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House of Dosas
Category: Restaurants Indian Indian [Edit]
1391 KingswayVancouver, BC V5V 3E3
Neighbourhood: Kensington-Cedar Cottage
(604) 875-1283
- Hours:
Mon-Thu, Sun 11 am - 2 am
Fri-Sat 11 am - 3 am
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
93 reviews for House of Dosas
Review Highlights
"the traditional masala dosa."
(in 15 reviews)
"All dosas are $5.99 on Mondays at House of Dosas."
(in 15 reviews)
"The mango lassi is also very tasty and rich."
(in 7 reviews)
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93 reviews in English
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Review from Kasimir K.
Vancouver, BC
1/17/2012
This is an oasis in an area of mediocre restaurants near Knight and Kingsway. The numerous different dosas I have tried have all been great and filling. I recommend the vegetarian dosas over the meat at this restaurant. Other standouts are the Chicken 65 and the "401 Uthappam".
How can you go wrong with a $5.99 "Dosa Monday"? Usually televising cricket or soccer games on the TVs. Once you try it you'll quickly become a regular visitor. -
Review from Ly H.
Updated - 11/15/2011
Finally made it back to House of Dosas and I don't know what took us so long.
The food was great and there was plenty of it. The okra curry was especially yummy.
I don't know why I gave this place only 4 stars last time, not only does it deserves 5, but it needs to be added to our regular resturant rotation.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/16/2011
Super paper thin dosas with much flavor and a variety of fillings. We ordered the chicken vindaloo… Read more »
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Review from Sarah D.
10/9/2011
I consider myself a fairly ethnically diverse eater. I'll try anything at least once, and most of my favourite foods are completely foreign to folks such as my parents. (They're terrific people, don't get me wrong. They're just of the meat-and-potatoes ilk) I guess the gist of what I'm trying to say is that I've been there, I've done that, and I've tried it all.
Or so I thought.
While waiting for the bus after a recent grocery shopping excursion, I found myself standing across the street from the famed House of Dosa. It beckoned me to come inside, and I did. Upon entering I was promptly greeted, and I ordered a palak paneer dosa to go. I sat down and took in my surroundings: a few south Asian families enjoying meals together, bright terracotta-coloured walls, and a wild-haired, bright orange tunic-wearing man on the television with the most animated and mesmerizing facial expressions. I felt like I was in a completely foreign environment, and I loved it.
My food was ready within 10 minutes, and I promptly took it home to devour. When I opened the bag, I noticed my behemoth-sized dosa came with a soup and a green chutney (?). For the first time in _years_, I had no idea what I was eating, and that made me excited. The soup was incredible. It was perfectly spiced, and the vegetables (did I detect okra?) were delicious. The chutney was likewise very tasty. As for the dosa itself, it was terrific. I had never had homemade paneer, and boy, had I ever been missing out. Being that it was so huge, I could only eat half, but I'm hoping the second half can be salvaged with a quick stint in the oven.
I'll definitely be coming back to try out more of the dosas. House of Dosa: where have you been my whole life? -
Review from Reena M.
Updated - 1/4/2012 9 Check-ins Here
Recently something has changed in their quality. I came here with my coworkers and the food tasted really weird... kind of chemically. And then all of us that evening were sick to some extent as we discovered the next morning. It'll be a while until have dosas again. That was really too bad since I loved this place.
Listed in: A Coconut's Guide to Indian…, My Absolute Vancouver Food…
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/17/2010
I can't believe I've never written a review on this place and I've been here so many times!
This is… Read more »
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Review from Active R.
1/25/2012
Nice place to have a Dosa. The sambhar and the chutney were authentic. We had idli , masala dosa , mango lassi and vada.
I really liked the taste of sambhar. Much better place than Sarwana Bhavan. Authentic food.
Though the service was very slow , the owner was sweet. -
Review from Edward L.
Looks like they've updated their menu. They now have Prawn 65 and Paneer 65. We tried both today. Our conclusion? Anything "65" is freaking good. Drool.
Listed in: 2011 Cheap & Tasty, 2011 Ed's Picks
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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11/1/2011
Looks like I remember this place wrong. On Mondays, dosas are $6. This is INSANE.
The other thing… Read more »
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Review from Scott M.
Vancouver, BC
12/26/2011
We were introduced to the House of Dosas a few years back and have been regulars since. While the decor is definitely questionable, the food is spectacular and we have always had positive experiences.
