Brundhavan Restaurant | 1665 Stelton Rd, Piscataway, NJ 08854 | Open daily 9 AM – 10 PM
You typed “masala vada near me” or “medu vada near me” into Google. You found us. Good because Brundhavan is exactly where you need to be.
We are a South Indian restaurant on Stelton Road in Piscataway, New Jersey, and we serve every dish on this list fresh, daily, the way it was meant to be made. Whether you are a South Indian who grew up eating these and is craving a taste of home, or someone who has never tried any of these dishes and wants to know what the fuss is about, this guide is for you.
Here is everything we serve, what each dish actually is, and why Brundhavan is the closest place to you in central New Jersey to find it done right.
1. Masala Vada Near You in Piscataway
What is Masala Vada?
Masala vada is a crispy, spiced lentil fritter from South Indian cuisine. It is made from chana dal (split chickpeas) that are soaked, coarsely ground, and mixed with onions, green chillies, curry leaves, and spices before being shaped into flat discs and deep-fried to golden perfection.
Unlike medu vada (see below), masala vada has a coarser, crunchier texture more like a spiced lentil patty than a fluffy fritter. The outside shatters when you bite into it. The inside is dense, earthy, and deeply savoury.
It goes by different names depending on where in South India you are from parippu vada in Kerala, paruppu vadai in Tamil, masala vade in Kannada. In every household, it is the snack that comes out when it rains, when guests arrive, or when you just need something hot and satisfying with your afternoon chai.
Where to find Masala Vada near Piscataway NJ
At Brundhavan, we make masala vada fresh every day. It is served hot, with coconut chutney and our house sambar on the side. Come in for breakfast, lunch, or evening snacks. It is on the menu from the time we open.
Best paired with: Our coconut chutney and a cup of filter coffee or masala chai.
2. Medu Vada Near You in Piscataway
What is Medu Vada?
Medu vada is one of the most iconic snacks in all of South Indian cuisine. The name itself tells you what “medu” means soft in Kannada, and “vada” means fritter. It is made from urad dal (black lentils) that are soaked, ground into a smooth, aerated batter, shaped into a doughnut ring, and deep-fried until the outside is crispy and golden while the inside stays soft and fluffy.
That contrast shatteringly crisp shell, impossibly light interior is what makes a great medu vada. It is one of those things that sounds simple but takes real skill to get right. Too dense and it becomes heavy. Too thin and it falls apart. The batter must be whipped to exactly the right consistency, shaped quickly, and fried at the right temperature.
Medu vada is traditionally served with hot sambar and fresh coconut chutney, and along with idli, it is the cornerstone of the South Indian breakfast plate you will find in homes and tiffin centres across Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, and Andhra Pradesh.
Where to find Medu Vada near Piscataway NJ
Brundhavan serves medu vada daily as part of our breakfast and tiffin menu. We also offer it as part of our Idly Vada Combo two soft idlis and two medu vadas, served together with sambar and chutneys. If you have never tried medu vada before, this combo is the perfect introduction.
Best paired with: Our tiffin sambar and coconut chutney. Add a mango lassi to cool things down.
3. Sambar Near You in Piscataway
What is Sambar?
Sambar is the soul of South Indian cooking. It is a tangy, deeply spiced lentil and vegetable stew made from toor dal (pigeon peas), tamarind, tomatoes, and a spice blend called sambar powder, tempered in the end with mustard seeds, dried red chillies, and curry leaves in hot oil.
Every family, every region, every restaurant has its own version of sambar. Some are thin and broth-like the kind you pour over rice or sip from a cup. Some are thick and chunky, loaded with drumstick, pearl onions, or brinjal. Hotel-style sambar, which you get alongside your vada or dosa at a tiffin centre, tends to be lighter and slightly sweet, with a fresh, bright flavour from the tempering.
Sambar is not a side dish. It is the foundation of an entire cuisine. Without sambar, there is no idli breakfast, no vada plate, no proper South Indian thali.
Where to find Sambar near Piscataway NJ
At Brundhavan, sambar is made fresh every morning and served with virtually everything on our menu vadas, idlis, dosas, uttapam, thalis, and more. Our sambar is the hotel-style Piscataway version: aromatic, lightly tangy, and perfectly tempered.
If you are searching for sambar near you in central New Jersey, Brundhavan on Stelton Road is the answer.
Best paired with: Idly Vada Combo, any dosa, or our South Indian thali.
4. Thoran Near You in Piscataway
What is Thoran?
Thoran is a dish many people have not heard of outside of Kerala and that is precisely why we are writing this section.
Thoran is a dry vegetable stir-fry from Kerala cuisine, made with finely chopped vegetables, freshly grated coconut, mustard seeds, curry leaves, and turmeric, cooked quickly in coconut oil over high heat. The result is a lightly spiced, subtly sweet, aromatic side dish that pairs beautifully with rice and curry.
It is also called upperi in northern Kerala. You will find it at every Kerala sadya, the elaborate vegetarian feast served on a banana leaf during Onam, weddings, and festivals. Cabbage thoran, carrot thoran, beetroot thoran, and beans thoran are among the most common varieties, each carrying the signature fragrance of fresh coconut and curry leaf that defines Kerala cooking.
