For hot samosas and cold lassi

This place has two floors but it is the ground floor that will interest you the most. The section has a variety of boards hanging from the roof with names of the popular items written on them. These include special chai, special samosa, matka lassi and kachori. The front counter which is usually packed with hungry customers is filled up with vessels, full of appetising sweets and chaat items that would make you salivate. Called Allahabad Mess and Paratha Centre, this eating joint in Koramangala, near Saibaba Temple, serves everything from meals, parathas to chaat and light snacks. But the chaats, samosas, kachori and lassi served here steal the show.

One thing that is hard to find in Bangalore is samosa — hot, fresh, just out of the the pan. And maybe that is why they are sold the most here.  The stuffing is not too spicy, the batter is light as air and not too oily. These samosas are served piping hot along with tamarind chutney. Eat this with special tea and you’d never want to stop. One can also go for the samosa chaat which contains some gravy, chutney and generous sprinkling of onion.

Other items that you would find at the chaat counter would be kachori, pav bhaji, aloo bonda, chola bhathura, papri chaat. And everything is priced nominally between Rs 15 and Rs 30. Another special item that would catch your attention would be the massive gulab jamuns. These are almost twice as big as the normal ones you find and are soft enough to melt in your mouth. The demand is so high that they are made twice daily. “We make the gulab jamuns twice so that they remain hot and fresh,” says Dinesh Kumar, the owner. And at Rs 10 a piece, they are quite a bargain.

Another unique thing about the place is the variety of lassi they serve. While you do have the choice between the usual salt and sweet, there are also mango lassi, fruit lassi, dry fruit lassi and special matka lassi to try.

 The parathas are soft and served with curry made from green peas unlike the regular chana curry.  So if you happen to be in the neighbourhood and are in mood for some great chaat, do try out this place.