Idly Express

This is the first time I ordered at idly express. Taste is very good and similar to taste back in bharath. I was craving for Bangalore style thatte idly and found it here. This place is fully vegetarian. Being a vegetarian it’s easy to order without having any doubt about the contents unless like other restaurants having both veg and non veg.

One of our favorite go-to places for South Indian breakfast. They have a few items on their menu but they excel at the food they make! Their thatte idlis are amazing, no other place in Bay Area is able to match this quality. Their filter coffee and Rava Kesari are also among our favorites. Today (Sunday 11/13/2022) they had a stand and eat concept with idli coffee combo and chow chow bath which was super delicious and I'd look forward to repeats of this event in the future.

This one's the best for authentic South Indian food in east bay! I love all the items that I've tried here. Mini Tiffin and Hot lunch with rice are the best items on their menu in my opinion. The chutney and sambar are very authentic. For the price we pay, they could offer slightly more quantity though (especially the chutneys). Sambar, Rasam, Kootu and Curry are very tasty too! Highly recommend. Really wish they offer dine in though.

Take out only for now. They sell idli batter as well. Filter coffee is good, Podi idli was awesome, a bit less spicy then I would have preferred but still super. Tatte idli were soft and tasty, I had expected them to be a bit bigger in size but the portion of 2 with the medhu vada (idli vada combo) was pretty filling as such.

+2

a perfect Darshini (QSR) , great quality, taste, quantity and packaging! Big win ! Best South Indian Breakfast around this area for sure !

+2

Hey Idli Express team Thank you so much for getting our catering food order ready in time and providing us some yummy fresh food ! It was a hit all around with the crowd, everyone had seconds and thirds and the amount of food was just right for our crowd. We will definitely keep ordering from you guys for all our future events. Hameed from Idli Express team is a very friendly chap, he provided all the details, menu items list in Whatsapp conversation, understood our requirements and size of the crowd and provided apt suggestions. He was kind enough to let us know if we were over ordering too. Highly recommend him and his team for all catering orders.

I am a regular customer and even have purchased their gift cards. However, recently when I purchased ready to eat curry (Saag Paneer), I found a small green color piece of plastic in it while eating. Sharing for awareness and correction for future.

Tried this place a couple of weeks ago for an outdoor brunch, and it was worth it. Our order was idli and vada sambhar. The food was packed nicely and it was convenient to carry it to our brunch location. Both the items ordered were really fresh and tasted great. In fact best among all options around this area. Hope you like it too 👍

Really delicious take away spot for South Indian food. Everything tasted authentic and amazing. We tried the thath idli, mini podi idli and medu vadas. Also their filter coffee was delicious. The rava kesari was so indulgent and tasty and not super sweet. They mainly do takeout but there were 3 tables outside with 6 chairs. Everything is self serve, I didn’t notice anyone tending to or cleaning tables. I’m looking forward to trying their lunch menu and thalis - everything looked super promising. Highly recommend.

After indulging in countless culinary adventures showcased on Jay's Facebook Live videos, I finally had the pleasure of savoring the renowned Thatte Idly and Medhu Vada Sambar at Idly Express in Fremont. To say that my experience exceeded expectations would be an understatement. Nestled in the heart of Fremont, this establishment not only offers exceptional cuisine but also boasts an impressively efficient and amiable staff. Placing my order was a breeze, and I was pleasantly surprised when my takeout was ready in just 10 minutes! Even the kids were thoroughly impressed, with one of them exclaiming, "This is the best Medhu Vada I've ever tasted, and the Idly is like nothing I've ever had before." Furthermore, the prices are quite reasonable, and the portions are delightfully generous. I'm already looking forward to returning for another mouthwatering meal. I wholeheartedly recommend that everyone, in the Bay Area and beyond, gives Idly Express (also known as Mylapore Express) a try. With multiple locations throughout the Bay Area, there's no excuse not to experience their culinary delights.

