Top 5 Best Dishes in Chinese Restaurants

If someone asked me what happiness meant to me, I would say happiness to me is a puppy and happiness is food. To be specific, home food and Chinese cuisine. Dining at a Chinese restaurant at least once a week is like a must for me. Without this, it's really hard for me to enjoy eating and savoring the taste of other food unless my craving for Chinese isn't satisfied. Sometimes, I end up eating Chinese twice or thrice a week and almost every time I order the same dishes – Veg. Schezwan Fried Rice and Veg. Manchurian Ball Curry. 

Since, Chinese food is like an almost staple diet for me, I decided to write about the 5 best dishes of Chinese restaurants.

5. Veg. Dragon Rolls – Chowmein
   
   If you are in the mood to have a little bit of North Indian and Chinese and you are puzzled about what to eat and where, then Chowmein is the place you should head to. Located in Malleshwaram and West of Chord road, this restaurant serves delicious North Indian as well as Chinese cuisines. 
   
   
   Dragon Rolls, are one of the best dishes of this restaurant. Light brown and crispy from the outside, they are filled with finely chopped vegetables which look like they've been soaked in food color (but in reality it isn't) and then stuffed into these long cylindrical like shaped rolls. When eaten along with Tomato sauce, you just can't get enough of it.

4) Ginger Capsicum Rice – Chungs

There are seven outlets of this restaurant which are located at different corners of the city, offering sea food along with Chinese. The restaurant is quite plain when it comes to the ambiance but the food makes up for it.


The Ginger capsicum rice is for people who don't really mind the aroma of ginger and garlic coming from their food. It pretty much is like the usual fried rice, except that this one has an extra load of capsicum and the smell of ginger and garlic lingering.

3. Veg. Manchurian Ball Curry and Hot Pepper Soup – Popsies
   Popsies is one of my all time favorite restaurants with dim, yellow lights hanging down to your table and it's one of those affordable places where you can go on a date, and trust me the setting and food won't disappoint you. 
   
   Every time I visit Popsies, Veg. Manchurian Ball Curry is the gravy that I order and along with Veg. Schezwan Fried Rice, it tastes like heaven (No kidding)! Dark brown in color, this curry excites all the taste buds on your tongue the moment you taste it.
   
   
   If you have a sore throat, then the Hot Pepper Soup is a must for you. Not only does it taste really good, but if you have a sore throat then this hot soup will make your throat feel better and soothe it. The bad part, however is that very soon you will have a running nose and instead of enjoying the meal you will be busy wiping your nose. This soup, which has pepper dumped into it (literally) along with vegetables like beans and carrot, is something you would like to have again and again.

2. Egg Schezwan Fried rice and Potato Pepper Curry – Chung Wah
   
   Chung Wah is one of the most prominent Chinese restaurants of Bangalore and has a number of outlets spread across the city. The Egg Schezwan Fried Rice is absolutely, what I would like to call, yummalicious! It's spicy and the taste of egg just makes it even better. Moreover Chung Wah generally provides food in good quantity, more than sufficient for two people, sometimes even three.
   
   
   The Potato Pepper Curry is the latest dish which I have added to my list of favorites. The first time I tried this curry out, was mainly because of pepper. (Yes, I love pepper, so now you know why I like pepper soup so much! :P) This dish is made up of potato fries and skillfully cut onions, generously soaked in thick brown gravy with a tinge of pepper, which will arouse your olfactory receptors. The gravy is appetizing and although the potato fries seem very soggy at first, but later you just get used to it.
   
   
   
   
   

1. Potato Black Pepper Sauce and Peking Chicken – Beijing Bites
   
   This Potato Black Pepper Sauce is different from the in Chung Wah. This gravy is blackish brown in color and filled with large pieces of carrots, onions and potatoes, of course! Along with Basil Rice, this curry is so mouth watering that you can't stop talking about how good it tastes.
   
   Peking Chicken, is the only chicken I eat and love. I like to call myself half non-vegetarian because I eat only egg, fish and Peking chicken among the non-veg dishes! :P The Chicken is shaped like long sticks which look red and crunchy from the outside but only after taking a bite do you realize that the chicken is extemely soft and not rubber-like. If you plan on going to this restaurant, make sure you allow your taste buds to experience this palatable dish.

Top 5 Places for Quick Eats

Dosa, Idli, Pani Puri, French Fries - Just some of the snack-type foods which I really like. Of all these, chaats especially Pani Puris are something I can never get tired of! Although the Pani Puris in Mumbai and Gujarat are way better because they offer puris along with six different types of pani, the ones we get in Bangalore are not that bad either.

