Mouli’s blog

Worlds best Masala Dosa and Vada Sambar – CTR and Janata

Posted in bangalore, misc by gcmouli on October 3, 2008

My wife and I are proper foodies. We just love food – any food (anything vegetarian that is). The facilities/admin manager at my workplace knows that -since I am probably the only guy who goes and thanks him for the good free food we get :) Anyways, he has been telling me of a couple of really old food joints in one of the core kannadiga-heartlands of Bangalore – Malleswaram (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malleshwara ). It is where True Bangalore lives. Beautiful, breezy, clean, no pollution. Nice. Anyways, getting back to food, He had mentioned two joints, each famous for different things.

The first was CTR – Central Tiffin Room, aka CTR. Apparently the name board alone has changed to Sree Sagar. Why do I say – apparently? Because the new name board is written fully in Kannada as well. So I would not have realized it either ways. My dear manager friend had given me spot-on directions, to reach the place, and even where to park (opposite side of the road – near the ground periphery – the cops ticket you if you park on the hotel road). But he had not mentioned how big/small it was. If you are going there for the first time, I am pretty sure, you will miss the hotel in the first go (like we did). But ask anyone, they will point you to the hole-in-the-wall entrance.


                                         You will defenitely miss it, if you do not know how to read Kannada.


                                            The worlds best butter masala dosa (benne masala dose).

Once the dosa had been gulped down, it was time to go to the second joint that my manager friend had recommended – Hotel Janata – famous for its Vada Sambar. You need to walk down to eigth cross for this (CTR is in 7th Cross). It is but a 10 minute walk. It is difficult to miss this hotel though. English name board and prominently displayed too.

                                                                              Hotel Janata

                                                             The worlds best vada sambar.

All in all, what started off as a ‘what-the-he**, let us just try these places today’ morning, became a wonderful morning spent on delectable kannadiga good.

*BURP*. I mean *AMEN*, I mean *Thathaasthu* :=)

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12 comments

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  1. Abraham Tharakan said, on October 6, 2008 at 11:37 pm

    Sometimes I toy with the idea of writing a comparison of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala dosais, but for obvious reasons refrain from doing that.

    But without leaving any room (hopefully) for controversies, I must say that the ‘neer dosai’ in Bangalore is excellent. Can’t understand why it has not caught on in TN and Kerala.

    Reply
  2. Anjali said, on October 7, 2008 at 6:31 pm

    Thanks for this tip! I am going there this Sunday! I am a die hard dosai fan!

    Came here via Mysore Blog Park

    Reply
  3. Ravi said, on October 7, 2008 at 7:39 pm

    Not clear about the purpose of this light- weight posting. A sister blog, Churumuri exhausted this topic well in greater depth last year. It is lighter regurgitation. Tell us if you took children and they really enjoyed these dishes. That will be a bit different.

    Reply
  4. Indrani said, on October 18, 2008 at 7:52 am

    South Indian food is my weakness too! :) I will try out this place soon.

    Reply
  5. BASU said, on November 6, 2008 at 6:01 pm

    Mr.Mouli you have really explored and exposed nice eating place. I had been to the two places with my family and enjoyed the masaladosa and vada sambar. Please give more information like this eating joints in and around JP nagar. looking anxiously to see your Blog. BASU

    Reply
  6. SUPPUNI AMMANJI said, on November 6, 2008 at 6:05 pm

    DEAR MOULI SIR, YOUR SUGGESTION OF TWO EATING JOINTS AT BANGALURU WAS NICE. I WAS TEMPTED TO G0 WITH MY MARUMANS AMBI AND ASUVATHAMAN AND ORDERED THE MASALADOSAI AND VADA SAMBAR. BESH BESH. WE ARE PUROHITS BY PROFESSION. VERY TASTEFUL DEISHES. THANKS. SUPPUNI.A.

    Reply
  7. Sai C said, on June 29, 2009 at 9:46 pm

    Hey Mouli,

    How about getting a couple of these, pack them and send it via Fed Ex Intl. Priority to NC?? :) Good one, will have to try these joints out during my next visit to B’lore, which will happen God knows when…Burp == Amen == Thathaasthu..Good one my friend…

    Cheers!
    Sai

    Reply
  8. gcmouli said, on June 30, 2009 at 6:10 am

    ROFL. Next time (whenever it is) you are in Blore. Let me know. Let us go there together.

    Reply
  9. gcmouli said, on June 30, 2009 at 6:10 am

    Sai – BTW .. just went to your flickr page. Some awesome pics you have there. Very nice.

    Reply
  10. Sai C said, on July 6, 2009 at 8:30 pm

    Hey Mouli,

    Thanks for checking out my Flickr page. Sure, I will let you know when I visit B’lore next and let’s hit these fabulous spots.

    Take care!

    Reply
  11. Namitha said, on July 18, 2009 at 10:53 pm

    Good one Mouli! :)
    You seem to be new to Malleshwaram area. Next time ask Manager Saar directions to Veena Stores. Hot idli vada is a must have here!

    Namitha

    P.S: Just in case you’re in a hurry, it’s near the fifteen cross, margorsa road junction, malleshwaram.

    Reply
  12. gcmouli said, on July 19, 2009 at 6:23 am

    Namitha — We wanted to try it that same day only — but it was so crowded that day. WIll try some day :)

    Reply

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