Amma Indian Vegetarian Kitchen

Reviewed by Thomas Head

These Southern Indian dining rooms may be no-frills, but the dosas are a steal.

Amma Indian Vegetarian Kitchen

3291-A M St. NW
Washington, DC 20007
Phone: 202.625.6625

Cuisines:
Indian

Opening Hours:

Wheelchair Accessible:
No

Nearby Metro Stops:
Foggy Bottom-GWU

Price Range:
Inexpensive

Dress:
Informal

Crowd:
Indian and Western diners alike, plus many Georgetown University undergrads and professors.

Noise Level:
Chatty

Reservations:
Not needed

Special Features:
Kid Friendly

Best Dishes
Masala dosa; uttapam topped with chilies and onions, with sambar and chutney; chickpea-and-potato curry; spinach-and-cheese curry; eggplant-and-tomato curry; deep-fried poori; lunch combo special.

Price Details:
Appetizers, dosas, and uttapams, $.99 to $4,99. Weekday lunch special, $6.99.


This second-story Georgetown restaurant is devoted to the vegetarian cooking of southern India, and the prices are astonishingly low. Two of the specialties, not often found on tandoori-oriented Indian-restaurant menus, are uttapams and dosas. The uttapam is a rice-and-lentil-flour pancake, served simply with sambar and chutney or topped with onions, chilies, or mixed vegetables. Dosas are impressively large Indian "crepes" wrapped around a variety of fillings and served with sambar and coconut chutney. They are priced from $4.59 for a plain one to $7.59 for one filled with house-made cheese.

Among the curries, the one made of chickpeas and potatoes is a standout. Beverages include yogurt-based lassis, juices, tea, and beer and wine.