Indian in Little India

A meal that throws me back to eating in a hole in the wall banana leaf joint in a Mumbai suburb with my friend Raghu. This place is buzzy and filled with hungry Indian families and the working class, the waiters are pretty efficient and the food is tasty. There's no price menu - waiters come around and you just point out what you want. Thankfully prices are very reasonable - this feast of free-flow rice and sambar, two meaty pieces of fish, chicken curry AND prawn curry set us back just under $30 for a party of three. 👍🏼

#lunch

Tucked away on Upper Dickson Road, away from the main street's bustle, Madras New Woodlands is a nondescript joint serving up humble vegetarian South Indian fare. The two-page menu is compact and simple, and the selection familiar enough to not put you off — expect the usual suspects like dosa (otherwise known as thosai), idly (steamed rice cakes) and samosas, among other light snacks perfect for a mid-afternoon break. What we really like though is the Appam Set ($4.80). Made from a batter of fermented rice and coconut milk, Madras New Woodlands' rendition of the pancake is spot-on — brown and crisp around the edges, yet fluffy and slightly moist in the middle, and so delicious dipped in coconut milk and orange sugar. Pair this with their aromatic Madras Coffee ($1.90 for small/ $2.70 for large). Pro-tip: The milky filtered coffee is often served scalding hot, so cool it down for drinking by pouring a third into the shorter, wider metal cup.
Avg Price: $10 per person
Photo by Burppler Leigh Khoo