My one complaint is that the restaurant gets extremely hot in the summer and there is no air conditioning, so we do not visit the restaurant during the summer months.
Remember to bring cash or a debit card as they do not take any credit cards. Also, all dosas are $5.99 on Mondays! They used to be open all night but have recently changed their hours from 11am to either 2 or 3 am. -
Review from Michael P.
Burnaby, BC
10/2/2011 1 Check-in Here
In search of delicious and reasonably priced Indian/Pakistani food? Pay the House of Dosa a visit! I can assure you that you won't be disappointed.
The size of the dosas are fit for a king and queen - double the size of the plate it's served on! In addition, every curry I have ordered on the list has yet to be a disappointment. Served along with rice, papadum, roti and sauces, I can guarantee that you won't leave the place feeling hungry, but rather anticipating your next visit.
The best part is that they're open 24/7. If you have a stomach that never sleeps (such as myself), this place is a blessing.
Parking is along available along Kingsway or the side streets and be sure to bring cash. Last time I was there, it was cash only. -
Review from Larry L.
Brought the kids here for Dosa's. It started off with an I love Indian food.
Mommy doesn't. I suggested we go for a walk and try the House of Dosa and have dinner there.
What's a Dosa? They asked. And if you must ask, then you should continue to read on those others who have reviewed here before.
The kids never having tried a Dosa were curious and shocked as to how big it was. Actually it's not that much, just that the oversized crepe looks impressive at first sight.
There are so many varieties that they decided to try the basic. One had chicken, the other had beef. and we all tried the chicken 67 or 57 or 78? Doh! I can't remember!
And we had the pakora's which I quite like here.
As for the Dosa, I just thought it was meh today. And my Lassi was a bit too salty. The kids loved the Mango shakes.
Unfortunately it didn't impress them as much as I'd hoped. They're more on the kick of a butter chicken which I keep telling them that it's not really Indian food. It's like us eating sweet and sour pork and fortune cookies.
Not that I'm complaining, but that on this evening, it was just meh.
Yes meh. not Yay!
Maybe I've been over dosa'd?
I did get to give them a lesson on what is Cricket!
And so their food education continues!2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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2/8/2011
Dosa night. Monday night is Dosa night and the prices are the ones that you just can't beat. 3.5… Read more »
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Review from Robin M.
6/21/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Who's the dosa with the mosa? Euuuh, I can't really be sure... but who's the dosa I think is fan-freaking-tastic? This one - the behemoth my stomach fears most. TWICE as big as the dish it's served on, this beast had me wondering just where The House of Dosa thought I was going to put it all.
A herculean feat to be sure, I managed to slay the crispy gluten-free mammoth in no time at all. The trick, I found, was to just attack it. Don't be timid, don't be dainty - just rip at the crepe and start dipping.
The veggie vindaloo is where it's at, but the beef and lamb versions are pretty tasty as well. This tells me two things: 1) there's a little something for everyone; and 2) I'm unna have to get my dosa-salying arse back to The House of Dosa to try a few more. With all 24 hours of the day to do it, I'm pretty sure I will. -
Review from Jack S.
Vancouver, BC
8/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
I'll come back and write a longer, better review after I've visited again but this place is fantastic. The atmosphere is... well, just focus on your plate. The food is great with generous portions. They have specials which run all week long, including Dosa Tuesdays!
Recommended for lunch or late night - they're 24 hour! -
Review from Shakib K.
9/1/2011
Amazing food, friendly service, couldn't ask for more. The Dosa for it's price was plenty of food and left me and my parents content and happy to return again. I had the Masala Dosa and couldn't be happier with my choice, I saw lots of paper dosas too which I would love to try at some point. All in all, amazing.
If I lived in Vancouver this would probably be the place I come to eat after a late night of drinking. -
Review from Emily-Anne P.
Vancouver, BC
6/2/2011 1 Check-in Here
House of Dosas is a great neighbourhood staple. They've recently cleaned up the place which is nice and the food is just as good as it ever was. Service has gotten better and it is always busy!
We ordered veggie pakoras along with dosas which was way more than we needed. I had the chicken vindaloo dosa which was great, a fair bit of heat to the spice but not overwhelming. All in all quite enjoyable.
The doas have quite a bit of food in them and they are fabulous if you can't have dairy or wheat. The lentil flour crepes are gluten free and unless it explicitly says cheese or dairy in something, there is no dairy in anything.
