Since there were four of us that evening, we stuck to ordering just one or two portions of everything so that we could taste more. Next stop was at a dosa store that had a board promising that everything will be doused in butter. I have never had a bath masala dosa though I figured it must be a close relative of the MLA pesarattu - upma in green gram dosa and in this case it was chitranna or lemon rice in a crisp dosa. I didn't really think they would add some potato palya to it, but they did, making this dosa a meal in itself. While three of us munched on away on this, we ordered a single plain dosa to keep one of us happy. The lemon rice could have been more lemony (but then I am the type who loves the flavor of lime to be at enamel-removing levels). The potato palya was generous unlike all the Shanti Sagars around who pretend that potatoes are laced with gold.

I was on the lookout for anyone making those love aloo bondas I remember from so many years ago. And so we stopped at the bhajji center that seemed the most crowded (rule of thumb eh! most crowded place is generally the one with the best stuff). And in my quest for aloo bonda, ended up eating everything but that. Bhajjis here are deep fried, slit, filled with chopped onions, coriander carrots and then sandwiched together. We had chilli, capsicum and banana bhajjis with one helping of masala vada, one of which was made with dill. There is just nothing like a hot bhajji, off a newspaper plate while standing on the road looking at the hungry crowds.









Now it was time for chaats. I did see a lovely tava with pav bhaji going on it but did not want to fill up. What caught my eye was the rasgulla chaat. I checked with them to make sure that it was not a sweet dish and was assured that it was not. While I was getting myself that, the rest of the gang headed next door for some watermelon juice. The rasgulla chaat uses two rasgullas, which have not been dipped in sugar syrup (in case you were wondering) and is placed in a puddle of sweet curds which has a thick lassi like texture to it. To that is added chaat powder, chilli powder, boondi, shredded coriander, coriander and some pomegranate seeds plus cashews thrown in. A really yummy cold chaat and in my opinion better than the watermelon juice next door.

And just as we were devouring the chaat, Sudhakar spotted some malpua and when he was told that it comes with rabdi, there was no thinking twice. The malpua was soft, sugary and a perfect match to the grainy and sweet rabdi...












We had a great time at food street. At the end of eating to our hearts content, we had hardly spent Rs 125 per head. Most of the dishes here come in the Rs 30 to Rs 45 bracket, most of which is a meal in itself. Weekdays give you ample elbow space but if you are adventurous and like the feeling of being in a war zone, then weekends is when you should try it. Carry your own water, though there are shops that sell it. Oh yes and beware of cows, they love to butt in and butt you, if you are in the way and chomp away from the dustbins around. I have always found it strange how people, despite having life size dustbins still manage to miss aim. Civic sense is still something people need to learn about.