Top 5 South Indian Restaurants in Mississauga

Mangaloreans, Goans, Tamils and all my peeps from Kerala stand up! That’s right, I’m looking at you with your delicious dosa and soft fluffy Idly! I’m looking at you my Goan friends, with your tender spicy and sumptuous Pork Vindaloo! South Indian cuisine (I know, I know, Goa is not technically South India, however for today’s purposes it is) is full of spicy flavours and interesting taste profiles that are different from its northern cousins and it deserves some serious recognition! 

So without further delay, here are the top 5 South Indian restaurants in Mississauga:

5 – Saravanaa Bhavan  

This South Indian spot is located in the plaza beside Oceans, which gives this place brownie points in my book because I am there often. Anyways, this place is most popular for its all-vegetarian buffet and every time I have been, it’s delicious. I have heard rumblings of poor customer service, however the staff are always nice to me and do their best to keep the buffet full of the light and fluffy idly and delicious dosa.  A hidden feature of this restaurant is that if you are throwing a massive South Indian jam in your back yard, you can hire their chef to cook live! How much more impressive is that than cooking a dirty old cheeseburger?

4 – Udupi Madras Cafe

You’d be forgiven if you said you’d never heard of this tucked-away gem on Enfield Place, right behind the Sussex Centre. It’s not visible from the street, but its central location and unique menu brimming with Southern Indian vegetarian cuisine puts this pleasant finding high on our list of must-visit Indian restos. The cafe, intimate and decorated in dark, rich hues, offers diners the chance to sample medu vada (a sort of savory doughnut), various dosas (crepe-like wraps) and South Indian Thali, a mini five-course meal served with a pickle, pappad, yogurt, buttermilk, sambar, rasam, poriyal, dal or kootu, gravy, rice of the day, white rice, chapati or poori and the dessert of the day. The Thali is served on a round platter with rice in the center and, despite sounding overwhelming, isn’t too much for one person to finish. Diners looking for an even more authentic experience can enjoy a masala chai (tea) after their meal. The fair price point, attentive service and highly customizable menu (you can specify spice, oil and texture level for dosas) makes this inconspicuous vegetarian resto more than worth the search.

3 – Konkan Delite 

You know your buddy at work that looks to be of Indian decent, speaks with a bit of an accent but has a Portuguese last name like DaSilva, Fernando or Mathias? Well I can pretty much guarantee you that he or she is Catholic and Goan or Mangalorean and that means one thing: PORK VINDALOO! The most famous of all Goan dishes, this spicy, slightly acidic bowl of deliciousness is a rarity outside of the Christian areas of India and Konkan Delight does it right. I am also a HUGE fan of the Pork Sorpotel, which a traditional Goan pork stew, typically served around Christmas time, but I eat it all year round! They also have a variety of delicious fish dishes and catering services which are top notch. 

2 – Anjappar Chettinad

There are few things of Indian decent that are hotter than Padma Lakshmi. One of those things is the mutton pepper fry at Anjappar Chettinad. This South Asian joint has been serving up both veg and non-veg South Indian cuisine for some time to the Mississauga locals. I for one love the fact that they have a whiteboard in front that displays the daily specials. Some of the more popular items are the whole fish dishes and mutton. There is also a wonderful selection of dosas, all of which come out hot, fresh and mouthwatering.  The lunch buffet is a big hit with the local business crowd. Fridays can get busy, but trust me it’s worth it. 

1 – Guru Lukshmi Dosa

This is my favourite and, dare I say, most popular South Indian restaurant in the GTA–and for good reason.  The recently expanded location has undergone a renovation that closed the restaurant for some months, causing a near riot in the foodie/Indian community in the region. The service here is excellent and the helpful wait staff is more than happy to explain each dish and chilli level to first timers.  To me, there is nothing more beautiful than a crispy and buttery Masala dosa with three different fresh chutneys and the soup (Sambar), which is to die for.  Here is a tip, MAKE RESERVATIONS or you may be forced to wander the parking lot at Mclaughlan and Derry for an hour as you wait for an open table.  Also, meat lovers need not apply, this place is strictly vegetarian.