Twinki Mistry

I am a regular customer and even have purchased their gift cards. However, recently when I purchased ready to eat curry (Saag Paneer), I found a small green color piece of plastic in it while eating. Sharing for awareness and correction for future.

Malvika Joshi

Tried this place a couple of weeks ago for an outdoor brunch, and it was worth it. Our order was idli and vada sambhar. The food was packed nicely and it was convenient to carry it to our brunch location. Both the items ordered were really fresh and tasted great. In fact best among all options around this area. Hope you like it too 👍

Tanushree Vaidya

Really delicious take away spot for South Indian food. Everything tasted authentic and amazing. We tried the thath idli, mini podi idli and medu vadas. Also their filter coffee was delicious. The rava kesari was so indulgent and tasty and not super sweet. They mainly do takeout but there were 3 tables outside with 6 chairs. Everything is self serve, I didn’t notice anyone tending to or cleaning tables. I’m looking forward to trying their lunch menu and thalis - everything looked super promising. Highly recommend.

Neeharika Kumar

Excellent place to get your idly for breakfast, lunch or dinner. They are very quick with service. There is counter and kiosk to place your order. Have been coming here for months to years for food and would highly recommend to everyone. Their Mysore Shree/pak not sure where we stand with the name lately is unique version unlike the ones that melts in the mouth this one is different but good.

vinod palan

After indulging in countless culinary adventures showcased on Jay's Facebook Live videos, I finally had the pleasure of savoring the renowned Thatte Idly and Medhu Vada Sambar at Idly Express in Fremont. To say that my experience exceeded expectations would be an understatement. Nestled in the heart of Fremont, this establishment not only offers exceptional cuisine but also boasts an impressively efficient and amiable staff. Placing my order was a breeze, and I was pleasantly surprised when my takeout was ready in just 10 minutes! Even the kids were thoroughly impressed, with one of them exclaiming, "This is the best Medhu Vada I've ever tasted, and the Idly is like nothing I've ever had before." Furthermore, the prices are quite reasonable, and the portions are delightfully generous. I'm already looking forward to returning for another mouthwatering meal. I wholeheartedly recommend that everyone, in the Bay Area and beyond, gives Idly Express (also known as Mylapore Express) a try. With multiple locations throughout the Bay Area, there's no excuse not to experience their culinary delights.

I had an excellent experience with Idly Express catering. Mr. Hamid was the one I interacted with from the beginning when I called. He was very informative, helpful with the choice of food when I mentioned the number of people and very prompt with any special considerations I requested. The food was ready just as promised and everyone was very happy with the quality. The serving sizes were also generous and I had a very positive experience throughout!

Idly Express Fremont is not just a takeout spot — it genuinely feels like an emotion ❤️ Kumaresan Anna and Yoshika bring so much warmth every single day. You can feel their happiness in what they do, and it naturally spreads to everyone who walks in. Aditya and Jugesh are always caring, greeting customers with a calm, quiet smile that makes you feel comfortable and welcomed without saying much. And Hameed, as always, delivers the best. This place goes beyond food. It’s about familiar faces, simple kindness, and that feeling of comfort you don’t get everywhere. Every visit feels personal. Idly Express Fremont isn’t just where you pick up food — it’s where you feel at home. ❤️

We ordered Navratri South Indian catering from Idly Express and it was absolutely outstanding! The quality, authenticity, and freshness of every dish were top-notch. A special shoutout to Hameed and his team for their exceptional service. Professional, prompt, and truly caring about every detail. Highly recommend!

We ordered food from Mylapore for our child’s first birthday party, and it was an excellent experience from start to finish. The food was absolutely delicious just like a traditional home-style meal. Our guests loved every item on the menu. Everything—from ordering to delivery—was handled smoothly, which really helped make the day stress free. A big thank you for the excellent coordination and support. Mylapore truly added to the success of our celebration. We’ll definitely order again and highly recommend them for family events.

