I am such a fan of dosas. When I heard there as a new all-vegan restaurant in Prague called Dosa Dosa, I was absolutely giddy. Happily, it has met all of my expectations. The menu is not actually exclusively dosas, but for me it’s a shame to go and try anything else. There are several places in Prague where I can get good vegan pancakes or curries, which are also on the menu. Where else can I get a tasty dosa without worrying about any non-vegan elements on the plate?
Starting, as we always must, with breakfast, here is the breakfast dosa – the usual thin, crispy pancake, here stuffed with tasty tofu scramble and served with coconut chutney. Some of my favourite things about this place are that the dosas are really well stuffed (I’ve had some slightly pathetic ones) and they are served with vegan coconut chutney, which is a rare find for me. There are few things more disappointing than an under seasoned tofu scramble, but I only have praise for this one, it’s a real winner.
The aloo masala dosa is my usual choice from the main menu (and in general, whenever I have a dosa this is my preference), and again it’s really well stuffed and not oily or slimy like they have occasionally been in other eateries. The filling is substantial and tasty. The main dosas are served with a very spicy soup and a couple of chutneys, including the beloved coconut one. There are two size options, but it’s large all the way for me. This is a really delightful dish.
Dr HH, meanwhile, is a big fan of the soy keema dosa. It’s a bit different from the options you get in non-vegan restaurants, as it’s essentially vegan soy meat. He’s tried it twice, and once it was minced and once chunks. He preferred the chunks for texture, but it’s tasty either way.
We’ve also branched out once and tried the uttapam, which is a couple of small, quite crisp pancakes topped with chopped red and yellow peppers, served with the usual accompaniments. I found the peppers a bit too sweet and off putting, but Dr HH liked the balance of the dish and said it reminded him a bit of cheese on toast. Worth a try anyway, I’d say.
Dosa Dosa also has a really enviable cake counter. There are a two places that have a bit of a monopoly on vegan sweet treats in Prague. Two places have the same ownership and share all the desserts across both locations (Palo Verde and Share Sweet Bar). Krafin provide delicious sweet pastries to Chutnej and an array of non-vegan cafes. So it’s nice to visit somewhere with some different options every now and then. We’ve had brownies there, which were not great brownies but were great chocolate cake, a peanut butter cake which was decadent, and banana bread which is highly recommended and is a regular fixture – the chocolate chunks are fantastic.
And, along with the coconut chutney, there’s one more speciality that I rarely find veganised here – mango lassi! In summer this was a really welcome refreshing drink.
The downsides of Dosa Dosa are that it’s very small, very popular (it’s in a touristy area), and diners tend to spread out and stay for a while. I’ve managed to book a table via email before (though you may also try on the phone if you are not averse to phone calls like I am), and it’s definitely worth a try if you’re determined to get in. I believe they have a garden area open in the summer, so maybe that’s the best time to visit, when there’s a bit more seating.
Overall I consider Dosa Dosa to be one of the best all vegan spots in Prague these days, and probably the most well-rounded – it serves breakfast as well as other meals, and has great baked goods as well as savouries, and the food is routinely well seasoned. Definitely add it to your list if you’re in Prague!