When you walk into Sagar on Southwark Bridge Road, you don’t just smell spices-you feel them. The air is thick with the warmth of cumin, the earthiness of curry leaves, and the sweet heat of green chilies. This isn’t just another Indian restaurant in London. It’s one of the few places in the city where every dish is 100% vegetarian, and nearly all of it is vegan by default. No butter, no ghee, no dairy. Just pure, bold, South Indian flavors that have stayed true to their roots.
Sagar opened in 1983, and it hasn’t changed much since. No fancy décor, no Instagrammable cocktails, no fusion nonsense. Just long wooden tables, white walls with faded posters of temple festivals, and a kitchen that never stops. It’s run by the same family who still source their tamarind from Karnataka and their rice flour from Tamil Nadu. That’s why locals come back year after year. And why, in 2025, it was named the best vegetarian Indian restaurant in London by Time Out.
What You Actually Eat Here
The menu is short. Too short, some say. But that’s the point. Sagar doesn’t need 50 items. It does six things, and it does them better than anyone else in the UK.
- Dosa - Thin, crispy, fermented rice and lentil crepes. They serve four kinds: plain, onion, masala (stuffed with spiced potato), and rava (made with semolina). The masala dosa is the star. It comes with coconut chutney and a tangy tamarind sauce that’s made fresh daily. The dosa is so thin it crackles when you fold it. You’ll hear people at the next table whispering, “This is better than Chennai.”
- Idli and Vada - Soft, steamed rice cakes and deep-fried lentil donuts. Served with sambar and chutney. The idli here is fluffy, not dense. The vada is crispy on the outside, tender inside, and soaked in just enough oil to taste rich, not greasy.
- Uttapam - A thick, savory pancake topped with onions, tomatoes, and chili. It’s like a cross between a pancake and a pizza. You get it with coconut chutney and a side of spicy tomato sauce that makes you want to lick the plate.
- Sambar - A lentil-based vegetable stew with tamarind, drumstick, and pumpkin. Sagar’s version has 12 different spices. No one knows the exact recipe, but it’s the one you’ll crave for days after eating it.
- Filter Coffee - Not a novelty. Not a latte. Real South Indian filter coffee: strong, sweet, and served in a stainless steel tumbler. You pour it back and forth between two cups to cool it. It’s bitter, sweet, and hypnotic. You’ll finish your meal and still be sipping it 20 minutes later.
- Buttermilk - Spiced, chilled, and slightly tangy. It’s not yogurt. It’s not kefir. It’s the kind of drink your grandmother in Coimbatore would make after a long day in the kitchen. It cools your mouth after the spice. It’s the perfect ending.
Everything is vegan. No hidden dairy. No egg in the batter. No milk in the coffee. Even the chutneys are made with coconut, not yogurt. If you’re vegan, this is one of the few places in London where you don’t have to ask, “Is this really vegan?”
Price and Value
Sagar is cheap. Like, shockingly cheap for London.
A dosa costs £6.50. A plate of idli and vada is £5.50. Sambar with rice? £4.75. Filter coffee? £1.80. You can eat a full meal here for under £12. That’s half the price of most vegan restaurants in Shoreditch or Camden. And the portion sizes? Huge. One dosa is enough for two people if you’re sharing.
There’s no tip jar. No service charge. No hidden fees. You pay at the counter. You sit wherever you want. You get your food in 10 minutes. No waiting. No pretense. Just food that tastes like home.
Who Comes Here?
You’ll see students from Goldsmiths, office workers from the Tate Modern, tourists from Japan who’ve read about it on Reddit, and old Tamil ladies who come every Tuesday for the sambar. The staff? Mostly South Indian women in their 50s and 60s. They’ve been working here for 20 years. They know your name if you come twice. They’ll ask if you want extra chutney before you even ask.
There’s no Wi-Fi. No charging ports. No fancy napkins. Just paper plates, plastic spoons, and a few wooden tables. You eat with your hands if you want. They don’t mind. In fact, they’ll hand you a wet towel before you start.
Why It Stands Out
Most Indian restaurants in London serve North Indian food-tandoori chicken, butter chicken, naan. Sagar is the opposite. It’s pure South India. No cream. No cheese. No heavy sauces. Just fermentation, spice, and time.
They don’t use tofu. They don’t fake meat. They don’t need to. The magic is in the batter. The fermentation of the rice and lentils creates natural umami. The spices are toasted fresh every morning. The tamarind is aged. The coconut is scraped by hand.
It’s not just vegan. It’s authentically plant-based. And that’s rare.
When to Go
Go on a weekday. Lunchtime, 12:30 to 2:30. That’s when it’s busiest, and that’s when the food is freshest. The kitchen runs on a rhythm. They cook in batches. By 3 PM, the dosas start to get stale. By 5 PM, the sambar is gone.
Don’t go on weekends unless you’re ready to wait 45 minutes. The line snakes out the door. People come from Croydon. From Oxford. From Brighton. They’ve heard about it. They’ve read the reviews. They’ve seen the photos. And they’re right to come.
What’s Missing
No dessert. No wine list. No vegan cheesecake. No matcha latte. That’s not a flaw. That’s the point. Sagar doesn’t want to be trendy. It wants to be real.
If you’re looking for a vegan tasting menu with deconstructed dosas and molecular chutneys, this isn’t your place. But if you want to taste what South Indian vegetarian cooking actually is-without compromise, without gimmicks, without dairy-you’ve found it.
Final Verdict
Sagar isn’t just a restaurant. It’s a time capsule. It’s a taste of a small town in Tamil Nadu, dropped into the middle of London. It’s the kind of place that changes how you think about vegan food. You don’t miss the cheese. You don’t miss the butter. You just realize: this is better.
It’s been around for 40 years. It’s not going anywhere. And if you’ve ever wondered what real South Indian vegetarian food tastes like, you owe it to yourself to go. Just don’t expect a napkin. Bring your appetite.
Is Sagar completely vegan?
Yes. Sagar has been 100% vegetarian since it opened in 1983, and nearly all dishes are naturally vegan. No dairy, no ghee, no eggs. Even the filter coffee is made with sugar and water-no milk. The chutneys use coconut, not yogurt. The only item that’s not vegan is the plain dosa if you ask for ghee on it-but no one ever does. Staff confirm every dish is vegan unless you specifically request dairy.
Do I need to book a table at Sagar?
No. Sagar doesn’t take reservations. It’s first come, first served. The restaurant is small, with only 12 tables. On weekdays, you’ll usually find a seat within 10 minutes. On weekends, expect to wait up to an hour. The best time to go is midweek between 12:30 and 2:30 PM, when the kitchen is at its peak and the line is shortest.
What’s the most popular dish at Sagar?
The masala dosa is the undisputed favorite. It’s crispy, stuffed with spiced potato, and served with coconut chutney and tamarind sauce. Locals say it’s the best in London. Tourists often order it first, then come back for the idli-vada combo. The filter coffee is a close second-many people order it even if they didn’t eat anything else.
Is Sagar good for groups or families?
Absolutely. The portions are large and meant to be shared. A single dosa can feed two people. The sambar and rice combo is perfect for families. Kids love the idli and vada-they’re soft, mild, and fun to eat. There’s no loud music, no fancy lighting, just a calm, no-frills space where everyone eats the same way: with their hands, or with the plastic spoon provided.
Can I take food away from Sagar?
Yes. They offer takeaway in cardboard boxes with plastic lids. The dosa stays crisp, the sambar doesn’t leak, and the coffee stays warm. Many office workers order it for lunch and eat it at their desks. The takeaway menu is the same as the dine-in menu. Just say “to go” when you order.