Absolutely love Idli Express in Fremont! The food here is consistently delicious — especially the Medu Vada, which is perfectly crispy and flavorful. The best part is that their Sambar is Jain, which is a huge plus for us. I’ve tried their vegan filter coffee many times and it’s amazing every single time! Today, I tried their vegan chai for the first time and it was just as good : rich, balanced, and full of flavor. A big shout-out to the staff, especially Aditya who helped with our order, she was super kind and provided exceptional service. Thank you for making every visit such a great experience! 🙏✨

Idly Express Catering delivered a superb spread that exceeded our expectations. The Beans Usili, Aviyal, Kadhamba Sambar, and Rasam were authentic and delicious, while the Vegetable Biriyani was highly acclaimed by all our guests. Manager Hameed’s attention to detail was evident in the flawless delivery—the packaging was secure and entirely mess-free.

Deepika Urs

We ordered food from Mylapore for our child’s first birthday party, and it was an excellent experience from start to finish. The food was absolutely delicious just like a traditional home-style meal. Our guests loved every item on the menu. Everything—from ordering to delivery—was handled smoothly, which really helped make the day stress free. A big thank you for the excellent coordination and support. Mylapore truly added to the success of our celebration. We’ll definitely order again and highly recommend them for family events.

Anand Srinath

I had an excellent experience with Idly Express catering. Mr. Hamid was the one I interacted with from the beginning when I called. He was very informative, helpful with the choice of food when I mentioned the number of people and very prompt with any special considerations I requested. The food was ready just as promised and everyone was very happy with the quality. The serving sizes were also generous and I had a very positive experience throughout!

B K

Idly Express Fremont is not just a takeout spot — it genuinely feels like an emotion ❤️ Kumaresan Anna and Yoshika bring so much warmth every single day. You can feel their happiness in what they do, and it naturally spreads to everyone who walks in. Aditya and Jugesh are always caring, greeting customers with a calm, quiet smile that makes you feel comfortable and welcomed without saying much. And Hameed, as always, delivers the best. This place goes beyond food. It’s about familiar faces, simple kindness, and that feeling of comfort you don’t get everywhere. Every visit feels personal. Idly Express Fremont isn’t just where you pick up food — it’s where you feel at home. ❤️

Yash Doshi

Absolutely love Idli Express in Fremont! The food here is consistently delicious — especially the Medu Vada, which is perfectly crispy and flavorful. The best part is that their Sambar is Jain, which is a huge plus for us. I’ve tried their vegan filter coffee many times and it’s amazing every single time! Today, I tried their vegan chai for the first time and it was just as good : rich, balanced, and full of flavor. A big shout-out to the staff, especially Aditya who helped with our order, she was super kind and provided exceptional service. Thank you for making every visit such a great experience! 🙏✨

Preeti K

We ordered Navratri South Indian catering from Idly Express and it was absolutely outstanding! The quality, authenticity, and freshness of every dish were top-notch. A special shoutout to Hameed and his team for their exceptional service. Professional, prompt, and truly caring about every detail. Highly recommend!

Vinay Setty

Hey Idli Express team Thank you so much for getting our catering food order ready in time and providing us some yummy fresh food ! It was a hit all around with the crowd, everyone had seconds and thirds and the amount of food was just right for our crowd. We will definitely keep ordering from you guys for all our future events. Hameed from Idli Express team is a very friendly chap, he provided all the details, menu items list in Whatsapp conversation, understood our requirements and size of the crowd and provided apt suggestions. He was kind enough to let us know if we were over ordering too. Highly recommend him and his team for all catering orders.

After seeing so many posts on Instagram about this place my husband and I decided to go check it out. We got the idli vada combo and the mini tiffin. The sambar is DELICIOUS! Perfectly balance of spicy and tangy. The tomato chutney is also delicious! The idlis of course were delicious. The only two items I didn't care for were the pongal and kesari. Both had waaay too much ghee. I know that ghee is needed to make these dishes but it was just a bit too much and took away from the normally delicious flavor of the items. Seating is limited, so plan accordingly.

