Sagar is the kind of place that makes you forget meat exists. This Hammersmith outpost of the small London chain serves proper South Indian vegetarian and vegan food — Udupi-style dosas the size of your arm, fluffy idlis, and thalis that actually taste like someone's grandmother made them. The wood-panelled dining room with ornaments in wall recesses feels a cut above your average curry house, and at around £25 a head, it's one of the best-value proper meals in west London.
Giant Udupi-style dosas and generous thalis at a smart wood-panelled spot on King Street — the best vegetarian Indian food in Hammersmith for around £25 a head.
Book ahead for weekend evenings — it gets busy, and the dosa wait is long enough without a table wait too.
Proper South Indian dosas without the fuss
Sagar on King Street is the Hammersmith branch of a small London chain that's been quietly serving some of the best South Indian vegetarian food in the city. The menu is Udupi-inspired, which means you're getting the good stuff: dosas that arrive crisp and enormous with three chutneys and sambar, idlis that are properly soft and steamed, and vadas with that satisfying crunch on the outside. The thalis are a smart order if you can't decide — you get a little bit of everything on a steel tray, and the portions are generous without being overwhelming.
The room itself is smarter than you might expect for the price point. Wood panelling, ornaments displayed in wall recesses, and a clean, bright feel that's a step up from the typical high-street Indian. Service is efficient and friendly, and the whole experience comes in at around £25 a head, which in this part of London feels like a genuine bargain. TheFork users rate it 9.1/10, and the consistency across hundreds of Tripadvisor reviews tells you this isn't a fluke.
A few things to know: there are onion- and garlic-free options if that matters to you, and the vegan choices are clearly marked. It gets busy at weekends, so if you're coming with a group, book ahead. Skip the starters and go straight for a dosa or a thali — that's where Sagar really shines.