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TEMPLE CANTEEN

Last Updated: 6 days ago

Phone: (718) 460-8484

Address: 4557 BOWNE STREET 11355

TLDR

Authentic South Indian flavors, esp. dosas. A cultural institution.

Sentiment Overview(Based on 26 Reddit comments)

62% Positive38% Neutral

Achievements and Accolades

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Tags

indian 17south indian 10dosa 14thali 4indian food 3View All

Neighborhoods

Flushing

Details

This Queens-based Indian eatery is a must-visit for authentic South Indian flavors, especially its highly acclaimed dosas. It's a long-standing establishment, considered a cultural gem by many, offering delicious vegetarian options and thali that rival more upscale competitors. While the journey might be a bit lengthy, the quality and affordability make it a worthwhile destination.

Food Overview

The restaurant is highly praised for its South Indian cuisine, with dosas being a standout recommendation. Customers often compare it favorably to other establishments, with some even stating its dosas are superior and more affordable. It's also noted for its vegetarian options and thali.

Highlights / Recommended

"The dosas are consistently recommended and praised as a highlight of the menu. Vegetarian thali is also mentioned as a good option."

Customer Sentiment

Customers generally have a positive sentiment towards the restaurant, often recommending it for its authentic South Indian cuisine, particularly the dosas. Some view it as a cultural institution.

Reddit References

Highlighted Posts

Multiple users highly recommend Temple Canteen for its dosa, with some calling it the best and most affordable compared to other places. One user describes the atmosphere and food as feeling like home.
This post highlights Temple Canteen as a great spot for vegetarian Indian food, with particular praise for their dosas, even noting that it's a great option for those who may not typically seek out Indian cuisine.
Temple Canteen is recommended as a good option for affordable South Indian thali and dosa, with some users believing it's a great value and better than some pricier alternatives.
A user simply recommends Temple Canteen, noting it's good but acknowledging the travel time required to get there.
Temple Canteen is mentioned in discussions about the NYT's best restaurants list, with some users celebrating its long-standing presence and others expressing concern about increased crowds.

Recent Mentions

From post: An Indian Food Crawlwhats On Your List

"This commenter recommends dosa from Temple Canteen in Flushing, Queens, stating they are delicious and affordable."

Positive
Aug 11, 2025View Comment →

From post: Whats Your Favorite Spot For Every Kind Of Cuisine

"Temple Canteen was recommended for South Indian food."

Neutral
Jul 24, 2025View Comment →

From post: Going To Spend 2 Weeks In Ny In August Recs

"Hindu Temple Canteen is recommended as an option for Indian food."

Positive
Jul 17, 2025View Comment →

From post: Affordable South Indian Thali Or Dosa

"Considers Ganesha Temple in Flushing to be the closest to good South Indian food, rating Anjappar as better than Saravanaa Bhavan."

Positive
Jun 29, 2025View Comment →

From post: Affordable South Indian Thali Or Dosa

"Believes Temple Canteen is good but not as good as Saravanaa Bhavan, considering the travel time from Harlem."

Neutral
Jun 29, 2025View Comment →

From post: Affordable South Indian Thali Or Dosa

"Suggests Ganesh temple canteen in Flushing as a good option if willing to travel."

Positive
Jun 29, 2025View Comment →

From post: Affordable South Indian Thali Or Dosa

"Recommends Temple Canteen for vegetarian thali or dosa."

Positive
Jun 29, 2025View Comment →

From post: Semma Just Won The James Beard Award

"This user states that Ganesh Temple Canteen's dosas are superior to Semma's and half the price."

Positive
Jun 17, 2025View Comment →

From post: Semma Just Won The James Beard Award

"This user finds the dosas at Ganesh Temple Canteen to be generally good, though their quality can vary depending on the day."

Neutral
Jun 17, 2025View Comment →

From post: Semma Just Won The James Beard Award

"This user recommends Ganesh Temple Canteen as a good option for an affordable and available dosa."

Positive
Jun 17, 2025View Comment →

From post: Indian Dosa In Washington Square Park

"In response to a request for dosa recommendations that wouldn't disappoint, the user suggested 'Temple'."

Positive
Jun 14, 2025View Comment →

From post: Best Restaurants To Try In Brooklyn Queens

"Temple Canteen was recommended as part of a general list of diverse food options for Brooklyn/Queens, suggesting it is a good place to try."

Positive
Jun 14, 2025View Comment →

From post: Indian Dosa In Washington Square Park

"The user states that Temple's dosa is superior to Semma's, which they find to be average at best."

Positive
Jun 14, 2025View Comment →

From post: Indian Dosa In Washington Square Park

"The user highly recommends Hindu Temple Canteen, describing its atmosphere and food as feeling like home."

Positive
Jun 14, 2025View Comment →

From post: Indian Dosa In Washington Square Park

"The user considers Hindu Temple Canteen to offer the best 'regular' dosas, distinguishing it from higher-end options like Semma."

Positive
Jun 14, 2025View Comment →

From post: Ny Times The 100 Best Restaurants In New York

"This user described Temple Canteen as a cultural institution of 20-30+ years, expressing concern about hordes of trend diners flooding the place due to its inclusion on the list."

Neutral
Jun 4, 2025View Comment →

From post: What Fell Off The Ny Times List

"This user found Hindu Temple Canteen to be good but questioned whether it deserved a spot on a top 100 list."

Neutral
Jun 4, 2025View Comment →

From post: Ny Times The 100 Best Restaurants In New York

"This user strongly praised Temple Canteen, stating it 'runs circles around Semma,' implying its superior quality in Indian cuisine."

Positive
Jun 3, 2025View Comment →

From post: Ny Times The 100 Best Restaurants In New York

"This user called out Temple Canteen as an example of the good spread of cuisines and price points on the NYT list."

Neutral
Jun 3, 2025View Comment →

From post: Favorite Authentic Indian Restaurants In Nyc

"A user recommends the Hindu temple canteen for South Indian food."

Positive
May 31, 2025View Comment →