Monday

11:30 am - 10 pm

Tuesday

11:30 am - 10 pm

Wednesday

11:30 am - 10 pm

Thursday

11:30 am - 10 pm

Friday

11:30 am - 10 pm

Saturday

12:30 pm - 10 pm

Sunday

Closed

Chennai Express feels like a comforting throwback to home for many diners, with crispy ghee dosa, a highly praised masala dosa, and idli served with tasty chutney and sambar. The setting is a small corner spot inside a shared food court with limited seating, making it more of a takeout or quick-serve option than a dine-in destination. The menu earns compliments for whole-spice flavors and affordable prices, while service is described as friendly and the owner as pleasant. Opinions on authenticity vary, with some finding the chutney and sambar very authentic and others noting that the sambhar can resemble dal and the ambience is not the focus. Dishes like chicken masala dosa and biryani receive high praise, with some reviewers calling it the best dosa in town or a reliable cheap lunch, and several mention good value and consistency. A few reviews note room for improvement in freshness and that the dining space is limited; overall, Chennai Express is seen as a flavorful, dependable south Indian option in downtown Montreal.

Reviews for Chennai Express

Food

Service

on Google4.2 (1100+)

*as of 2026-05-15

4.4 71 ratings

5★

72%

4★

3★

2★

11%

1★

Write your review

Reviews often mention

Display All dosa(33) masala(18) masala dosa(14) indian(13) chutney(9) chicken(9) idli(8) authentic(7) recommend(7) biryani(7) sambar(6) sambhar(6)

Review Summary

Page 1 of 1 - 8 Reviews

Rahul

1.0

I placed order for two idli ,he merged both in one box & gave one small pack of sambhar & one chatni, not worth spending your money. It's cheap mentality saving one box 📦 for idli & putting all in one box, giving just enough sambhar for one order instead of two. Not happy at all.

Apr 29, 2026

on Google

Aman

5.0

A hidden heaven for South Indian food. Fantasic crispy podi masala dosas! & if you give Venki a call before you arrive he'll make you a batch of steaming hot idlis. Delicious food which I keep coming back for ✨

Apr 13, 2026

Krishna

3.0

Samabar & chutney is ready made & not a proper Tamil style. Idli was good

Jan 6, 2026

Sanjana

In Montreal Downtown, Chennai Express is a life saver for any South Indian whose life thrives on dosa & idli. Feels like home.

Apr 6, 2025

Ashwin

We were visiting & came across this South Indian spot in a shared space with two other fast food choices (pizza & wok). This place is the real deal - authentic South Indian flavours at an affordable price. We had the idlis which were freshly steamed & served with tasty chutney & sambar. The masala dosa was excellent - perfectly crispy with a well spiced potato masala. Finally, the chicken biryani was marinated, fragrant & delicious. Highly recommend!

Ps - seating wise, there's a long table with high chairs, but because these are shared between the three restaurants, there may not always be availability (it is first come first serve). The takeout option worked best for us!

Mar 25, 2025

Aldrin

This is a nice little place in the center of downtown on st Catherine Street . This place has been my usual now for several years . My usual orders are chicken curry , lamb curry & chicken biryani for takeways . I always call in advance & schedule my pickup as its very crowded on busy hours . When I have dine in , I usually order plain dosa & idlis . Idlis are usually served in the evening & fresh so I recommend to call & place an order for them in advance .

Oct 22, 2024

Jenitha

Must try Idli Sambar ❤️😋

Oct 15, 2024

Shobhit

Their masala dosa are delicious. Samber was flavourful & idli was soft.

Sep 2, 2024

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Review Summary