Pongal
Dessert · New York
Sobre Pongal
En Pongal, te damos la bienvenida a un rincón de la India del Sur en Nueva York, donde la sencillez y el sabor se unen. Nuestra cocina kosher vegetariana te invita a descubrir la riqueza de los dosas, los uttappams y otros platos tradicionales elaborados con ingredientes frescos y auténticos. Con un...
En Pongal, te damos la bienvenida a un rincón de la India del Sur en Nueva York, donde la sencillez y el sabor se unen. Nuestra cocina kosher vegetariana te invita a descubrir la riqueza de los dosas, los uttappams y otros platos tradicionales elaborados con ingredientes frescos y auténticos. Con una valoración de 4.3/5, esperamos ofrecerte una experiencia culinaria memorable y llena de calidez.
Qué dicen los clientes de Pongal
Pongal is highly praised for its authentic and flavorful South Indian cuisine, especially the dosas, idlis, and thalis. Customers consistently rave about the friendly and attentive service, often mentioning Tipu, the host, by name. The clean environment and reasonable prices also contribute to its popularity.
Platos populares
Ideal para
Tip: Try the dosas, idlis, and sambar, which are frequently recommended. Some reviewers suggest visiting when it's less crowded, such as around 5 pm.
Qué ver cerca de aquí
Datos de Wikidata
Explora los alrededores de Pongal
Pongal se encuentra en New York, rodeado de lugares de interés cultural e histórico. Estos son algunos de los puntos más destacados en las inmediaciones.
Patrimonio Histórico
- Casa de Chester A. Arthur (A 68m) — Lugar histórico de Estados Unidos Lugar inscrito en el Registro Nacional de Lugares Históricos
- Mansión Jerome (A 319m) — mansión en EEUU Monumentos Históricos de Nueva York
Edificios Religiosos
- Church of Our Lady of the Scapular-St. Stephen (A 110m) — church building in Manhattan, United States of America
- Congregation Talmud Torah Adereth El (A 144m) — orthodox synagogue in New York City
- St. Illuminator's Armenian Apostolic Cathedral (A 230m) — Mother Cathedral of Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church (Holy See of Cilicia)
- St. Leo's Church (A 400m) — church building in Manhattan, United States of America
Parques y Jardines
- Vincent F. Albano Jr. Playground (A 354m) — park in Manhattan, New York City, United States of America
Otros Lugares de Interés
- Rose Hill (A 263m) — residential building in Manhattan, New York
- 223 East 25th Street (A 296m) — residential building in Manhattan, New York
- Emmet Building (A 330m) — edificio en Manhattan
Datos de Wikidata
Preguntas frecuentes sobre Pongal
Opiniones de Pongal New York
We had a wonderful dining experience at this traditional Indian restaurant. The South Indian thali was absolutely delicious and beautifully presented, offering a perfect balance of flavors—from aromatic sambar and chutney to flavorful vegetable curries, soft idlis, crispy dosa & Medu Vada. Each item tasted fresh and authentically prepared. The portion size was generous, making the thali very satisfying and great value for money. The atmosphere of the restaurant was warm and welcoming, with a calm traditional vibe that made the meal even more enjoyable. What truly stood out was the staff—polite, attentive, and always ready to help with a smile. Overall, it was a delightful experience, and I would highly recommend this place to anyone looking to enjoy authentic South Indian food in a comfortable and friendly setting.
I got the papadum and dosai with onion and malasa, they were excellent and the service was excellent too!! The waiter was always attentive and kind.
