Gadbad Ice Cream
VegA tall sundae layering ice cream, jelly, fruit, nuts and dry fruit — the coastal-Karnataka classic born in the Udupi-Mangalore belt.
₹80–180
Best around: Diana Circle and Udupi
Eat in Udupi
What to Eat in Udupi Today?
Search Udupi dishes by craving — gadbad ice cream, goli baje (mangalore bajji), neer dosa and more.
Udupi gave its name to one of India's best-known styles of vegetarian cooking. It grew out of the kitchens of the Krishna Matha, where food is still cooked for thousands of pilgrims each day, and it travelled across the country with the "Udupi hotels" that serve dosas and meals in almost every Indian city.
If you are wondering what to eat in Udupi, start with the dishes at their source: a masala dosa near the temple, a full meal on a banana leaf and a tall glass of gadbad ice cream.
Popular cravings
Diet
Best for
5 Udupi dishes found
MildGoli Baje (Mangalore Bajji)
VegSoft, fluffy deep-fried maida fritters with a hint of curd and ginger — a coastal-Karnataka tea-time favourite.
₹40–120
Best around: Diana Circle
Neer Dosa
VegThin, soft, lacy rice-batter crepes eaten with coconut chutney, curry or jaggery — a coastal-Karnataka staple.
₹40–120
MildUdupi Masala Dosa
VegThe crisp rice-lentil crepe filled with spiced potato — believed to have originated in Udupi's temple kitchens and spread worldwide.
₹40–150
Best around: Udupi
MildUdupi Meals
VegA pure-veg banana-leaf meal of rice with the famous Udupi sambar, saaru, palya, kosambari, pickle and payasa.
₹100–250
Best around: Udupi
Famous Food to Eat in Udupi
Udupi food is vegetarian, cooked with coconut, jaggery and tamarind, and traditionally made without onion or garlic in the temple kitchens. Try these dishes during your visit.
Udupi Masala Dosa
A crisp rice and lentil pancake folded around spiced potato, served with sambar and coconut chutney. The masala dosa is widely believed to have started in Udupi, and it is best eaten here for breakfast.
Udupi Meals
A full vegetarian meal on a banana leaf: rice with Udupi sambar, saaru (a thin, peppery soup), vegetable dishes, kosambari salad, pickle and payasa for dessert. The sambar is slightly sweet, from a touch of jaggery.
Goli Baje
Soft, round fritters made from flour, curd and ginger, fried until golden and eaten with coconut chutney. Also called Mangalore bajji, it is an evening snack with coffee.
Neer Dosa
"Neer" means water, and this dosa is made from a thin rice batter into soft, lacy crepes. It is eaten with coconut chutney, a curry or jaggery and grated coconut.
Gadbad Ice Cream
A tall glass layered with several ice cream flavours, jelly, fruit and nuts. Both Udupi and Mangaluru claim to have invented it, and Diana Restaurant in Udupi is one of the places most linked to it.
Temple Food in Udupi
The Krishna Matha serves free meals to pilgrims every day. Eating one is a simple way to see the temple kitchens at work and taste Udupi cooking in its original setting. Sit where you are shown, eat with your right hand and leave the leaf when you are done.
Food Tips for Travellers in Udupi
- Eat masala dosa and neer dosa in the morning, when they are freshest.
- Look for goli baje in the late afternoon and evening.
- Most restaurants near the temple are pure vegetarian; head to Malpe for seafood.
- A meal on a banana leaf is eaten with the hands, but you can ask for a spoon.
- Carry some cash for small eateries on Car Street.
Questions
Udupi — FAQ
What food is Udupi famous for?
Udupi is famous for the masala dosa, the Udupi meal on a banana leaf, goli baje, neer dosa and gadbad ice cream, all of them vegetarian.
Was the masala dosa invented in Udupi?
It is widely believed to have started in Udupi's temple-town kitchens, and several old restaurants on Car Street claim it. The exact origin is not recorded, but Udupi is the name most linked to it.
Why do Udupi restaurants not use onion or garlic?
Udupi cooking grew out of the Krishna Matha's kitchens, where food is traditionally cooked without onion or garlic. Many restaurants keep to that, though some now offer both.
Can I find seafood in Udupi?
Yes. The town centre is mostly vegetarian, but Malpe is a large fishing harbour, and restaurants there serve fresh fish and coastal curries.