If that wasn't enough to sell you, they are 24 hours and on Mondays doasa are $5.99
Best neighbourhood eats I've got.Listed in: Hot Eats, Gluten Free Vancouver
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Review from Matt L.
Vancouver, BC
7/20/2011
We've eaten here several times in the past (6+), because it is in our neighbourhood and good. We just visited again on Monday and were reminded that we should eat here more often! Eating there reminded us (as it always does) that this restaurant is a whole package deal - good food, friendly courteous staff, clean, and cheap! Monday's are an even sweeter deal because that is their dosa-night where all dosas on the menu are $5.99. We also had chicken 65 (good, altho deep fried) and some pappaddums too! All in all a good deal for the money! To top it off they also offered a child-sized dosa for our 3yo for free!
We'll be back! -
Review from Arün D.
Vancouver, BC
Updated - 6/2/2011
Oh boy...went here at 10-something PM because they're open 24 hours a day. Completely different from the daytime experience - and for the worse. We came in to find the workers surrounding the cashier's desk just talking and weird people were coming in and out. The street was dark and faintly lit, like something out of a noire movie. There was a lone man in the corner of the restaurant, but aside from him, we were the only customers at that hour. We had a seat (I noticed they got new tables too) and it took them maybe 5 minutes or so to serve us. We ordered whatever we normally ordered and waited.
Normally the dosas show up pretty quickly but I think we waited at least 20 minutes for them to arrive - while they were cooking, we heard loud shouting, bangs and singing coming from the inside of the kitchen. Not exactly pleasant.
When the dosas finally arrived, there was nothing in them: the fillings were supplied in a separate bowl, something that I've never seen before at this restaurant. The dosas themselves were bland - the "stuffing" (which as mentioned before, was given in a bowl) lacked salt and spice and was nothing more than curried potatoes. Bland, curried potatoes. The dosas went down dry and were hard to eat without copious amounts of chutney. Normally, I would eat my dosa with sambar (the lentil soup they serve alongside the dosas) but the sambar was obviously not fresh - it was very watered down, leading me to believe they just used diluted leftovers.
The worst part was probably the mango shake I ordered - I don't even want to know what was in it. Firstly, it wasn't fresh - the guy just poured it out of a jug. It smelled sour (it might have been Mango Lassi, perhaps) and was way too sweet and so thick that it practically clogged the straw.
What did I learn from this? Don't come at night. Really, do not.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/27/2011
I'm a regular here with my family - the owner and his dudes are like bros to us. Obviously, I think… Read more »
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Review from Michael L.
Burnaby, BC
11/17/2011
Dosas are tasty! Great service. Mondays are packed though
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Review from Shae B.
Vancouver, BC
8/3/2011
So yummy and so filling! Definately worth every penny.
I had the chicken and mixed Veg dosa. It was huge and came with 3 different sauces. One was really spicy and I'm not usually a fan of spicy but I loved this stuff - great flavour. The other sauce was contrastingly really cooling on the mouth so it was a great combination. Not sure what was in them but they tasted sooo good.
My mom had the chicken curry meal and she is really picky about curries but she thought it was great. The chicken was cooked to perfection - soft and tender. It came with rice and two breads which she said were very tasty.
The service was slow but friendly. I didn't mind the wait since the food was so good. Maybe they were just understaffed since it was the holiday weekend. I'll definately go again - I want to try more dosa!! -
Review from Alice A.
Updated - 3/27/2011
Ugh. I was just eating my leftover dosa which I heated up in the microwave, and guess what I bit into!?!?
A METAL SCREW.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/26/2011
Average is as average does.
My eggplant dosa was a bit on the salty side, nice chunk of filling… Read more »
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Review from C A.
Vancouver, BC
8/5/2011
Tastes good but BEWARE:
Went with two friends, each of us had a different dosa (one with lamb, one with beef and one with just veggies) and each of us got food poisoning. -
Review from Kari C.
Updated - 3/22/2011
Three stars for takeout. Waaaah! Dine-in still gets more.
Yesterday I went there in a hurry, needing some food to scarf down at work before starting my shift. The food, my usual medium-spice lamb vindaloo, was ready pretty quickly, in 5 to 10 minutes, as they said, but service was a bit jumbled, as a firefighter was giving the place an inspection at the same time, and asking the usual dude at the counter questions while he was ringing me in. At least a few more hunky flame-killers wandered in so I could ogle them and felt like the interruption was worth my time, wink wink!
