Adyar Ananda Bhavan (A2B): What’s Vegetarian Editorial Review

A2B in Frisco is a fully vegetarian South Indian restaurant, so every dish on the menu is meat-free. You don’t scan for the safe option. You pick what sounds good. Dairy runs through the cooking, though, so vegans have to ask for changes, and I cover how below.

Find it at 2429 Preston Road, Suite 100. It’s one of two Texas locations for Adyar Ananda Bhavan, the Chennai chain founded by K.S. Thirupathi Raja that diners know as A2B for its South Indian meals and its sweets counter. The other Texas restaurant is in Little Elm.

Start with the tiffin section. Order idli or medu vada by the piece, or try the sambar idli, Ghee Podi Idli, Ghee Pongal, Rava Kitchadi, or Puttu with kadala curry. The mini tiffin combos pair idli and vada with pongal or kitchadi and a sweet of the day, which is the easiest way to taste four things at once.

Dosas get their own corner. Pick from Plain, Onion, Masala, Kal, Podi, Ghee Roast, Mysore Masala, Gongura, Guntur Kara, and Chettinadu, or go with a healthier Multi Millet, Raagi, or Pesarattu. Reviewers on Restaurantji keep naming the Onion Rava Masala Dosa, the Mysore Masala Dosa, and the Madras filter coffee as the order to copy.

For a full meal, the South Indian entrees include Chettinadu Curry with vegetables or mushroom, Poondu Kuzhambu, and Vada Curry, while the North Indian side covers Paneer Butter Masala, Palak Paneer, Dhal Makhani, Vegetable Malai Kofta, Aloo Gobi, and Bhindi Masala. Add Poori, Parota, Butter Naan, or Cheese Naan. Then choose a rice dish: Bisibelebath, Vegetable Biriyani, Lemon Rice, Tamarind Rice, or Special Curd Rice. The A2B Mini Meals thali packs three rice items, poriyal, a sweet, pappad, and pickle onto one tray. Weekend lunch adds a Special Thali for dine-in guests.

Feeding a group? Order the Indo-Chinese appetizers: Gobi 65, Gobi Manchurian, Chilli Paneer, and Chilli Parota. Chaat fans can add Samosa Chaat, Pani Puri, Bhel Puri, Dahi Puri, or Raj Kachori. The last three are dine-in only.

Nothing here contains meat, so you never worry about a shared grill. Dairy is another story. Ghee shows up in the Ghee Podi Idli, Ghee Pongal, and Ghee Roast dosa, and paneer and yogurt carry many curries. A vegan reviewer on HappyCow wrote that several dishes are naturally vegan and that staff will leave out ghee, paneer, and yogurt when you ask. Tell your server before you order.

Kids get a short list of Chocolate Dosa, Cheese Dosa, Paneer Dosa, and Cone Dosa. Dessert means Rasmalai, Gulab Jamun, Badam Halwa, Kesari of the day, or Tender Coconut Mousse.

Stop in for the sweets and snacks counter too. A2B sells Mysore Pak, Kaju Katli, Motichoor Laddoo, Jangiri, and Mathura Peda by the five-piece box through Toast, starting at $4.99. You can also take home 32-ounce containers of idli batter or dosa batter for $9.99 each, plus 16-ounce tubs of curry from $8.99.

You can order pickup or delivery online through Toast, and A2B takes catering orders. Toast lists hours as 10am to 10pm Monday through Thursday, 10am to 10:30pm Friday, 8:30am to 10:30pm Saturday, and 8:30am to 10pm Sunday. Hours differ by source, and some include an afternoon break from 2:30 to 5pm. Call (214) 872-2345 before a mid-afternoon visit.

Bring three or more people on a weekend. Order a thali, a dosa, a chaat, and a sweet to share, and finish with the filter coffee.