If you grew up on MTR, you already know the shortcut: a box of MTR instant mix turns a South Indian breakfast from a two-day project into a ten-minute one. We carry a deep range of MTR in Los Angeles at Anoras Cash N Carry, 567 S Fairfax Ave in the Fairfax District — the instant dosa, idli, upma and vada mixes, the sambar and rasam powders, ready-to-eat pouches, and even gulab jamun and badam drink. Here's what to buy and how to use it.

Who is MTR and why do people trust it?

MTR (Mavalli Tiffin Rooms) started as a Bangalore restaurant in 1924 and grew into one of India's most trusted packaged-food brands. The reputation is simple: the mixes taste like the real thing because they came from a real South Indian kitchen. If you want an authentic rava dosa or a soft idli without soaking rice and urad dal overnight or fermenting batter, MTR is the brand most families reach for.

Takeaway: MTR is the reliable middle ground between made-from-scratch and takeout.

Which MTR breakfast mixes should you buy?

These are the workhorses of the range, and all are vegetarian:

• MTR Instant Rava Dosa Mix (500 g, $4.95) — lacy, crisp, holey rava dosas, the Udupi-restaurant kind. Just whisk with water and pour thin.
• MTR Instant Dosa Mix (500 g, $4.95) — classic golden dosas from a rice-and-lentil blend, no fermentation.
• MTR Instant Rice Idli Mix (200 g, $2.75) — soft, fluffy idlis with no overnight wait.
• MTR Instant Upma Mix (200 g, $2.75) — roasted rava with mustard, urad dal and curry leaves already in the pack.
• MTR Instant Vada Mix (200 g, $3.30) — crispy medu vada without grinding dal.

Short on time even for that? MTR also does single-serve cups — poha, veggie upma and masala upma — that need nothing but boiling water.

Takeaway: start with the rava dosa and idli mixes; they're the ones people rebuy.

What about MTR ready-to-eat meals and powders?

For a hot meal in three minutes, the ready-to-eat pouches are hard to beat: MTR Sambar Ready to Eat (300 g, $4.40) and MTR Mixed Vegetable Curry (300 g, $4.40) both just need heating. If you cook from scratch but want the seasoning right, the spice powders are the backbone of South Indian cooking: MTR Sambar Powder (500 g, $11.00) and MTR Rasam Powder (200 g, $3.60). And for dessert, MTR Gulab Jamun mix (500 g, $8.80) makes soft, syrup-soaked jamuns at home. You'll find the whole MTR line, plus other brands, in our Pantry & Ready to Eat collection and Spices & Masalas collection.

Takeaway: pouches for speed, powders for control, gulab jamun for the sweet finish.

Where can you buy MTR in Los Angeles?

At Anoras Cash N Carry, 567 S Fairfax Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90036 — in the Fairfax District, close to Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Mid-Wilshire and Koreatown. We're open daily 10 AM–9 PM. Prefer delivery? We bring it to you within a 10-mile radius, 10 AM–8 PM, with a $35.97 minimum and a $7.98 fee — free over $99. Call 323-272-3617 if you're after a specific MTR product.

Takeaway: shop in store 10–9 daily, or get MTR delivered free over $99 within 10 miles.

Frequently asked questions