Crisp snacks to feast on

Tempting Fare

There’s something simple and heartwarming about Raj Vada Pav, located on Hennur Road, in Kalyan Nagar.

The place serves good food at reasonable prices and that is what makes it popular.
It is owned by Suresh and his wife Parul, both natives of Gujarat. They opened the place after they noticed that there were not too many eating joints around Hennur Cross that serve good, affordable food.

They decided to venture into something they both know: cooking. The husband and wife duo have successfully recreated the flavour of Mumbai and Gujarat through the vada pav they serve.

The eatery has many varieties of vada pav; a few that are straight from Mumbai and a few others that are products of the couple’s innovation.

Either way, the regulars at this joint confess that they drop in at least thrice a month and feast on their favourite vada pav. Everything about the joint is very simple, but attractive — be it the sombre purple exterior, the furnishings or even the open kitchen, where one can enter and see what is being made.

For the couple, this isn’t just about making a living. They have an eagerness to offer something unique to Bangaloreans.

Among the varieties of vada pav is debali, which is a sort of sweetened paste, complete with cashew nuts and elaichi. This is stuffed into the vada and sprinkled with mixture to give it a tangy finish. The bread pakoda is first dipped in a masala and then fried till it is crisp.

“We use only sunflower oil to ensure that we don’t compromise on taste. We decided to serve only vada pav  because that’s what people living around the vicinity ask for. It’s experimental cooking and we throw in whatever we think will taste different,” explains Suresh, who helps his wife with the cooking.

They also serve pav bhaji, with a spicy masala. “We don’t use any artificial masala —  we use only what we make at home. None of the ingredients is flavoured,” asserts Suresh. The chhole puri, which is served only on Saturday and Sunday, is another popular item.

“We have our exclusive customers who come in only for the chhole puri. We can’t afford to make it everyday, though, because it requires a lot of work,” adds Suresh.

The regulars at the joint don’t seem to care about the hygiene, since the food is attractive. Jicky Joseph, a nurse, says, “I come here twice or thrice a month. The quantity in each dish is good and the price is reasonable. It is the perfect evening snack.”

Shankar Kurle, a software professional, comes as often as he can to eat his favourite pav bhaji. “The price is affordable and food is quite like what is made at home. It’s delicious.
The masala strikes a perfect balance,” he says.

Raj Vada Pav is open from 12 noon till 11 pm. It is located on Hennur Cross, opposite Indian Academy College. For details, call 9964929151.