Excellent Food, Exceptional Service Pongal is a Must-Visit!!!! we were greeted with warmth and genuine smiles. The atmosphere was inviting, and the service was exceptional especially thanks to **Aman** and "Pretty "who truly made our visit memorable. Their hospitality, professionalism, and attentiveness stood out immediately. They take care of customers as if the restaurant were their own, something you rarely see these days. Aman and Pretty made sure our orders were taken correctly, served the right dishes to the right table, and checked in throughout the meal with care always with a smile. It’s clear they’re hardworking, honest, and passionate about what they do, and it makes all the difference. We started with sev puri which was fresh, crunchy, and full of flavor. It had the perfect balance of tangy and sweet. Next was, cheese pav bhaji which was rich, buttery, and incredibly comforting. The cheese added a creamy twist that made it irresistible. Must try THALI was a complete meal and a great way to sample a variety of Pongal’s offerings from flavorful sabzis and dal to roti, rice, and dessert. AND DOSA was another highlight crisp, warm, and served with delicious sambar and chutneys. The batter was clearly fresh and well-prepared. We also loved the **Ragda Puri**, which was full of texture, spice, and flavor — a true chaat lover’s delight. MUST TRY lime soda sweet and salty versions. Refreshing and well-balanced, it complemented the food perfectly. Pongal isn’t just about great food — it’s the people that make it truly special. Aman and Pretty made us feel welcomed and cared for the entire time. We’re already planning to return soon with more friends and family. If you’re in the area, do yourself a favor and visit Pongal..!! You’ll be treated to amazing food and even better service. Thank you, Aman and Pretty we’ll definitely be back soon! From - OfficialDjdraj (Insta)
This is hands-down our favorite South Indian restaurant! Some of our favorite dishes include their masala dosa, fried idli (with molaga podi), mini idlis, paneer rava dosa, yogurt rice (thayir sadam), mango lassi, pani puri, medhu vada, bhel puri, and badam halwa. The dosas are perfectly made— crispy but not brittle. The chutneys (tomato-onion, coconut) and sambar are really good. They also have great North Indian options along with South Indian options! All the food uses fresh ingredients and isn’t overly oily, so you don’t feel gross afterwards, like at many other restaurants. The staff are all really nice and welcoming, including the lady who owns the restaurant! We heard from the owner how she’s been running Pongal for almost 30 years, seeing all the other chain restaurants come and go in the area. It’s perfect for bringing family, especially parents, and great for vegans, vegetarians, and those avoiding peanuts, onions, or garlic. They pay good attention to allergy needs/food restrictions. We highly recommend trying it out!
I have been coming here since the last 20 years!! Highlyyyy recommend!!!! by far my favorite restaurant for Indian food. I will tell you my favorites and my go to's! first is onion rava dosa . The Sambar is so good!!! it comes with tomato and coconut chutney!! the rose lassi is so cooling and tasty. the pani puri is yum. I love the masala bindh andi the samosas . For dessert I love the badam halwa!!!! I eat it there and take a order to go . And their pista kulfi is absolutely mouth watering. Just want to say thank you to Pongal for always making my tummy feel good and for making such good soul food. best wishes to you guys always!!
Delicious South Indian food with lots of good vegetarian options! Everything we got was good, but their breads (roti, dosa) were especially delicious.
A couple walked into the restaurant sat and ordered food got their food fresh in few minutes and didn’t touch it for half an hour and kept talking amongst themselves and then later demanded food to be remade since their food got cold they didn’t agree to pay for the food and caused a whole scene and threatened the server to post bad reviews and make videos and caused a whole scene in the restaurant and left without paying. However my experience with food and service was amazing i really like their hospitality and food taste’s amazing. I come here all the time
Such an underrated gem. Me and my husband would anyday skip sarvana bhavan and go to Pongal. Authentic south indian food and top of the chart hospitality. We tried their mysore thali and most recommended Madras Rava Masala dosa. Crispy till the last bite loaded with flavors! Their idly needs to get better - it was cold and dry so avoid that. Great food and good service!
This place came highly recommended by my friend Mohini, and it truly lives up to the praise. Pongal is a gem for authentic Indian cuisine. The food is purely vegetarian and absolutely delicious, with a comforting, homemade quality that really stands out. Their dosas and thalis are among the best I’ve had in NYC fresh, flavorful, and perfectly prepared. The service is another highlight: attentive, friendly, and patient, especially when helping navigate the extensive menu. The ambiance is cute and colorful with comfortable seating, making it a relaxed spot for both casual lunches and dinners, whether you’re dining solo or with a group. If you’re looking for authentic Indian vegetarian food paired with great service and a cozy setting, Pongal is a must visit.
cannot say this loud enough. By far the best Indian cuisine available in New York City. Tipu, the host, has been taking care of us for over a decade since they were at their previous location. They are still on Lex av, but now across the street. Try the #50 dosa, try the black chickpeas, mango chutney, and the poori. Unbelievable. I go here on my bday. Almost every year.