When I got to work and unpacked everything half an hour later, I saw that the chutneys and sambar soup were in nice little styrofoam containers and put into a paper bag, but the dosa crepe was filled, as it normally would be, then folded nicely, and tightly sealed in aluminum foil, and stapled neatly into another paper bag. Oh, no!
It was delicious, as has always been the case when I visit, but a bit on the soggy side. I wish they put the curry into a container as well, and put the dosa alone into a paper bag to cool off, and not become wet, so I could tear it up and dip it in the vindaloo, like a person would if they were eating in the restaurant.
Still, only a minor slight, it will still be a favourite neighborhood haunt of mine.Listed in: East Van, Yo!, Surefires
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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11/29/2010
I went for breakfast today and had the lamb vindaloo dosa again ($5.99 on a Monday!), but one level… Read more »
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Review from Michael C.
Vancouver, BC
Updated - 5/22/2011 3 Check-ins Here
Hmmmm, seems like they got new tables and chairs since the last time I was here!
This time I had the Palak Paneer dosa which was ok, but I'll probably not order that again. I definitely had better in my lifetime. My lady had the Eggplant Alu, which was much much better!!
FYI: Cash and debit only, and they can't break big bills at night.Listed in: Late Night Eateries
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/1/2011
This was my first time trying Dosas and Mikey likes!
For starters, this should help you with the menu… Read more »
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Review from Christine R.
New Westminster, BC
12/19/2010
When I have a cold, one of the things I do is blast my sinuses with spiciness. And so I pointed myself in the direction of the famous House of Dosas for a cheap hit of the spices, as well as a lift for blah mid-December spirits. (In the car on the way there, the husband and I realized that it wasn't even winter yet - we still have three months to go! Noooo.)
Anyway, the House of Dosas is a place of cheap and cheerful food, big portions for a little bit of money. I had a lamb vindaloo dosa, medium spice. Although I've eaten Indian many, many times before, this was my virgin dosa. Didn't really know what to do with the little dollops of stuff on the plate, nor the little bowl of what I now know is Sambar - a thin lentil and veggie stew.
We really enjoyed our dosas, but like Stephanie M., I think next time I have to be a little braver with the spice level. I can take it.
The restaurant itself is a bit on the shabby side, but when the people started packing in and cricket came on the television (cricket being the main decorative motif), the place came to life. -
Review from Stephanie M.
Vancouver, BC
So much yummy gluten free food, so little time...
I at long last tried the "real thing" ie. the traditional masala dosa. This was the dosa (the large thin chickpea-and-rice crepe) filled with a spicy potato mixture. I got medium spicy on the advice of a regular but I think I may brave the full-on "spicy" next time (armed with extra water and tissue, of course). The dosa was light and crispy and the filling was perfectly flavoured with a wonderful texture. I also tried the "lentil donut" appetizer, which is basically as it sounds - a lentil based mixture fried in a donut shape and served with same the coconut-based chutneys that come with the dosas.
Aside from the food, the atmosphere is casual and unassuming and the staff are friendly and constantly filling your water glass (a must when eating such spicy food). I am definitely eager to come back and try another one of their dishes. Extra points for so many awesome gluten free options! -
Review from A. B.
11/28/2011
we had lunch there yesterday & had some really good veg kuthu (if you haven't tried it before, you must), plain dosa & an onion rava with shrimp. everything was great except the shrimp filling was AOK - i was expecting a nice spicy madras or srilankan prawn curry, instead they'd just added shrimp to the standard potato filling that is standard in dosas. but overall great experience & food was not overly spicy either so would love to be back next time we're bumming around in B.C.
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Review from Mary A. W.
Vancouver, BC
11/30/2010
A type of Indian food that's not that popular in Vancouver. too bad, really.
best price ever: Monday all day, $5.99 for any dosa!
gluten-intolerant folks: the dosa is made from lentil and rice flours, hurrah!
I've tried the aloo gobi, lamb palak, and fish curry dosas. they are all delicious. They look enormous but the dosa wrap is very thin and there isn't full ALL the way through. it's a goodly sized meal.
The mango lassi is also very tasty and rich. Dessert, really. $4.75, but good to share.Listed in: Cheap n Cheerful eats, gluten free
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Review from Malloreigh M.
Vancouver, BC
11/23/2010 2 Check-ins Here
I loved House of Dosas before they were open 24h, so that just adds sugar to the pudding!