So here's a list of 5 amazing places offering amazing chaats and snacks.

5. Masala Dosa and Idli – Indraprastha
   
   This is a family restaurant which offers an array of dishes, all vegetarian though. Always jam packed with people, it's one of the more popular restaurants located in Vijayanagar. 
   
   The restaurant opens quite early in the morning and very soon you can find the place flooded with people ordering Dosas and Idlis along with a cup of tea or coffee. The Plain and Masala Dosas are somewhat crisp and relishing. The Idli is extremely soft, which leaves you asking for more. The Chutney is something which one would really like. I personally feel it is because of the chutney that the Dosa and Idli taste so good.

4. French Toast – Hole in the Wall
   
   Located in Koramangala, this small restaurant which is more cafe like, makes you feel so comfortable like you're sitting and relaxing in your own room. It's a small place, but has people coming and going all the time. 
   
   This place serves only egg dishes. Everything that can be made with eggs, is available here - Egg Burchi, French Toast, Boiled Eggs and so on. Each of these dishes are really good but what I like the most is the French Toast. Served along with a glass of juice, not only is this very healthy and nutritious, it is also very filling. A perfect place to have English breakfast, one would come back here just for its French Toast.

3. Vada Pav – Stall outside Christ University
   
   If there is a Vada Pav which is as good as the one you get in Mumbai, it is available in this very small red stall right outside our college. After the very first time I had Vada Pav in Mumbai (A place which is extremely famous for its vada pav), the taste of it refused to leave my mouth, leaving me craving for it. 
   
   The goli vada pav shops which sell vada pav don't really taste that good, which was very disappointing. But I once tried out the Vada Pav outside college and it was so good!! With extra onions and chillies, it tastes nothing less than the ones you get in Mumbai. It's a snack which I like to have at least 2-3 times a week after college while I am on my way back home.

2. Pav Bhaji – Shiv Sagar
   
   Go to any Sagar, be it the Sukh sagar or Shiv sagar, the Pav Bhajis are to die for! It's really unfair that they provide only 2 pieces of Pav and give at least 2 cupfuls of Bhaji, but nevertheless it's something I always eat when I visit Shiv Sagar.
   
   Butter is generously used in the Pav and added in Bhaji, and the dish tastes even better because of it. I love all milk products, be it butter, ghee or curd, hence the more the butter in the Pav Bhaji, the more I enjoy eating it.

1. Masala Puri and Pani Puri – Ganga Sagar
   
   Ganga Sagar is this small restaurant/chaat place near my school in Rajajinagar. Since my school days, this restaurant has been my usual hangout place where I’m treated to the most amazing chaat ever! The Masala Puri here is like the best you would have ever tasted! Served hot, it is extremely soothing to the throat and you can't stop asking for more.
   
   The Pani Puri available here is again the best one! Along with mashed alu spiced with all sorts of masalas like chilli powder, turmeric and garam masala. The spicy (Teekha) as well as the sweet (Meetha) Pani are added to it and makes it extremely toothsome. No matter how much I brag about this place, words are not enough to describe how good these chaats taste.

Bon-e Appetit

Ever wished that if only you could take your pet along to the restaurant to dine then how much more awesome your dining experience would be? Well the wish has finally come true! 

Restaurants in Bangalore like Sunny's, Under the Mango Tree and Green Theory are the places where you can enjoy your food and your pet dogs can have fun rolling on the grass or mingling with the other dogs. Cute isn't it? I can imagine myself enjoying a nice meal and watching my pet dog play around with the other dogs - what an adorable sight it would make and it will be a day well spent.

Under the Mango Tree is a nice, cozy place squeezed in the narrow lanes behind Richmond Road. There's a mango tree right in the middle of the restaurant, hence the name Under the Mango Tree! An open place, it is perfect for relaxing along with your pets, especially during Sundays. The menu is very exciting as they provide Continental, Mediterranean and European cuisines. The food is quite decent and the service is good too. However the restaurant gets really crowded during peak hours and you might have to wait for quite sometime to get a table unless you have reserved one. I came across this restaurant when an article about this place appeared in the Sunday Times which spoke about how your pets can too have a day out and enjoy under the sun. 

Usually on Sundays, people come along with their pets for brunch or lunch and enjoy a delicious meal while their pets too have some fun time, as they can eat and play with the other dogs. But yes, you have to make sure that your pet isn't too noisy. 

