Happy vegan week South Africa! What a phenomenal opportunity we have to unite as one compassionate family and give the world a glimpse of our plant-based regimes. To encourage and enhance veganism during this week, Beauty Without Cruelty asked a few South African restaurants to show their support by offering vegan delights on their menu. This not only provides us veggies the pleasure of ordering a substitute free dish but also offers our non-vegan comrades the opportunity to try something different – and in an ideal world, contemplate to convert.
As Sebastian and I also support GreenMondaySA, we decided to jumpstart vegan week with our favorite cuisine – Indian! Masala Dosa is an intimate little eatery situated in the buzzing heart of the Mother City. The name is derived from a popular South Indian breakfast dish, which we were overly excited to try. One of the biggest attractions to this specific Indian restaurant is the fact that they offer a variety of modernized Indian dishes, unlike the traditional. They also offer a fully VEGAN MENU! From the innovative starters to the interesting beverages, every item on this menu has already been altered to suit our plant-based needs.
To drink, I ordered the vegan masala magic lassi, which was absolutely divine. It is a smoothie-like made with banana, coconut, sweet Indian spices, rose and cashew nuts. Be careful of digging in too quickly though, it is quite filling so save a sip for after dinner. We decided to order two starters to share: the Vasi (R39) which is four portions of lentil savory doughnuts filled with chilli, ginger, coconut & coriander, and the Aloo Bombs (R40) four potato, rice & coriander balls with a chilli center and coated in crispy crackles. Following our starters, Sebastian ordered the Traditional Masala Dosa (55) – a rice and lentil crepe that is vegan, wheat-free and fat-free, served with potato curry, coconut chutney, and sambal. I opted for the Thali (72) which includes a variety of curry-tasters, served with rice, a poppadom and a puri (Indian puff bread).
The food was exceptionally created and truly tasty. Plentiful and flavourful, however, Sebastian and I both like our curry really spicy, which this was not. When asked for something on the side to add a bit of heat to our dishes, nothing was available and so that was the only let-down of the evening. Would we return? Most definitely, and I encourage all Cape Town Vegans to experience their wholesome, aromatic cuisine.
Contact Masala Dosa:
- Address: 167 Long Street, Cape Town, 8001
- Email: amit@masaladosa.co.za
- Phone number: (0)21 424 6772
- Opening hours: Monday – Saturday for Lunch (12:00 – 16:30) and Dinner
- (18:00 -22:30)
- Website: http://www.masaladosa.co.za/
- Follow Masala Dosa on Facebook and Twitter
Have you experienced Masala Dosa before? If so, what was your favorite dish?
