Lakshmi Villas is somewhat of an institution in Dandenong and has been lauded for years for its cheap and authentic South Indian cuisine. At any given time in the day, it appears that this alcove of vegetarian cuisine is bustling with people of all walks of life and the kitchen is working like a production line pushing out dish after dish.

The food here is consistent, affordable and authentic which guarantees a steady stream of patrons and the large contingent of Indian diners indicates that the food must be spot-on. (Pro-tip: If there is a large crowd of people of the same nationality as the restaurant's cuisine then the food's authenticity is likely to be fairly accurate).

We didn't have much time to dawdle so we opted for the trusted Thali Special ($10) and the Lunch/Dinner Special ($8) with steamed rice, papadum and a selection of three vegetarian curies each, while the Thali came with an additional chappathi, yoghurt and dessert.

Thali Special ($10)

Service was friendly but slightly industrial at times with a merry-ground of staff rotating around the small space. We didn't have to wait long for the food and it was a reasonable portion for the price.

Lunch/Dinner Special ($8)

The South Indian flavours were true and consistent but lacked a bit of spicy kick to lift the dishes to the next level. The curries themselves were a nice mixture of textures with the dahl, tofu and potato sure to satisfy the need for variety but again would have been memorable with a little more spice.

Despite this, Lakshmi Villas is still a sure bet for a reliable and affordable vegetarian feed in or around Dandenong.

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