We tried the Masala Vada with coconut chutney, the flavor was mild and it reminds you of the vadas back home. It goes well with the tea! Some of the dishes are available at certain times, check out the specials menu and timings before visiting.

+1

Ordered Idly sambhar combo and kesri rava. Idly sambhar combo comes with four small vadas , tomato and coconut chutney. Vadas were fresh and crispy from outside and soft from inside. Size of vada could be better. Chutnies were phenomenal. Quantity of Chutnies and sambhar was good. Sambhar was the best, thick, flavorful, full of veggies. Best sambhar tasted in US. Kesri rava was good. Flavoured with kesar/saffron. Tasted pretty good. Only thing is lacked dry fruits.

Update 05/2024 This is for the Idly express Fremont Looks like the taste at Milpitas and Fremont are similar and good. I recommend this place for good sound Indian food Slightly expensive I generally get disappointed with the amount of sambar and chutney given with Thatte idly, extra sambar is 4$ (8Oz) ——- I order from this restaurant regularly I would recommend Thatte Idly +/- Vada or the Tiffin Combo. No Dine in , there are couple of tables outside. Observed that they now serve Lunch (ToGo). I also saw ToGo curries. I haven’t tried these but it’s just a FYI. Taste 4/5 Overall Experience : Good.

They've introduced Benne Masala Dose. Taste is good, but since this is a take out only place dosae becomes soggy by the time you eat it. Their green coconut chutney was fresh and tasty.

Express fast service. Loved their Thatte Idly - Vada combo. Fluffy Idly’s taste Took me close to some of the sagars in Bangalore. Combo came with good amount of sambar, small portions of coconut and tomato chutneys. Lots of South Indian vegetarian items. Take out (TOGO) only. Hot filter coffee available in 2 sizes.

A lovely experience at Idli Express. Good quality food, good packaging, nice service and a nice variety of dishes. Would’ve loved if there was an option to Dine-in as well

+5

Tasty South Indian food. Some feedback: - Consider adding mini hot lunch option so we don't have to reheat and consume the leftovers the next day. - Consider deep frying badhusha in low to medium heat so it is flaky on the inside as well. It's always not fully cooked on the inside.

This takeaway-only spot is the perfect fit for a quick and convenient South Indian breakfast experience. The idly powder transported me back to Chennai, while the thattai idly was fluffy and reminiscent of Bangalore. The chutnies, meanwhile, brought back fond memories of Andhra. It's a culinary journey through South India in every bite. Can't miss their traditional way of making fresh filter coffee.

8/11/24 Sunday they don't have 2 idli 2 vada combo any more but now they have 1 idli 1 vada for $7.95 so ridiculous, getting greedy, don't know how much money they need. Still crowded must be IT people working from home they can afford it. 1/29/23 Sunday. Very good location but small place no seating inside, only 2 table n chairs outside. They have increased 75 cents price recently. Hope they maintain quality n quantity of food to satisfy customers rather than be greedy. If u can't satisfy customers better u close the restaurant. I ordered idli vada combo & mini podi idli. Taste very good. Will try more menu items soon.

Good South Indian breakfast place. Had their thatte idly vada combo, sambar vada and mini tiffin. Idly and vada was great, but pongal and Rava Kesari were mediocre. The tomato chutney, coconut chutney and sambar were delicious. Also tried their to go curries: okra yoghurt curry and chow chow curry which were amazing. Service is relatively slow and there is no dine in facility within the restaurant but you can sit outside on the pavement if you want.

It’s a small restaurant that offers many South Indian food options including but not limited to idli, pongal, vada, sambar, hot lunch with rice, bisibelebath, pulihora and such. The food is tasty but a bit a expensive for lunch meal compared to other options around. Ask for spoons and napkins if you order to go. They have curries and sambar for sale as well. If you are craving for winter tic South Indian food, I would recommend it. Their bisibelebath was amazing and worth trying out.

