Mitra Samaj

Mitra Samaj is a vegetarian restaurant on Maruthi Veethika in Thenkpete, close to the Sri Krishna Temple in Udupi, on Karnataka's coast. Udupi is widely known as the home of a vegetarian cooking tradition that spread across India through restaurants bearing the town's name, and Mitra Samaj is one of the simple, long-established places where that tradition can be eaten close to its source. It serves pilgrims and residents in the temple's Car Street area. The cuisine is Udupi vegetarian, cooked without onion or garlic in some traditional preparations and based on rice, coconut, lentils and vegetables. The main offering is the Udupi meal, a plate of rice with sambar, rasam, vegetable side dishes, curd and a sweet. The kitchen is also known for golibaje (fried, lightly fermented flour dumplings, also called Mangalore bajji), Mangalore buns (sweet banana puris) served with coconut chutney, and neer dosa (thin rice-flour crepes). Most of these items suit visitors looking for a light snack between temple visits as well as for a fuller meal. The dining room is simple and functional, with quick service and a fast turnover; noise is moderate and the mood is unfussy. Dress is casual, though modest clothing is appropriate in a temple town. The restaurant is vegetarian only and serves no alcohol; the beverage programme is coffee, tea and buttermilk. Meals cost about INR 100-200, which makes it a very inexpensive place to eat in the area. Mitra Samaj works on a walk-in basis and does not take reservations, and waits are usually short because of the fast turnover, though they lengthen around festival days and mealtimes when pilgrim numbers rise. Approximate hours are from 7 AM to 9 PM, though they can change and should be confirmed. The location a short walk from the Sri Krishna Temple and Car Street makes it convenient before or after darshan, and visitors often combine it with a visit to the temple's annadana hall or with the nearby Woodlands restaurant for comparison.