FOOD THAT YOU CANNOT MISS IN BENGALURU
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FOOD OF WHICH BENGALURU IS KNOWN FOR
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The authentic food Best places to eat
SREYA SIMLAI | 2019
FOOD THAT YOU CANNOT MISS IN BENGALURU SREYA SIMLAI | 2019
THE BEST DISHES EVER! ON THE MENU
1. BIRYANI
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2. CAFE CULTURE
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3. DOSA
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4. ALL DAY BREAKFAST
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5.FILTER COFFEE
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6. GOBI MANCHURIAN
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7. HEALTHY FOOD
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8. THE RICE
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9. IDLI
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10. THAALI
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SPECIAL MENTIONS
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FOOD OF BENGALURU THE DIVERSITY OF THE CUISINE AVAILABLE IS REFLECTIVE OF THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DIVERSITY OF BANGALORE
Having evolved gradually from being the Garden City to the Silicon Valley of India, Bengaluru is the third largest and one of the most livable cities in India. Bangalore had come to be renowned for its eateries and pubs dotting every corner of the city, serving any cuisine one can think of. Brunches, buffets, burgers, rooftop cafes, late-night eats Bangalore has it all.
Roadside vendors, tea stalls, South Indian, North Indian, Muslim food, Chinese and Western fast food are all very popular in the city. Udupi restaurants, are very popular and serve predominantly vegetarian cuisine. vegetarian cuisine. The Chinese food and the Thai food served in most of the restaurants are can be customised to cater to the tastes of the Indian population.
Bangalore can also be called a foodie's paradise because of its vast variety of foods and edibles with a touch of Bangalore's uniqueness and tradition.
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Forget all the spicy dishes, Bengaluru is known for, Mysore Pak is a Hero sweet. Rich sweet dish prepared with butter and gram flour. Belgaum kunda, Gokak Karadantu are other winners.Some of the best places for sweets in Bangalore. Anand Sweets, Koramangala, KC Das, MG Road,Mane Holige, Jayanagar, Sri Krishna, Indiranagar and Sri Ganesh Sweets, Basavanagudi.
Bangaloreans are fundamentally foodies. When you live in a town whose name literally translates to ‘Town of Beans’ you’ve got to love food! So when you’re in the Garden City and feeling peckish, here’s a list of the best local snacks. 2
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1. BIRYANI
/ˌ
ಾ /
a food that is available on every street, in varities more than you can imagine. Late night cravings or breakfast, Biryani for the rescue anytime anywhere!
One of the Indian subcontinent’s most shining accomplishments in the culinary arena, the biryani has always occupied a special place in our hearts and on our plates. Over the centuries, several regions, across the country, have taken this classic dish and made it their own using local ingredients and giving a twist of homegrown flavours – many of them available in restaurants around cosmopolitan Bengaluru. Bengaluru serves biryani in varities you can't even count and in restaurants all day long.
Chicken Biryani, Donne Biryani House
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SOME OF THE BIRYANI VARITIES POPULAR IN BENGALURU AND PLACES BEST KNOWN FOR IT: 1. Andhra Biryani The chilli-heavy Andhra Biryani Nagarjuna, Bannerghatta Bheema's, Churchstreet 2. Donne Biryani I Originated in Maratha land but the Donne Biryani found itself loved and cherished in namma Bengaluru. Tender Coconut Chicken Kabab at Ujwal Bar & Restaurant,
Militay hotels like Shivaji Military Hotel, Vani Hindu Miltary Hotel, Other popular places Donne Biryani House
3. Ambur Biryani A tiny town wedged in between Bangalore and Chennai, Ambur’s claim to fame has always been its biryani Star BIryani Ambur Biryani Point, Kormngla. 4. Bhatkal Biryani The Nawayath people, who call Uttara Kannada home, take immense pride in their culinary trraditions The Alibaba Cafe, Frazer Town 5. Mandya Biryani This peppery version originates in rural Karnataka Ranganna Military Hotel Some of the famous Hyderabadi style Biryani are Meghana Foods, Empire Restaurants, Hyderabadi Biryani, etc.
