One of the busiest roads that connects Central and North Bangalore, Cunningham Road is home to plenty of restaurants that are worth trying. Even if you are on a shoestring budget. In and around Cunningham Road, you’ll find plenty of cafes, pizzerias, and local restaurants that serve up a terrific meal for humble prices. We pick the restaurants in and around Cunningham Road where you can gorge on a meal for INR 500 or less.
LBB’s Loving
Maratha Darshan
Readers’ Vote
Ta’aam
One of those restaurants with a gazillion branches, Imperial serves up Indian food in lightning speed and at budget prices. Best reserved for a quick bite, you can bite into their chunky Chicken Kababs that pairs perfectly with their slightly greasy Ghee Rice. Their flaky Ceylon Parathas along with their Butter Chicken is a good combination too. If you are here in the evenings, do try their plump Shawarma Rolls.
A nondescript, basement restaurant just off the busy Queen’s Road, Ta’aam has a loyal following thanks to its popular Laham Mandi. This is a massive dish where you get served heaps of lightly flavoured rice crowned by a chunk of lamb. It can easily feed four healthy eaters. With this, we recommend the restaurant’s flavourful Afghani or Kalmi Kababs or even their Pepper Chicken.
Chinese loaded with Indian spices — that’s what Shezan does best. Their menu has plenty of cuisines on offer but it’s the familiar Chinese that works best at this old school restaurant. You’ll see all the tried-and-tested names, including, the Schezwan Chicken, Chilly Paneer, and Golden Fried Prawns. For the mains, you can chow on their Chicken Fried Rice or their Chopsuey.
Just a hop, skip, and jump away from Cunningham Road, this is an old Bangalore favourite. Office-goers from around here come here for booze and a bite after a long day at work. We, however, recommend you skip the drinks if you are on a tight budget. Instead, stick to a serving of their spicy Gongura Kodi {Chicken} biryani and their Chicken Fry and be on your way. TheirTeluginti Bhojanam {thali}, that comes with puris, an assortment of vegetables, rice, and curries, is also worth your money.
Popular with veggie lovers, this place dishes out thin-crust pizzas without taxing your pocket too much. Since the place is pretty small, a takeaway or ordering in will work best here. Their Classic Italian Nirvana Pizza that comes layered with tomato sauce, mushrooms and cheese is a good pick. So is their Mediterranean Pizza that’s topped with olives, artichokes, and oregano.
Looking for a typical South Indian breakfast this part of town? Just head to the decades-old Chandrika. Right at the end of Cunningham Road, this restaurant serves up golden-brown Masala Dosas, fluffy idlis, and a strong cup of filter coffee. If you liked to start the day on a sweet note, try their pineapple-speckled Kesari Bhath. At lunchtime, you can sign up for their VFM thalis.
The popular patisserie has now started a charming pizzeria where you can fill up on pizza and pasta. Their 8-inch pizzas come for less than 200 bucks mostly and their 12-inch versions come for a little more and should suffice two eaters. Here, the toppings range from fresh mozzarella to button mushrooms, bell peppers, and olives. The Spaghetti Al Pesto and Fettuccini Alfredo are are good options in the pasta section.
A military-style hotel that’s popular for its non-vegetarian dishes that come at brilliant prices, Maratha Darshan should be on your eat list. Veggie lovers, though, will find little to chew on here. The Mutton Kaima Thali, in particular, is top-notch. The thalis come with a serving of rice, a Ragi Mudde {ragi ball}, and a curry made with greens. The highlight, of course, is the Mutton Kaima — mince meatballs that come drenched in a creamy, coconut gravy. For more on Maratha Darshan, read here.
A short walk from Cunningham Road, this is an iconic restaurant that’s a must for seafood lovers. A popular dive bar, Ujwal knows how to pamper your tummy with a spice fest. Their Tender Coconut Chicken {that comes in a coconut shell} is juicy and comes with just the right amount of chilly. The dish pairs spectacularly well with a cold one. Apart from this, there’s the fiery Crab Masala Fry and you can order up rawa or masala coated fresh catch of the day. For more, click here.
Looking for a rustic meal packed with flavour? Then, head to this brightly-painted restaurant. For INR 500, you can gorge on plenty here. Their peppery Mutton Biryani is an excellent pick. And goes well with the helpings of their deep-fried Chicken Kababs and their Head Mutton Fry. This place can get crowded on work days so ensure you get here on time to ensure that you get what you want.
For simple, vegetarian cafe fare this place is a good choice. Their Mediterranean Panini Sandwich comes stuffed with spicy mushrooms, bell peppers, zucchini, and gratings of cheddar. They also dish out a delicious Cottage Cheese Sizzler. Pizzas, pasta, and shakes make up the rest of the menu. They have hookah too.
Even at your brokest, you can score a decent meal at this place which is what we love. Don’t go expecting a gourmet meal and you won’t walk out disappointed. Their Chicken Stroganoff is a favourite with patrons. And so is their Chicken Wings that come loaded with sauce. The sandwiches too are filling and worth the money you shell out.