'Chaat' items of your choice

Every nook and corner of the City seems to have its own chaat street these days and Jayamahal Extension is no different. Of the many eateries around the area, ‘Shiv Shankar Spices’ is definitely one to try.

From special chaat items to Chinese dishes to piping hot parathas for lunch, one is pampered for choice. Quick service, tasty food that can be customised as per one’s preference and affordability are the main reasons behind the eatery’s success.

“We’ve been around for the last five years and have stuck to the same menu from the beginning because only these items do well. Bangaloreans love to eat idli dosa but we consciously don’t want to offer that here. We want to serve only what we’re best at making,” says Ramesh Yadav, who runs the eatery as a five-member team. Ramesh says that masala puri, Karnataka’s favourite chaat item, is the fastest-moving item there.

 “The disco chaat, cutlet chaat, panipuri, pav bhaji and different varieties of manchurian also sell well. Among the parathas, the most popular ones are the aloo and rajma paratha,” he adds. 

With so many competitors down the road, how does his eatery retain its regulars? “We have a lot of college and office crowd coming here. They know us by name, trust our hygiene levels and enjoy the food. But the sales aren’t consistent throughout the week – weekends draw more customers than weekdays,” explains the owner.

Though there is nothing sweet to be tried out, the masala Pepsi is a drink to enjoy with the food. “We also have three special chaat items that customers have to try for themselves because we can’t reveal what it has. These are BJP masala, Aam Party masala and Congress masala,” he smiles.

For most customers of the eatery, the quick service is what seals the deal. “When it comes to chaat, most places are packed and take time to give you your order. But here, one hardly has to wait a few minutes before the freshly prepared food is ready. My favourite item is the papdi chaat,” shares Nandini, a regular at the eatery.  ‘Shiv Shankar Spices’ is located on 12th Cross, 5th Main, Jayamahal Extension and is open from 10 am to 10 pm. For details, call 9902826366.