Soya Biryani, Star Biryani
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2. CAFE CULTURE /ˌ
ಸಂಸ
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The coffee places, continental food culture and brweries
The big craze in coffee came with the introduction of café franchises all over the city that were almost run like fast food chains. These cafes were and still are mostly frequented by school and college students who are out on dates, or just there because that’s where all the ‘cool’ people hung out.
Craft Burger, Hole in the wall
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TOP TEN CAFES OF BENGALURU 1. Hole in the wall cafe, Koramanagala
6. Little Green Café, Museum Road
2. Café Nosh, Rajiv Gandhi Nagar, Kodigehalli
7. 154 Breakfast Club, 3rdBlock, Koramangala
3. Matteo Coffea, Church Street, Shanthala Nagar
8. Glen’s Bakehouse, 2nd Stage, Indiranagar
4. Dr Sheesha, Deep Plaza, 1st Phase, J.P. Nagar
9. Duy Art Café, 5th Block, Kormangala
5. Marzipan Café and Bakery, Ulsoor Road
10.Mudpipe Café, Hosur Road, BTM
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THE PUB CULTURE
It’s not just about beer and music any longer in Bangalore, as India’s Pub City has now become home to a wide assortment of lounge bars, restobars and cigar lounges. The true British tradition of 'Pub Culture' has not only taken root in Bangalore but has been hoisted here making it the "Pub Capital of India". With over three thousand bars prevailing in every nook and corner, new ones sprouting up on a weekly basis, Pub culture is bringing bubble and froth to the lives of those who choose to loosen up their minds and restore their spirits
Cocktail Miss Monroe, Hammered
TOP PUBS OF BENGALURU Toit One of Bengaluru's first Breweries can also easily be classified as one of the biggest bars in town. Its rustic ambience and multi-leveled dĂŠcor are good appealing starters. Church Street Social A modern creative and collaborative space for freelancers, artists and innovator. It works around the clock starting from breakfast all the way to the wee hours of Bangalore's ironic deadlines.
Chicken wings and gourmet pizza, Bistro Claytopia
Hoppipola With two joints in the city's prime locations (Indranagar and Church Street), it is an absolute favorite due its affordable pricing. The quality of the drinks and food is in no way compromised given the low pricing. Added board games, tables and special nights make it a great hangout. Gilly's Restobar If you have a game to catch over drinks and food, this is your absolute go-to destination. Get cocktails and appetizers from their wide selection to team up with their music. Watsons Bar with a unique open ambiance that tends to remain cool most part of the evening from natural ventilation. Some other well known pubs are House of Commons, Kitty Ko, Tao Terrace, Ice, Hammered etc.
Rodeo Burger, Truffles
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3. DOSA
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/ ೂೕ ಾ/
A humble breakfast staple it may be. But to produce a perfectly round, golden-hued, crispy-around-the-edgesand-fluffy-in-the-middle-dosa is nothing short of an art.
Masala Dosa, MTR
FAMOUS VARIETIES OD DOSAS THAT IS MUST TRY 1. Neer Dosa 2. Pesarattu (Green Gram Dosa) 3. Rava Dosa 4. Ragi Wheat Dosa 5. Mini Soya Dosa 6. Masala Dosa 7. Onion Rava Dosa 8. Cheese Chilli Dosa 9. Mysuru Masala Dosa 10. Kuttu Ka Dosa
Masala Dosa , Vidyadarthi Bhavan, Neer Dosa, and masala dosa at CTR (Left to Right)
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Masala dosa, , Vidyarthi Bhavan
BEST PLACES TO EAT DOSA IN BENGALURU
1. Hotel Janatha
4. Mavalli Tiffin Room (MTR)
While they also serve the plain and onion dosa varieties, the crowds mainly come in for their thick, crunchy masala dosa that goes splendidly with bowls of their steaming sambhar.
