toppings made it a wholesome meal. Would recommend!

Tried the Eden bowl and it was a perfect blend of fruits and carbs in a bowl. Highly recommend!