Danny A

8/11/24 Sunday they don't have 2 idli 2 vada combo any more but now they have 1 idli 1 vada for $7.95 so ridiculous, getting greedy, don't know how much money they need. Still crowded must be IT people working from home they can afford it. 1/29/23 Sunday. Very good location but small place no seating inside, only 2 table n chairs outside. They have increased 75 cents price recently. Hope they maintain quality n quantity of food to satisfy customers rather than be greedy. If u can't satisfy customers better u close the restaurant. I ordered idli vada combo & mini podi idli. Taste very good. Will try more menu items soon.

Apeksha

Good South Indian breakfast place. Had their thatte idly vada combo, sambar vada and mini tiffin. Idly and vada was great, but pongal and Rava Kesari were mediocre. The tomato chutney, coconut chutney and sambar were delicious. Also tried their to go curries: okra yoghurt curry and chow chow curry which were amazing. Service is relatively slow and there is no dine in facility within the restaurant but you can sit outside on the pavement if you want.

Hello Mr.Jay, Have been a regular for a few years now . Just wanted to point out that the pav bhaji at Idli express in Fremont has not been upto the standards recently . I gave the benefit of doubt a couple of times thinking it might have been a one off incident but this week’s order was really bad . It was way too salty and the bhaji was mashed like a paste. (See image below). Secondly the the side ( the boondhi) that comes with bisibela bath seemed stale. I could tell that because it was very soft instead of being crunchy. I forgot to take a pic of that. Hopefully these we don’t see a repeat of such incidents in the future

This is a takeout place. One should order online and pick it up or delivered??? One can place order in person, however long wait to pickup. No place to sit and wait, unless do few errands and come back. They also have few prepared dishes in the refrigerator ready to go. Lots of spice powders available as well. Food is pretty ok. Although it’s under Mylapore restaurant chain they don’t have a common ordering system, which could help their business since both offering complementing services. Tried utappam, vada sambar.

Info Source

This is a takeout place. One should order online and pick it up or delivered??? One can place order in person, however long wait to pickup. No place to sit and wait, unless do few errands and come back. They also have few prepared dishes in the refrigerator ready to go. Lots of spice powders available as well. Food is pretty ok. Although it’s under Mylapore restaurant chain they don’t have a common ordering system, which could help their business since both offering complementing services. Tried utappam, vada sambar.

A simple meal turned out a bit disappointing. Paid $18 for two vegetarian curries — sambar and potato fry — but the taste and freshness were lacking. It seemed like the food might have been stored in the fridge, as the flavors and texture felt dull. The sambar was okay but could be much better. Hope the restaurant revisits its storage and preparation methods to maintain freshness and authentic flavor.

Sambar taste is great but Vada size is too small.Not worth for the price ! Also, I see increase in price periodically . Hope it will stay the same for sometime as we enjoyed before :)

anna raaj

A simple meal turned out a bit disappointing. Paid $18 for two vegetarian curries — sambar and potato fry — but the taste and freshness were lacking. It seemed like the food might have been stored in the fridge, as the flavors and texture felt dull. The sambar was okay but could be much better. Hope the restaurant revisits its storage and preparation methods to maintain freshness and authentic flavor.

Ranjith Murugesan

Sambar taste is great but Vada size is too small.Not worth for the price ! Also, I see increase in price periodically . Hope it will stay the same for sometime as we enjoyed before :)

I bought bisi bele bath and coconut chutney separately. Over the time the bisibelabath price increased but quantity decreased. The coconut chutney was so watery. I wish they maintain some consistency

BANDP

I bought bisi bele bath and coconut chutney separately. Over the time the bisibelabath price increased but quantity decreased. The coconut chutney was so watery. I wish they maintain some consistency

I got take-out orders of mini-idly and Onion Uthapham. Though the Idly and Uthapham were good, all the chutneys and sambhar that came with the order was horrible, so thin and fully watered down. Hope the owners see this message and correct the quality.

