Jodi on 
Erin on 
Eric on 
Bill Evans on 
Every owner of a small independent restaurant in Calgary has a story. Their personal tales only make the food they pour their heart and soul into even more unique and special.
Amit who is always on the hunt for new, great places to eat, insisted I had to write about Canada Dosa Corner, not only because of the food, but also because of owner and single mom to seven, Mary Letchumaman. We went for dinner last week and were blown away.
In her native Sri Lanka, Mary trained not only as a chef, but also as a midwife and a nurse. She’s also worked in Bangalore in the south of India as a chef.
After she moved to Canada in 2005, she worked in a nursing home, a cleaning company, and even in a warehouse as a forklift driver. She’s always done catering on the side and that’s how she ended up opening Canada Dosa Corner in February.
Mary works 17-hour days, doing everything from the cooking, cleaning, dish-washing and supply shopping. Most of the earnings go to her two daughters in India, and five orphan children in Sri Lanka who she adopted after the 2004 tsunami. She sends $1,400 to them every month for their food and English schooling at a convent.
Her biggest goal is to make enough money to prove to the Canadian government that she has the income and stable housing to sponsor her children to join her.
When I asked her to name some specialties, she said: “Everything’s special!” because she cooks daily from scratch, and there are lots of options for vegetarians and meat eaters alike.
As the only Sri Lankan restaurant in Calgary, there are a few dishes you won’t obviously find anywhere else like string hoppers. They’re made from steamed rice noodles curled into round kind of patties. You eat it with dal or curry or really anything saucy.
Then there’s kothu which you’ll find listed on the menu under bread. But really, it’s much more than that. Kothu is a Tamil word meaning “chopped,” and it’s made up of chopped up bits of roti, eggs, vegetables, and meat. Mary makes versions with lamb ($9.99) or chicken ($8.99).
Traditionally, kothu is chopped up with knives held in each hand on a skillet, so it makes this very distinctive — almost musical —sound especially from the stands on the street or train stations where this is sold.
Mary also makes a mean dosa ($5.99-$8.99). They’re oversized kind of pancakes, stuffed with just about anything you want: plain, with mushrooms, or chicken, or masala-style (spiced potato curry).
Most Indian restaurants in Calgary focus on northern dishes (butter chicken et al.) and give passing attention to dosas if at all. Mary’s dosas are crisp and fresh and perfectly light.
Mary’s chicken korma ($9.99) was the best I’ve had in the city. She has a selection of those northern dishes and also kebabs and even fried rice. But there are plenty of other restaurants for those. Try some new things. With nothing over $10, you can’t lose.
Usually the restaurant is staffed by Mary and one other person. This is not fast food. Please don’t get impatient.
Mary is one of those owners that takes a lot of pride in what she does. And she loves throwing in little extras (like the ulundu vadai, five pieces for $4.99) and conveniently forgetting to charge for some things. Perhaps not the most solid business plan, but her hospitality and her food will keep bringing you back.
Canada Dosa Corner, 1715-52nd St. SE, Calgary, (403) 235-3672. Open Tuesday to Sunday 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Closed Mondays.
Sounds yummy! If you like dosas, I also got a recent recommendation to try Southern Spice (http://www.southernspicecalgary.com/).
What? Really ? advertising another resturant link on the Canada Dosa Corner post. Cheesey……:(
I am a South Indian myself, and somehow prefer Mary’s food. We went there today and it reminded me of food cooked at home in Kerala. Southern Spice is not really my favorite
We went there yesterday with family and found that food at dosa corner is much better than southern spices especially dosas, appams, kothurotti and string hoppers..
I’ve never heard of most of these dishes, so I’m excited to try them. Great recommendation!
The little guy in the upper corner of the second photo looks like he’s ready to fill out the headline “You gonna eat that? If not, I will!” Looks good.
It seems the SE has become a real hotspot for ethnic restaurants. I am rather eager to try this place out!
The owner of the dosa restaurant is a very admirable woman, and I thought it fitting that someone comment on that.
