If you’re anything like me, a Bangalore native hopelessly in love with ghee-laden dosas and filter coffee, then Rameshwaram Cafe needs no introduction.
But let me rewind to how I stumbled upon this sensation in the first place.
It all started with the whispers.
You know how in Bangalore, word-of-mouth spreads faster than the metro construction dust?
Friends, colleagues, random uncles at parks, everyone seemed to be talking about “The Rameshwaram Cafe”.
At Rameshwaram Cafe, ghee isn’t just an ingredient—it’s a lifestyle, and one I’m more than happy to embrace with every idli, dosa, and tumbler of filter coffee.
Some swore by their Ghee Podi Idli, others insisted their Benne Masala Dosa could make even the most hardened North Indian a South Indian convert.
And then, the clincher.
I read that a Union Minister was spotted here digging into idlis like the rest of us mere mortals.
When politicians and cine stars unite over chutney, you know something magical is cooking.
Now, I’ve been to my fair share of darshinis and tiffin joints in Bangalore, from the old-school CTR to the ever-bustling MTR. Each has its charm.
But the way people spoke about Rameshwaram Cafe, it wasn’t just another breakfast stop.
It was a movement.
The queues apparently start before sunrise, and folks happily wait an hour just for a plate of idlis.
One friend even joked, “It’s easier to get a ticket to Rajinikanth’s first-day-first-show than to find a seat at Rameshwaram Cafe on Sunday morning.”
Naturally, my curiosity, and stomach, couldn’t take it anymore.
So, I decided to do what any self-respecting foodie/blogger would.
Plan a full-fledged “Rameshwaram Cafe crawl”.
From Indiranagar to JP Nagar, Brookefield to Rajajinagar, I set out to taste, test, and (hopefully) not explode from ghee overload.
And let me tell you, this wasn’t just about food, it was about experiencing the buzz, the business, and the brand behind one of Bangalore’s most happening cafes.
So buckle up (or loosen your belt, preferably), because I’m about to take you through my personal journey into the world of Rameshwaram Cafe.
Where idlis are drenched in ghee, dosas are bigger than your laptop, and the filter coffee… well, let’s just say it deserves its own fan club.
Quick Information: Rameshwaram Cafe
In a hurry? No judgment – here’s the TL;DR (and if you have a few minutes, read on for the juicy details).
| Detail | Info |
| Name | The Rameshwaram Cafe |
| Founded | 2021 (Bangalore) |
| Founders / Owners | Raghavendra Rao & Divya Raghavendra Rao |
| Headquarters | Bangalore |
| Branches | 5 in Bangalore (Indiranagar, JP Nagar, Rajajinagar, Brookefield, Airport T1) + 1 in Hyderabad (Madhapur) |
| Cuisine | South Indian (100% Veg) – tiffin items, dosas, filter coffee |
| Specialties | Ghee-Podi Idli, Benne Masala Dosa, Filter Coffee |
| Turnover | ₹4.5 Cr/month (₹50–54 Cr/year) |
| Timing | Breakfast & Dinner: ~6:30 AM–1:00 PMEvening: 4:00 PM–12:00 AM(varies by outlet) |
| Contact | Visit their Facebook page |
Let’s unpack all of this, starting with what it’s like to walk into a Rameshwaram Cafe.
Walking into Rameshwaram Cafe – Ambiance & Service
The minute I stepped into the Indiranagar branch, I knew why this place is always packed.
The decor is clean and modern, think bright walls, wooden chairs, and polished steel tables (the kind that make you feel like you’re in a fancy college mess hall).
There’s an open kitchen view where cooks flip dosas under winking neon lights, and long queues of hungry patrons standing or navigating self-service stations.
It feels like a cross between your grandmother’s kitchen and a tech startup’s cafeteria.
Service is startlingly efficient for how crowded it is.
Rameshwaram Cafe uses a semi-self-service model.
You pick up a token, wait for a number (they flip through instant-queue screens), grab your food on stainless steel plates, and bus your own table when done.
Surprisingly, even on a busy weekday morning, the friendly staff managed to churn out hundreds of tiffins without losing their smiles.
The whole setup is ultra-hygienic, spotless utensils, filtered water dispensers, even hand sanitizers, which matches the founders’ obsession with strict quality
(Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam’s vision apparently inspired this emphasis on purity).
