From Dosas to Craft Beer: Bangalore's Evolving Culinary Scene Explored

If there's one meal Bangalore absolutely excels at, it's breakfast. Coming from New Zealand where breakfast often meant toast or cereal, the South Indian morning feast still feels like a celebration five years into my Indian life.

My husband Rahul and I started our culinary expedition at the iconic MTR (Mavalli Tiffin Rooms), arriving at 6:45 am to beat the inevitable queue. This 1924 institution serves what many locals consider the gold standard of South Indian classics. Their butter masala dosa—crispy on the outside, soft within, and slathered with their secret red chutney—is the stuff of legends. The filter coffee, served in traditional steel tumbler-davara sets, delivers that perfect jolt of caffeine with a hint of chicory.

For a more budget-friendly but equally authentic experience, we visited Vidyarthi Bhavan in Gandhi Bazaar the next morning. Their ghee-soaked dosas have a distinctive crispness that comes from decades-old cast iron skillets. What I particularly appreciate is how these establishments maintain their quality while keeping prices reasonable—our entire breakfast for two, including multiple dosas, idlis, vadas and coffee came to just under ₹500 (approximately $6).

The key to truly enjoying these places is understanding the efficient chaos of the service. Don't expect lengthy menus or leisurely dining—these spots run like well-oiled machines, and the rapid turnover is part of the authentic experience.

If breakfast in Bangalore is a revelation, the street food scene after dark is nothing short of magical. VV Puram Food Street (officially Thindi Beedi) transforms into a bustling food paradise as the sun sets, with the aroma of sizzling dosas, bubbling oil, and sweet jaggery filling the air.

As someone who's hunted with my Māori family back in New Zealand, I've developed a keen sense for spotting the freshest ingredients and most skilled food preparers. At VV Puram, I watched vendors with the same focused precision I once observed in my uncles preparing a catch—hands moving with practiced efficiency, knowing exactly when to flip, season, or serve.

Must-try items include the butter gulkand (rose jam) dosa at Shri Vasavi, the crispy akki (rice) roti topped with spicy peanut chutney, and the melt-in-your-mouth holige (sweet flatbread filled with jaggery and coconut). For the adventurous, the chocolate paan—betel leaf wrapped around chocolate and sweet fillings—offers an unusual but delightful end to your food walk.

Beyond VV Puram, we discovered Johnson Market near Richmond Town, where the influence of Bangalore's Muslim community creates a different but equally enticing street food experience. The seekh kebabs and buttery naan here rival anything I've had in North India.

To navigate these food streets comfortably, I always bring my insulated water bottle to stay hydrated between all the spicy treats. It keeps water cold for hours even in the bustling heat of food streets and reduces plastic waste from buying bottled water.

Perhaps the most surprising aspect of Bangalore's culinary evolution is its transformation into India's undisputed craft beer capital. The city now boasts over 70 microbreweries—more than any other Indian city—offering a welcome contrast to the traditional South Indian fare that dominates daytime eating.

As someone who appreciates both cultural traditions and modern innovations, I find this juxtaposition fascinating. By day, Bangalore honors centuries-old culinary practices; by night, it embraces contemporary brewing techniques that would feel at home in Wellington or Portland.

Tolu Brewery in Indiranagar became our favorite discovery, with its rooftop setting and impressive selection of experimental brews. Their jackfruit ale—incorporating Karnataka's beloved local fruit—perfectly symbolizes how Bangalore's brewing scene respects local ingredients while creating something entirely new. At ₹1,500-2,000 for two people including appetizers, it's mid-range pricing for an elevated experience.

For couples on a romantic weekend, I highly recommend timing your brewery visit for sunset. Many breweries, including Windmills Craftworks in Whitefield, offer spectacular twilight views of the city alongside thoughtfully paired food menus. The crisp Bangalore evening air creates the perfect atmosphere for sampling flight boards of different brews.

A practical note: Bangalore's notorious traffic can make brewery-hopping challenging. We found using ride-sharing services like Uber much more practical than renting vehicles, especially since responsible drinking is a priority. I also recommend bringing a light packable jacket as Bangalore evenings can get surprisingly chilly, particularly on rooftop brewery patios.

One of my favorite ways to truly understand a food culture is to learn how to cook it myself. In Bangalore, several excellent cooking classes offer market-to-table experiences that make for unforgettable couple activities.

Oota Bangalore in Whitefield offers an immersive experience focusing specifically on Karnataka cuisine—something that even many Indians aren't deeply familiar with. What makes their classes special is how they highlight regional variations within the state, from coastal Mangalorean seafood to rustic Kodava (Coorg) pork dishes.

Our class began with a guided tour through a local market where we learned to select the perfect ridge gourd (used in sambar), distinguish between varieties of chillies, and identify the numerous lentils that form the backbone of South Indian cooking. The hands-on cooking portion afterward was both educational and romantic—there's something surprisingly intimate about learning new skills together.

For a more budget-friendly option, we discovered Cooking Classes by Archana, run from a home kitchen in Indiranagar. Archana teaches the fundamentals of everyday South Indian cooking with patience and humor. Her class on dosa-making revealed the secrets behind achieving that perfect crisp-yet-soft texture that had eluded my home attempts.

I found it invaluable to document these classes with my smartphone gimbal which allowed me to capture smooth video of techniques I knew I'd want to reference later. When you're focused on learning cooking methods, having stable video to review later is incredibly helpful for recreating dishes at home.

One of Bangalore's best-kept secrets is its accessible fine dining scene. Unlike Mumbai or Delhi where upscale restaurants often come with eye-watering prices, Bangalore offers sophisticated culinary experiences that won't demolish your travel budget.

Our most memorable meal was at Oota, where the tasting menu showcases forgotten recipes from Karnataka's diverse regions. The seven-course journey (₹1,800 per person) included dishes I'd never encountered before, like Kane Rava Fry (a delicate fish preparation from coastal Karnataka) and Korri Gassi (a spicy Mangalorean chicken curry with complex flavors). While not cheap by Indian standards, the quality and uniqueness of the experience made it exceptional value.

For couples seeking romance without the price tag, Grasshopper offers a magical setting in a semi-rural part of the city. Their fixed menu changes regularly based on seasonal ingredients, and at ₹2,500 for a multi-course meal including non-alcoholic beverages, it's significantly more affordable than comparable experiences in other major cities.

The key to managing costs while enjoying Bangalore's fine dining is strategic timing. Many upscale restaurants offer lunch menus at 30-40% less than dinner prices for essentially the same experience. We enjoyed Toast & Tonic's innovative gin-focused cuisine during their weekday lunch service for nearly half the price of their dinner service.

I've found that carrying a small food journal helps me remember special meals and capture details about unique dishes and ingredients. This has become an invaluable souvenir from my culinary adventures across India and helps me recreate favorite flavors once I'm back home.