Thursday, September 11, 2008

Saappaturaami 6

A weekend out at Matunga is something I really look forward to. Matunga to me is a mini-mylapore. Gives me the feelings that I am in Mylapore near Kabali kovil. I manage a quick trip to Matunga atleast once a month - to buy Kumudam, Vikatan, to buy Kola-p-podi, tamizh books at Giri trading and ofcourse , to eat pongal vadai.

My colleagues and I do one quick .. er... elaborate lunch at Mani's once a month (Boss, I know you are reading this and now you know where we go when we disappear for 2-3 hours during lunch break).

As for other restaurants, there's this quaint little road side eatery next to Shankara mutt that serves awesome Pongal, vadai, pineapple kesari. Any morning trip to Matunga, I do manage to mosukkufy at this place. The quality and quantity at Rama Nayak's have deteriorated over the years... its no longer on my must-visit list.

Next to Aurora theatre is 'Idli House' - a restaurant dedicated to Idli, Idli and more Idli. To be honest, I am not a great fan of Idli - it is our Monday morning breakfast when our cook is usually late and we end up making idlis from the batter (obviously) purchased from our regular vendor. Idli is one number yeno-thano breakfast. It comes under this 'health food' category and thus by default not preferred.









Whether you have a fetish for Idlis or not, this place is a must visit. Idli House has a super duper variety of idlis, khottu and mudhos. Khottu and mudhos are the steamed varieties served in banana leaves.Idli House is your simple no-nonsense restaurant with three tables and four chairs each.
All idlis are served with two types of chutneys , sambhar, mulaga podi, Limbuda podi , pickle and oil (all unlimited). Apart from your regular idlis, you have Mysore rava idli, Kanchipuram Idli, Pepper idli, Vegetable Idli, Cucumber Idli, Jackfruit idli, Mini Idli, Idli Upma....







pic above: Pepper idli (l) : podis and urugai (r)
The sambhar may not be taste like your 'amma panna sambhar' but the Idlis are divine... and they are not very expensive. A plate of idli will cost you anything between Rs.10 to Rs.20

We planned our visit in such a way that we reached an hour before the mid-morning SA-RO-JA show at Aurora theatre on Saturday. One full hour of Idlis, idlis and more idlis + two hours of a jollly-good tamizh film. Aha! Vera enna venum?










Pic above: Masala Idli (l) and modhu (r)
The next time you are in Mumbai ,craving for some good idlis, go to Matunga, ask for Aurora theatre and look for this tiny place on the main road called Idli House. Oh ya, don't forget to come back and tell me how you liked it :)
Idli House
Next to Vasant Breezy Chamber
Kingcircle
Mumbai -- 400 019

Saappaturaami rating : 4.5 out of 5 {minus point five for Kannadiga Sambhar :( }

13 Responses:

ATT said...

I think the second last idli image is of Masala idli and not Kotthu !!
yebba... andha idli's aa nenaicha... I am still full !!

ambi said...

//Boss, I know you are reading this and now you know//

lol :) Boss, To know further thillumullus of blog akka, pls give your email id. i will do the needfull. :))

1 hr idli amukufyingaa? aathadi... :)

pineapple kesari photo podatha blog akka oliga. :p

btw, pullayaar sema cuteaa irukaaru.

Teesu (very very Indian, very very good) said...

Very funny you are and I am vanting to tasting those idlis even though I live in Idliland Chennai. The chutneys look yum. Listen, I need more saapaduraamis around me to eat with. Next time u vsit?

Unknown said...

yammaaaa.... andha idlie's patthi yosucchaaley gammunu irukku...Super items wt maha-tastee chutneys..I wud want to go there again & again & again...

Jayaprakash Sampath said...

cucumber idly, pineapple idli, mysore rava idli.... ? yammadi.. we dont get these even i murugan idli shop here...

maxdavinci said...

OMG OMG too much...

I miss matunga now! beautiful post though. Made me hungry and I gotta go any buy some MTR ready mix..

moneykandaan said...

ahaa...mumbai-ila irukara enaku intha idli shop matter theriyama pochey...

SoulSpace said...

Thats the first time Idli's have sounded so yummy ! My husband's Idea of heaven!!
Mmm need to make a trip to your mumbai....

umm oviya said...

i LOVE idlis. plain fluffy idlis with tomato chutney or podi. i can have it for breakfast, lunch and dinner. but i know some weirdos who add vegetables to idlis to make it healthy... why can't they just do it to make it tasty, instead of healthy.

Anonymous said...

God damn.. just wen i thought i have adjusted to this place (Chicago), u write this post about all those idlis and matunga.. :(

Shankar said...

Some foodie you are.. wow ! I have become a fan of your blog

Try the southie fare at Sankalp (opp. Infinity Mall Adh West) with your Big-B.

If you go to Bengalooru, then try the street food at (all of) the outlets at Ulsoor, Old Madras Road, off the MG Road end (for branching off to Yelahanka Airfield).

As for Tamizh films, I am a BIG fan of the classic "indru poi naalai vaa".

Have you seen Revati's Hindi-Tamizh 'experiments' in "Mauna Raagam"? (She teaches essential tamizh phrases to a sardarji)

Cheers - Shankar

Anonymous said...

hmmm i know where I am heading this weekend. Enga oorkaaranga yaarachum indha comment padichaa let me know, maybe we can all go to East Ham on Saturday

Artnavy said...

manis used be our favourite and also sundar restaurant just below the foot bridge to teh western line near matunga station was excellent for rava dosai

is it still there??

being from podar that are was my haunt you know