Pune's best Vada Pao

The summer is on its way out and its time for the great Indian Monsoons!

I was away from India for the last two monsoons so I am really looking forward to the rains this year!

Its amazing how the change in weather gets me craving for completely different kinds of food.All through the summer months all I wanted was lots of fruit ...Mangoes...lots of juices and cold coffee 

And now just after the first rains of the season all I really want is hot chocolate , onion pakodas ( fritters) and ofcourse Vada Pao!

Vada Pao is basically a giant potato filling.... batter coated and deep fried to crispy perfection and served in a pao (melt in your mouth pillow-y bread)...

There are several versions found all around Maharashtra and Vada Pao makes for excellent street food ...think of it as India's version of a burger!

Makes for a great , quick , portable lunch/snack...

This post is about MY most favorite Vada Pao in my home city of Pune....I have tried several iconic stalls that serve this addictive snack but this is THE best according to me...

Its always bustling with people , the vadas are crunchy and hot , its served with a delicious sweet-spicy chutney and comes with a side of chopped onions and pickled lemon /green chillies...

Go here when you are in Pune next ...Rs 14 for a Vada Pao dont forget to ask for double chutney and lots of green chillies. :))

JJ Garden Vada Pao

Behind M G Road

Near JJ Agyari (Fire Temple)

Punes best Pani Puri

I love street food and I especially love Gol gappe / Pani Puri / Puchka so it comes as no surprise then that I am a little fussy about my favourite street food!

I like the outer shell of the pani puri to be perfectly "khasta" (crisp)....I only like suji ke gol gappe and not the atta ke gol gappe!

 I like the water to be at the perfect temperature , not too cold but still a little cold. The paani must also be  the right blend of minty freshness and tangy khattapan (sourness) from the Imli .

 And Om Jai Shankar hits all the right notes ! After eating pani puri at so many places in Pune over the last 22 years this is just the best! Its not a recent discovery I have been eating here for the last 20 years almost.

 It remians consistent and excellent what I also love is despite the popularity of this place you will very often find the owner behind the counter mixing his magical mix!

What started as a humble Chaat thela or handcart opposite the Pune Railway station by a sindhi gentleman by the name of Mr Motiram Devnani is today Om Jai Shankar Pani Puri in BabaJaan Chowk , MG road!

Mr Devnani sold his chaat business to Sanjay Yande and he has been running the business for the last 40 years with the help of his son Sachin!

They do catering as well and the whos who of Pune have eaten their Paani Puri. Ofcourse they have other things on the menu which are nice as well but ofcourse its the Paani Puri that is phenomenal and pulls in the crowds!

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 Do visit if you are in the area . Open everyday 12 noon onwards up until 10.30 PM.

Pune's best Khaman Dhokla

Pune's best Khaman Dhokla

Tucked away in a narrow lane off MG road is this  little gem of a place ....its been around since 1977 .....I have been eating dhokla at this place for the last 20 years or so......earlier they used to have a hand pushed cart in the same narrow lane but 10 years ago they moved to this little shop.

Its a little hard to find ....its opposite wonderland  in the lane that goes between Meghdoot and Petsworld

Its the best Khaman dhokla ever .........spongy soft ...served with spicy green chutney and a sweet tomato chutney that tastes like gujrati tomato saar .......garnished with fried green chillies, sev and fresh grated coconut and hara dhaniya. So its more like a chatpata chaat than just bland dhokla .....you must try it to know what I mean :)))

A fresh batch of dhokla comes in every evening at 5pm or so and gets over very very quickly lots of people who live on and around MG road come to eat and take away from this place frequently.

7 days a week

5pm- 9pm