The quintessential South Indian breakfast, served properly at Mother India Dosa And Curry. Two soft, pillowy steamed rice cakes made from our naturally fermented batter, paired with two crispy, golden medu vadas - lentil doughnuts with a crisp exterior and light, airy interior. Everything served with steaming sambar and fresh coconut chutney. Simple, comforting, and completely satisfying at any hour.
The idli-vada plate is the bedrock of South Indian food culture - served in every home, tiffin shop and restaurant from Chennai to Bengaluru. We make ours from the same naturally fermented rice-and-urad-dal batter we use for our dosas. The idlis are steamed in round moulds until they are fluffy and just set - soft enough to break apart with a spoon, with a mild tang from the fermentation.
The medu vadas are made from a separate urad dal batter seasoned with curry leaves, ginger and green chilli, shaped into doughnuts and deep-fried until crisp and golden outside while remaining light and airy inside. Both are served immediately with a generous portion of hot sambar and fresh coconut chutney on the side.
Good idlis require proper fermentation and careful steaming - too long and they turn rubbery, too short and they are dense. Good vadas need the right batter consistency and oil temperature. We get both right, every time. This is one of the few places in NE Calgary where you can have a genuinely authentic South Indian breakfast plate - morning, afternoon or 3 AM.
"The idlis are perfectly soft and the vadas are beautifully crispy. The sambar is hot and well-spiced. This is exactly the breakfast I grew up with - so glad to find it in Calgary."
"Finally a proper idli vada in NE Calgary. Everything is made fresh, the sambar is outstanding, and the coconut chutney is spot on. Perfect comfort food."
"I come here on weekends just for the idli vada combo. Light, filling, and completely authentic. The vadas stay crispy even after a few minutes - that is how you know they are done right."
Order online for pickup or delivery, dine in at our Cityscape NE location, or call us — we are open 24 hours, every day of the year.