Sri Mu Saravana Bhavan — Restaurant in Kerala

Sri Mu Saravana Bhavan on Aluva Road, close to Cochin Airport, is a popular stop for travelers looking for vegetarian food, but my experience here was not very satisfying. The location is convenient, especially if you are catching a flight or just landed, and the place looks clean and spacious with decent seating. Service was fairly quick, and the staff were polite, which is worth noting.

However, the quality of the food did not live up to expectations, especially considering the prices charged. The items we tried, including dosa and meals, were just average in taste and lacked the freshness and flavor one usually associates with South Indian food. The sambar and chutneys were watery and did not have the authentic punch. Even the meals felt rushed, more like canteen-style than restaurant-quality. For the brand name and the price point, the food was disappointing.

Speaking of pricing, it is definitely on the expensive side. A simple tiffin or meal costs much higher than what you’d pay at other vegetarian restaurants in Kerala, and for the quality offered, it doesn’t feel justified. It seems the proximity to the airport and the Saravana Bhavan name are what drive the prices rather than the actual dining experience.

Overall, Sri Mu Saravana Bhavan here feels like a convenient option only if you are short on time and want a quick vegetarian meal before heading to the airport. But if you are looking for value for money or memorable taste, this may not be the best choice. Food is below average, and the high pricing makes it hard to recommend unless convenience is your...

Walked in on a Saturday evening around 8pm for dinner with a group of 12. Parking is plenty and supported by a security personnel. The restaurant is above a flight of stairs and the toilet down a flight of stairs, hence it maybe inconvenience for senior citizens.

The location is convenient for someone dropping their loved ones at the airport, to drown their happiness/sorrow in a bowl of sambar, on the way back to the Ernakulam city.

The tables were immediately arranged and the orders immediately taken- a variety of South Indian items and Chinese items were ordered. The former came real quick while the Chinese items were real slow to the point where the Chinese items hadn’t shown up at the table when the South Indian dishes were already eaten.

Intermediate tea/coffee requests before the main course were also helped with. Because the place the big, if the waiter isn’t looking at you, getting their attention might not be wary.

Pricing is slightly above average, though not very high, in general. Quality is okay. One thing that still continues with dosas in Kerala is that the texture like in HSB or A2B is still lacking, it puzzles me. The food is tasty, no doubt. They do add in vadas without asking- which is not what I’d like.

The customisations for tea/coffee were generalised for the waiter’s convenience but let a sub-par experience to the consumers. This can be improved.

Meeta pan is available at a premium...

I’ve had the pleasure of dining at Sree Mu Saravana Bhavan across multiple Branch, and I’ve always been impressed with the food quality, portion sizes, and service. However, there’s an issue with the billing process that I think needs attention. On several occasions, I’ve noticed a round-off charge for any value under 0.99 paisa. When I inquired, the staff initially explained it was part of the GST. After further discussion, they clarified that the extra charge was simply to round off the total, since paisa isn’t used in cash transactions. While I understand that paisa isn’t typically used in cash payments, most customers now pay via UPI or cards, where paying the exact amount—including paisa—is possible. Despite this, the round-off system is still being applied. Many customers may not notice this, which could potentially lead to overcharging over time. Given Sree Mu Saravana Bhavan’s wide presence and large customer base, this practice feels somewhat misleading. I urge the Saravana Bhavan team to reconsider this round-off system and adjust the billing process accordingly. It would be greatly appreciated if the bills reflected the exact amount, especially for digital payments, to ensure transparency and fairness. I hope this feedback will be taken into account and lead to positive changes for the benefit of...