Minerva Tiffins is a cozy spot that showcases the uniqueness of South Indian cuisine.

Previously located in a small food court across from Eglinton Town Center, Minerva Tiffins reopened in 2022, moving into a larger, more spacious building filled with plush booths and wooden tables.

Owners Natasha and Ajay Mayreddy are a married couple with a background in finance. Though neither Natasha nor Ajay had any experience in the restaurant business, the pair had always had a passion for cooking and hoped to one day open a restaurant together.

The restaurant takes its name from Minerva, a popular Indian restaurant chain, and tiffin, a term for a light midday meal.

It should therefore come as no surprise that Minerva Tiffins specializes in popular Indian dishes, particularly breakfast and lunch items.

@blogto Minerva Tiffins is Toronto’s spot for Indian street food 🇮🇳 #toronto #canada #tiktokfood #foodie #streetfood #indian #bts #canadaife #foodies #fyp ♬ Chitta- Main - Prabh Deep

Dosas, vadas and uttapams are just some of the items on offer. The restaurant also hosts a breakfast buffet on weekends.

Natasha tells me that the chefs take great care in preparing each dish. Their motto is "treat every customer like your first customer and every plate like your first plate".

Sambar rice ($10.99) is a filling meal of steamed rice, stewed in sambar, ghee and spices. It is served in a metal pot, which keeps the rice nice and warm, and comes with a large, crunchy papad, which can be used to scoop it up.

Karam masala dosa ($11.99) is a heavily spiced dosa filled with garlic, onion and potatoes. Not only does the crispy flatbread pair well with the soft, spicy fillings, it can also be dipped into a variety of flavourful chutneys.

Chilli paneer ($14.99) is an Indo-Chinese appetizer made from cubed cottage cheese, which is then tossed in a hot, tangy chilli sauce.

The bite-sized cubes are then seasoned with sesame seeds and green onions and served on a platter, making them perfect for sharing with friends.

Puri bhaji ($10.99) is a traditional breakfast dish, consisting of puri, a type of deep-fried bread, and aloo bhaji, a dish made from curried potatoes.

If you're not sure what to get, the Idly, Vada and Upma Combo ($8.99) is a solid option.

As its name suggests, this combo consists of three different types of breakfast food: chewy rice cakes, crunchy lentil fritters and thick, savoury porridge.

Of the three options, the idly was my favourite, especially when topped with a dollop of tomato chutney.

The Red Sea Magic Mojito ($6.99) is a mocktail made with fruit extracts, soda water and spices.

Unlike a traditional mojito, which has a straightforwardly sweet taste, this drink combines sweet, salty and sour notes, resulting in an unusual yet oddly addictive flavour.

Filter coffee ($3.50) is made with milk, sugar and finely ground coffee.

Though I'm not usually a coffee person, this warm beverage’s light, frothy texture made it easy for me to drink. The fact that it came in a cute metal tumbler was a bonus.

Since moving to their new location, Minerva Tiffins has seen a marked increase in both dine-in and takeout orders. The owners anticipate further activity as the holiday season draws closer.

Minerva Tiffins is located at 16 Lebovic Avenue.