The Dosa Factory is easy to miss in all of the commotion of Central Square, particularly if you’re looking for a restaurant and not a storefront. Entering through the Mass Ave side, you’ll walk through a small, but well-stocked (and slightly overpriced) market to a small kitchen surrounded by ten tables between two casual rooms.
On a weekend evening it might be difficult for a party larger than four to find seating, but you should try your luck anyway. The flow of students and shoppers makes for a fun environment (sometimes it’s fun to pretend I’m still in college) and a henna artist was looking for clients the night we were there.
Our crowded table
Dosas are huge, crispy crepes served with a variety of fillings (including vegetarian, chicken, seafood, and lamb). I ordered a masala dosa (potato and curry leaf spiced onions served with sambar and coconut chutney, $7.95), paneer pakora (fried cheese with three sauces, $3.95), and a mango lassi ($2.95). All were satisfying and inexpensive (I was so full, couldn’t finish the last third of my dosa).
The best way to describe the service is simple and efficient: you order and pay at the counter, find a seat if you can and eat in, or wait for your order and take out. They don’t go out of their way to be friendly, but they distribute food quickly and check in to be sure you have what you need.
On my list of items to try next time: gulab jamun (condensed milk and wheat balls soaked in syrup), saffron and pistachio milkshake (how can that not be amazing?), oh, and the huge list of chaat (road-side-style snacks).
Go by yourself, meet some friends, or bring home for take-out. The Dosa Factory has a great selection of difficult-to-find-in-Boston Indian street food and is conveniently located in Central Square (I may need to start taking a detour on my commute to work…).
Dosa Factory, 571 Mass Ave, Central Square, Cambridge, MA
I LOVE dosas. I’ve passed by this place hundreds of times. I’ve stopped in but I’ve never gotten their dosas. Definitely noticed that about the service.