All right, with another review added for a book and a movie, one on food is long due. I think its more apt to choose places in Bangalore to write about than New York, so this is a different review in that sense.
Throughout my childhood days, my father, who is a foodie(that’s who I get it from)would tag me along to chat stalls on the pavements for a quick bite to eat anytime in the evenings before a good dinner at home. The tangy and pungent chats got addictive and the spice was just too good to be given up.
Once a teenager and through my undergrad years, I made a beeline to my favorite joints every other day.religiously.I may not be an expert on the entire Bangalore(I never got round to eat or shop much in Jayanagar and extensions)but on my side of the town, I take the crown. Here is a list of my favorite places that I highly recommend for an unforgettable roadside-food time.
*5. Ramana’s - Infantry Road*
This place maybe a little pricey and they serve satvik food, but the food itself is awesome!Try the Kairi ka pani. I have never tasted anything more yummy.It satisfies my hunger for sour things. The bhels are different and worth a try. Not much variety in this section of food, but still a good place to relax and enjoy the food
*4. Gullu’s Chaat - Kumarapark*
The guy - Gullu started off as a small roadside stall and is now minting money with people coming in from all corners of the city to get a quick bite at this place. His samosa masala and bhels are really good. The only thing I hate about this place is that its always crowded, but also the thing I love about the place is its crowded with youngsters:-)Not pricey at all. About 10-12 bucks for each serving. The next door Chetty’s corner has the best masala pepsi to down along with the spicy Gullu’s chaats
*3. Sukh Sagar - Gandhinagar*
This is a restaurant chain that’s very famous in Bangalore. This particular branch is so popular for its chaats that they have a special corner set aside in the building just for it. The pav bhaji is amazing. The ragda patties and Chana chaat are really something. A little expensive when compared to other places.about 25 bucks per serving. One thing is they even serve Chinese fast food that’s big in B’lore.
*2. Tiwari’s - Off Commercial Street*
Another place that serves no onion or garlic, but the most satisfying pani puris you will ever eat. The puris are too big to be true. The flavor is just right. They are a mithai store, so you can cool off your tongue with some great mithai or take home some dhokla(yummy)Trust me, I gained almost 30 pounds eating those damn rabdis from this place!
*1. Aryabhavan Sweets and Chaats - MG Road*
My all time favorite. This place serves the yummiest chats I know. The pani puri is so spicy(I eat mine with no sweet in it)that I have to down some iced tea in between the puris in order to be able to finish a plate. The papdi chat and alu chaat are heavenly. The Chole masala is really good too. The one word I would associate with this place.SPICY.They have some unique items on the menu too that you may love to try
**Finally, here’s a big thank you to all the less famous road-side cart pushing pani-puri-wallahs, who had the yummiest things to offer and would throw in an extra puri when you split a plate with a friend and who always remembered my preference to the T on all the items on their list and gave me the special treatment for being a regular.**
So for all you people who want to freak out and some spicy food, throw the hygiene consciousness to the wind(Its not too bad actually) and visit one of these places. Let me know what you think:-)