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Street smart

Mangalore’s chaat joints have their own charm and faithful following

Photo: R. Eswarraj

Hot favourite Chaat stalls attract quite a crowd in the evenings

Enjoying a steamy masala puri or a tangy papdi chaat is one of the simple joys of life on a cool evening. Chaat might not be native to Mangalore but it has a devout following nevertheless. Come evening it is common to see people flocking with friends and family to their favourite chaat vendors.

It is very difficult to pin-point which stall is the best in the city. Every patron will swear by his favourite joint, but it is possible to come up with a list of places one must try. Mithun Bhelpuri Stall at CarStreet is one where the proprietor almost gets gheraoed if he shuts shop even for a day. Such is its popularity. “This stall is famous only because of its proprietor Ram. He is the one who dishes out the tasty chaats according to his customer’s specifications. Over the years this stall has been consistent in maintaining the taste, quality and price of the chaats as well as relationships with the customers. I always suggest my customers to try out the chaats here,” says Srinivas Pai, a taxi driver.

Vrindavan Chaat Corner, is popular for Mumbai-style chaats with 10 to 15 varieties to appease customers and is a must-visit place for youngsters. The specialty here is the masalas are prepared in-house. “Every ingredient that goes into preparing a chaat must be perfect. The mixing of the various spices to the way the vegetables are chopped and blended, determine the taste,” says Mohan Rao, the proprietor.

At Sri Krishna Bhelpuri House at Market Road, proprietor Balwant Singh opines that there is no training given in preparing chaats, it’s a family trait that gets passed on from one generation to another.

“Every ingredient has to be in the right proportion. Once you get to know the tastes of a customer, you can modify the preparations accordingly.” Roadside stalls come with their risks but even among them you can find a few who have a faithful followings. “With the influx of a student population and north Indians, the locals too are taking a liking to their food trends,” says Sabu, who owns a street stall at Hampankatta.

AMRITA NAYAK

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