If you are a foodie and a vegetarian, then you must visit VV Puram Food Street in Bengaluru, the capital city of Karnataka. VV Puram Food Street, also known as Thindi Beedi (Eat Street) in Kannada, is a bustling street that offers a variety of mouth-watering vegetarian dishes, from traditional South Indian delicacies to exotic North Indian chaats, from sweet desserts to spicy snacks, from hot jalebis to cool ice creams. You can find everything here to satisfy your taste buds and your appetite.
But how did this street become a food hub? What makes it so special and famous? And what are the must-try foods at this spot? Let us find out in this article.
VV Puram Food Street is named after Visveswarapuram, a locality in Basavanagudi, Bengaluru. The street was originally a residential area, where many Brahmin families lived. The street was also home to many temples and religious institutions, such as the Sajjan Rao Circle Temple, the Sri Vasavi Temple, and the Sri Raghavendra Swamy Mutt.
The street started to transform into a food street in the late 1960s and early 1970s, when some of the residents began to sell homemade snacks and sweets from their houses. Gradually, more and more vendors joined them, and the street became a popular destination for food lovers. The street also attracted many students from nearby colleges and schools, who came here for a quick bite or a hangout.
Today, the street has over 20 food stalls in less than 150 meters, serving varieties of pure vegetarian food. The street is open from 6 AM to 12 AM every day, but it comes alive in the evening, when thousands of people flock here to enjoy the food and the atmosphere. The street is also decorated with colorful lights and banners during festivals and special occasions.
VV Puram Food Street is famous and special for many reasons. Some of them are:
- It offers a wide range of vegetarian food options, catering to different tastes and preferences. You can find South Indian, North Indian, Chinese, Rajasthani, Gujarati, Maharashtrian, and even Mexican cuisines here.
- It serves fresh and hygienic food at affordable prices. Most of the dishes are prepared on the spot in front of your eyes, using quality ingredients and pure ghee. You can get a full meal for less than Rs. 100 here.
- It preserves the traditional and authentic flavors of the food. Many of the stalls have been running for decades, and they have maintained their recipes and methods over the years. You can taste the original taste of Karnataka here.
- It provides a lively and vibrant ambience for the customers. The street is always buzzing with activity and noise, as people enjoy their food and chat with each other. You can also witness some live performances by local artists and musicians here.
- It showcases the culture and diversity of Bengaluru. The street reflects the cosmopolitan nature of the city, where people from different regions and backgrounds come together to share their love for food. You can also learn about the history and heritage of the street from the vendors and locals here.
Foods Must Try at VV Puram Food Street
There are so many delicious foods to try at VV Puram Food Street that it is hard to choose. However, we have compiled a list of some of the most popular and recommended dishes that you should not miss when you visit this place. Here they are:
- Akki Roti / Ragi Roti: These are thin pancakes made from rice flour or finger millet flour, topped with onions, carrots, coriander leaves, green chilies, cumin seeds, salt, and oil. They are cooked on a hot griddle until crisp and golden. They are served with coconut chutney or vegetable curry.
- Paniyaram / Paddu: These are small balls made from fermented rice batter mixed with onions, green chilies, curry leaves, salt, and oil. They are cooked in a special pan with holes until fluffy and brown. They are served with coconut chutney or sambar.
- Dosa: This is a thin and crispy crepe made from fermented rice and lentil batter, spread on a hot griddle and cooked until golden. It can be plain or stuffed with various fillings, such as potato masala, cheese, onion, tomato, paneer, or chocolate. It is served with coconut chutney, sambar, and butter.
- Idli: This is a soft and fluffy cake made from steamed fermented rice and lentil batter. It is served with coconut chutney, sambar, and ghee.
- Vada: This is a deep-fried snack made from ground lentils mixed with spices, herbs, and onions. It can be round or doughnut-shaped. It is served with coconut chutney and sambar.
- Bisi Bele Bath: This is a spicy and tangy rice dish cooked with lentils, vegetables, tamarind, and a special spice mix. It is garnished with roasted cashews, fried curry leaves, and ghee. It is served with raita, papad, and pickle.
- Chaat: This is a generic term for various street snacks that are sweet, sour, spicy, and crunchy. They are made from ingredients such as potatoes, chickpeas, yogurt, tamarind sauce, mint sauce, sev (fried noodles), puri (puffed bread), and pani (spiced water).
- Jalebi: This is a spiral-shaped sweet made from deep-fried flour batter soaked in sugar syrup. It is crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. It is served hot or cold.
- Obbattu / Holige: This is a flatbread stuffed with a sweet filling made from lentils or coconut and sugar or jaggery. It is cooked on a griddle with ghee until golden and crisp. It is served hot with more ghee or milk.
- Ice Cream: This is a frozen dessert made from milk, cream, sugar and various flavors. It is served in cones, cups, or sticks.
- Gobi Manchurian: This is a fusion dish of Chinese and Indian cuisines. It is made from deep-fried cauliflower florets coated with a spicy and tangy sauce. It is served hot and garnished with spring onions and coriander leaves.
- Pav Bhaji: This is a popular street food from Mumbai. It is made from mashed vegetables cooked with butter, spices, and tomato sauce. It is served with soft bread rolls (pav) toasted with butter and onion. It is topped with lemon juice, chopped onions, and coriander leaves.
- Dal Pakwan: This is a traditional Sindhi breakfast dish. It is made from crispy flatbread (pakwan) served with a spicy and sour lentil curry (dal). It is accompanied by green chutney, tamarind chutney, and chopped onions.
- Gulkand: This is a sweet preserve made from rose petals and sugar. It is used as a filling for various desserts, such as obbattu, holige, or ice cream. It is also eaten as a mouth freshener or a digestive aid.
- Floating Pani Puri: This is a unique and innovative version of the classic pani puri. It is made from puris filled with flavored water (pani) that are placed on a plate with dry ice. The puris float on the plate and emit smoke, creating a visual effect. You can pick them up with a toothpick and enjoy them.
- Kodu Bele: These are crispy rings made from rice flour mixed with curd (yogurt), salt, cumin seeds, sesame seeds
- VV Puram Food Street is a famous destination for bajji lovers, as it offers a wide range of bajji varieties, from the common mirchi bajji (chili bajji) to the exotic pineapple bajji
- Shree Swami Bajji Center: This is one of the oldest and most famous bajji shops in VV Puram. It is known for its capsicum bajji, which is made from whole capsicum fried to perfection. It also serves banana bajji, which is made from raw banana slices
- Rave unde kodbale is a delicious and addictive snack that you must try when you visit VV Puram Food Street. You will surely enjoy the taste and texture of these crispy and spicy rings
VV Puram Food Street is a famous destination for avarekaye lovers, as it offers a wide range of dishes that feature this bean. Every year, during the winter months of December and January, the street hosts the Avarekai Mela, which is a festival of food that celebrates the avarekai season. During this festival, you can find more than 50 varieties of dishes made from avarekai, both peeled (hithkabele) and unpeeled (avarebele).
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