Cafe Chikory

Sumit Lalwani

5 months ago

5.0

Cafe Chikory is a cozy South Indian cafe tucked away in tamarind lane, fort. It has a warm & inviting feel where the smells of freshly made dosas & filter coffee draw you in. It's a great spot for classic south Indian breakfast and comfort food. Open butter masala dosa, this version is served open, generously layered with butter and a well-spiced potato masala. Each bite feels indulgent yet comforting, making it a must-try for dosa lovers. Benne dosa, a speciality at Chikory cafe is rich in butter & slightly crisp exterior and a soft, almost melt-in-the-mouth texture inside. Another highlight at Cafe Chikory is the Mangalore buns, a traditional South Indian snack that is often overlooked but beautifully done here. Soft, fluffy, and lightly sweet, the buns have a delicate banana flavour and a golden-brown exterior. They are fried to perfection,crispy on the outside while remaining pillowy inside. Ghee podi idli is my personal favourite. The soft, steamed idlis are generously coated with aromatic ghee and a flavourful podi, creating a rich, earthy taste in every bite. They also serve Chole Bhature, offering a comforting north Indian item on the menu. The chole is cooked well, with a thick, mildly spiced gravy that is flavourful without being overpowering. The bhature is soft, fluffy, and lightly crisp on the outside, making it perfect for scooping up the chole. Together, the dish feels hearty and satisfying. Jaggery Iced Filter Coffee is a refreshing twist & and one of the café’s most distinctive offerings. Sweetened with jaggery instead of sugar, the coffee has a deep, caramel-like sweetness that blends beautifully with the bold, aromatic decoction. Served chilled, it retains the richness of traditional filter coffee while offering a smooth, well-balanced flavour that isn’t overly sweet. They also offer South meal/Thali from 12pm to 4pm. The overall ambience is warm, simple & welcoming. Good service and friendly staff, who are attentive, polite, and happy to assist with recommendations. It was truly a genuinely enjoyable experience.

+6

Mansha Khan

4 months ago

5.0

The first thing I noticed about Cafe Chikory was its cleanliness. The place was kept very neat and clean creating an inviting vibe for patrons. The restroom was spotless which brought a smile to my face - having seeing unclean washrooms at various restaurants, this cafe has made the effort to make cleanliness a priority. Thumbs up to the team! The food is flavorful and the quantity is adequate. My friend and I ordered quite a few items on the menu. We started with Button Idli which were well buttered, warm and melted in the mouth instantly. I specifically enjoyed the coconut chutney which had the authentic Kannada taste. Then we went in for their famous Benne Dosa which was made in the correct size with the right amount of fluff, butter and potato filling. I was feeling a bit more adventurous so I ordered a plate of Vada Sambar. The Vada was soft and its taste elevated with the Sambar. On that day, their special item of the day was Strawberry Sheera. It was my first experience having a Strawberry Sheera and I quite enjoyed it. It was not too sweet and very soft. We couldn’t have left the cafe without the Filter Coffee which was a burst of caffeine, rich aroma and creamy texture. My experience has been wonderful at Cafe Chikory and I’m definitely visiting again. Highly recommend this place!

Rajshi

4 months ago

5.0

Cafe Chikory is truly a hidden gem for authentic South Indian food, especially if you love dosa and filter coffee. Located in Fort near Kala Ghoda, this place serves some of the yummiest benne dosa, soft button idlis, affogato-style filter coffee, and much more. I also really enjoyed the South Indian thali too! The pricing is reasonable for the location, and the ingredients used seem to be of good quality. The place is clean, hygienic, and well-maintained. It’s perfect for visiting with friends, family, or even alone. A must-try if you’re around Fort or South Bombay.

Tanay Agarwal

10 months ago

5.0

The art of south Indian breakfast and meals is often sidelined by soda based batters and unromanticised interiors. And then you come across Cafe Chickory. The place calls you in. The food takes you back home. The vibes keep you there. In a very long time, I have had such quality of south Indian meals and breakfast in Mumbai. and what an experience. Kudos to the team and wishing them the best. They are right next to a well known competitor. But they are so different. Amazing !

Anushka

7 months ago

5.0

Such a delightful South Indian find! The rava masala dosa was perfectly crisp, the Mangalore buns soft, mildly sweet, and so addictive — a perfect combo of comfort and flavour. Wrapped it all up with their coffee ice cream, which was smooth, aromatic, and the ideal kaapi twist to end the meal. A place that truly gets both the classics and the creativity right! ☕🍦✨

Shruti Hiremath

5 months ago

5.0

It's a cozy cafe with absolutely delicious south indian food. We tried their Rava masala dosa, Benne podi masala dosa, Goli bhaji and filter coffee and they all were absolutely authentic. Must try, you would definitely crave for more.

Meet

6 months ago

5.0

Fantastic I love South Indian food and am very picky on where I eat This one is gonna be on my favourite

Aadit

9 months ago

5.0

Must try their “Jaggery Filter Coffee”, with a little extra jaggery! It’s quite soothin’…

R. Prasad

3 months ago

3.0

Chikory Cafe is a tidy upgrade on the old Udupis in Fort— clean, simple and with an AC section. I tried the benne butter podi dosa and rava dosa with filter coffee. Nothing was bad, but each dish missed the mark. The sambhar wasn’t sweet (a plus) but lacked flavours and vegetables, and the chutneys were bland. We asked for podi and were served plain dry powder in a bowl — we had to request for ghee to be added, which was surprising for a South Indian restaurant. Filter coffee was inspid. Overall, the food is average. It feels part of the ongoing gentrification of the Fort–Kala Ghoda area — cheaper than the cafes nearby, so a half-decent option if you’re hungry. Though I am skipping this for the good ol' Udupi in future for south Indian food!

SHILPA TRIPATHI

4 months ago

1.0

I ordered Benne Dosa expecting authentic taste, but the experience was extremely disappointing. The dosa was crisp but the batter had no salt at all. The potato masala was completely bland with no flavour, and the sambar was the worst—watery and tasteless. Paying ₹230 for this quality is absolutely overpriced. Benne dosa is known for its rich taste, which was totally missing here. Very unhappy with the food and will not recommend unless quality improves drastically.