We tried Canada Dosa Corner yesterday & it was AWESOME! We had the kothu and the stringhoppers with chicken tikka per the owner’s suggestions. They brought us a side of the bread that the dosa’s are wrapped in as well. I would describe it as a kind of crispy, sourdough crepe. YUMMY! We will definitely be back & I’ve raved about it so much that another set of co-workers are going their to eat today. I hope that her business flourishes. Yesterday we were one of only 3 tables there for lunch.
I’ll definitely have to make a trip. This sounds like a real gem of a place.
have you tried Raj Palace Restaurant in downtown, they have both south indian and north indian cuisine on thier lunch and dinner buffet and is only $12.95 ( eat as many dosas as you want)
Canada Dosa Corner. Good suggestion.Will try for sure. Also try Raj Palace in downtown Calgary. Thier Sunday Vegetarian buffet is really South Indian style.Monday to Saturday’s buffet is Non-Veg.
This restaurant is terrific bang for buck. It’s not expensive and the food is terrific.
It’s also a good pick if you don’t eat pork or don’t eat any meat at all as the menu offers a variety of vegetarian choices. There was an eggplant dish on the buffet the night I was there that’s definitely worth a return trip.
A friend of mine hosted an open mic there in early August and I’ll be hosting it on Sunday, Sept. 5. This is a buffet night so you’ll get to sample a selection of delicious dishes.
I recommend making reservations, especially on the weekend, as this place is small and will become very popular very soon.
This is the best restaurant in Calgary for south indian and sri lankan food. Mary is simply amazing.
Everyone must go there,specially dosa lovers. The food and of course Mary will make u go there again and again.
Oct 24 2010
We are from Sk and we were looking for some good Indian food for breakfast, specifically dosa, or vada such as we ate when we lived in India. We loved the dosa house. The food was wonderful, the service was more than friendly, and even our 2 yr old grandson tucked into the idli. If you re vegetarian, you can be happy because there is lots of vegan friendly choices, AND the fresh cocoanut chutney was perfect. This was as good as our favourite Bagalore restaurant. Don’t wait;GO
Great taste…….. YUMMY. I am basically from south India. The food at Dosa corner brings home memories. Very Authentic.
“Marry the Chef” provides more than 12 types of Dosa (Veg & Non-veg). And it is only less than 20% of the rest of the menu.
And to my surprise, the cost of food is quite lower priced. So double delight.
I’m with everyone here – wonderful people and spectacular food.
Absolutely worth the trip!
I did not have a great expectation from this restaurant as most of the Indian restaurants are not up to the mark in Calgary. But after I had the food, it was mind blowing. After a long time I had a good South Indian meal and Mary is also a good host. I have tried other South Indian restaurants as well like Raj Palace and Southern Spice. But Canada Dosa Corner is way better then any other South Indian restaurant in Calgary.
Dosa….This is the type of Restaurant you should tell all of your friends about. This place not only gives you the best East Indain Food in the city,it gives you a lot of it. Mary does it right and if you read this ,please make sure you tell your friends to go for a visit. Mary might be the best at her craft, but she lacks marketing skills. That’s were we come in. Tell some people,better yet take some friends and family there for food… Good on you>>>>>>
The food fills your tummy and the lady touches your heart. Mary is a living example of “nothing’s impossible to a willing mind.”
Our best wishes to you, Mary; you are amazing!
Loved this place !!! Looking forward to visit it more often ….
Mary is a true inspiration and eating there will enlighten your heart. The food is absolutely delicious and very authentic. Almost like flying back home for a true indian meal. Will definitely visit it everytime I am in Calgary.
My husband and I went there for the first time and there were no regrets !!! We went back the following day as the food was exceptionally satisfying and the flavours reminded us of back home. Though it is Sri Lankan restaurant, it is so close to the taste of Malaysia’s south indian restaurants. This is a great place. For me, the service was just GREAT and the welcome was very warm. Very pleasant and down to earth service. I Will definitely take family and friends there.