Their signature golden-brown, masala dosa that comes topped with a tiny bowl of melted ghee, that’ll add plenty of richness to your meal.
2.Shree Sagar (CTR)
5. Lakshmi Nataraja Refreshments
This restaurant’s iconic status is well-warranted. Their Benne Masala Dosa has a gleam to them thanks to the generous helpings of butter coated on them.
Tucked into the bylanes of busy Majestic, Lakshmi Nataraja does brisk business with their plump Pudi Masala Dosas that are served with helpings of coconut chutney.
3. Vidyarthi Bhavan Since 1943, Vidyarthi Bhavan has been churning out crisped up masala dosas (both, potato and sagu fillings are available) surrounded by golden pools of ghee to every hungry customer arriving at its doorsteps.
6. Chikkanna Tiffins The dosas at Chikkanna are nothing short of heavenly, customers rave. The chocolate-brown masala and set {known as kali} dosas are paired with an slurp-worthy chutney that draws in the crowds to this nook.
4. ALL DAY BREAK FAST
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/ಪ ಣ
Sunday Morning, (top) and Classic Club Omlette Hole in the Wall Cafe
ನ ಉಪ ಾರ/
One advantage of living in a city with a tighter deadline than Cinderella’s is that everybody is up for a good breakfast. And breakfast food has become so popular in Bengaluru that there is no shame in eating fried eggs and toast for lunch, or a nice breakfast platter at dinner.
All-day breakfast joints are growing in popularity all over Bangalore, with the good-old English breakfast becoming our second-favorite Brit after Mr. Bean. Where to get it? Bacon cravings can hit you at any time. Be sure to get your recommended dose of bacon, eggs, ham, sausages and toast at the Hole In The Wall Cafe.
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THROW A BEAUTIFUL FEAST LEARN HOW TO MAKE YOUR FOOD LOOK A MILLION TIMES MORE PRESENTABLE, AND MAKE THEM LOOK AS GOOD AS THEY REALLY ARE
All English Breakfast, White Room
BEST PLACES FOR BREAKFAST IN BENGALURU D’hide Café, Koramangala All-day breakfast with eggs made to order – that’s just the start of the breakfast menu at this charming European-style Café. At D’hide Café, you can tuck into porridge, baked beans on toast, and freshly-made pancakes served with maple syrup. The White Room – Coffee & Kitchen, Church Street Good music, a cosy vibe, and excellent service are just additional perks of eating at The White Room. The option of picking eggs and sides of your choice is perfect for those who like a customised meal . Glen’s Bakehouse, Indiranagar With casual outdoor seating and a yummy array, Glen’s Bakehouse is an excellent choice for a Sunday breakfast.
English Tea, Tea Villa Cafe
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5. FILTER COFFEE / ಲ
ಾ /
Bangalore is no doubt the birthplace of Coffee Days. With at least one CCD at every corner of the street, you will never have to look for hangout places in Bengaluru.
But it is still the wafting aroma of piping hot filter kaapi that drives us crazy. And nothing can beat the value of the “by2” coffee, where you get almost 2 cups for the price of 1! Hatti Kaapi offers a hot cup of South indian coffee at just Rs. 8
Filter Coffee, Indian Coffee House
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BEST FILTER COFFEE PLACES IN BENGALURU Brahmin’s Coffee Bar While the rest are not in any particular order, this place has a roaring lead on our polls. You can’t argue with 50 years of making the same divine coffee can you? Served in little glass tumblers, don’t mind the brusque staff – it’s all about quick service here.
Filter Cofee at Hosur Road Dhaba
Indian Coffee House Filter coffee, breadomelette and cutlet – that is one menage a trois that really works! Served in white ceramic cups {and saucers} left over from the days of the Raj, the place is an institution despite a few disgruntled guests who find the coffee isn’t as good anymore. MTR – Mavalli Tiffin Room Served in steel tumblers, the staff, no matter from which generation, has mastered the art of getting the right amount of froth at the top. Maiyas It’s a no-brainer that Maiyas’ filter coffee is spot on. After all, it is owned by the grandson of the original MTR founder Yajna Narayana Maiya.
