oChef » Once Upon a Dosa – San Francisco » Once Upon a Dosa – San Francisco – Reviews

Once Upon a Dosa - Reviews

35 Kearny St, 94104 San Francisco
All reviews at a glance
487

Reviews

77.4%

Satisfaction

87

negative

23

neutral

377

positive

What people say about Once Upon a Dosa

Price per Person
  • $11–$20
Visit Type
  • Food Exploration
Service Type
  • Dine-in
Meal Type
  • Dinner
Noise Level
  • Moderate
Ali A. M.
Review date: 11/01/2025
5
Flavorless Food, Great Service
My experience at this restaurant was a mixed bag. While the service was exceptional, with a perfect score of 5, the food was quite disappointing. I ordered the masala dosa, but it lacked salt and spices, making it taste rather bland. It seems like they forgot the spices altogether. I would recommend this place to friends who don't enjoy spicy food 🌶️ 😆.
  • service10
  • masala dosa3
  • salt & spices2
  • food3
Visit Type
  • Food Exploration
Service Type
  • Dine-in
balasubramaniyan
Review date: 10/31/2025
10
Authentic South Indian Dosa!
My experience at this restaurant was fantastic, especially for someone like me who is South Indian. I was thrilled to find dosa that tastes exactly like home. The food was incredibly authentic and delicious, with every bite packed with flavor. The staff was very welcoming and pleasant. I highly recommend this place for South Indian food.
  • dosa10
  • food10
  • flavor10
Visit Type
  • Casual Outing
Group Type
  • Friends
Group Size
  • Small Group
Service Type
  • Dine-in
Meal Type
  • Lunch
Wait Time
  • Short (6–15 min.)
Aagam R. M.
Review date: 10/31/2025
9
Authentic Dosas and Genuine Service!
My friends and I had lunch here, and the food truly shines! The dosas were authentically delicious, and the sambar and chutneys were full of flavor. Beyond the great meal, this is a place with genuine service; the food was served fast & we were very well taken care of 😊.
  • food10
  • dosas10
  • sambar and chutneys9
Price per Person
  • $21–$30
Visit Type
  • Food Exploration
Service Type
  • Dine-in
Meal Type
  • Lunch
Noise Level
  • Quiet
Meghavi D.
Review date: 10/26/2025
9
Authentic South Indian Delights
My experience at this restaurant was a solid choice for South Indian food. The front staff was incredibly welcoming and attentive, making the experience feel great from the start. On top of that, the dosas tasted authentic, and the accompanying sambar and chutneys were packed with flavor. A very enjoyable meal in a casual setting.
  • front staff10
  • dosas9
  • sambar and chutneys9
Visit Type
  • Food Exploration
Service Type
  • Takeout
Ushma K.
Review date: 10/21/2025
9
Excellent South Indian Food Boost!
My experience at this restaurant was fantastic! I tried the takeout masala dosas, which were excellent. I also noted their innovative and tasty looking waffle bowls. This spot is a badly needed boost to SF's lack of good South Indian food.
  • masala dosas9
  • waffle bowls8
  • South Indian food9
Price per Person
  • $21–$30
Visit Type
  • Casual Outing
Group Type
  • Friends
Group Size
  • Small Group
Service Type
  • Dine-in
Noise Level
  • Quiet
prince R.
Review date: 10/18/2025
9
Lovely Staff and Great Atmosphere
My experience at the restaurant was wonderful. The reception staff was lovely and provided correct recommendations for my mood, which made me feel very welcome and comfortable. The ambience was excellent, and the service all around was great. ☺️
  • reception staff10
  • correct recommendations9
  • ambience9
Price per Person
  • $11–$20
Visit Type
  • Food Exploration
Service Type
  • Dine-in
Wait Time
  • Immediate (0–5 min.)
Anantha P. K.
Review date: 10/12/2025
6
Decent Vibe, Okay Food, Cold Chutney
My experience at this restaurant offered a great vibe, but the food was a mixed bag. I tried The OG dosa, which was just okayish. Unfortunately, the accompanying chutney was pretty cold and not spicy. On a positive note, the fried idly was good. However, the 'smart' dish was preposterous, and the restaurant needs to ramp up its chutneys. The oil usage was also a bit much and could have been reduced. Overall, it's a decent place with decent food.
  • vibe10
  • The OG dosa5
  • fried idly8
  • chutney2
  • smart1
  • chutneys2
Price per Person
  • $21–$30
Visit Type
  • Quick Meal
Service Type
  • Dine-in
Meal Type
  • Lunch
Wait Time
  • Immediate (0–5 min.)
B C.
Review date: 10/05/2025
5
Food good, service terrible
My experience at this restaurant was mixed. I had no issues with the food, which I rated a 4 out of 5. However, the customer service was a significant letdown, earning a 1 out of 5. The place was not busy during my late afternoon visit on Sunday, October 5th. I observed one person behind the counter who was on his cell phone for the entire 30-40 minutes I was there. He seemed indifferent to customer service. If this is the level of service, perhaps a robot would be more appropriate than a human. I also questioned where the management was.
  • food8
  • customer service1
  • person behind counter1
  • management1
Price per Person
  • $21–$30
Visit Type
  • Food Exploration
Service Type
  • Dine-in
Meal Type
  • Dinner
Kalpan M.
Review date: 10/03/2025
2
Disappointing Experience, Longing for Better
My experience at this restaurant was quite disappointing. If you're familiar with authentic South Indian cuisine, this place will make you long for the flavors of Rameshwaram or Mylapore. For those unfamiliar, you might enjoy it, but it's a missed opportunity for true culinary delight. The food was rated a 1, indicating a significant issue, and the atmosphere received a 2, suggesting it was not very pleasant. The service was also rated a 2, pointing to a poor experience in that regard.
  • food1
  • atmosphere2
  • service2
Visit Type
  • Food Exploration
Service Type
  • Dine-in
aswathi S.
Review date: 09/27/2025
10
Authentic South Indian Food - A Taste of Home!
I was craving some South Indian food and found this shop in the main SFO city. The moment I took the first bite, I was so happy; it really took me back home. Thanks a lot for the great food.
  • South Indian food10
  • great food10

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