10 yum eats that would drain you of no more than Rs 100

June 25, 2016

Can one really get a wholesome meal at under a hunner? Okay, one can get a modest vada pav or an idli-vada for well under Rs 100, but something more sumptuous? We asked diehard foodie Ishant Rege to scan the twin cities of Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad and offer this list of the Top 10 dishes under Rs 100.

New Pune Boarding House: Thali

Good Food is often just simple food. When you crave a good home-cooked meal, New Pune Boarding House is the place to be. This is a heritage meal house that has been serving a traditional Marathi Brahman Thali since 1926. At Rs 100, this thali comes with an unlimited serving of koshambir, mattha, ussal, dry bhaji, chapatti, varanbhaat and pappad. For an additional Rs 50, on weekends you can also get a taste of traditional Maharashtrian sweet dishes. With its polite staff and efficient service, the meal house brings in hordes of people, especially during peak hours. This is what we call ‘SvastatMasta, anite pan Potbharun ‘.

Must-have: Maharashtrian Thali

Where: Sadashiv Peth

Price: Rs 100

Also try: Shrikhand, Lasun chatni

Teri Rajput: Chhole Bhature

A small, crowded all-vegetarian joint, located in the heart of Koregaon Park, this place is known for its low-cost home-style Punjabi fare. You may have to make your way through a long queue to find your seats. Not known for its ambience but purely for its tasty and delicious food the soft bhaturas with hot and spicy Chhole is something you wouldn’t want to miss. The pickled chillies served along with it are a real hit too.

Must have: Chhole Bhature

Where: North Main Road, Koregaon Park

Price: Rs 80

Also try: Special Thali, Samosa, Gulab Jamun, Lassi

Chhaya Parantha

A homely parantha joint run by three Bengalis. It is a ‘Khub Bhalo’ affair when you tuck into two delicious, stuffed chicken paranthas along with a bowl of chana and potato, along with dal, curds, salad, green chutney and butter. Pay an extra Rs 10 and replace one chicken parantha with a mutton kheema parantha. Totally worth trying. Ambience is good with fast service. Buttermilk served before the meal comes at Rs 20 though it may appear to be complimentary. A must-visit for everyone looking for good non-vegetarian paranthas.

Must have: Chicken Parantha

Where: Ajmera Complex, Pimpri

Price: Rs 80

Also try: Mutton Kheema Parantha, Egg Parantha, Paneer Parantha

Appa

Appa is back! Every city has its age-old eateries that people get emotionally attached to. Appa is one such iconic place in Pune. Appa, who ran a small outlet at the corner of Deccan Gymkhana, has now shifted to Shaniwar Peth with the same staff but a much better and hygienic set-up. But the food remains as awesome as ever. Sabudana khichdi with kakdichi koshimbir famously known as ‘Khi-ka’ is tremendously popular and for all the right reasons. Another favourite is the Batatawadasambar or chutney with shev. This famous eatery is a must-visit and highly recommended.

Must-have: Sabudana Khichdi with cucumber raita

Where: Shaniwar Peth

Price: Rs. 40

Also try: Batata Vada sambar with sev

Badshahi Restaurant

Badshahi, an old restaurant serving simple typical Maharashtrian food, lives up to its name and is truly the King of Tilak Road. It offers South Indian dishes as well, but we recommend you to stick to the Maharashtrian fare that will not disappoint you. The misal pav is their most famous dish and rightly so. It is not too spicy and comes with a small plate of Farsaan with Batata Bhaji, Pohe, bowl of sev, finely cut onions , matki usal and rassa and two slices of bread. The mattha, which is a form of buttermilk, goes really well with the misal pav. Also, the Maharshtrian thali will remind you of the traditional ‘Aaini ghari banav lela jevan’ which is really healthy and tasty. A must-visit to taste some good local food.

Must-have: Misal Pav

Where: Tilak Road

Price: Rs 60

Also try: Maharashtrian thali ,Thalipeeth , Mattha

Supreme Corner

Head to Supreme Corner for undoubtedly the best Pav Bhaji in town. A small, open-air food joint serving amazing pav bhaji and pizzas, the insanely long queues speak volumes about the quality of food. One portion comes with a generous serving of bhaji with finely chopped onions and butter and a Jodi of pav glazed with butter. Ask for some roasted papad along with it for the extra crunch. We also recommend the home style crunchy veg pizza. A small portion of this really delicious pizza would cost you Rs100 and has capsicum, onion and cheese served with a spicy chilly sauce. A must-try!

Must-have: PavBhaji

Where: Jungli Maharaj Road

Price: Rs 100

Also try: Veg Pizza, Masala Jodi

Kapila Kathi Kabab

Although the concept of Kathi Rolls is originally from Kolkata, Kapila has carved a niche for itself for its amazing Kathi Rolls. The parantha with egg, green chutney, onions, lime juice and loads of tender and succulent chicken pieces, all come together to make this appetising roll. Opt for the double filling kathi kebab if you have a huge appetite. It’s double the fun. They also serve vegetarian rolls but if you are a non-vegetarian then we recommend you go for the chicken kathi roll.

Must-have: Chicken Kathi Kebab Roll

Where: Dhole Patil Road

Price: Rs 100

Hite Bar

Not a bar as the name suggests, but a small fast food joint, by the roadside in Camp, with branches all over Pune serving delicious fast food without burning a hole in your pocket. The burgers here are a gastronomical delight-a generous crunchy chicken patty with omelet and a liberal helping of mayonnaise and cheese. Pita bread packed with succulent pieces of chicken, mayonnaise, fries and lettuce and a spicy sauce and the shawarma are equally delicious. We recommend having roti over the bread.

Must-have: Special Chicken Burger with Egg and Cheese

Where: Camp area

Price: Rs 100

Also try: Chicken shawarma with egg and cheese, mutton burger, special falafel roll

Reshma Pav Bhurji Corner

A small roadside stall near Garware College with about 3-4 tables and basic chairs, it is famous for its Anda Moghlai . A spicy and tangy version of the traditional anda bhurji served with kadak pav glazed in oil and butter and finely chopped onions on the side. Always ask for kadak (crisp) pav. At just Rs50, half a portion will suffice for one person, but opt for a full portion in case you have a huge appetite. Do not miss out on their other egg preparations like Anda gravy, Anda Kirkir, Anda Takatak and Anda Chingari.

Must-have: Anda Moghlai Pav

Where: Opposite Garware College, Karve Road

Price: Rs 100

Also try: Anda Kirkir, Anda Takatak, Anda Chingari Anda Rice

Vaishali

Vaishalikonalanahimahiti?! This has to be the best Udupi restaurant in town without doubt. With friendly and efficient staff, the restaurant is a favourite hangout for people of all age groups. It would be safe to order almost anything on the menu, but we recommend Onion Uthappa, Mysore Sada Dosa and SPDP, which is an all-time favourite. The Mysore Sada Dosa has a spicy orange coconut chutney filling and is served with an amazing sambar and white coconut chutney. Ask for a double roasted chilly onion utthappa if you love spice. They would do it at no extra cost. Very highly recommended and definitely gets our ‘Lai Bhari’ vote.