The famed Mavalli Tiffin Room Lalbagh or the iconic MTR Hotel Bangalore is around 100 years old and hence we thought it appropriate to do this MTR Bangalore review on our site. If the city of Bangalore has to be identified with the name of a restaurant, then it would always be the MTR Restaurant in Bangalore, popular as MTR Bangalore.
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Mavalli Tiffin Room MTR
If the restaurant could speak, it would tell stories of the Indian freedom struggle and the events that led to India becoming independent. It would tell stories about how a laid-back Bengaluru transformed into the megacity it is now. The MTR Restaurant on Lalbagh Road will tell you about how the city traffic changed from horse-drawn carriages called Jatkas to the present-day chaotic traffic. It would excitedly recount the first sighting of an autorickshaw in 1950, and the start of the first city bus service in 1939.
A visit to this quintessential Bangalore restaurant that stands unassumingly in spartan settings within a stone’s throw from another city landmark, Lalbagh, is like taking a journey into another era.
MTR Bangalore Review – MTR’s History
Before delving deep into the flavours and aromas that are at the heart of MTR, it is appropriate to take a journey back in time and learn about its fascinating history.
The seeds of the legendary restaurant of Bangalore were actually sown in a village near the coastal town of Udupi when three brothers left for Bangalore with dreams in their eyes and determination in their minds. The trio were Parameshwara Maiya, Ganappayya Maiya, and Yagnanarayana Maiya. In Bangalore, they initially worked as cooks in private residences, but they never lost sight of their dreams and in 1924, started a small restaurant that served coffee and idlis, they called it, “Brahmins Coffee Club.” It was located on Lalbagh Fort Road.
At this juncture, only Parameshwara Maiya, and Ganappayya Maiya were involved in the restaurant. However, five years later, after the death of Parameshwara Maiya, Yagnanarayana Maiya joined in to help his brother in the running of the restaurant. It was Yagnanarayana Maiya who introduced modern methods of sterilizing utensils, and other processes to ensure proper hygiene in the kitchen. He opened up the kitchen to customers and took the restaurant to new heights. He also renamed the restaurant as, “Mavalli Tiffin Rooms.” In the year 1960, the restaurant shifted to its current address:
MTR Lal Bagh Main Road Doddamavalli Sudhama Nagar Bengaluru Karnataka.
Today MTR which has humble roots, has diversified and expanded. The restaurant has many branches not only in Bangalore, but other cities of Karnataka, and also in Dubai, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and London.
MTR Mavalli Tiffin Room Lalbagh Road Review
This is a MTR Mavalli Tiffin Room Lalbagh Road Bangalore review. The restaurant on Lalbagh Road is not only the original MTR restaurant but also the flagship restaurant of the MTR group. We have eaten here on multiple occasions, sometimes for breakfast, sometimes for snacks and cups of filter coffee, and sometimes for lunch. We have always found the food to be wholesome, made from ingredients that are pure, and tasted as if it was cooked at home.
The ambience takes you back in time. The Black and white framed photographs on the walls complete the vintage look and remind you of a different era. From Chief Ministers to matinee idols, from authors and writers to musicians, everyone seems to be a fan of MTR, across the ages.
Our favourite dishes in MTR that we love are its crispy Masala Dosas, the Bisibelebhath, and last but not least, their homegrown invention, the Rava Idli.
Having lunch at MTR Lalbagh Road is like having a traditional lunch at a typical Karnataka wedding or any other celebratory occasion. It is an elaborate spread that pampers your palate and indulges your cravings. The lunch which is served in traditional style also includes mini-masala dosas and fluffy Pooris with Sagu. It usually begins with a glass of fruit juice followed by a series of dishes that tempt and finally seduce you with their flavours.
The spread includes an assortment of curries, sambhar, rasam, rice, curds, and Bisibele Bhath, apart from pooris and dosas. And just when you think that you are filled to your mouth, there comes the dessert, fruits and ice cream. The lunch ends with a traditional Pan (Beeda), that helps you digest all the food that your body has consumed.
Mavalli Tiffin Room Menu | Mavalli Tiffin Room Bangalore Menu | MTR Bangalore Review
The menu of MTR is something that will stump you for choice. There is so much to choose from. Here are some highlights of the menu:
- Rice Idly
- Rava Idly
- Vada
- Curd Vada
- Poori
- Khara Bhath
- Masala Dosa
- Rava Masala Dosa
- Kaali Dosa
- Set Kaali Dosa
- Kesari Bath
- Gulab Jamun
- Badam Halwa
- Chandrahara
- Damroot
- Badam Burfi
Here is what a typical lunch at MTR would include:
- Juice
- Kosambari
- Veg Curry
- Bisi Bele Bath
- Dosa
- Sweet
- Khara
- Rice
- Sambhar
- Rasam
- Payasam
- Curd Rice
- Fruit Salad
- Beeda (Pan)
How To Get To Mavalli Tiffin Room MTR Lalbagh Road
The iconic MTR restaurant is located prominently near the Lalbagh Gate on the Lalbagh Main Road, in the Doddamavalli area of Bangalore. It is diagonally opposite the Passport Office.
- MTR Lalbagh Road is about 4.2 kilometres from M.G. Road
- MTR is about 36 kilometres from the Kempegowda International Airport
- MTR restaurant is about 4.7 kilometres from the City Railway Station
MTR Lalbagh Road is a living reminder of the roots of a city that has catapulted to the status of a global metropolis, it is in many ways a bridge that connects the contemporary to the traditional through food. It is a restaurant that serves heritage on a platter. A restaurant that has not only kept its tryst with destiny but continues to innovate and move with the times, while at the same time staying rooted in tradition.
We hope you liked reading our MTR Bangalore Review, and found it informative and interesting. Let us know your MTR experience and what is it that you like about this legendary Bangalore restaurant. For more interesting content subscribe to our blog and newsletter. And let us connect on social media, we are on Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, Pinterest, and Linkedin.
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Sandy & Vyjay are a husband and wife duo who are travel content creators. They are co-founders of this travel website and are one of the leading travel content creators in India.
Sandy & Vyjay quit their successful corporate careers to pursue their passion for travel and writing full-time. Their dedication has earned them the “Best Travel Writer” award and numerous accolades on both national and international stages. Focusing on India’s destinations, heritage, and culture, they are passionate advocates for nature and the environment. Through their content, they promote ecotourism and sustainable travel, inspiring others to explore and preserve the beauty of India.
