Lungi, Upper East Side
15 people recommend, 1 warns against itvia r/FoodNYC, r/AskNYC16 comments cited below
What people say, in short
Lungi receives explicit South Indian recommendations as well as discussion of its Sri Lankan cooking. One diner loved a South Indian dinner and another recommends the banana-leaf brunch; these are visit reports rather than current-menu assurances. Other commenters like the food but do not consider the setting upscale, with one criticizing the ambiance and service. The cuisine labels should not be treated as interchangeable.
Address
Lungi South Indian & Sri Lankan Restaurant, 1136 1st Ave, New York, NY 10065
At a glance
- Signature dishes
- Podi masala dosa
Nearby on this map
Other places on this map closest to Lungi, Upper East Side, as the crow flies.
The evidence
Every point below is paraphrased from a real public comment, ordered by how much the community engaged with it. Caveats and negatives are kept in — follow any link to read the original for yourself.
- Recommendsu/Background_Echidna67 in r/FoodNYC · Feb 2025taste
Lists it fifth for Tamil and Sri Lankan food, praising Sura Puttu.
- Recommendsu/banallthemusic in r/AskNYC · May 2026variety
Recommends trying Lungi and likes its weekend banana leaf brunch.
- Recommendsu/PuggleMamma in r/FoodNYC · Oct 2026variety
Votes for Lungi for South Indian and Sri Lankan dishes and lists dishes to try.
- Recommendsu/md2495 in r/FoodNYC · Aug 2026
Suggests Lungi as a good choice, noting it is Sri Lankan.
- Recommendsu/mafra29 in r/FoodNYC · Jun 2026
Names Lungi among the better upscale South Indian spots in the city.
- Recommendsu/nice2_cu in r/FoodNYC · Oct 2026
Feels Lungi is not truly upscale, but agrees the food is good.
- Recommendsu/Garconavecunreve in r/FoodNYC · Feb 2026
Calls Lungi a great alternative.
- Recommendsu/PsychologicalTea4396 in r/AskNYC · May 2026taste
Went for dinner over a weekend and loved the South Indian food.
Show all 16 cited comments
- Recommendsu/gbpenalty in r/AskNYC · May 2026
Lists Lungi as a good choice.
- Recommendsu/dragonfruitpop in r/FoodNYC · May 2025
Says to definitely go to Lungi for banana leaf experience.
- Recommendsu/lumenphosphor in r/AskNYC · Aug 2025
Names Lungi among their favorite south Indian restaurants.
- Recommendsu/Own_Interaction_8143 in r/FoodNYC · Aug 2026
Says Lungi is great for South Indian and Sri Lankan food.
- Recommendsu/austingal96 in r/FoodNYC · Dec 2025wait time
Commenter suggests Lungi on UES as easy to get last-minute reservations.
- Caveatu/justaman_nyc in r/FoodNYC · Aug 2026ambience
Says Lungi is not fancy, with below-average ambiance and service though food is good.
- Recommendsu/Appropriate-Try-9854 in r/AskNYC · Mar 2026
Says Lungi and Kanyakumari are best for south Indian, nothing else comes close.
- Recommendsu/Cool_Good_681 in r/AskNYC · Oct 2025
Says Lungi was good for south Indian.
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Freshness
Details last checked 10 Nov 2026. Recommendations reflect what people said at the time; confirm current details before you go.