To truly understand the Garden City and its culinary quaintness, the trick is to embark on the 'foodie trails', replete with the character of this Cantonment and its varied flavours where different parts of Bengaluru endow the real authentic foodie with such highs. Here are 15 lesser known but oh so popular eateries, some, hidden in the bylanes of the city, some a trudge and a walk into nooks that not many know about, and others, a part of its history. This is what really tickles the Bengaluru belly.
From the oldest foodies be it the Sapaad Brigade - Prem Koshy, Darius Taraporvala, Altaf and many others who have for years been on the lookout for foodie havens every week - or the many old Bangaloreans like Carlton Braganza, Deepika Quintas and Rahul Sunderajan who have been doggedly determined to unearth delicious morsels for years, and can battle the bottleneck traffic for a meal to these favourites any day, here's their pick.
Krishnas on Seventh Cross in Malleswaram is an old name for the best Mysore Pak and every family in this area knows where to get their portions of the ghee-filled melt in the mouth pak. It is made fresh, and is available only from lunch time onwards.
Akki Roti with a sumptuous gravy, served with two different chutneys and chutney podi (powder at Ajanta Hotel on MG Road. The gravy changes daily, sometimes it is a saaru, other times, a wholesome sambhar. The akki roti is served after 4 pm daily, it’s among the largest akki rotis, served Karnataka style.
Raghavendra Stores in Malles waram, opposite the train station. It is competition for the famed Veena Stories and serves the best and bounciest idlis and udin vadas. The coconut chutney is spicy and hits the spot, according to a regular. They also have a good upma and shavige baath.
Gundu Pulav in the City Market area is well-known for its chicken and mutton pulav. The Donne biryani here is also very popular. A large ambling crowd walks in for breakfast and lunch to have their fill of local cuisine. Among the oldest of places for a hearty breakfast of pulav… yes, some believe it’s the best way to start a day!
This place serves soul food that one can devour. It’s called Sidappa’s Hotel after its owner, and it is located near an old temple in Sampangiram Nagar near Hotel Geo. What’s most interesting is that it only serves breakfast, and what’s even more curious is that the place serves only half masala dosas! Not full, just half. And they won’t be happy if you ask for more! The dosas are crunchy, there’s delicious chutney too, with a sagu. On the menu are vadas, idlis and chitranna (lemon rice).
When it comes to obatu or holige, again in Malleswaram is this old haven Holige Mane on 6th Cross. Popular for its fresh, delicious and jaggery filled holiges, the place serves a multitude of different kinds of fillings, enough to startle anyone. There’s carrot, badam, dates, figs, pineapple, peanut, gulukand and even sugar free! And if you like, you can have a half portion of two kinds of filling.
Shivaji Military Hotel on Bull Temple Road is iconic for its ragi mudde and chops, and its lemony chilli chicken, and donne biryani. Anyone who loves local cuisine has it on their list of must-dos. You must too.
Among the newer hangouts for the artsy crowd, the Ranga Shankara Café serves a scrumptious akki roti with lipsmacking chutney powder thanks to its owner Anju Sudarshan. The café also serves delicious sago vadas and vada paos.
Maratha Darshan on Cunningham Road is again a favourite for the mudde and chops or saru and biryani. In the heart of the city, get there early and taste local fare that is homecooked, and yum. The family cooks for the day, so if it’s over… well better luck next time.
Annapurna in Gandhinagar serves a speciality biryani that sees many regulars. The mutton dishes on the menu are also very popular.
Koshy’s for its famed Sunday breakfast of Appams and Stew which is a favourite activity for many old Bangaloreans on a Sunday morning. Delicious, and freshly made, it’s also a meeting ground for to catch up with old faces! Its fantastic and just the pick-me up needed on a bright and sunny Sunday afternoon. Prem Koshy, the owner is as iconic and interesting as the place itself! People also flock here for chicken sandwiches, mutton cutlets and cold coffee.
When it comes to Mangaluru cuisine, one might not always have the time to get to Machali in the heart of Mangalore for delicious local coastal fare. The next best thing is to get to Coast to Coast for the ghee roast. Hot, spicy, delectable and worth its weight in calories and taste!
If it’s Coorg cuisine you are in search of, then North Wind in Sheshadripuram is the place for a meaty bite. Carlton Braganza swears by its Pork Biryani. The menu is replete with the Scotland of the South’s best dishes, be it the kachampuli-infused Pandi Curry or the pork masala.
Ballal Residency’s South Indian meal is hearty, sumptuous and among those meals that sees a volley of regulars. The thali comes laden with a variety of vegetables, sambhar, rasam and mor kolumbu with poori and a smattering of other dishes. It’s tasty and wholesome.
