Amma Vegetarian Kitchen — Restaurant in Vienna

Amma Vegetarian Kitchen is an absolute gem in Vienna, Virginia—hands down one of the best places for authentic South Indian vegetarian food in the area.

From the moment you walk in, you're greeted with a warm, welcoming vibe that feels less like a commercial restaurant and more like you’ve stepped into a familiar place—like back home in India. The ambiance is relaxed and simple, but that’s exactly the charm. It’s not about flashy decor; it’s about the food, the flavors, and the feeling of comfort.

The food here is truly exceptional. If you're craving that unmistakable taste of home-style South Indian cooking, this is where you need to be. Their crispy dosas are absolutely phenomenal—perfectly thin and golden with just the right crunch. The masala dosa is a classic favorite, filled with flavorful, mildly spiced potato masala. Pair it with their sambar, which is hearty and well-balanced, and a trio of chutneys—coconut, tomato, and mint—and you're in for a real treat.

Other must-try items include:

Vada: Crispy on the outside, soft on the inside—served hot with sambar and chutney.

Idli: Soft, fluffy, and light. A perfect option for breakfast or a light meal.

Onion Rava Dosa: Thin, lacy, and loaded with flavor—a favorite among regulars.

And you cannot leave without trying the filter coffee—it's genuinely among the best you’ll find in the DMV area. Rich, strong, aromatic, and perfectly frothed, it’s a great way to end (or start!) your meal.

The service deserves special mention. The staff here are incredibly friendly, patient, and always attentive without being intrusive. They truly make you feel like family and are always happy to explain the dishes if you're unfamiliar with something.

Whether you're a South Indian missing the tastes of home, or someone new to this cuisine looking for an authentic experience, Amma Vegetarian Kitchen offers the best of both worlds—the heart of home cooking with the consistency and quality of a top-tier restaurant.

Everything is good here. It's comforting, authentic, and satisfying in every way.

Highly...

Delicious Dosas! There are a variety of dosas, choola batura and other South Indian classic dishes on the menu with affordable prices. You can get a Plain Dosa for only $5 while a Masala Dosa is slightly over $7. The Masala Dosa definitely had me fooled for a paper masala by its ginormous two foot length!

I only paid only $23 for a Masala Dosa and the Rava Paneer Dosa, Idly/Vada, and 2 bottles of water. No wonder it was packed at 9pm on Tues night! It's pretty casual, no reservations are needed on weekdays/weekends, you can always find a table.

Both the Masala Dosa and the Rava Paneer Dosa were on point and came with samber (which is spicy!) and chutney. The aloo potatoes are tasty and definitely recommend getting the Masala Dosa over the Plain dosa, which is also smaller. My only complaint like other fellow Yelpers is that I wish the Masala Dosa was crispier. I wish Paper Masala dosa was offered on the menu. The Rava Dosa hit the spot with its porous texture and perfectly cooked, it's made from semolina rather than rice flour. The masala dosa came out pretty quickly in a few minutes while the Rava Dosas took longer to cook and came out in 10-15 minutes. Definitely worth the wait! The soft idly and fried savory donut vada were both good and not dense or greasy.

Glad to see the restaurant has been in business over 25 years and continues to be a hit! My parents visiting from out of town loved the dosas and idly. It reminds us so much of Edison or Jackson Heights. Authentic,...

I've been here many times before but NEVER COMING BACK AGAIN after today's visit. The staff was SO INCREDIBLY RUDE, this is UNBELIEVABLE. My mom accidentally ordered me the wrong dish while I was looking for a seat. I immediately caught the mistake and politely requested the cashier to change our order. HE WAS SO RUDE as he told me that he cannot change my order because "THE FOOD IS ALREADY MADE, SORRY". Mind you, he had told my mom originally that it'll take 30 mins to make my food and I was requesting this not even a minute later after our original order.

Anyway, he made my mom get up, rudely asked her to repeat what she ordered, and then turned around to me and said "see, I made no mistake". As I insisted, he proceeded to ROLL HIS EYES, MOUTH "SORRY" TO THE CUSTOMERS BEHIND ME AS IF I WERE ASKING FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY UNREASONABLE, SNATCHED MY RECEIPT FROM MY HAND (not exaggerating here), CUT ME OFF MID SENTENCE to run back to the kitchen area. He comes back, SLAMS THE RECEIPT IN FRONT OF MY FACE, finally changes my order.

Btw, during this entire time, he KEPT CUTTING ME OFF TO ATTEND TO CUSTOMERS BEHIND ME.

I get it sometimes we all have bad days at work and we're tired. But NOBODY talks to customers like this while we're being super polite and requesting. I'm a soft spoken 22 year old, not intimidating at all. There was no reason why he needed to be LOUD, AGGRESSIVE, AND INCREDIBLY RUDE.

DO NOT GO HERE IF YOU CARE...