From Lalbagh to Sydney: Mavalli Tiffin Rooms to open its first restaurant in Australia
Bengaluru’s 100-year-old MTR restaurant is all set to brings its idlis and dosas to the Australian city. Hemamalini Maiya, the managing partner of MTR Restaurants, give us more details about the launch down under.
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Bengaluru’s 100-year-old MTR restaurant is all set to brings its idlis and dosas to the Australian city. Hemamalini Maiya, the managing partner, give us more details about the launch down under
Published - August 06, 2026 05:23 pm IST - Bengaluru
Rava idli at MTR in Bengaluru | Photo Credit: K BHAGYA PRAKASH
When Mavalli Tiffin Rooms opened in Bengaluru 100 years ago, who would have guessed that its popularity would one day take it to foreign shores. The tiffin room in Lalbagh has its loyal following and is loved for its dosas, and the rava idli, a dish that they invented during the second World War due to rice shortages. Now, MTR is all set to open a restaurant in Sydney, Australia, this September.
Hemamalini Maiya, the custodian of the family brand and the managing partner of MTR Restaurants, said, “We had an interest in Australia for some time now. But finding chefs, training them and getting the visas take time. The location also changed a few times. Initially, we wanted to open in Melbourne, but that fell through because of logistics. Finding the right chefs and partners is tricky when it comes to international restaurants.” However, she says the plan is all on track now, and they are aiming to launch at the end of September. “Sydney is supposed to be one of the best markets of Indian food.”
MTR restaurant is a 100-year-old institution in Bengaluru | Photo Credit: Murali Kumar K
“The menu we have in Bengaluru is the same menu we will have there,” Ms. Maiya says. So diners can enjoy many types of dosas, khara bhath, vadas and bisibele bhath.
The chefs in the Sydney outlet will be taken from India. The group had to find people who are eligible as the country is very strict about its visa laws. They found chefs who could speak English, who were then trained in the restaurant's traditions and recipes.
“All the masalas used in the kitchens will go to Australia from Bengaluru. There, we only source the rice and the dals from local Indian stores,” she adds.
MTR has 12 restaurants internationally in cities such as Seattle, Bangkok, Bristol, Toronto and Dubai. Ms. Maiya says, “There are a lot of Indians in Sydney. But we are looking at a mix of Indian and international customers. We want the Aussies to enjoy our dosas too!”
Published - August 06, 2026 05:23 pm IST
food / food and dining (general) / Bengaluru / Karnataka / traditional food / Australia
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