From Cold Coffee With Jaggery And Ghee To Singhara, Shankar Mahadevan Suggests 5 Things To Try At Malgudi Dubai

In our latest In Your Neighbourhood episode, singer-composer Shankar Mahadevan walks host Bianca Saurastri through the dishes he personally vouches for at Malgudi’s new Motor City outlet. Shankar Mahadevan doesn’t just lend his name to Malgudi; he actually eats there, cooks there, and apparently has strong opinions about what you should order. In this episode of In Your Neighbourhood, the Grammy-winning musician-turned-restaurateur gave host Bianca Saurastri a personal rundown of his non-negotiable dishes at the brand’s newest outlet in Motor City, Dubai.

Shankar Mahadevan’s 5 Must-Try Dishes At Malgudi Dubai

1. Cold Coffee With Jaggery And Ghee

This one comes with a fair warning: it sounds unusual until you actually try it. Shankar introduced Bianca to the drink, calling it “relatively healthy”, swapping refined sugar for jaggery and adding a spoon of ghee for good measure. It’s served cold, and yes, ghee in a cold coffee is exactly as rich as it sounds, in the best way.

2. Mulbagal Dosa

According to Shankar, this dosa isn’t something you’ll easily find elsewhere. “I don’t think this dosa is available anywhere,” he says, explaining that while the recipe itself isn’t overly complicated, it’s the specific tawa and technique used that make it different. It’s best eaten with the accompanying sweet, tangy ginger and tamarind chutney.

3. Benne Dosa

The benne (butter) dosa gets its own moment in the spotlight. Shankar’s involved in curating this one down to the last detail, right up to how much ghee gets drizzled on top before it’s served.

Also Read: From Mumbai To Dubai & Abu Dhabi, Shankar Mahadevan’s Malgudi Brings South Indian Flavours To The UAE!

4. Kaki Sheera

A lesser-known dessert that Shankar specifically flags as worth trying. The authentic, comforting semolina pudding that’s rich with nostalgic texture. with lots of ghee and subtle sweet flavours.

5. Sri Lankan Curry With Idiyappam

For something outside the usual South Indian staples, Shankar points to the Sri Lankan curry served with idiyappam (steamed rice noodles). It’s part of why he insists Malgudi isn’t just “idli dosa sambar” territory. As Bianca puts it, “for everyone who thought South Indian food is just idli, dosa, and sambar, you need to come here.”

Also Read: I Visited Shankar Mahadevan’s New Restaurant in Dubai!

The menu also caters well beyond these five, with vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free diners. But if you’re going in for the first time and want Shankar’s personal picks, this is your shortlist.

Cover Image Courtesy: Internal