Ordering food is one of the easiest ways to start using Kannada, because you already do it every day. A handful of words and a few ready-made sentences are enough to order like a regular at your local darshini instead of just pointing at a menu board.
What Are the Most Important Kannada Words for Ordering Food?
A short list of words covers almost everything you'll need at a restaurant, darshini, or food stall.
Kodi (ಕೊಡಿ) - Give
Example: "Coffee kodi" - Give me a coffee.
Beku (ಬೇಕು) - Want
Example: "Extra sambar beku" - I want extra sambar.
Beda (ಬೇಡ) - Don't want
Example: "Sugar beda" - No sugar, please.
Jaasti (ಜಾಸ್ತಿ) - More
Example: "Chutney jaasti" - More chutney, please.
Swalpa (ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ) - A little
Example: "Swalpa kaara jaasti" - A little extra spicy.
Saaku (ಸಾಕು) - Enough
Example: "Anna saaku" - Enough rice.
Ondu (ಒಂದು) / Eradu (ಎರಡು) - One / Two
Example: "Ondu dose, eradu idli" - One dosa, two idlis.
Haaki (ಹಾಕಿ) - Pour, or add
Example: "Saaru haaki" - Pour some saaru (rasam).
Bill (ಬಿಲ್) - Bill
Example: "Bill kodi" - Please bring the bill.
What Are Useful Kannada Sentences for Ordering at a Restaurant?
Once you know the individual words above, they combine into full working sentences. Here are a few that cover most restaurant situations.
Ondu plate idli kodi (ಒಂದು ಪ್ಲೇಟ್ ಇಡ್ಲಿ ಕೊಡಿ) - Give me one plate of idli
Swap "idli" for whatever you're ordering, and "ondu" for however many you want.
Sambar extra beku, chutney jaasti kodi (ಸಾಂಬಾರ್ ಎಕ್ಸ್ಟ್ರಾ ಬೇಕು, ಚಟ್ನಿ ಜಾಸ್ತಿ ಕೊಡಿ) - I want extra sambar, and more chutney please
A common combination at any darshini serving idli or vada.
Kaara beda, swalpa madhura beku (ಖಾರ ಬೇಡ, ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ಮಧುರ ಬೇಕು) - Not spicy, I want it a little sweet
Useful when a dish can be made either way, or when you want to adjust the spice level upfront.
Saaru haaki, anna saaku (ಸಾರು ಹಾಕಿ, ಅನ್ನ ಸಾಕು) - Pour the saaru, that's enough rice
The classic combination during a meal - asking for a curry or rasam to be added, while stopping the rice.
Parcel maadi (ಪಾರ್ಸೆಲ್ ಮಾಡಿ) - Please pack this to go
"Parcel" is used exactly like the English word, just with "maadi" attached.
Bill kodi, dhanyavaadagalu (ಬಿಲ್ ಕೊಡಿ, ಧನ್ಯವಾದಗಳು) - Please bring the bill, thank you
A polite way to close out the meal.
What Are the Must-Try Bengaluru Dishes and How Do You Order Them?
Bengaluru's food culture has a few dishes that are practically iconic to the city. Here's what to order and how to ask for it.
Benne Masala Dose (ಬೆಣ್ಣೆ ಮಸಾಲ ದೋಸೆ)
A dosa loaded with butter (benne) and a potato masala filling, with the Davangere style being especially well known for its soft, thick texture and peppery filling and white chutney. It is also delightfully made traditionally on a coconut shell fired stove, or a stove that uses coconut shells as fuel.
To order: "Ondu Davangere benne masala dose kodi."
Open Butter Masala Dose (ಓಪನ್ ಬಟರ್ ಮಸಾಲ ದೋಸೆ)
Served unfolded, with the masala filling visible on top instead of rolled inside.
To order: "Ondu open butter masala dose kodi."
Idli Vade with Sambar (ಇಡ್ಲಿ ವಡೆ ಸಾಂಬಾರ್)
Usually two idlis and one vada, dipped straight into a bowl of sambar.
To order: "Ondu plate dli vade sambar kodi. Sambar Dip"
Bisi Bele Bhat (ಬಿಸಿ ಬೇಳೆ ಭಾತ್)
A hot, tangy rice dish cooked with lentils, vegetables, and a distinct spice blend. "Bisi" means hot, "bele" means lentils, and "bhat" means rice.
