Madras Dosa Company

Madras Dosa Company in Harvard Square serves South Indian street food centered on the dosa, a crisp crepe made from rice and lentils. Diners pick as many fillings as they like, so each dosa can be built to taste. The batter is naturally fermented, which makes the dosas light, crisp and easy to digest, and the chain’s menus also feature South Indian favorites such as idly and chaat for those who want something alongside.

The team behind the restaurant comes from South India, and an open kitchen lets customers watch dosas being made live, much as the staff grew up seeing them made in their mothers’ kitchens. The fermentation also gives dosa natural probiotic qualities, which the restaurant highlights as part of its appeal for people who care about what they eat. The chain has expanded beyond Massachusetts, including a location in Midtown Manhattan.

What to Know

• Every dosa is gluten-free.
• Vegan and vegetarian options are plentiful.
• The menu suggests one dosa for a snack, two for a meal and three for “nirvana.”
• It is a member of the Harvard Square Business Association.