Filter Cofee at MTR
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6. GOBI MANCHU RIAN
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ಮಂಚೂ ಯ
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No, don’t call your optician. You read that right. Gobi Manchurian is North India’s eternal favorite Gobi-meetsChina’s legendary Manchurian-style of cuisine in a Hindi-Kannada-ChiniBhai-Bhai combination that leaves you slightly confused, slightly amused and completely satisfied.
These bite-sized snacks are perfectly greasy and spicy, with garlic and green chiles giving it its signature dragonbreath afterburn. Crunch away! Where to get it?. For the crunchiest, spiciest and yummiest Gobi Manchurian, head to RS Shiv Sagar.
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Best Gobi Manchurians are found at roadside. Many roadside stalls in HSR, BTM Layout, Koramagala are known for their amazing Gobis.
Roadside Gobi Manchurian at HSR
Roadside Gobi Manchurian at BTM
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FOOD PHOTOGRAPHY
AN INSTAGRAM STAR DISHES OUT ALL THE DETAILS ABOUT HOW HE MAKES HIS FOOD LOOK WAY TOO GOOD
LIGHTING MATTERS
GET THE COLORS RIGHT
7. HEALTHY FOOD
Chicken steak with peas, The Yoga House
/ಆ ೂೕಗ ಕರ ಆ ಾರ/
Organic food and the steaks
Mushroom and Bell Pepper Minestrone Soup, Carrot Restaurant
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Bangalore has a huge inclination towards organic living. With organic hang out joints like The Yoga House and Carrot’s Healthy Kitchen, and organic shopping options ranging from clothes to food and cosmetics, Bangalore knows its way to healthy living.
The steaks
Pork steak in smashed potatos and veggies, eat.fit (top) and Millet Croquettes, Carrot's restaurant (bottom)
While their occurrence in most other major Indian cities is quite rare (most obvious pun ever), the Bangalore steakhouse business has been going from strength to strength. Karnataka state allows the slaughter of bulls above the age of 12, or the import and serving of cow beef. Most steakhouses are of top quality and serve the choicest cuts, but very few of them get their rare and medium rare right. But then again, most steak lovers here don’t care. Where to get it? Most of the central areas of Bangalore have excellent steakhouses, most of them serving alcohol to make for a complete steak meal. The one place that very slightly edges out all the others is Millers 46.
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8. THE RICE /ಅನ /
The food from Karnataka includes a wide range of vegetarian and nonvegetarian dishes and comprises of various cuisines that include Udupi, Malnadu and Mangalorean cuisines. Ragi and rice are the staple food items for Karnataka especially in the south region of the state whereas folks from coastal regions mainly consume fish curries.
