The Hindu Temple Society of North America — the Ganesh Temple — has stood on Bowne Street since the 1970s, and since 1993 its canteen has fed worshippers and anyone else who comes through the door. It is South Indian vegetarian cooking in its most direct form: idli and vada with sambar, coconut chutney, and dosas fresh off the griddle.
Order the paper dosa, so long it hangs off the plate, or the ghee dosa folded into a tall cone, and the Pondicherry masala dosa, laced with green chilies, if you want something more filling. Prices are low, the service is volunteer-warm, and the New York Times put it on its 2026 list of the city's best restaurants. Visit the temple upstairs after you eat; dress modestly if you go in.
Editor’s tip
Go at lunch on a weekend, when the griddle is busiest and the dosas come off fastest.
Also in the neighborhood
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Editorial draft — core details last reviewed October 13, 2026. Confirm practical details with the official site before you go.