Sunny's and Green Theory too let you take your pets along with you on certain days, mostly on Sundays though. Both the places let you take your pets in on one condition - that they are well behaved and on a leash. Well, it's a small sacrifice one has to make.

Hopefully in the near future more restaurants will be open to the idea of getting our pets along so that our overall experience in the restaurant is memorable!

Top 5 Restaurants to go on a Date!

Many a times, we put on our thinking caps for a long time wondering where to take our beloved out on a date. The restaurant should have wonderful ambiance, good service and most importantly great food. Here is a list of the 5 best restaurants where you can take your boyfriend/girlfriend out on a date. 

P.S – Just so you know, the places listed here are expensive ones. Hence, if you're looking for a restaurant with reasonable prices, then the places mentioned below are not for you. However, I shall make another list of restaurants with affordable prices where you can go for a date! ;)

5. Village – Jayanagar
   
   If you're looking for a fun date instead of the usual, boring candle-light dinner type, this is the place you should head to! Located in Bangalore Central, Jayanagar; this restaurant looks exactly like a village. Once you step in, you can find autos, trucks, a prison and much more. 
   
   As you enter the place you are served with Jal Jeera and Rose Sherbet and then you can either dance for sometime then start having your lunch or vice versa! Yes, you heard me right, you can do all the Garba, Dandia and Punjabi moves you know as one of the waiters will be playing the drums or there will be loud Gujarati or Punjabi song playing and you can start dancing!
   
   The buffet here is Rs. 275 and worth every penny. You have a variety of chaats, dosas, pav bhaji and cuisines from North India like Gujrati, Punjabi and even Rajasthani. At the end of your meal, you can either treat yourself to an ice cream cone (it's vanilla flavor most of the time) or ice golas!
   
   This restaurant is a great place to relax, loosen yourself up and have a good time. The atmosphere is very lively and colorful, moreover it's an awesome place to take loads and loads of pictures.

4. Legacy of Punjab
   
   This isn't really a candle-light dinner place but even then the ambiance is going to 'Wow' you! The restaurant is really long, yes it's huge in terms of it's length and elegantly decorated. It's simple yet so serene, giving you a sense of peacefulness. Waiters are dressed in Punjabi dress and a turban and the service is quick and prompt.
   
   When it comes to the food, Legacy of Punjab has a great deal to offer you, from a variety of North Indian and Chinese dishes. The Chinese food isn't that great here and it's better if you stick to the North Indian. The food is absolutely delicious! The butter Naan's are dripping with butter and the Paneer dishes taste even better. Also, if you order Jal Jeera, be prepared to be served with a huge glass of it. It tastes really good, but the quantity is so much that you just can't finish drinking the entire thing!
   
   The Alu Tikki at this place is a must have! Cost for two is around Rs. 1000 excluding drinks. Go here to enjoy a quiet ambiance and the typical North Indian food.

3. Ebony
   
   More popularly known as the 13^th floor, this is one of the favorite restaurants for couples to go on a candle-night dinner. The restaurant is set up on an open terrace which makes the view breathtaking and romantic.
   
   This place offers you an array of cuisines like North Indian, Thai, European, Mediterranean and Asian so you can eat whatever you are in the mood for. The Red Sauce Pasta, Soups, Veg. Kababs, Alu Bhindi and Bao Ling Vegetables are some of the dishes I really liked. The Thai and Mediterranean food isn't that great but the European and North Indian are really good. Though the quantity is a little less and some dishes are spicier than what is required and with the sky high prices, this still is one restaurant you should experience mainly for it's spectacular view and the North Indian and European cuisines which are delightful!
   
   The buffet however isn't that appealing, hence it's a good idea if you don't go for that.
   
   Located in M.G road, cost for two is around Rs. 1400 without alcohol.

2. Fireflies
   
   Fireflies was on my bucket list for a long time and after finally dining at that place, a sense of relief dawned upon me. The setting of this place is commendable because it is so unique and sophisticated . A perfect place for a romantic date if you love Italian and Mediterranean food.
   
   The Caeser Salad, Mushrooms Caps, Pastas and the desserts are exquisite. With a very unique menu, the restaurant serves you the best of Italian and Mediterrean food.
   
   However, if you do not like either of these cuisines then this place is definitely not for you. Also if you are expecting Pizzas to be like the ones you get at Pizza Corner/Hut or Dominoes then you will be disappointed as the Pizzas available here are very different and have a very thin crust. The service is also quite friendly and leaves you with no room for disappointment.
   