Lemon rice, MTR
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THROW A BEAUTIFUL FEAST LEARN HOW TO MAKE YOUR FOOD LOOK A MILLION TIMES MORE PRESENTABLE, AND MAKE THEM LOOK AS GOOD AS THEY REALLY ARE
Bisi Bele Bhath Bisi Bele Bhath literally translates to ‘Hot Dal Rice’ (the name alone should invoke in you a warmth akin to eating mom’s homemade daal chawal). The dish features daal, rice and vegetables blended together like a khichdi, and served with boondi, namkeen or sometimes potato chips. It’s soul food at its best. Burping is encouraged. Where to get it? Bisi Bele Bhath is a very common ‘rice item’, available at most local South Indian joints. If you have to eat it just once, one of the best places is Maiya’s. Kesari bath Kesari Bath is a very popular sweet dish served in most of the restaurants especially all the Dakshin hotels.To add extra flavor, many restaurants add pineapple slices which tastes excellent. Few people also add banana slices to the Kesari bath. The other famous rices are Poligare, tomato rice, vegetable rice, chitranna (lemon rice) etc. Kesari Bath (left top), Bise Bele Bath (right top), Poliogare ( bottom), Hotel Aditya
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9. IDLI /ಇ /
Items like idlis and dosas are far too obvious but one exception would be Idli Dip Sambhar, just for being so Bangalore. Two steaming hot, soft idlis (and sometimes a vada) dunked in a deep flying saucer-like bowl of piping hot, spicy-sweet and soulful sambhar, this may sound almost sadistic, but you haven’t really enjoyed idlis until you’ve drowned them. Where to get it? Idli Dip Sambhar is available practically everywhere in Bangalore. One of the more ‘sambharlicious’ places in town is Amruth Vegetarian.eaks
Tatthe Idli, Veena Stores
BEST IDLIS IN BENGALURU By2Coffee Items like idlis and dosas are far too obvious but one exception would be Idli Dip Sambhar, just for being so Bangalore. Two steaming hot, soft idlis (and sometimes a vada) dunked in a deep flying saucer-like bowl of piping hot, spicy-sweet and soulful sambhar, this may sound almost sadistic, but you haven’t really enjoyed idlis until you’ve drowned them. Basavanagudi, Malleswaram, Vijay Nagar, Nagarbhavi, Rajaraje
The other places for idlis in Bengaluru
Brahmin’s Coffee Bar Veena Stores Hotel Raghavendra Prasanna Suprabhata Coffee Kendra The tatthe Sri Vishnu Thatte Idli
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10. THAALI
Thaali, Sri Krishna Sagar
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ಊಟ/
The humble South Indian thali, may not be as glamorous or calorie-loaded as its North Indian counterpart, but it sure can make lunchtime very special. In legendary and little-known establishments around town, the South Indian thali {also lovingly called meals} offers a filling option to hungry customers. And in almost every instance it celebrates local produce – whether you choose the soft jowar roti or the vegetables cooked in generous amounts of coconut.
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Some best known thaali places Sree Krishna Kafe The simplicity of South Indian flavours come alive at this popular eatery. Choose any of their meal options and the banana leaves will come out, followed by mounds of rice, and ladles full of spicy sambhar. It will be accompanied by bowls full of avial. Mavalli Tiffin Room Nothing will prepare you for the onslaught at this legendary eatery. Your really large thali will struggle to contain the awesomeness they pile on. Bisi Bele Bath comes first, after which, the vegetable dishes come trooping in and so do the sambhar rice, sweets, and fruit salad. Malgudi Vattika A highway eatery that has Bengaluru flocking in for its many South Indian treats, the thali offerings are plenty here. Other places which are famous for their amazing thaali : Maiya’s Hotel Janardhan Gopika Hotel Nalapaka
23 dishes in MTR Thaali including Masala Dosa, Coffee, Rava Idli, Thali, Vada, Samabr Rice, Bisebele bath, rasam, papad, vegetable curry Badam Halwa, Fruit Salad.
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SPECIAL MENTION These dishes get special mentions because they are dishes made famous by one restaurant and are genuine must-tries as well Mutton Leg Biryani (Laham Mandi) at Taa’am Queen’s Road Tender Coconut Chicken Kabab at Ujwal Bar & Restaurant, Vasanthnagar (spicy chicken kabab served inside a tender coconut) Apam & Mutton Stew Breakfast at Koshy’s, St, Mark’s Road (Sunday morning breakfast only) Davanagere Benne (Butter) Dosas at Sri Guru Kotteshwara, Basavanagudi ABS (A** Burning Sauce) Wings at Plan B, Castle Street (try their ABS wings challenge, if you dare!) Death By Chocolate at Corner House, multiple branches
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99 Variety Dosa, Sugar Free Chocolate Ice Cream GF, Carrot restaurant Red Velvet Sundae, Creamstone Mutton Biryani, Meghana Foods Chicken Supreme Pizza, Sherlock's Pub Meddur Vada with Filter coffee, Highway Dhabas