If you visit, don’t expect candlelight and quiet music.
It’s bustling and noisy in the best way: clattering dishes, laughing families, and old songs playing on the speakers.
But I kind of loved that chaotic energy.
It felt authentic, like a Tamilian cousin’s house on Pongal morning, not a cookie-cutter mall cafe.
The Legendary Menu – Food Highlights
(Source: The Rameshwaram Cafe Facebook Page)
Every table I passed had plates piled high with South Indian goodies.
I dove in at breakfast time, so most people were on the filter coffee and snack circuit.
Here’s the deal: Rameshwaram keeps its menu tight (about 6–8 core items) and perfects them.
That consistency means you get the same delicious meal whether you’re in Indiranagar at 8 AM or Brookefield at 8 PM.
In my case, I approached each visit like a curious foodie-sleuth, trying to spot any subtle differences between branches (spoiler: the taste was impressively uniform!).
These pillowy rice cakes are generously laced with hot ghee and served with spicy podi (coconut-chili powder).
First order of business: Ghee Podi Idli.
This is Rameshwaram’s claimed specialty (the menu touts it, and reviewers rave about it).
Each soft idli is drizzled with warm, aromatic ghee and sprinkled with their secret gunpowder mix.
I dug in and… wow.
The ghee melts into the idli, making each bite decadently buttery yet not greasy.
The podi powder adds a spicy kick, smoky and chilli-spiked.
One chomp and I understood the hype: it’s comfort food turned gourmet.
(No wonder people come at 6 AM and the line forms instantly, the aroma alone pulls you in.)
Next up: Benne Masala Dosa (literally, “butter masala dosa”).
It’s giant, paper-thin, and golden-brown, with a smear of ghee on top.
Crack one open and you get the sight of aloo masala (spiced potatoes) folded inside.
The dosa has a perfect crunch on the edges and a slight chew inside.
Yes, ghee is slathered everywhere (some say too much, but I say it’s half the fun), you can actually taste the cardamom-tempered butter in the batter.
Rameshwaram also does a Pudi Masala Dosa and a classic Sada (plain) Dosa very well, but the benne version is the crowd-pleaser here (it was even listed as a top dish on Zomato).
And then there’s the Filter Coffee, strong, frothy South-kaapi served in a steel tumbler with a dabara (saucer).
This coffee deserves its own fan club.
It’s potent enough to make your eyes pop and buttery enough to calm you down immediately (if that’s possible).
To taste it is to have an out-of-body experience if you’re a coffee lover.
The fine grind and brewing technique give it a smooth depth, I could see why one blogger (and a Union Minister) couldn’t resist sharing their coffee snapshot online.
The rest of the menu is equally heartwarming.
Soft white idlis (even a rava idli), crunchy medu vadas, Thattai (thick rice crackers) and sweet Kesari Bhath (semolina pudding) all show up frequently.
For lunch, they offer mini South Indian thali meals, rice with sambar, rasam, veggies and spicy gongura chutney.
It’s a veritable South-Indian festival on a plate, all kept simple enough that each bite tastes like home cooking.
As one review noted, “soft idli, vada, masala dosa with ghee, thatte-idly, and sweet pongal” make their loyal customers come back.
Throughout my visits, the unspoken mantra was consistency.
Every dish tasted that same day-in-day-out magic wherever I went.
The café’s motto seems to be: measure every spoon of ghee, grind the podi just right, train the cooks thoroughly, and the customers will notice (and return).
And boy, do we!
Branches & Crowds – All Over Town
Of course, “near me” searches are big with any hot spot, and Rameshwaram Cafe has you covered in Bangalore’s key areas.
As of now (2025), there are five outlets in the city and one in Hyderabad, with more on the way:
- Indiranagar (100 FT Road): The original flagship brand was on the 12th Main, Indiranagar. They’ve now moved to a much bigger outlet on 100 FT Road, Indiranagar. It opens from 5 AM to late night and is always the most Instagrammable (it even fit 400 seats after their recent expansion). This was my rendezvous point with friends, and the atmosphere is super energetic with young crowds.
- JP Nagar: I dragged my friend (a babu at heart) to this one. It felt very similar food-wise, though the layout is more compact. The queue here is famously long, folks come straight from morning walks. Interestingly, Google reviews mention it’s “a popular spot known for its ghee-laden dishes” and some folks complained it’s “overhyped”, but I still thought the dosas crisped up just right.