To order: "Ondu plate bisi bele bhat kodi."
Khara Bhat (ಖಾರ ಭಾತ್)
A savoury semolina dish (upma-like), spiced and mixed with vegetables. "Khara" means spicy.
To order: "Ondu plate khara bhat kodi."
Chow Chow Bhat (ಚೌ ಚೌ ಭಾತ್)
A plate that pairs khara bhat with kesari bhat (a sweet semolina dish) side by side - one savoury, one sweet.
To order: "Ondu plate chow chow bhat kodi."
Filter Coffee (ಫಿಲ್ಟರ್ ಕಾಫಿ)
Strong South Indian coffee made with a traditional filter, usually served in a steel tumbler and davara (small bowl).
To order: "Ondu filter coffee kodi." or “By 2 Filter Coffee Kodi” (If you want one cup of filter coffee to be divided equally into 2 smaller cups for you and a friend.
Honey Cake (ಹನಿ ಕೇಕ್)
A soft, syrup-soaked bakery cake that's a signature item at Iyengar bakeries around the city.
To order: "Ondu honey cake kodi."
Cream Bun (ಕ್ರೀಮ್ ಬನ್)
A soft bun filled with sweet cream, usually available in chocolate or vanilla flavour, and another Iyengar or Ganga Bakery staple.
To order: "Ondu chocolate cream bun kodi," or "Ondu vanilla cream bun kodi."
What Is a Traditional South Indian Meal and How Do You Order It In Kannada?
A full South Indian meal in Karnataka, often served on a baale ele (banana leaf), comes with several small items placed around the leaf, followed by rice served in courses. Here's what's usually on it -
- Sambar (ಸಾಂಬಾರ್) - a lentil and vegetable stew, poured over rice
- Saaru (ಸಾರು) - also called rasam in other parts of India is a thin, tangy, peppery soup, usually had after the sambar course
- Palya (ಪಲ್ಯ) - dry vegetable curries, usually one or two varieties per meal
- Gojju (ಗೊಜ್ಜು) - a tangy, slightly sweet-and-spicy side made with vegetables or fruit
- Thuppa (ತುಪ್ಪ) - ghee, often poured over the first serving of rice
- Mosaru (ಮೊಸರು) - curd, usually mixed with rice toward the end of the meal
- Majjige (ಮಜ್ಜಿಗೆ) - a glass of spiced buttermilk, served alongside or at the end
- Payasa (ಪಾಯಸ) - a sweet, milk-based dessert, served in a small bowl
- Happala (ಹಪ್ಪಳ) - a crisp papad, usually served on the side
How Do You Ask for More, Less, or Enough During an Unlimited Meal?
Unlimited meals work on refills, and the server will keep coming around asking if you want more of something. A handful of words make this exchange easy -
Kodi (ಕೊಡಿ) - Give
Example: "Anna kodi" - said when the server asks if you want more rice.
Haaki (ಹಾಕಿ) - Pour
Example: "Sambar haaki" - asking for sambar to be poured onto your leaf.
Beku (ಬೇಕು) - Want
Example: "Payasa beku" - I want some payasa.
Beda (ಬೇಡ) - Don't want
Example: "Gojju beda" - No gojju for me, thanks.
Saaku (ಸಾಕು) - Enough
Example: "Saaru saaku" - That's enough saaru, when the server is pouring and you want them to stop.
Put together, a typical exchange sounds like this - the server comes around with rice, you say "Kodi," they pour, and once it's enough you say "Saaku." Same pattern for sambar, saaru, palya, or anything else being served - "haaki" or "kodi" to start, "jaasti" if you want more, "saaku" to stop, and "beda" if you'd rather skip something entirely.
What is the Best Place to Learn Kannada Properly
A few phrases here and there will get you through your day, but real progress comes from a bit of structure behind it. Setting aside even ten minutes to go through a proper lesson, instead of picking up words randomly, is what actually turns "I know a few Kannada words" into "I can hold a conversation."
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Thank you, or as we say in Kannada - Dhanyavaadagalu!