Sooooo delicious. Our party of five ordered a huge variety of dishes and every single one was sublime. The food was incredibly fresh. The spice palette was really diverse. One of the best meals I’ve ever had in NYC.
OMG ❣️ By far the best Indian Food in Curry Hill! The addition of Bombay Street Food is awesome. Mutter Paneer off the charts. Bhel Puri fantastic. We have been coming for over 20+ years and they have NEVER disappointed! In fact my wife went into labor shortly after an amazing meal here and we gave birth to a beautiful baby girl who loves Pongal. HIGHLY RECOMMEND 💯
DELICIOUS food, very friendly and attentive service, and very reasonable prices. Extensive menu of South Indian delights. Would happily come back!
Just had a wonderful lunch at Pongal. I particularly enjoyed their signature idli meal with coconut chutney & Sambar. They’ve added well cared for plants to the ambiance, and their host Tipu was attentive & gracious as always.
Fantastic mysore thali -The vada was crisp on the outside, fluffy on the inside; the paper dosa had the perfect feel when breaking, the chutneys were fresh, and every bite of sambar makes you go “mmmmmmm.” Tipu is a very attentive and caring host. Felt like being welcomed into someone’s home. Highly recommended and I’ll definitely be back for the filter coffee
Tipu was gave us great service. The south indian food was amazing especially the idli, dosa, and the very best madras chai. As an indian, i truly recommend.
Pongal has been one of my favorite eateries for YEARS. Their rava masala dosa is my favorite, and their chef Dipti is simply amazing. Thank you to Pongal’s Manager Tipu and his team including Rahul for their excellent customer service!
Dining at Pongal Restaurant in New York was an absolute delight and felt like a warm journey back to India. From the moment we walked in, the atmosphere set the tone – vibrant, inviting, and reminiscent of authentic South Indian traditions. The décor, aroma of freshly prepared spices, and welcoming staff created an environment that immediately made us feel at home. One of the highlights of our visit was the hospitality. We were assisted by Tipu, who went above and beyond in helping us navigate the menu. His thoughtful recommendations were spot on, ensuring we got to experience the best of what Pongal has to offer. Every dish we tried was rich in flavor, perfectly balanced, and true to authentic South Indian cuisine. From the crisp dosas to the aromatic sambar and chutneys, each bite was a reminder of home-style cooking with restaurant-quality finesse. What truly stood out was the consistency – not just in taste, but in service and warmth. Pongal doesn’t just serve food; it delivers an experience that blends culture, tradition, and hospitality seamlessly. For anyone craving authentic South Indian flavors in New York, I would wholeheartedly recommend Pongal. It’s a must-visit for both food lovers and those seeking a cultural culinary journey.
Tipu is the best and the food was AMAZING! Tipu gave great recommendations. The support wait staff was kind and attentive. I recommend appetizers #7 and #21, and of course the papadam, light, crispy, not oily and flavorful. Also a must have is the Madras Coffee. I tried it both with and without cream. The flavor was wonderful. I will return here until I make it through the menu!
I come here often and it's consistently good! The food is authentic, flavorful, and consistently amazing. The dosas, idlis, and sambar are some of the best in the city - highly recommend!
I come here often and it's consistently good! The food is authentic, flavorful, and consistently amazing. The dosas, idlis, and sambar are some of the best in the city - highly recommend!
As an Indian born and raised in New York, this is my absolute favorite Indian spot in the city. Their service is quick and excellent, and they will cater to your diet and eating restrictions. The m…
This place is always so reliably good for tasty food, clean environment, and great service. This time around we ordered the South Indian Thali, which was a great menu item. It lets you sample every…
This place is always so reliably good for tasty food, clean environment, and great service. This time around we ordered the South Indian Thali, which was a great menu item. It lets you sample every…
This place is always so reliably good for tasty food, clean environment, and great service. This time around we ordered the South Indian Thali, which was a great menu item. It lets you sample every…
Authentic & delicious indian food with great service! My fave Indian spot in NYC :)\nWay better than anything else in the neighborhood.