- Brookefield (Whitefield area): This branch is actually close to ITPL, bang on the Brookefield main road. It made news a bit tragically for a freak accident, but otherwise it’s a modern outlet in a mall area. I visited on a weekday and it was… well, still crowded. Clearly, even in a white-collar zone, people crave their daily fix of ghee-pudi idli.
- Rajajinagar (Malleshwaram): This is the west-Bangalore spot. I haven’t been here in person yet, but locals told me it’s equally popular and often packed at all hours.
- Bengaluru Airport (Terminal 1): The newest one (still being finished when I checked) will bring Rameshwaram directly to arriving travelers. Imagine: just off the airplane and straight to buttery dosa, talk about flying gourmet.
- Hyderabad (Madhapur): The one out-of-town branch I hit on a business trip. Much like Bangalore, it drew IT crowd lunch-breakers and Hyderabadis who love their chaas and dosas equally.
From Indiranagar to JP Nagar, the experience stays surprisingly uniform (which is exactly their brand promise).
No matter which outlet I sat in, a big plate of idlis and a cup of filter coffee arrived looking and tasting identical.
That’s why even celebs from all walks of life (yes, neta and abhineta alike) can meet at a Rameshwaram Cafe and not fight over the flavor.
The Dosa Dynasty: Owners and Business Side
(Source: The Rameshwaram Cafe Facebook Page)
Now, a quick detour from food to fame.
Rameshwaram Cafe’s story is almost as rich as its sambar.
It was dreamt up by a power couple: Raghavendra (Raghav) Rao and Divya Raghavendra Rao, who launched this venture in 2021.
Raghav, a mechanical engineer with years in the hospitality business, and Divya, an IIM grad and Chartered Accountant, literally bet their careers on authentic, hygienic tiffin food.
In fact, Divya even quit her (very lucrative) CA job to join Raghav on this crazy ride.
Together, they built this brand from scratch, he with his quirky past of wanting to be an actor (he once lived in slums chasing dreams), and she with her meticulous finance background.
Their philosophy? Quality first, shortcuts never.
They’ve famously said they use no baking soda, only real ghee, and no artificial flavors in any dish.
Everyone I talked to (and sources confirm) praises their obsessive standards.
Because of this, they’ve assembled a massive team (around 700 employees!) serving Bangalore all day.
All that care has paid off big time.
According to business reports, Rameshwaram Cafe clocks nearly 7,500 bills per day in just a few hours of morning rush.
That’s about ₹4.5 crore per month in revenue (almost ₹50–54 crore annually)!
Astonishingly, their gross margins are around 70% (filter coffee apparently helps).
This makes the founders some of India’s richest dosa entrepreneurs overnight.
They’re said to have built a brand valued at ~₹18,800 crore in under 4 years.
(As a blogger, I still can’t count that high.)
They’re not just sitting on that success.
Expansion is on the menu.
Divya announced plans in late 2024 to take Rameshwaram Cafe national (Mumbai, Pune, Delhi, Gujarat) and even international (Dubai by 2025).
In Bangalore alone, the new Indiranagar outlet has 400 seats.
Meanwhile, they’re gearing up for franchise inquiries, it turns out you can open your own Rameshwaram Cafe, too!
Franchise India reports say you only need ~₹20–30 lakh (including a ₹2–3 lakh fee) to start one.
(That’s still cheaper than my daily dosa budget.)
In short, the owners have turned a humble tiffin stall idea into a booming dosa empire.
And they’ve done it by keeping customers first, something I certainly appreciated on every visit.
Rameshwaram Cafe Locations in Bangalore
(Source: The Rameshwaram Cafe Facebook Page)
One of the first things people (including me!) Google is “Rameshwaram Cafe near me.”
And honestly, given how addictive their ghee podi idlis are, it makes sense to want one right around the corner.
Luckily, the founders clearly know our weakness, because they’ve been popping up outlets across Bangalore faster than new breweries in Indiranagar.
