Mangalambiga Vilas

What to eat: South Indian Tiffin

Where: Mangalambiga Vilas Kaapi Hotel, Near Adi kumbeswarar Temple, Kumbakonam

Location:

 

Verdict: Mangalambika vilas is a historical mess(place where people eat & socialize) located on an alley leading to the kumbeswarar temple. It is not an easy thing to run a restaurant for decades. But they have made it for more than 100 years. This tiny eatery is serving homely food since 1914.
One Mr.Hariharan Iyer came to Kumbakonam at the age of 14 and worked this eatery which was then owned by an old lady named Thayu patti. Later he bought it from the old lady as she was unable to manage it.

Not knowing the actual year of foundation, they just kept a board saying "Since 1914". It is now managed by Hariharan Iyer's son. Locals refer to it as "Sannidhi Kadai".
If you're looking for a good ambience, then this place is not for you. People come here to taste the traditional food.

You need to have enough patience to eat at this heavily crowded place. By the time we entered the place most of the items like arisi uppiya were finished. So just got 2 pairs of idly and 2 special dosai (they call it as special maavu).

Idly was steaming hot and pillowy soft. Special dosa is just another crispy dosai. What made the meal special was the kadamba sambar. It had different varieties of dal such as toor dal, chana dal, chick peas, moong dal. Chutney was a coconut+red chillie one which was slight yellowish in color, but very very fresh.

As usual I got a filter coffee at the end. Final bill was 137₹ for 2 of us. Meal was worth every penny. If I get a chance to visit again, I would like to taste arisi uppuma and adai. All I can say is just don't miss this place if you hit Kumbakonam, the city of temples.