This place makes the best dosa I have ever had. Mondays all their dosas are $5.99, and it makes you want to share three between two people, but let me tell you, that is NOT a good idea. It's too much food and there is probably someone waiting for your table, you pig.
The service/food delivery here used to be very slow but the last time I went they seem to have rectified this problem. It's good to see that they're doing so well. Maybe they bought more pans or something.
My favourites are the eggplant, the alu gobi, and the vegetable masala. The lentil flour crepes are vegan, and so are all the curries that don't have cheese or meat in them. Each dosa comes with two amazing chutneys and a vegan lentil soup.Listed in: Vegan Vancouver, Curries and Chutneys and…
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Review from Melissa F.
Toronto, ON
8/18/2010
Why are there so many hippies here? I haven't seen so many hard core hippies in awhile. But other than that- I can't believe I JUST discovered this place!
I've always known it existed but felt I could take it or leave the experience until somebody drove me here.
omgoodness. Reminds me of little india in Toronto where I had some of the nices crispiest dosas.
and 24 hours worth? I'm there.
The service is excellent.
I'd say the meat dishes are a LOT better than the veg although I tend to enjoy veg Indian food better.
And they're properly priced.
Eat here. But if this place becomes so popular that you take MY seat at 3am I'm gonna start giving this place 1 star. -
Review from Vani R.
9/8/2010
I had to create a Yelp account to write this review but I think its totally worth the effort. This place is a disaster. It was just the 2 of us but they took forever to seat us. While we were waiting we noticed that they were just serving tap water to everyone.After that, it was another tedious effort to get them to attend to us. The couple next to us were waiting for a cup of tea since the time we'd walked in and finally gave up hope after 30 minutes wait and left. The girl who took our order didn't really write it down and kept coming back and made us repeat our order. The food was TERRIBLE. As I was eating I saw man step out of the kitchen digging his nose and wiping it on the apron. We got so grossed out, we couldn't eat anymore. We just paid and left the place in a hurry. Even despite all our rush it took us 1.5 hrs to make it out of this place.
In all, I'd suggest you find some other restaurant to try than think about venturing into this hellhole. If you are anywhere near this restaurant RUNNNNNN for dear life -
Review from Katie F.
11/13/2010
Since I've never had a dosa before and don't have much to compare to, I'm probably not the best person to judge this place.
Convenient hours (we wanted to eat dinner around 4:30 pm one day) and central location. Large menu of dosas and curries. It's not the usual Indian restaurant so it didn't carry naan or samosas like I'm used to. I had something called "vada" to start, which were lentils and some spices/herbs shaped into a donut, fried, and served with a soup-like dip and 2 chutneys. It was interesting and tasted OK.
I went with a cauliflower dosa and it initially looks huge, but when you look inside, the filling is just in the middle. I wasn't sure how to eat it properly so I just cut it up and dipped it into the sauce and chutneys it came with. The taste was fine and I was full afterwards, but I'm not sure if a dosa is my thing.
Very good service though - the server was very patient in explaining the different menu items to us since a lot of it was new to us! -
Review from Robespierre R.
Vancouver, BC
3/14/2011
Another example that places that look like dives have awesome foods.
You get ALOT of food for the price so thinking you need an appy plus entree might be a bit much. Thinking the pakora plate would come with usual 3 (or less) we were pleased to see at least 10 come to our table.
There are tv's on which I usually hate but they were showing cricket matches which I found strangely appealing. If it was hockey I would have rated it less.
Good service too...very friendly.
I would have rated it 5 stars except we were reeking of curry when we left and my place still smelled this morning from my clothes in the laundry. I wouldn't go anywhere else afterwards but home if I were you... -
Review from Aaron S.
8/22/2010
I love this place but I would like to deduct half a point for the showing of cricket 24 hours a day on the tv. I think it's secretly a tape on a loop or is there really a channel that shows it all day long?
I guess I should actually talk about the food and such things. First of all this is not the place to get your butter chicken fix. Your tandoori chicken will have to wait another day. This is food you don't see a lot of around these parts. A crepe the size of a baseball bat filled with Indian deliciousness. All for a reasonable price in a place thats open 24/7. If you can get sweet and sour pork at all hours of the day I guess it's not so wrong to eat pakoras at three in the morning.