Wow this spot is delicious! Really nice service, and good music! clean, courteous, and welcoming. Large menu with a lot of variety. All vegetarian.
Good game and menu. I like sambhar and idli very much. Nice best restaurant in the city. I would recomment all friends to go as well
We felt like eating indian food, especially thaali, and were very happy to find this restaurant. One was South Indian thaali with masala dosa, idli, vada, chutney and sambar, and one with chapa…
We felt like eating indian food, especially thaali, and were very happy to find this restaurant. One was South Indian thaali with masala dosa, idli, vada, chutney and sambar, and one with chapati, …
We felt like eating Indian food, especially thaali, and were very happy to find this restaurant. One was South Indian thaali with masala dosa, idli, vada, chutney and sambar, and one with chapati, …
The food was really good. Especially DOSA, Sambhar, pista kulfi, masala vadai, papdi chat. Panipuri was Soso due to pani. Manager and server were attentive. Ambience was beautifull. Owners can work on adding chef special items to Menu. New guests can benefit with those things. Or the items that's most frequently ordered can be highlighted for the guests. Overall a very good experience. We suggest adding dry fruit rose milk shake with ice cream
One of the good food places on lexington. Their serving size is decent. We tried their dosa and thali. Both were decent. Great option for vegetarian. Easy to find a table.
One of the good food places on lexington. Their serving size is decent. We tried their dosa and thali. Both were decent. Great option for vegetarian. Easy to find a table.
Food was very ordinary, lacked authentic flavors and seemed over priced for what you get. Not visiting again.
food was very ordinary, lacked authentic flavors and seemed over priced for what you get. Not visiting again.
Food was very ordinary, lacked authentic flavors and seemed over priced for what you get. Not visiting again.
This review is only for online order from this restaurant.\n\n\n I'm so glad I gave online ordering a try and wow they do deliver in my neighborhood. I ordered Rava masala Dosa, Idli, and extra chu…
A solid spot for dosas -- it was easy to get a walk-in table for a larger group, Rava Dosa was my favorite! I appreciated that they put the masala on the side, so it wouldn't get soggy. The chaat w…
Craving dosas on A summer weekend. Popped in here. Attentive service, nice room, many options, good prices! We will return.
Craving dosas on A summer weekend. Popped in here. Attentive service, nice room, many options, good prices! We will return.
Was craving south indian food on a rainy Sunday evening and found this spot on Yelp. Went around 5 pm so it wasn't crowded at all. The music was a little loud but otherwise comfortable dining exper…
Was craving south indian food on a rainy Sunday evening and found this spot on Yelp. Went around 5 pm so it wasn't crowded at all. The music was a little loud but otherwise comfortable dining exper…
Solid vegetarian in little India.. don't miss the paper dosa..service is attentive and fast.. ambiance pragmatic..
The food was delicious. Staff was nice. I’d say it’s overpriced however. We got the upma, rave dosa, and uttapam. Was $60. Would recommend all dishes - served hot and super yummy. Authentic taste …
The Paneer was delicious. The dosa itself was very nice but the deeps that come with it- less. Desert (dosa with chocolate) was mediocre. Service and atmosphere were great. Nice experience but overpriced.
Visited Pongal for lunch today. We ordered the Mysore thali - the food was overall good, though the Idli was very dry and flaky. It is on Lexington Ave - tough to find street parking in the neighborhood. Service was friendly & good. The seating was warm and inviting.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3-Star Review for Pongal Restaurant, NYC Visited Pongal with high hopes, especially being a Tamilian and excited to see a restaurant with a Tamil name in the heart of NYC. The location is nice and the restaurant has plenty of seating inside, which is a plus. However, parking nearby is quite a challenge. The food, unfortunately, didn’t live up to the expectations. I specifically asked if the chef was South Indian before ordering the Chennai Thali ($20), and while it was confirmed, the thali itself was underwhelming both in portion and flavor. The spread included puliyodharai, rice with rasam, poori with kurma, and one muttakose (cabbage) curry. Puliyodharai lacked any depth of flavor, rasam was just okay, but the poori and kurma were quite good. Honestly, I think I should’ve gone with the North Indian thali instead. The most bizarre part? When I asked for pickle, the server replied, “Should I order 1 qty of pickle?” 😅 In all my visits to over 20 restaurants in the Lexington area, I’ve never seen a place charge for pickle with a thali meal. Overall, Pongal didn’t deliver the authentic Tamil experience I hoped for. Average food, questionable pricing strategy, and not compelling enough to make me return.
