Exact opposite experience here: after three months in a range of smaller towns and larger cities across South India I found the ubiquitous idli, vada, dosa menu horridly repetitive. (I am an Aussie living in China and here the local breakfast options are to my mind far more varied: steamed buns, rolled up rice paper snacks, various soups, congees, noodles, breads, fruits, etc.)
Not surprised. The North Indian compatriots who die to eat Idli, dosa etc., get tired of it soon after they land in South India (after a week or so)...
However, an actual south indian person does not eat the same things over and over again. As someone mentioned above, the menu rarely repeats over the course of a week, even 2 weeks.
Even if the base dish (Dosa) repeats, the side-dishes can vary wildly during a month.
Unfortunately as a tourist it's very hard to avoid this horridly repetitive and limited menu. Give me a thali any day.
It is often observed that there are three kinds of food on offer in South India: VEG, NON-VEG, and CHINESE. Perhaps idli, vada and dosa are the corresponding trinity of staple breakfasts?