They have lots of flavors to suit your tastes and yes you can avoid the dosa part but why would you? The thing I love about this place is the service. Super friendly and extremely accomodating when it comes to substitutions and other concerns. They also take the time to explain to you anything on the menu and offer their reccomendations which are never off.
If you've never been I suggest you give it a try just for the new experience. It's not that radical of a move from your usual Indian but enough to give you something beyond the buffet and a mediocre samosa. CASH ONLY!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ps: Ask for an order of chicken 65. DO IT!! -
Review from Mark H.
8/7/2010 3 Check-ins Here
Chicken 65. What the heck could that be? With a name like that you just gotta order it to find out.
What came was magical. Seasoned with an unknown array of spices and served with a perfectly matching sauce, Chicken 65 is 65 degrees of savoury happiness. So much so we did an encore order. Never had I encountered this dish before. Maybe that's why they named it that way.
Also for appetizers we had their veggie pakoras. Easily one of the best I've had.
I ordered the lamb and mixed veggie dosa. What arrived in front of me was what best can described as a hollow baseball bat filled with goodness. Also on the plate are two different chutney sauces and some kind of lentil soup/dip. Price: $9.99 ($5.99 on Mondays). Unbeatable value.
Another selling point: they are open 24 hrs, 7 days a week = munchies destination. And if you like cricket, they always got a game on.
PS: I already miss you Chicken 65.Listed in: Best Cheap Eats
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Review from Richard W.
Vancouver, BC
7/5/2011
Not expecting anything exciting just hoping for good food. I was not disappointed from the big portions. I ordered the beef and my friend had the chicken. Very flavorful and had a nice texture to it but unable to finish such a huge portion. They are open 24 hours too so you can come here anytime you like. Just don't come here after the bars are closed or when there is a game on television.
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Review from namit m.
10/27/2010 1 Check-in Here
House of Dosas differentiates itself from other "dosa" places by serving a healthy selection of non vegetarian options like chicken and fish curries.
I was craving a South Indian version of the paratha (pan fried flat bread) and it is pretty much slim pickings in Vancouver. So we showed up here for lunch.
Although it was a Thursday and that meant the Biryani special - I resisted and fed my need for the Paratha/Roti.
The roti itself was not perfect but the fish curry and the chicken curry were really good. We also ordered a Medu Vada - deep fried lentil doughnuts - that were good and the sambar and coconut chutney were very good.
I am going to have to head back for the Biryani as well as the eponymous Dosas!
4Stars for food - but the choppy service, blah decor and ambiance, and somewhat challenging parking situation hurt this place. -
Review from Rachael T.
Toronto, ON
6/3/2010
How did I not know about this place!?!?! Looking for food deals - you can find it here on Monday Night at House of Dosa's. When you see a lineup out the door, this only means 1 of 3 things:
1. Food is CHEAP
2. Food is GOOD
3. Food is CHEAP AND GOOD!
House of Dosas would fall under category THREE. With a group of 6, I was actually a little hesitant because even though turnaround is high, our group can be considered big. Thankfully.. it was only about 20 minutes, and the manager was courteous and tried to seat us as soon as possible. People all seem to know what they want, while I had no idea what the heck a DOSA was. Regular dosa, paper dosa, masala, paneer, etc etc etc.. this is so new to me!
Apparently - the paper dosa is a lot large.. almost twice the size of a regular dosa and super thin (like paper)... so I got that... with the Spinach - cheese- potato dosa. This dosa was like a giant horn.. the ones you bring to a canucks game! It came with a soup dip and a coconut chutney and another ginger like dip for the dosa.
Absolutely delicious.
Here are the instructions on how to eat a dosa:
1. Stare in amazement of the size
2. Look through one side to see if you can see your eating partner on the other.
3. Cut the dosa in the middle so the aroma of what you ordered is exposed.
4. Start on one end and rip the dosa, selecting which one of your dips you would like to put your dosa in.
5. Repeat step 4.
Tried the lamb filling and it was full of flavour - I wish I got that instead. The potato-cheese had very good spices and texture, not super soft, but could still bite into the potato.
At 5.99 / dosa on Monday nights... what more can I say? -
Review from Kat S.
4/16/2010 ROTD 10/27/2010
Huge selection of delicious, fresh, lovingly made food!
We came with a big group (11) after a floor hockey game. Despite not really having tables or space for that large of a group, they sweetly accommodated us best they could, and as space became available we accumulated tables.
