Masala dosa to malpua, 11 Indian dishes crack World's Top 100 pancakes
Food guide TasteAtlas has featured 11 Indian dishes from across India in its April Top 100 Pancakes list.
Pancakes and dosa?
Before you argue about India's dosa being in the pancake category, we know what you are thinking. It's not exactly how we would like to associate it. But let's not get into the technicalities for a brief moment. Let's just concentrate on the recognition for a bit.
The food guide TasteAtlas has released its latest April edition of the Top 100 Pancakes in the World. Tucked between French crepes and Latvian potato pancakes are some very desi stars and more than just dosas.
South Indian food makes a mark
Here are some of the amazing Indian dishes on the list:
- Masala dosa at 6th position
- Dosa, Tamil Nadu, at 15th position
- Paper dosa, Tamil Nadu, at 35th position
- Appam from Kerala at 60th position
- Pesara dosa from Andhra Pradesh at 63rd position
- Uttapam, Tamil Nadu, at 74th position
- Neer dosa, Karnataka, at 84th position
- Malpua at 85th position
- Kallapam, Kerala, at 95th position
- Rava dosa at 96th position
- Pitha, Odisha, at 98th position
What makes these Indian “pancakes” stand out isn’t just flavour, it’s fermentation, technique, and Indian spices. The dosa batter, for instance, is fermented overnight to develop that signature tang. It takes some culinary patience to make the perfect circle, with crisp edges and soft centres.
Also, can we talk about accompaniments? While the rest of the world is busy with maple syrup, we’re out here dunking our so-called 'pancakes' into sambar, scooping chutney, and occasionally arguing about which state does it best. (Correct answer: depends on who you ask.)
While the list mostly associates these dishes with a single state, many of them are made and loved across regions. Dosa and uttapam, for instance, are staples across South India, while appam is most closely associated with Kerala and Tamil Nadu, though it’s enjoyed in other states too. In fact, pitha is also commonly found in West Bengal and Assam.
Malpua is often offered at Puri’s famous Jagannath Temple, and is a regular at the sweet counters of many Indian weddings. Case in point: every state may serve these dishes with its own distinct flavours.
The list is based on 8,811 ratings. The idea, according to its official website says, is to “promote excellent local foods, instil pride in traditional dishes, and arouse curiosity about dishes you haven’t tried.”
The food guide list includes everything from stuffed crepes to street-style savoury wraps.
In addition to these Indian dishes, the list is led by Kartupeu pankukas from Latvia, a crispy potato-based pancake traditionally served with sour cream and lingonberry sauce. Close behind are Crepes sucrees from France—thin, delicate pancakes usually paired with sweet toppings like fruit or chocolate. The third spot also goes to classic Crepes, again from France, highlighting just how iconic this style is. At number four are Nutella crepes, a richer, dessert-like variation from France. Rounding off the top five is Jianbing from Tianjin, China, a popular savoury street food loaded with eggs, sauces, and fillings.
Earlier this year, TasteAtlas released its Best Food 2026 list, and India showed up across several top 100 categories. Cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, and Lucknow found their place on the global food map.
So the next time someone offers you pancakes, just ask: Do you mean dosa?
Pancakes and dosa?
Before you argue about India's dosa being in the pancake category, we know what you are thinking. It's not exactly how we would like to associate it. But let's not get into the technicalities for a brief moment. Let's just concentrate on the recognition for a bit.
The food guide TasteAtlas has released its latest April edition of the Top 100 Pancakes in the World. Tucked between French crepes and Latvian potato pancakes are some very desi stars and more than just dosas.
South Indian food makes a mark
Here are some of the amazing Indian dishes on the list:
- Masala dosa at 6th position
- Dosa, Tamil Nadu, at 15th position
- Paper dosa, Tamil Nadu, at 35th position
- Appam from Kerala at 60th position
- Pesara dosa from Andhra Pradesh at 63rd position
- Uttapam, Tamil Nadu, at 74th position
- Neer dosa, Karnataka, at 84th position
- Malpua at 85th position
- Kallapam, Kerala, at 95th position
- Rava dosa at 96th position
- Pitha, Odisha, at 98th position
What makes these Indian “pancakes” stand out isn’t just flavour, it’s fermentation, technique, and Indian spices. The dosa batter, for instance, is fermented overnight to develop that signature tang. It takes some culinary patience to make the perfect circle, with crisp edges and soft centres.
Also, can we talk about accompaniments? While the rest of the world is busy with maple syrup, we’re out here dunking our so-called 'pancakes' into sambar, scooping chutney, and occasionally arguing about which state does it best. (Correct answer: depends on who you ask.)
While the list mostly associates these dishes with a single state, many of them are made and loved across regions. Dosa and uttapam, for instance, are staples across South India, while appam is most closely associated with Kerala and Tamil Nadu, though it’s enjoyed in other states too. In fact, pitha is also commonly found in West Bengal and Assam.
Malpua is often offered at Puri’s famous Jagannath Temple, and is a regular at the sweet counters of many Indian weddings. Case in point: every state may serve these dishes with its own distinct flavours.
The list is based on 8,811 ratings. The idea, according to its official website says, is to “promote excellent local foods, instil pride in traditional dishes, and arouse curiosity about dishes you haven’t tried.”
The food guide list includes everything from stuffed crepes to street-style savoury wraps.
In addition to these Indian dishes, the list is led by Kartupeu pankukas from Latvia, a crispy potato-based pancake traditionally served with sour cream and lingonberry sauce. Close behind are Crepes sucrees from France—thin, delicate pancakes usually paired with sweet toppings like fruit or chocolate. The third spot also goes to classic Crepes, again from France, highlighting just how iconic this style is. At number four are Nutella crepes, a richer, dessert-like variation from France. Rounding off the top five is Jianbing from Tianjin, China, a popular savoury street food loaded with eggs, sauces, and fillings.
Earlier this year, TasteAtlas released its Best Food 2026 list, and India showed up across several top 100 categories. Cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, and Lucknow found their place on the global food map.
So the next time someone offers you pancakes, just ask: Do you mean dosa?
