Vidyarthi Bhavan-When Tea Came Early and Dosa Came Twice

That evening wasn’t planned — it happened all of a sudden when I made a spontaneous plan to meet one of my friends. We decided to meet just after the lunch hour. Since we were both full, we chose not to go to a café. Instead, we met and roamed around for a while, chatting. Around 5 PM, we thought of visiting a restaurant.

This particular restaurant is known for its masala dosa and is very famous in Bangalore. Even though I’ve been in Bangalore for almost 10 years, I had never visited this place. This day felt perfect to finally make it happen. Around 5 PM, we set off on my friend’s bike, as the restaurant was a little far from where we were.

Oh my god — I’ve said so much about the restaurant but haven’t even named it yet! It’s called Vidyarthi Bhavan, located in Gandhi Bazaar, Basavanagudi.

We followed Google Maps to reach the location, but the real challenge was finding a place to park our bike. We tried parking along the roadside, but every time we spotted someone leaving, someone else would grab the spot before we could get there. After a few minutes of circling around, we finally found a space.

Now it was time to walk towards Vidyarthi Bhavan. Within five minutes, we reached the entrance — and were greeted by a huge crowd. Seeing that, we had second thoughts. I’d already said multiple times that I was really hungry, and I wasn’t sure if I could wait.

My friend suggested going somewhere else since I was so hungry, but I made it clear that I’d wait. Here’s how it works: as soon as you arrive, you need to walk to the counter and take a token by mentioning the number of people in your group. You’ll be given a token number — ours was K3, if I remember correctly.

Another staff member sits at the entrance, calling out token numbers based on table availability inside. We tried to check which token number was currently being called and heard it was somewhere around A20. We were surprised and assumed the tokens were being called in alphabetical order, which made us think we had a long wait ahead.

So instead of just standing around, we decided to click some pictures — for ourselves, and of course, for Instagram stories. After a few photos, some chit-chat, and even clicking pictures for others upon request, we checked the status again — and it was *still* in the A series. We looked at each other and just stood there, waiting.

And then came the twist — the guy started calling the K-series tokens! So, if you ever visit Vidyarthi Bhavan, just know that the tokens are *not* called in alphabetical order. Within 10 minutes, we were called in.

Don’t expect a private table to yourself — this is the kind of place where you share the table with strangers if needed. One cool thing my friend already knew (and I loved) was that you can scan the QR codes pasted on the pillars and walls to view the menu.

Within a minute, a waiter came over to take our order. We were clear — two masala dosas and two cups of tea.

The mistake we made was ordering tea along with the dosa. We assumed the tea would be served at the end. So here’s a tip: if you want your tea after the meal, don’t order it at the beginning.

In about five minutes, our crispy, aromatic dosas arrived. The waiter poured chutney — and my god, that first bite is something I can still remember. The place truly lives up to its name and fame. I’m a tea person and my friend isn’t — but even he liked the tea!

We finished our dosas, but we weren’t full. That led to the usual friend discussion: “Should we share another one?” But soon, we both agreed we could easily eat another full dosa. So, we ordered another round. The waiter came with the bill, but we told him we’d like one more. God knows what he thought — but hey, we wanted that dosa!

Now, a little side drama: there was a guy sitting to our right, decently dressed but clearly drunk. He was a bit disruptive, but honestly, it turned into entertainment for both of us. This kind of thing doesn’t usually happen at Vidyarthi Bhavan, but it added some spice to our evening.

After finishing our second dosa, we thought about ordering another tea. But we didn’t — expecting the waiter to bring the bill directly. And that’s exactly what happened.

We washed our hands and headed to the cash counter. You know how it goes — two friends fighting over who pays the bill. The cashier looked at us and joked, “I’ll be happy if both of you pay!” Eventually, my friend paid the bill, and we walked out, searching for our bike.

One thing to say: the hotel is well-maintained, pocket-friendly, and apart from the iconic masala dosa, they offer many other delicious South Indian dishes. If you’re planning to visit, I’d suggest calling 080-26677588 to reserve a seat — and save yourself from the long wait like we had.

We ended the day with a great dosa and a picture-perfect memory to cherish

Restaurant’s Location : Click Here