The crisp was a fun texture on the lentil donuts. It's kind of more like a Burger King fry rather than a McDonald's fry kind of crispiness. When I ordered a masala dosa, I thought I would get the c…
overpriced vegetarian food. My $30 meal was a small bowl of curried cauliflower with a small bowl of rice and a mango lassi. I've been to India many times and It was good but not worth $30! No cond…
Dissapointed. Did not measure up to the name "pongal ". Even the music didn't match the theme. Food was so so. Service not good. And 20% tip added on whether you like the food.or not is not acceptabl…
Dissapointed. Did not measure up to the name "pongal ". Even the music didn't match the theme. Food was so so. Service not good. And 20% tip added on whether you like the food.or not is not accepta…
Dissapointed. Did not measure up to the name "pongal ". Even the music didn't match the theme. food was so so. Service not good. And 20% tip added on whether you like the food.or not is not accep…
Dissapointed. Did not measure up to the name "pongal ". Even the music didn't match the theme. Food was so so. service not good. And 20% tip added on whether you like the food.or not is not accepta…
Ordered a rasam vada which was so spicy it burnt my mouth. And I can take a lot of spice. The Vada was below par too. Buttermilk or moru was weird and had onions. I thought the rava dosa would be good. It was very average and the sambar was not good nor was the green cocoanut chutney which tasted stale. Ended up wasting all three. :( Looking at my sorry plight, they gave me a packet of almonds. I am sorry but I can’t rate this any higher being a South Indian from Bangalore.
Take it from a South Indian - this was some of the worst indian food I've had in the US. Nothing was good, very basic experience and exorbitant prices. On top of that they added 15% gratuity for a …
Horrible. Do not go. Avoid at all costs. Bad food. Pathetic service. And then they will reply back to your review with false claims. There are better options next door.
Horrible. Do not go. Avoid at all costs. Bad food. Pathetic service. And then they will reply back to your review with false claims. There are better options next door.
Horrible. Do not go. Avoid at all costs. Bad food. Pathetic service. And then they will reply back to your review with false claims. There are better options next door.
Very poor service and the food was horrible. Ordered the Fry rice and it was so oily, that we had diarrhea when we came home. On top of that the service is very poor. They have one guy running ar…
The worst South indian food I’ve ever had. I hail from Chennai and I can’t believe someone can get everything so fundamentally wrong!! The idlis were fat and hard! The sambar looked more like the…
I had one of the worst Pongal dishes ever — ironically, at a restaurant named "Pongal." The quality was extremely poor, and the food tasted cheap and uninspired. To make matters worse, they added a gratuity charge for a party of just three people, which goes against NYC regulations that typically apply automatic gratuity only for groups of five or more. Very disappointing overall.
This place is a complete rip-off. The food is ridiculously overpriced, and the quality is terrible. They served us cold, sour idlis—an absolute disgrace to South Indian food. To make it worse, the waiter (who admitted he was from Bangladesh) had the audacity to lecture me, someone from Bangalore, on how idlis are made. We returned the idlis, yet they still charged us for them shameless! On top of that, they sneakily added $4 each for extra rasam and sambar without even informing us. The quantity is tiny, the quality is awful, and the pricing is absurd. Save your money, there are far better places than this restaurant.
I had worst experience from beginning to the end. They did not offer me a seat for nearly 10-15 minutes when I m the only one waiting to get seated. Food taste is ok but the quantity is bad. I’ve got the thinnest Pesarattu ( Moong dal dosa) ever. They even forgot to bring lassi that I ordered. Thank goodness they didn’t charge for it. The place to sit it very conservative. The seat cushions are just falling off of the seat. Very uncomfortable to sit. Also they don’t accept American Express cards. I don’t recommend this place for anything.
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103 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10016
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103 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10016
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residential building in Manhattan, New York
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