The world is like a giant kitchen and I am desperately trying to eat everything it has to offer. Sampling new cuisine and flavors is my favorite pastime, so when a Sri Lankan acquaintance told me he would take me to House of Dosas — his favorite Sri Lankan restaurant in Vancouver, I was literally overjoyed.
House of Dosas is a very popular hang out in Kingsway. Every week they have a ‘Monday Special’. On that day, all their dosas are only $5.99, so we figured there would be no better day to go on our culinary expedition.
The Atmosphere
As its name suggests, House of Dosas specializes in dosas, which are South Indian crêpes made of fermented rice and lentil batter. However, there are also lots of other South Indian and Sri Lankan dishes that you can try!
House of Dosas is very casual. It is the kind of place where friends or families go for a nice, relaxed meal. There are two dining rooms. The main one gets noisy during peak hours so we sat down in a backroom that was quieter and more suited for a good chat.
The Food
Medu Vadai ($5.99)
We started our meal with some Medu Vadai. They are small savory doughnuts made of lentils and seeds. They came served with three different dips: a tomato-based sauce (left), a coconut-based sauce (center) and a curry. My favorite was the creamy coconut dip that added a nice flavor to the plain Medu Vadai.
Chicken Dosa ($12.99➝ $5.99)
I did not expect the Chicken Dosa to be THAT big. Inside this giant crispy crêpe was a mix of chicken, potatoes and spices. After breaking the crêpe with your hand, you’re supposed to grab some of the filling and dip everything in one of the sauces. What’s great is that the spiciness of each dosa can be adjusted to your liking.
Cheese & Lamb Dosa ($13.99➝ $5.99)
Although I was warned that the Cheese & Lamb Dosa would not be the most authentic, I went for it anyway. Personally, I enjoyed it. The lamb was good and the cheese not too overpowering.
Set dosa ($9.99➝ $5.99)
The Plain Dosas were simple; they tasted like unsweetened pancakes.
Goat with Bone Biriyani ($15.99)
The Goat with Bone Biriyani was excellent. The gamy flavor of the goat meat blended very nicely with the rice, the caramelized onions and the sweet spices and herbs. It was served with a yoghurt sauce to temper the spiciness and some curry for extra flavoring.
The Desserts
Carrot Halwa ($3.50)
The Carrot Halwa was delicious. This creamy fudge made of carrot, milk, sugar and nuts tasted better than it looked. Apparently, it is a classic dessert that you will commonly find at any feast in India!
Gulab Jamun ($3.50)
The Gulab Jamun was my favorite dessert. The milk-solid and semolina balls were served bathing in rose water. These spongy and soft bite-sized sweets were delightful.
Rasmalai ($4.50)
After the two first great desserts, the Rasmalai — cottage cheese soaked in sweet cream — was just average.
Overall
My first dosa meal at House of Dosas was great. The food was tasty and that’s all I hoped for. The décor was not fancy or authentic, but it is a casual eatery so it has to be considered as such.
I would definitely go back. There are so many dishes I still want to try! The ‘Monday Special’ is a good deal if you want to sample a lot of different dosas without spending too much money. But beware! It is a popular night, so try to go early or you may not be able to get in easily.
House of Dosas
Opening hours: open everyday from 11am to 3am
Website: click here
Address: 1391 Kingsway, Vancouver, BC V5V 3E3
Telephone: (604) 875-1283
Note that prices and information featured in this article are subject to change.