If you have never had thoran, think of it as the opposite of a heavy curry. It is light, clean, and vibrant, the kind of dish that reminds you how good vegetables can taste when they are cooked simply and well.
Where to find Thoran near Piscataway NJ
Thoran is one of the least commonly found Kerala dishes at Indian restaurants in New Jersey most places do not make it at all. At Brundhavan, thoran is part of our authentic South Indian kitchen. If you are searching for thoran near you in the Piscataway, Edison, or New Brunswick area, we are one of the very few places serving it.
Call us at (732) 844-3672 to ask about the day’s thoran or check our daily specials.
Best paired with: Steamed rice, rasam, and our South Indian thali.
5. Vada Pav Near You in Piscataway
What is Vada Pav?
Vada pav is Mumbai’s most beloved street food, and for good reason it is one of the greatest sandwiches in the world. A batata vada (spiced mashed potato fritter coated in chickpea batter and deep-fried) is stuffed inside a soft white bun called pav, slathered with dry garlic chutney, green chutney, and sometimes a squeeze of tamarind sauce.
It is cheap, filling, spicy, and completely addictive. Every Mumbaikar has their corner stall. Every homesick person who has moved away from Mumbai will tell you that they have never found vada pav quite like it anywhere else.
While originally from Maharashtra (not South India), vada pav has become a staple of Indian street food culture across the country and is wildly popular among the Indian diaspora in New Jersey. The crunch of the vada, the softness of the pav, the heat from the chutney is a flavour combination that is difficult to forget once you have had it.
Where to find Vada Pav near Piscataway NJ
Brundhavan serves vada pav as part of our chaat and street food menu. We make our batata vada fresh in-house and serve it in the classic Mumbai style with chutneys.
For those searching vada pav near me in Piscataway, North Brunswick, South Plainfield, Edison, or the surrounding Middlesex County area, Brundhavan on Stelton Road is one of the closest and most authentic options available.
Best paired with: A cold Mango Lassi or a cup of masala chai. The heat from the chutney meets its match.
Why Brundhavan Is Your South Indian Snack Destination in Piscataway NJ
All five of the dishes above masala vada, medu vada, sambar, thoran, and vada pav are either on our regular menu or part of our daily specials rotation. We are a dedicated South Indian restaurant, which means these are not afterthoughts on a long mixed menu. They are the dishes our kitchen was built around.
A few things that set Brundhavan apart:
We are open every single day, 9 AM to 10 PM. That means you can come for a South Indian breakfast (vada and idli with sambar and chutney), a tiffin lunch (thali, uttapam, pesarattu), or an evening snack (vada pav, masala vada, chaat). We are always here.
Everything is made fresh. No pre-packaged sambar. No frozen vadas reheated in oil. Our batter is ground daily, our sambar is made every morning, and our coconut chutney is freshly prepared. You can taste the difference.
We are vegetarian-friendly. Our entire menu is built around South Indian vegetarian cuisine. Everything mentioned in this guide is completely vegetarian and most dishes are naturally vegan as well.
We offer dine-in, takeout, and delivery. Come sit in our restaurant on Stelton Road, call ahead for a pickup order, or find us on DoorDash and Uber Eats if you want your masala vada delivered to your door.
Find Brundhavan — Your South Indian Snacks Spot Near Piscataway NJ
Address: 1665 Stelton Rd, Piscataway, NJ 08854
Phone: (732) 844-3672
Email: brundhavaninc@gmail.com
Hours: Monday – Sunday, 9:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Order online: Available on DoorDash and Uber Eats
Website: brundhavan.com
View Menu: Brundhavan Menu
We are centrally located on Stelton Road, making us easily accessible from Piscataway, Edison, South Plainfield, North Brunswick, Metuchen, New Brunswick, Highland Park, and surrounding Middlesex County towns.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is masala vada the same as medu vada?
No. Masala vada is made from chana dal (split chickpeas), is flat and disc-shaped, and has a crunchy, dense texture. Medu vada is made from urad dal (black lentils), is ring-shaped like a doughnut, and is crispy outside but soft and fluffy inside. Both are delicious, but they are very different dishes.
What is the closest place to get medu vada near Piscataway NJ?
Brundhavan at 1665 Stelton Rd, Piscataway is one of the closest and most authentic South Indian restaurants in central New Jersey serving medu vada. We are open daily from 9 AM to 10 PM.
Is sambar always vegetarian?
Traditional South Indian sambar is made with toor dal (lentils), tamarind, vegetables, and spices. It is completely vegetarian. At Brundhavan, all of our sambar is vegetarian.
What vegetables are used in thoran?
Thoran can be made with almost any vegetable. Common varieties include cabbage thoran, carrot thoran, beans thoran, and beetroot thoran. The constant across all varieties is fresh grated coconut, mustard seeds, curry leaves, and coconut oil. Ask us what thoran we are serving today.
Can I get vada pav delivered near Piscataway NJ?
Yes. Brundhavan is available on DoorDash and Uber Eats. Enter your address on the app to check delivery availability to your location.
Do you serve these dishes every day?
Masala vada, medu vada, and sambar are on our regular daily menu. Thoran and certain specials rotate call us at (732) 844-3672 to confirm what is available on the day you plan to visit.
