Nani's Tiffins — Restaurant in Hyderabad

Dissatisfied!!

The restaurant appears to lack authenticity in its preparation of traditional South Indian dishes such as idly, sambhar, and dosa. Even the inclusion of onions seems to deviate from the expected flavors. They put pickled onions on Onion Dosa. I have seen that the Ghee's taste is altered. Who puts Cinnamon in Sambhar? What kind of Sambhar is that? There are some places where people visit the restaurant for the sake of Sambhar. How can they go wrong in cooking simple things.

The concern arises from the noticeable presence of cheese and butter on every dish, giving it a characteristic more aligned with North Indian culinary preferences. This departure from the traditional South Indian tiffin style raises questions about the establishment's commitment to preserving the regional authenticity of its offerings. The essence of idly, sambhar, and dosa lies in the purity of flavors and simplicity, yet the incorporation of cheese and butter appears to be an attempt to cater to a different palate. This adaptation might appeal to those accustomed to the richer and heavier tastes prevalent in North Indian cuisine, but it risks diluting the unique essence of South Indian flavors. Striking a balance between innovation and tradition is crucial in maintaining the integrity of regional culinary experiences, and it seems the restaurant may need to reconsider its approach to uphold the authenticity of its South Indian offerings.

The sitting area is open and i have seen birds on the trees. I had the fear that those might 'you know' while we eat.

There is ample space...

Sambar a mazaka! That could be the tag line of this Tiffins centre. My wife's fear of me not able to take in the spice was completely unfounded. Set in a quite spacious, uneven ground with ample parking space, this is definitely not one for fine-dining. As you park and come along you can find some splotches of water here and there as you get to order.

So we ordered the idly (making the mistake of not taking it in the bowl) along with generous portion of sambar, schezwan cheese masala dosa, butter masala dosa, tawa bonda. They proudly advertise they only use Amul brand of butter but may have forgotten to add, half box of butter per dosa. My goodness their kitchen is quite a site to look at as the dosa preparation gets along.

About 20 odd dosas on this huge rectangular slab getting cooked simultaneously with the guy making adjustments to each as per the order. If you had the notion that the 'masala' part of dosa is the aloo curry, it ain't. It's just some masala. Though I ordered Butter Masala Dosa, having one taste of Schezwan one floored me completely. My brother in law was gracious enough to exchange the whole dish.

Coming to the idly and the SAMBAR, oh god! No words to describe this delectable dish. It has that distinctive masala taste to it with just the right amount of spice, sour and chilli that you can just keep drinking. Chutneys accomponied is just a formality. I would strongly advice anyone to just go with the sambar soaked idly variety.

Overall had nice time and lovely food. Definitely one to try again...

Must-haves: Plain or Butter Masala Dosa, Idli w/ Sambar, Tawa Mysore Bhaji

At Nani’s Tiffin, I always go for a dosa. Even the plain dosa is excellent, crisp and full of flavour. The butter masala dosa is a solid pick too, simple but satisfying. If you want something heavier, go for the masala cheese dosa or the masala paneer dosa. Both are rich, filling, and packed with flavour.

The idli with sambar is a staple. The idlis are soft and soak up the hot, spicy sambar beautifully. It’s comforting and always hits the spot. You can mix in some chutney for extra flavour, and that’s always fun.

The Tawa Mysore Bhaji is a special one. They cut up bondas, crisp them on the tawa, and top them with spiced veggies, cheese, and cream. It’s indulgent and definitely something you won’t find just anywhere. Lives up to the “special” in the name.

The vibe is very local and chill. There’s standing, table, and even lakeside seating, so you can choose what suits your mood. It’s got that rustic feel that adds to the charm.

One thing to keep in mind. The weekend rush is very real, so try to plan your visit during off-peak hours if you want a smoother experience.

And if you’re driving from further out, the Tank Bund road leading up to Nani’s is beautiful. The whole outing, from the drive to the food, makes for a really...