Restoran Santa (Chapati House)

Living his father's food legacy, Mr. Kulwant Singh of Santa Chapati House wants only customer happiness in his small, indistinct joint along Jalan Tun HS Lee. If that means making his chapati fresh, and keeping the trays full of curries, consider it done! The best time to visit is just before lunch, when their daily array of dishes are already cooked up and there's no one to compete with for it. Their Chapati (RM1.50), flipped fresh from stove to plate, lands high on the list for our favourite renditions of the whole wheat bread. Warm and a little powdery to the touch, it's soft but still has enough of a good bite. Enjoy this with their delicious Chickpea Masala (from RM3), tender chickpeas stirred in with crunchy onions and a truckload of spices. For more greens, the Aloo Gobi (cauliflowers with potato, from RM4) is another praised creation. We like to mix things up with a meat dish, and if you're up for one, go for the Mutton Curry (RM5). The bright red dish is chock-full of meat, cooked to soft cubes easy for scooping up with a hand-torn piece of chapati.
Avg price per person: RM10

Stemmed from the dream of self-taught cook Mr. Kulwant, the stalwart Santa Chapati House is a secret known only to locals and those working nearby. For early morning chapati with a few colleagues, this airy down-to-earth shoplot is worth the walk. Their Chapati (RM1.80), freshly flipped out front, is served warm, fluffy and tasty enough on its own. But delight in the side of dhal that has a light yet creamy consistency. There are enough lentils in there to provide for a bite but not too much that it's too thick a sauce. Apart from the staple, there is also delicious Aloo Gobi (mixed vegetables, from RM4) for the vegetarians (or non) as well as an impressive Mutton Curry (from RM4.50). The small plate is filled generously with chunks of lustrously tender meat. The pocket-friendly prices that yields hearty dishes also make this a great locale for lunch, especially at month's end.
Avg price per person: RM10

Beautiful, fluffy chapati that goes from the flat-top stove straight to your plate. It's served with a kickass dhal, and it's got hand-downs the most authentic lentil flavour I've had so far. The Mutton Curry (RM5) is a bonus. Nothing gamey, just tasty and tender cubes of mutton.