Welcome to Idly Express - Mountain View
Idly Express - Mountain View is a delightful haven for South Indian cuisine located at 565 San Antonio Rd, California. Celebrated for its authentic flavors, this cozy eatery specializes in classic dishes like idli, medu vada, and benne dosa, all praised for their freshness and homemade taste. Customers rave about the melt-in-your-mouth idlis and crispy vadas, offering excellent portion sizes for value. The welcoming ambiance, complemented by soothing Indian classical music, creates a space reminiscent of South India. With fast service and an array of mouthwatering offerings, including genuine filter coffee and tasty chutneys, Idly Express promises an unforgettable dining experience.
- 565 San Antonio Rd Suite 27, Mountain View, CA 94040, United States Hotline: +1 650-383-5269
Welcome to Idly Express - Mountain View, a delightful haven for lovers of authentic South Indian cuisine nestled in the heart of Mountain View, CA. Located at 565 San Antonio Rd Suite 27, this cozy restaurant is not just a place to eat; it’s a cultural experience that transports you back to the flavors and aromas of India. With a commitment to serving delicious vegetarian food, Idly Express has quickly become a beloved spot for both locals and newcomers.
Reviewers rave about the idlis here, often describing them as "melt in the mouth" delights. The medu vadas are celebrated for their perfect crispiness and robust flavor, making them a fan favorite alongside the popular sambar and chutneys.
One standout aspect of Idly Express is its well-planned order-first, sit-later policy, which ensures diners receive their food promptly. The ambiance is charmingly enhanced with soothing Indian classical music, creating a clean and welcoming environment for all guests. Notably, the benne dosa and Poori Kurma have garnered accolades for being authentic and fresh, a testament to the culinary expertise behind each dish.
The restaurant’s offerings go beyond traditional dishes. You can find spice mixes, snacks, and other specialties from the Mylapore region available for takeout, allowing you to recreate the magic of their cuisine at home. The Filter Coffee is especially recommended, reputedly one of the best you can find outside of India, making it the perfect accompaniment to your meal.
Idly Express is not just about food; it’s about the experience. Customers appreciate the friendly service and the consistently high quality of the meals. As one patron noted, "the food feels like home-made," which encapsulates the essence of why many choose to dine here multiple times a week. Whether you’re treating yourself to a hearty breakfast or hosting a weekend brunch, Idly Express offers a variety of choices that cater to every palate.
In a nutshell, Idly Express - Mountain View is an essential stop for anyone looking to savor the true flavors of South India. With comforting dishes, a warm atmosphere, and a friendly staff that feels like family, it is no surprise that this restaurant has established itself as a go-to destination in the area. You won't leave disappointed; in fact, you might find yourself planning your next visit even before you finish your meal.

Best Idli in Mountain View. It’s melt in the mouth. Even the medu vada was really very crispy and flavourful. Their portion size is pretty decent so value for money is also good!!

Very nice and cozy restaurant with great food. Service was good - they have an order first and sit policy, food comes really quick. The taste was authentic and fresh - Poori Kurma, Benne Dosa, Filter Coffee - all delicious

Comfort food and ambience that takes me back to south India. Clean and comfortable dine in area with nice booths, pleasant indian classical music playing in the background and authentic food - the idli vadas, chutneys, sambar and benne dosa are all consistently good. They also have spice mixes, snacks and other mylapore express catered dishes available to go.

The food feels like home made food. We are here at least twice a week. The service is great, they are really nice. The food comes really fast. My kids love the sambar and chutney. The dollops of ghee in the Pongal gives an amazing flavor. Go here and order anything, you won’t be disappointed. Really glad to have this place in Mountain View. It’s our default go to place for awesome South Indian food.

Simple vegetarian food. Authentic South Indian flavors. Not too spicy, loved their sambar & tomato chutney. Vada and Idly are their top items. Filter coffee is real deal!

Good restaurant to try. Good ambience and food is good too. When you visit you should definitely try Dosa and Filter coffee. You should get Idly batter home so that you can make dosa at home.

This is our go-to takeout spot, and we regularly pick up food from here. The service is great, with a friendly team at the front. The food quality is consistently excellent, and there’s a great variety of options to choose from. The coffee and breakfast dishes are among my favorites. The restaurant is always clean, and the seating is quite comfortable. Pro tip: Weekday/ weekend brunch is a must!

Delicious South Indian food served coupled with delightful service. The staff is friendly and courteous. I’ve tried a number of their dishes and it’s hard to choose the best. Thatte idlis, onion tomato uthappams are our go to and they keep updating their menu so it’s great to be able to try the specials. And if you have a sweet tooth try their Jangri. It’s also very well located with easy access and ample parking.