Menu in Kannada: how to write a Kannada menu card
Updated October 19, 2026
A Kannada menu card is written in Kannada script, and Kannada dish names end in a vowel: it's ದೋಸೆ (dose), not "dosa". That's why Bengaluru menus print Masale Dose, Idli Vade and Bisi Bele Bath. Bengaluru customers come from every state, so most restaurants there are best served by Kannada names on their dishes plus a language button that also offers Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Hindi.
In short
- Kannada spellings end in vowels: Masale Dose, Idli Vade, Kesari Bath.
- "Bath" (ಬಾತ್) means a rice or semolina dish, as in Bisi Bele Bath and Khara Bath.
- Kannada script is rounded and closely related to Telugu script, but it's its own script.
- In Menuthere: ಕನ್ನಡ is on the language button from Lite, alongside Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Hindi. Kannada second names replace the translation, on every plan.
Kannada script on a menu
- Its own script. Kannada letters are rounded, with a small tick on top of many of them. Telugu looks similar, but the two are different scripts, and a Telugu font won't render Kannada correctly.
- Vowel endings. Kannada words end in vowels, and food names follow: ದೋಸೆ (dose), ವಡೆ (vade), ಮಸಾಲೆ (masale). The English spellings on Bengaluru menus keep those endings.
- Joined letters. Consonant clusters stack the second letter below the first, as in ದ್ದೆ in ಮುದ್ದೆ (mudde). Check pasted text on a phone.
Kannada dish names and their English spellings
| Kannada | Bengaluru menu spelling | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| ಮಸಾಲೆ ದೋಸೆ | Masale Dose | Dosa with spiced potato filling |
| ಬೆಣ್ಣೆ ದೋಸೆ | Benne Dose | Butter dosa, Davangere style |
| ನೀರ್ ದೋಸೆ | Neer Dose | Thin rice crepe from the coast |
| ಇಡ್ಲಿ ವಡೆ | Idli Vade | Idli with a vada |
| ಬಿಸಿಬೇಳೆ ಬಾತ್ | Bisi Bele Bath | Hot lentil rice |
| ಖಾರಾ ಬಾತ್ / ಕೇಸರಿ ಬಾತ್ | Khara Bath / Kesari Bath | Savory and sweet semolina. Served together, they're Chow Chow Bath |
| ರಾಗಿ ಮುದ್ದೆ | Ragi Mudde | Finger-millet balls, eaten with curry |
| ಮೈಸೂರು ಪಾಕ್ | Mysore Pak | Gram-flour and ghee sweet |
Useful Kannada menu words
| English | Kannada |
|---|---|
| Menu | ಮೆನು |
| Snacks, tiffin | ತಿಂಡಿ |
| Meals | ಊಟ |
| Vegetarian | ಸಸ್ಯಾಹಾರಿ |
| Non-vegetarian | ಮಾಂಸಾಹಾರಿ |
| Sweet | ಸಿಹಿ |
| Coffee | ಕಾಫಿ |
| Buttermilk | ಮಜ್ಜಿಗೆ |
Example: a Kannada menu card section
A short sample for a Bengaluru darshini (a quick-service vegetarian restaurant).
| English (dish name) | Kannada (second name) |
|---|---|
| Tiffin | ತಿಂಡಿ |
| Idli vade | ಇಡ್ಲಿ ವಡೆ |
| Masale dose | ಮಸಾಲೆ ದೋಸೆ |
| Benne dose | ಬೆಣ್ಣೆ ದೋಸೆ |
| Khara bath | ಖಾರಾ ಬಾತ್ |
| Kesari bath | ಕೇಸರಿ ಬಾತ್ |
| Meals | ಊಟ |
| Bisi bele bath | ಬಿಸಿಬೇಳೆ ಬಾತ್ |
| Ragi mudde | ರಾಗಿ ಮುದ್ದೆ |
| Neer dose | ನೀರ್ ದೋಸೆ |
| Sweets | ಸಿಹಿ |
| Mysore pak | ಮೈಸೂರು ಪಾಕ್ |
| Drinks | ಪಾನೀಯಗಳು |
| Filter coffee | ಫಿಲ್ಟರ್ ಕಾಫಿ |
| Masale buttermilk | ಮಸಾಲೆ ಮಜ್ಜಿಗೆ |
Who needs a Kannada menu
| Your restaurant | Languages to offer | Read next |
|---|---|---|
| Bengaluru | Kannada, plus Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Hindi for customers from other states | Menu in Tamil · Menu in Malayalam · Menu in Hindi |
| Mysuru, Hubballi, Belagavi and towns across Karnataka | Kannada first | Online ordering in India |
| Mangaluru and Udupi | Kannada, with coastal dishes such as neer dose | Best online ordering systems in India |
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Set up a Kannada menu in Menuthere
- Add each dish's Kannada name (every plan). Edit Masale dose in
Menu, choose Add secondary name and type ಮಸಾಲೆ ದೋಸೆ. It's shown under the English name and kept on the cart and order. - Open the language button to Kannada and its neighbors (Lite). In
Settings → Store details → Currency & Language, turn on Offer other languages and tap ಕನ್ನಡ. In Bengaluru, also tap the other languages your customers read, such as தமிழ், తెలుగు, മലയാളം and हिन्दी. - Choose the opening language. Set ಕನ್ನಡ as primary if most customers read Kannada; for a mixed Bengaluru crowd, leave English (as written). Each customer's own choice is remembered.
- Get a Kannada reader to check the short names on a phone.
The language button is on Lite, US$17 a month (Indian stores are invoiced in rupees), with a 7-day trial that needs a card.
Good to know: each dish has one second name. In a multilingual city, give it the language most of your customers read (usually Kannada in Karnataka), and let the language button translate for everyone else.
Kannada menu card checklist
- Kannada spellings on the English side (Dose, Vade, Bath).
- Short dish names for a darshini menu that's read standing up.
- Morning tiffin set to show only at the hours you serve it (Set Time on each dish, every plan).
- Languages offered match your customers, not all 13.
- A Kannada reader has checked the menu on a phone.
FAQs
How do you write menu in Kannada?
Menu is usually written ಮೆನು on Kannada menu cards.
Why do Bengaluru menus say Masale Dose instead of Masala Dosa?
Kannada words end in vowels, so the Kannada names are masale and dose. Bengaluru menus keep those spellings in English.
What does bath mean on a Kannada menu?
Bath, written ಬಾತ್, is a rice or semolina dish, as in bisi bele bath, khara bath and kesari bath. Khara bath and kesari bath served together are called chow chow bath.
Which languages should a Bengaluru restaurant offer?
Kannada, plus the languages your customers read. Many Bengaluru restaurants serve Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Hindi speakers, and all four are on Menuthere's language button.
Is Telugu offered too?
Yes. Telugu is one of the 13 menu languages, written తెలుగు on the language button.
Sources (5)
- Menuthere Docs, Menu in several languages for customers: https://menuthere.com/docs/online-store/menu-in-several-languages-for-customers (accessed 19 Oct 2026)
- Menuthere Docs, Dish names in a second language: https://menuthere.com/docs/menu/dish-names-in-a-second-language (accessed 19 Oct 2026)
- Menuthere Docs, Show dishes at set times: https://menuthere.com/docs/hours/show-dishes-at-set-times (accessed 19 Oct 2026)
- Unicode Consortium, Kannada code chart: https://www.unicode.org/charts/PDF/U0C80.pdf (accessed 19 Oct 2026)
- Ahrefs Keywords Explorer, global volume (19 Oct 2026); Google autocomplete (19 Oct 2026)