Review for Idli Express, Fremont We have been loyal customers of Idli Express for over a year and have always appreciated the taste and healthfulness of their food—especially their soft, porous idlis with sambar and chutney. However, I was extremely shocked by the quality of the Thattu Thali idlis I purchased three days ago. The idlis were unusually hard, dense, and non-porous—very unlike the soft texture I remember from earlier visits. Within an hour of eating, we both experienced stomach upset ( a feeling of tightness in the stomach) that lasted for the next two days. This has never happened to me before with Idli Express, which is why I was so surprised and disappointed. It almost felt as though something had changed in the batter preparation, and I sincerely request the owners to investigate the cause of these hard, non-porous idlis. For me, Idli Express has always been one of the few places I trusted for nutritious and relatively healthy food from a restaurant, and I would love to see it return to its original quality and standard. I share this feedback not to criticize, but to bring it to the kind attention of the owners so that other customers can continue to enjoy the true Idli Express experience without discomfort.

I ordered samosa from idly express. The samosa was spoilt and the smell was bad. The stuffing was completely spoilt and they are selling old stock.

Ordered idly, vada and pongal. Definitely any of these items are not fresh, idly and vada has very bland taste…. No taste nothing. Gave two chutneys,,, both the chutneys are not good, used bad coconut powder( which has unpleasant odour) i can see l ot n lots of urad dal in chutney ( iam sure they gave us leftover chutney) posted images on the same…. Pongal tasted like normal white rice with dal,, no taste , no flavour, no ghee nothing….waste of money and time.

Ordered thatte idli through DoorDash and found a dead fly in the sambar. It makes me wonder about their kitchen cleanliness. Very disappointed!

Trash food. Absolutely garbage. Ordered Uttappam which was raw and uncooked. Returned it to them to cook it properly, which they apologized to and said they’d fix it but the new one shared was also uncooked. Had to throw it. And the bits I ate from the corners is giving me stomach ache

WOW, Shocked and How!!! I’ve been a mylapore fan since they opened in Fremont. I still am, but my ordering options will surely and definitely change after this take out from Idly Express moving forward! 100%!! I will not order as much I used to after this, and possibly go there less often!! Because medu Vada is my go-to item every time and it’s not the same quality and value, it used to have. Now the medu vadas are small onion rings!! Absolutely nothing much in it, and all I get is oil in the taste! The pictures speak for themselves. The diameter is of a small 2oz cup!! Get some and you will know what I’m talking about. I’ve had this when they offered two per plate, then they moved to 4 per plate, the size was good and decent when it went to 4, and now, I’m getting 4 super thin Medu vada like onion rings for $8? I hope this feedback can be taken seriously. Because I’ve seen the drastic dip in the overall quality and value of this item over the past year. Very very disappointing!

megha sharma

Ordered thatte idli through DoorDash and found a dead fly in the sambar. It makes me wonder about their kitchen cleanliness. Very disappointed!

Kaushik D

Trash food. Absolutely garbage. Ordered Uttappam which was raw and uncooked. Returned it to them to cook it properly, which they apologized to and said they’d fix it but the new one shared was also uncooked. Had to throw it. And the bits I ate from the corners is giving me stomach ache

Vidhi Gupta

WOW, Shocked and How!!! I’ve been a mylapore fan since they opened in Fremont. I still am, but my ordering options will surely and definitely change after this take out from Idly Express moving forward! 100%!! I will not order as much I used to after this, and possibly go there less often!! Because medu Vada is my go-to item every time and it’s not the same quality and value, it used to have. Now the medu vadas are small onion rings!! Absolutely nothing much in it, and all I get is oil in the taste! The pictures speak for themselves. The diameter is of a small 2oz cup!! Get some and you will know what I’m talking about. I’ve had this when they offered two per plate, then they moved to 4 per plate, the size was good and decent when it went to 4, and now, I’m getting 4 super thin Medu vada like onion rings for $8? I hope this feedback can be taken seriously. Because I’ve seen the drastic dip in the overall quality and value of this item over the past year. Very very disappointing!