Lakshmi Nivas KT Hotel — Restaurant in Karnataka

"Lakshmi Nivas KT Hotel," serving since 1952, is a vegetarian restaurant renowned for its unique Chai named "KT." Originating from Kalladka, Karnataka, KT (Kalladka Tea) boasts a distinct taste with a visible separation of milk layers and tea decoction.

The preparation involves a meticulous layering within the tumbler—thick milk at the bottom, followed by the tea or coffee decoction in the middle, and a frothy milk layer on top. This distinct layering not only showcases the skillful preparation but also allows patrons to visually appreciate the separation of each component. The final touch involves the server stirring the layers with a spoon just before serving, completing the marvelous technique. The unique combination of flavors, the clear distinction between milk and decoction layers, and the engaging presentation make KT a standout beverage!

Priced reasonably, this tradition has been upheld by the Holla family for over 70+ years. Srinivas Holla now continues this legacy.

During my visit, I tried KT, Mysore Masala Dosa, Goli Baje, Sanjeera, Biscuit Rotti, and Juice. While KT lived up to its reputation, Biscuit Rotti was a letdown, and Sanjeera stood out for sweet enthusiasts.

The restaurant offers a wide variety of vegetarian dishes, with reasonable pricing. The dosa was good, though the ambiance was moderately maintained, and the service followed a traditional approach. But overhyped but don't let you down for the penny spent!

The ongoing road construction near Kalladka contributed to a dusty and noisy environment. Overall, a mixed experience with some highlights and areas for...

In Bangalore, there WERE few hotels like Vidyarthi bhavan, MTR, Dwaraka, SLV etc, which were extremely famous once upon a time, for their specialised food. But now, even though they may be still famous, there are umpteen number of such hotels, where you can get similar (or may be even better) food than those restaurants.

These hotels are still famous, because, they were the first ones to start with.

Similar is the case with KT or this Laxmi Niwas hotel.

They were famous once upon a time. And they were able to bring in a brand called KT, for their Tea. 5 stars for them for this reason.

But when I visited them, I did not liked their Tea much.

I went there, only to have tea. In the glass cup, they served with milk in the bottom, and tea decoction at the top, and gave a spoon also.

I started stirring the tea, assuming that they had added sugar separately. (This is the normal practice in any hotel, if a spoon is given along with the tea). And the tea became cold and taste less.

When I pointed out this to the owner, she was adamant and a bit arrogant.

This place is next to the busy Highway and there is no parking place.

I may not visit this place in my life time again.

Overall, I have...

While traveling on the Mangalore–Bangalore highway, we stopped at Lakshmi Nivas KT Hotel in Kalladaka. To reach the hotel, you’ll need to take the service road and pass under the flyover – it’s slightly off the main stretch but easy to access once you know the route.

This restaurant is quite popular among travelers, especially for its KT (Kai Thuttu meals/veg specialties) and the famous Rimjim coffee.

Tuppa Dose – rich, golden-brown dosa cooked in ghee, full of flavor. Poori – soft, well-puffed, served with tasty curry. Idli – soft and fresh, paired well with chutney and sambar. All the items were delicious and freshly served. The big highlight at the end was their Rimjim coffee, a must-try here for coffee lovers.

Convenient parking space in front of the restaurant and along the roadside (since most vehicles bypass using the flyover).

Clean and quick service, ideal for highway travelers.

If you’re driving from Mangalore towards Bangalore, this makes for an excellent food stop before Sakaleshpura or Hassan, where good options are limited. Authentic flavors, locally loved dishes, and that memorable Rimjim coffee make it a...