Here’s an institution that stands as an apostle of rural Karnataka delicacies and we’re not limiting our food gaze to your darshini classics like idli, vadas and dosas. We’re talking much more, delicacies known only in the inner echelons of home kitchens in rural Karnataka and we’re talking the famous Halli Mane. Located on Sampige Road, this iconic eatery specialising in halli thindi or village snacks, has been around for ages, making its mark felt over waves and waves of hungry Bengalureans. What we also love about the place is that every festival celebrated in the state marks a habba (or festival) in this eatery as a special menu is rolled out with festive specials and regional bestsellers on offer.
While you can have the classic darshini staples with utmost satisfaction, we suggest you go for the place’s akki rotti, their house special pancakes made from rice flour, dill and served with a tangy and spicy red chutney as well as podi. For a sweeter affair, try their coconut holige, a roti filled with jaggery, slivers of dried coconut, spices and topped with ghee. Do know that if it’s festival time in Bengaluru (Ugadi is around the corner), this is where you need to be because of their culinary riot of local specialties like various chutneys, palyas (veggie preparations), rottis, sambars and rice preparations, all vying for the prestigious second serving (it’s tough because there’s just too much to eat).
The place is done up such that you’ll feel flung into a rural villa with sloped roofs and folk art adorning the walls of the place. There’s ample seating as well and the whole place is dolled up during festivals.
