Balaji Mess — Restaurant in Pleasanton

Restaurant Review: Balaji Mess, Dublin

Balaji Mess in Dublin is a hidden gem for anyone craving authentic South Indian flavors, especially those who appreciate both vegetarian and non-vegetarian Indian cuisine. This spot combines homely flavors with generous portions, making it a favorite for locals and students alike.

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Ambience & Service

Balaji Mess offers a simple, no-frills dining experience focused on food rather than decor. The staff is friendly, attentive, and quick to accommodate requests, ensuring you feel welcome. It feels more like a South Indian mess-style canteen — casual, fast-paced, and focused on feeding you well.

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Non-Vegetarian Highlights

The Ambur Mutton Biryani is a standout dish and a personal favorite — aromatic, perfectly spiced, and authentic. The rice is fluffy and flavorful, while the mutton is tender and well-marinated, cooked to fall-apart perfection. It’s not greasy or overly rich, and the flavors are layered in a way that hits all the right notes of traditional Tamil-style biryani.

Other notable non-veg items include: • Chicken 65: Crispy, spicy, and perfectly balanced — it’s not just a side dish, but something you might order on its own again and again. • Mutton Chukka: Dry-fried mutton dish with rich spices and a deep flavor profile, often paired well with parotta or biryani.

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Vegetarian Highlights

Balaji Mess doesn’t cut corners on its vegetarian offerings either. In fact, the flavors here rival those of its non-veg dishes: • Sambar & Rasam: Authentically tangy, with the right amount of spice and a fresh aroma — just like home-cooked versions from Tamil Nadu. • Vegetable Kurma: Creamy and spiced just right, a great companion to chapati or dosa. • Dosas & Idlis: Soft, fluffy idlis and crisp dosas served with coconut chutney and sambar that steal the show for breakfast or light meals. • South Indian Thali: A wholesome platter with a variety of items that give a complete experience of South Indian home-style cooking.

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Value for Money

Portions are generous and pricing is reasonable, especially given the quality and authenticity of the food. It’s a great spot for students or families looking for a satisfying meal without breaking the bank.

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Final Verdict

Balaji Mess is a must-visit for lovers of authentic South Indian food in Dublin. Whether you’re a die-hard biryani fan or prefer comforting vegetarian fare, the kitchen here doesn’t disappoint. The Ambur Mutton Biryani alone is worth the trip — and once you’ve tried it, it might just become your favorite too.

Rating: 4.7/5

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For families seeking authentic South Indian flavors in the East Bay Area, Balaji Mess offers excellent value with its diverse menu and genuine taste profiles. The restaurant successfully bridges the gap between traditional preparations and regional innovations.

We began our culinary journey with Mini Ghee Idlis, and I must say, they were an instant hit with my little one. The idlis were accompanied by two distinct chutneys - a coconut-based one that was absolutely divine with its creamy texture and balanced sweetness, and a tomato-based variant that packed the expected spicy punch. The sambar complemented the idlis perfectly, with its rich lentil base and aromatic tempering.

Moving on to the Benne Dosa, this was where the kitchen truly showcased their expertise. The dosa achieved that perfect balance of textures - crispy and golden on the outside while maintaining a soft, pillowy interior. My only critique would be the generous hand with ghee, which, while authentic, felt a tad excessive for my palate. A slightly lighter touch would elevate this dish to perfection.

The Kotthu Paneer Paratha was a pleasant surprise with its well-balanced flavors and innovative preparation style. The paneer was cooked to perfection, and the spice levels were expertly calibrated.

However, what truly stole the show was the Pallipalayam Paneer - a dish that instantly transported me back to the streets of Hyderabad. This typical Chindian starter reminded me of the legendary preparations at Santosh Dhaba. The medley of fennel, coconut, garlic, and onions created a symphony of flavors that was nothing short of spectacular. I can confidently say this was the finest starter I've encountered in the Bay Area, and for a Hyderabadi palate, that's saying something.

The Jackfruit Pulao deserves special mention for its honesty - the restaurant doesn't masquerade it as biryani, and rightly so. What they deliver instead is a fragrant rice preparation where every grain is beautifully infused with flavors. The jackfruit was cooked to tender perfection, and the overall dish was remarkably flavorful without being overwhelming.

We concluded our meal with Parappu Payasam, a Chennai-style dessert that tasted reminiscent of puran poli stuffing in the most delightful way. Garnished with perfectly fried cashews, it provided a pleasant and satisfying end to our feast. The beverage section offered mixed results. The filter coffee, served in the traditional copper tumbler, maintained authenticity and delivered on taste. However, the chai was merely adequate and could benefit from...

First I'll start with the food. I genuinely feel the food is worth trying. Everything we tried was flavored well and overall tasted good. I ordered the ambur chicken biryani. Flavor was good but ratio of rice to protein is terrible. Two small leg pieces and a giant pot of rice. Ratios need to be tweaked.

That ends the positive segment. Let's talk negatives. When we called restaurant asking if it's busy, we were told it's about 10-15 minute wait but no mention that we could make a reservation which would've saved us a wait when we got there. Floors were messy and had food droppings around a lot of tables that never seemed to be cleaned throughout the time we were there. Cleanliness def seemed to be an issue. The menu has a lot of items but lacks descriptions or pictures so it's very hard to know what you're ordering. At least having accompanying pictures would go a long way in helping people figure out what to order. When placing orders, items took a very long time to arrive / forgotten and we had to remind them multiple times before food arrived. Altogether organization and workflow was sadly true to restaurant name as it was a mess.

We did come on Ugadi day and perhaps they were overwhelmed especially having opened recently but that's no excuse. I think they need to spend a bit more time working on organizational efficiency and management because as decent as the food is, it's not one I would return to until service...