Mylapore - Fremont — Restaurant in Fremont

I have been following Mylapore Express for a long time. I am not a resident of California. I was thrilled to visit this place during my recent trip and I was not disappointed. I loved the idea of having jeera water at the entrance. Kudos to letting us join the waitlist through yelp. It helps. And the estimate is quite decent with + 10-15 mins on Saturday during lunch. The interior seems pleasing and thank you for sticking to carnatic music in the background. I don't know if they play film music. But carnatic instrumental makes it more fitting. The service was commendable. We were impressed by how people working there sported a pleasing face even at the end of the day. We went here for lunch and dinner and was impressed with the same level of energy as during lunch. Special mention about Mr. Abubakar (coffee service) and Ms. Shubh who ensured our satisfaction. Don't miss his coffee. Abubakar was kind enough to pack a few mini idlis for our kids and this gesture goes a long way (We were flying back home the next day and those idli were saviours). Others were no less in their service and hospitality. We just didn't ask for their names. Last but not least, the food.. I have been longing for 'kalyana saapaadu' living in the US. The lunch meal was just what 'kalyaana aathu saapaadu'. The paruppu usili, onion sambhar, rasam, and how can I forget the cilantro thogaiyal? Curd rice was magical. Benne dosa was the best. The molaga podi used in ghee podi dosa was so much 'home-made'. The coffee counter adds to the kalyanam vibes. This place is a major reason why we loved SF. It felt 'homely'. It felt like reconnecting to the roots, to 'home'. Aathu samayal, the people, the hospitality. Details like using degradable plates and adding banana leaf onto that shows how much you have thought about customers. I like how it avoids having to eat from just steel plates that are washed and reused. Great job on choosing eco friendly to go boxes. I wish this place steady and lasting success and the people working there with immense satisfaction from what they are doing.

Aviyal could have been better. The dabara sticking to the table needs to be taken care of. If the bathrooms get renovated in the future that would match with the...

Absolutely, here’s the updated and polished version of your review with that note included:

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First Visit Visited Mylapore in Fremont for the first time, and it truly lived up to the hype. It was quiet when I walked in, but within an hour, the place was packed. I ordered the mini idlis, which came out quickly—already soaked in hot sambar. Loved how fast and efficient the service was.

The decor really stood out—probably the best I’ve seen in a South Indian fast food place in the U.S. It felt clean, modern, and still rooted in tradition. The mini idlis were soft, though I wish they were even smaller, like the ones you get in Chennai. The sambar was fresh and tasty, but not quite at Chennai levels yet. There’s definitely room to elevate it to the next tier.

I ordered coffee after my meal, and while trying to mix the decoction and milk, the davara got stuck to the table—had a few anxious moments trying to pull it off! Maybe a small tray or coaster would help avoid that. The coffee itself was well made and just the way I asked, though the decoction could’ve been stronger.

All in all, a great experience. Mylapore is definitely ahead of most South Indian spots in the U.S. Now it just needs to compete with its own high standards and keep pushing for more.

Second Visit My cousin is a regular and suggested I give it another try to see if my perception would change—and it did. We ordered the Ratna Cafe Idli, and it hit the spot perfectly. It truly transported me back to Ratna Cafe in Chennai. However, the regular sambar served with other dishes tasted very ordinary in comparison. Not sure why the exceptional sambar used for the Ratna Cafe Idli can’t be the standard across the board.

We then ordered Mysore masala dosa, followed by puri and curd rice—all of which hit the right notes. We wrapped up with filter coffee, which tasted much better this time around.

It was especially fascinating to see a huge wait time even as late as 9 PM on a Monday night—Memorial Day, no less. A clear sign of how popular this place has become.

Bumping up my rating based on this most...

Unorganized, Rude and Oily!

I recently visited this over hyped place with high expectations, but unfortunately, the experience left much to be desired.

Long Wait Time and Confusing Ordering Process

Upon arrival, we were greeted with a wait time of over 50 minutes just to get a table. Once seated, we were surprised to learn that ordering food required us to go back in line once again. This was highly inconvenient and disorganized, making the dining experience unnecessarily complicated.

Unpleasant Service and Attitude

One of the most disappointing aspects was the service. We were informed that chutney and sambar were complimentary, but the initial portions were deliberately minimal. When we requested more, the servers’ facial expressions clearly conveyed their displeasure, making us feel like we were causing them trouble simply for asking for what was promised as “free.”

Food Quality and Presentation

The Dosas were excessively oily or buttery, which overpowered the actual flavor. It would have been much better if the butter or oil were served on the side, giving customers the option to add as per their preference.

Unprofessional Behavior with To-Go Boxes

We had a considerable amount of food leftover, and the to-go boxes were placed out for us to grab. However, when we took multiple boxes for our party of five (who had ordered quite a lot), an employee rudely commented and made us feel as if we were stealing. This was not only embarrassing but highly unprofessional.

Overall Experience

The food was mediocre, but the poor customer service and lack of basic hospitality left a bitter taste. The restaurant’s practices of portion control, combined with the staff’s unwelcoming demeanor, made the experience frustrating and uncomfortable.

I genuinely hope the management takes these issues seriously and works on improving both the quality of service and customer experience. Unfortunately, I wouldn’t recommend this place unless significant...