Bhalla chat centre reviewed.

Chat. It invokes so many known and unknown emotions. For some, chat is an eating out once in a while thing. For many, it’s a mood enhancer. For the select others, its regular fare. Life doesn’t go on without chat. I am yet to figure out which category I fit into, but one thing is for sure. I frigging love chat! Especially the type doled out at this particular place. It is exactly the way most of us like it. Equal parts sour (khatta) and equal parts sweet (meetha). One hell of an emotion.

This place stands out in an otherwise busy marketplace lane in the Aurangabad old city. It’s a tiny little thing with people always buzzing around. There is ample place to sit but its best enjoyed the good old traditional way; standing with plates in hand. That is easier said than done as the portions here are massive. You can eat a portion of anything on offer and it’d constitute for a full meal. It’s best you find yourself a nice seat and devour the loaded portions; as the owner affably suggests.

I’ve visited here countless number of time but I’ll stick to my latest visit for the purpose of this review. We went with the usual suspect to start proceedings; pani puri/gol gappa/puchkas! Call them what you may, they blow you away in every corner of the country. The pani puri here is not the usual timid and light fare. The puri’s are made of suji and are oval shaped and are pretty much unbreakable. They break you. Heavy puri’s and a delectable concoction which is rather spicy( I had to ask him to tone it down a bit) make for an excellent appetizer.

Next in line was an assorted order consisting of 3-4 items off the menu. There was the regular bhalla (chhole tikki chat), dahi gujiya(Dahi vada), Dahi papdi chat and plain roasted Bhalla (Our own desi hash brown). This place is very serious about hygiene and the effort is visible. Everything is spic and span and all the ingredients are added fresh, like a live kitchen. They use very selective ingredients for the balance of sweetness and I personally love the way they use pomegranate. The food, all of it, is near perfect. It is all made in desi ghee and yet, it doesn’t leave you as greasy and dreary as you’d expect it to. The balance of the flavour is incredible and it has never ever gone wrong till date. For some reason, I am yet to have a dessert here. Probably, my fondness for global desserts has kept me away from the desserts on offer here; kulfi and rabdi, gajar halwa and kala jamun. But I am sure it’ll be at the top of its game.

My personal favourite is the cumin-salt roasted Bhalla. Our own desi hash brown. It’s profile and crustiness are so very consistent; it leaves McDonalds far behind. Moreover, it’s made fresh. So very fresh. A definite mood enhancer.

People who are visiting the city, don’t miss this place. For the locals attracted to food, if you haven’t been here already, go for it.