The service here is great, even when you slam them with an unexpected large group. They are happy to suggest menu items if you want some help navigating the many choices. They have a selection of Indian and Thai beers in the can or bottle available, such as Cobra, Tiger and Kingfisher (and others), though these are a bit pricey.
The food. Oh my goodness the food. So many options, I just want to have it all. Tuesdays veg fans will enjoy the Veg Thali on special where you really can try a bit of everything! #60, the Meat Paratha is a hidden gem on the menu, too. The Veg Pakoras are crispy and plentiful. The Chicken 65 is tender and juicy. Then there are the dosas. Huge crepes that look fragile but have a substantial structure to them wrap up flavourful curries, kormas, paneer, whatever you want. They'll even let you substitute some of the other dishes with a dosa instead of the rice if you see an item you really want to put in a dosa.
Go with friends, pick a few things and share. It's a great way to try a bunch of tasty treats. Mondays are cheap dosa days! They are open 24 hours, so take your time and savour the meal.
Tip: With a large group you can go up to the front and let them know which items you ordered and they can print off individual receipts one at a time. Also works if someone has to leave early. Just let them know before they print the whole bill, or they can't go back.
CASH ONLY! -
Review from Mya N.
Langley, BC
Updated - 11/21/2010
Went back to Dosas the other night- this time sober... and thus was able to more accurately judge the food. One word: SALTY! So disappointing because I really thought it was awesome last time-- tho a bit salty. But this time it was just straight up salty. I was so thirsty during the whole meal and afterward. Tried the lamb and veggie dosa- not sure if it was because it was a Monday... but there was hardly any lamb! The scant pieces that were there were yummy and tender. My BF and I realized that it was the crepe that was the main culprit of saltiness. The filling was salty too but with the crepe combined I was starting to feel sick by the end of the meal.
Sigh. Why Dosas, why?? This place still has great potential but they gotta ease off the seasoning.
Ps... they do take debit.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/13/2010
Dosa dosa dosa!
This place totally hit the spot at 2am when you've got the munchies. Was my first… Read more »
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Review from Roanna Z.
Stoned from Dosa! Seriously, I don't know what they put in there, but I'm giddy as a kitten on catnip.
The Dosa is really a large thin crepe, only the batter is made of a blend of fermented rice and chickpea. (hmmm... right, fermented. maybe that explains the giddy?)
The stuffing can be a whole variety of things from vegg to meat or shrimp and the flavour balance is perfect. They asked which spice level we liked, I said not spicy. Believe me, "not spicy" is just right and yes, it's spicy.
This is a kind of bare bones place, It's nothing fancy but the food is good.
When the dosa arrived I was shocked at the length of it, but it's so thin and there's the perfect amount of stuffing. On the side they serve a kind of soup and Coconut Chutney. It was insane!!!!
I'm SOooo going back there. The menu is really tantalizing!
We'll see if I get this reaction again. (I hope so.)Listed in: Gluten Free/ Dairy free eats.
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Review from Kristin H.
Vancouver, BC
5/22/2010
I would highly recommend not getting more than one entrée, even if you're looking for leftovers for the next day. I will be eating off my order for a week. The most difficult thing about the experience was trying to get everything home on my Vespa!
This is the Triple Crown of dining out, friends. Great food, great service and great value. I ordered the madras veggie idly, paneer masala dosa, veggie korma and gulab jamun. I don't even know where to start to describe how delicious it was. Everything was spiced to perfection and full of flavour.
Despite the restaurant being quite busy when I went it, I was greeted by three people who offered to help me. The woman who rang in my order offered me a tall glass of mango juice on the house while I waited, and was extremely warm and friendly.
Highly recommended for lovingly prepared, home-cooked tasting food with amazingly warm and friendly service.
Just a note, though. At the moment, they're only accepting cash. Thankfully, there is both a TD and a CIBC just across the street. -
Review from Allison G.
Vancouver, BC
8/10/2010 1 photo
Oh Dosas, how I miss you!!
Imagine the very best Indian food you've ever eaten wrapped up in a very large, slightly crisp, slightly sour crepe and you've got a dosa.
Absolutely stellar, and I love the feel of this place (I'm a sucker for the hole-in-the-wall places).
I'm giving it 4 stars only because I ordered peach chutney, and we don't think they had any in the restaurant and had to go buy a bottle, and then it wasn't the good chutney... so that was too bad. But the dosas themselves are soooooooo good!!