   Located in Lavelle road, cost for two is around Rs. 1500 excluding alcohol.

1. Island
   
   Each time you visit this place, it doesn't fail to impress you with an exemplary ambiance for romance. However, just looking at the food, your mouth starts watering because it looks so good and colorful and once you start eating, you will be so immersed in enjoying the food that you will forget all about romance! :P
   
   You get Continental, Italian, Mediterranean and American cuisines here which will get you so puzzled thinking about what you should try first! The Pizzas, Veg. Sampler, Coco's Mix Veg. Sampler and the desserts are really good. You get sea food too here, hence if you're looking for some exclusive sea food, there are one or two dishes on the menu providing it.
   
   One should try the buffet as you get a variety of stuff to eat, ranging from starters, drinks, main course and dessert. It's a little expensive but you will enjoy the food. The best part about Island is its ambiance - it blows you away, making it a perfect place to go for a dinner date.
   
   Located in Indiranagar, cost for two is around 1500/- excluding drinks. Buffet prices start from 800/-.

Top 5 Best Fish Dishes in Bangalore Restaurants!

I can never thank my dad enough for forcing me to try eating fish because after that first experience, fish has become my most favorite non-veg food! It's crazy how I get these sudden cravings for fish and I am only satisfied when I get a sumptuous fish meal.

There are a lot of people out there who don't like fish at all or who prefer chicken over fish, well this is a matter of taste and choice. But if you're a fish lover like me, then here's a list of best fish dishes of various restaurants.

5. Kane – Sea Spice
   
   
   Located in Banashankari, this restaurant provides a lovely ambiance, good service, reasonable prices and food which you just can't stop relishing. Along with sea food, North Indian is also provided. 
   
   
   Kane is one of the most commonly eaten fish throughout the coastal areas, and the one which you get in this restaurant not only looks and smells good but tastes so good that it stimulates your gustatory cells, making you want to order another portion of it.
   
                     Photo courtesy - Zomato

4. Fish Kabab – Oyster Bay Seafood Restaurant
   
   
   If you're in the mood for a buffet which should include sea food and North Indian, Oyster Bay is the place you should head to. The restaurant is located in Koramangla. 
   
   Buffet is generally around Rs. 400 including taxes, on weekdays and on weekends it is around Rs. 700, but trust me the money you spend will be worth it. You get a variety of sea food here, ranging from fishes and prawns to oysters. As part of the buffet they have roasted fish, chicken and prawns in the non-veg section most of the time.
   The Fish Kabab was part of the starters in the buffet and it was the best starter food I've had from that restaurant. It's quite similar to the chicken kababs, except that this one tastes way better as it is spicy and with all the Indian spices added to this while cooking. It's a dish you shouldn't miss out on.

3. Fish Masala Fry – Kudla
   
   
   Kudla in Tulu means Mangalore and as you enter this place, if you are a Mangalorean, you can't help but admire and talk about how much this restaurant reminds you of home. The waiters are dressed in dhotis and shirts and the environment is decorated beautifully with paintings and antique pieces - it sets the stage for you to experience typical Mangalorean food.
   
   
   Fish Masala Fry is something I relished because firstly, the fish does not have too many bones and I don't really like it when the fish has too many bones because most of the time I am busy removing those. Secondly, the conventional Mangaloren spices are used to make this dish. 
   
   
   Dinning at this place at least once is a must because every aspect of this restaurant is good which will leave you hoping that you can come to dine again here soon.
   
                           Photo courtesy - Zomato

2. Fish Finger – Chungs
   
   This Chinese restaurant serves one of the best fish fingers compared to any other place. Crispy and crunchy from the outside and soft on the inside, once inside your mouth you just can't stop savoring it. Chungs generally provides quite a lot of quantity, you get around 8-10 pieces of fish fingers which are small blackish-brown like and give you an impression that they're maybe burnt or over-cooked. However, it is only when you taste it that you will realize that it tastes way better when it is slightly over cooked.

1. Anjil – Status/Fish Land 
   
   
   Anjil was the very first fish that I had tasted and it has remained my most favorite one till date. Status, also called as Fish Land, which is located in Gandhinagar, was the place where I had first tasted it. It comes in masala and rava fry and I like the masala fry more because it's spicy. Moreover, I don't like rava. The best part about this dish is that it has no tiny bones and stuff like the other fishes have. This one just has one big bone which is present right in the center of the fish so you can just remove that and then enjoy the meal!