Here’s where you’ll currently find The Rameshwaram Cafe in Bangalore (and beyond):
| Branch | Address / Landmark | Vibe & Crowd |
| Indiranagar (100 FT Road) | 847/1(Old No. 847/A), Binnamangala 1st Stage, 100 Feet Rd, Bengaluru – 560038 [Google Map] | The flagship and the busiest! Expect long queues, young crowds, and Instagrammers. |
| JP Nagar | 52, Outer Ring Road, Jeewan Griha Colony, 2nd Phase, J. P. Nagar, Bengaluru – 560078 [Google Map] | Popular with morning walkers and families. Always buzzing – get there early. |
| Brookefield (near Whitefield) | Green Avenue, Plot 1, ITPL Main Rd, EPIP Zone, Brookefield, Bengaluru – 560037 [Google Map] | IT crowd galore! Perfect for a quick dosa break between meetings. |
| Rajajinagar (Malleshwaram) | 27, Dr Rajkumar Rd, Milk Colony, Subramanyanagar, 2 State, Rajajinagar, Bengaluru – 560021 [Google Map] | The go-to for West Bangalore folks. Less flashy, but equally delicious. |
| Bangalore Airport (Terminal 1) | Gate 34, Terminal 1, Bangalore, Gangamuthanahalli – 560300 [Google Map] | Because nothing says “Welcome to Bangalore” like ghee and chutney. |
| Hyderabad (Madhapur) | 72, Capital Pk Rd, Beside Jain Sadguru Capital Park, Cyber Hills Colony, VIP Hills, Jaihind Enclave, Madhapur, Serilingampalle (M), Hyderabad, Telangana 500081 [Google Map] | Their first out-of-Bangalore venture – still packed with techies. |
👉 Pro tip: Rameshwaram Cafe opens as early as 5:30–6 AM in most branches, and trust me, the earlier you go, the shorter the line. By 8 AM, it’s dosa-thundering chaos.
FAQs About Rameshwaram Cafe
What should I order at Rameshwaram Cafe?
The absolute must-tries are the Ghee Podi Idli and Benne Masala Dosa, each slathered in pure ghee. Also get their traditional filter coffee, it’s as iconic as the food. If you’re still hungry, try the crispy Thattai or sweet Kesari Bhath as a dessert.
Is Rameshwaram Cafe vegetarian?
Yes, 100% veg. They focus on South Indian tiffin (mostly rice, lentils, veggies, and dairy) and do not serve meat.
Who owns Rameshwaram Cafe?
It’s co-owned by Raghavendra “Raghav” Rao and Divya Raghavendra Rao, a husband-and-wife duo who started the chain in 2021.
How busy is it usually?
Very! All branches are known to be crowded during peak hours. The Indiranagar outlet, for example, fills up by 7 AM. It’s common to wait in line. Tip: go early (6:30–7:30 AM) or late (after 8 PM) to beat the rush, or take advantage of their takeaway/parcel service.
Can I get franchise information?
Yes, they do franchise out. The franchise fee is about ₹2–3 lakh, with total investment around ₹20–30 lakh. Check their official site or franchise directories for an application.
Any tips for a new visitor?
Bring cash or a quick UPI app (it’s faster than card), and be patient if there’s a queue. The best seats may be communal bench tables, perfect to share dishes (and gossip with neighbors about that last bite of idli). Do try their chutney (coconut and tomato versions) and sambar, they’re spicy, tangy perfection.
My Final Thoughts
After fully binge-eating at Rameshwaram Cafe (while simultaneously checking stock prices of dosa companies in my head), I can confidently say: This place lives up to the buzz.
The food is genuinely delicious, rich, homey, and consistent across branches.
The service is fast and friendly, and even though it’s hectic, the vibe feels fun and unpretentious.
It’s not fine dining, but that’s part of its charm. You leave smelling of ghee and smiling.
On the business side, I tip my hat to the owners.
Taking an everyday meal and turning it into a ₹50 crore-a-year success story is no joke.
Raghav and Divya have shown that authenticity (and a lot of butter) can scale into an empire.
If you haven’t been yet, consider this your official invitation, better yet, your near me search has been answered!
Go grab a table, order a filter coffee, and do as the locals do.
Your first sip of that coffee or bite of warm idli will probably get you nodding along to the hype.
And if you loved this insider tour, share it with your foodie friends, follow the cafe on social media, and maybe drop by all the branches for the full experience.
Stay hungry (for knowledge and dosa), and keep exploring Bangalore’s foodie scene.
Until next time, this is your resident dosa detective signing off.
May your coffees be strong and your dosas be ever buttery!
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