TOP 10 restaurants in Bangalore – Indiranagar 2014
This post is also available in: French
One of the most popular post we’ve done on the blog last year was the one with the TOP 10 restaurants in Indiranagar. The only problem is that each ranking needs to be updated to stay relevant. One year later, many new restaurants came up in the area, some closed and it was definitely the time to have a new look at it.
Even if the sector has been very dynamic, you’ll see in the ranking that some strong restaurants of last year are still there. But we’ve continued to try out new ones as much as we could and we’ve done now more than 60 different ones only in this area.
Small reminder concerning the method we’ve used to come up with this TOP 10, we use 4 different criteria: service, atmosphere/decor, food and value for money. This year we’ve chosen to give more importance to the food criteria as we think it’s the most important at the end.
1. KUND: And here it comes, Kund at the first spot! It was really neck to neck with Imli. Already last year, the Kund was entering our ranking, a bit at the last minute as we tried them only once. We already felt they deserved to be higher. Since then, it really became one of our classic, we visit it almost once a week to be regaled by tender kababs, a perfect dal makhani served with naans, small grilled veggies (the whole corresponding to their “mains” option). We also usually prepare our tastebuds drinking one crazy Jal Jeera, which constitutes a cultural shock itself for Western people like us. The atmosphere is really laid-back even if not pretty and they have big tables perfect for groups. Their “gravy” are also delectable and the whole experience finishes with a soft price. (more info)
2. IMLI: First last year, Imli remains at the top this year and it was really close with Kund. Suprisingly, those two restaurants are also in the same street. Imli is still a great value. They offer a really well balanced experience with delicious and classic North Indian veg food, a professional and cheerful service on a pleasant terrace. The perfect mix! Since last year, we’ve discovered new favorite dishes like the Paneer Bhurji in their “lost in translation” menu. Everything being always good, don’t hesitate to order dishes you don’t really understand. Be warned though, quantity is really big so it’s better to share, otherwise they offer some “combos”. Also, go there only if you have time as the waiting time for preparation can be quite long… (more info)
3. CAFE MAX : Here is a rising restaurant in our ranking. And it’s not a big surprise as we’ve been coming back pretty often during the past year as everything they’re serving here is good: from the genuine German sausages (the restaurant is at the top of the Goethe Institute) to beef steacks or quiches. And there’s even one category where they are the best in class… the desserts! Their carrot cakes and cheese cakes are even the best in town (too many fake cheese cakes in Bangalore…). The German boss of the restaurant is also really nice. One only drawback, it can become really warm in the room for lunch and the kitchen smoke is sometimes making its way into the restaurant. (more info)
4. CHAKUM CHUKUM : This “hole in the wall” is never finishing to impress us by a steady popularity over flowing in all the street. We come here ceremoniously almost every week to enjoy our favorite roll, the “egg-palak-paneer”! We haven’t discovered what was their secret but their rolls are really yummy. It may be because of their soft and crispy parathas. The competition in the rolls sector is more and more intense, specially now that Khan Saheb started a branch in the neighborhood… But as the manageress of Chakum Chukum is saying, there are enough customers for everyone. And it’s true as we’re visiting those two eateries.(more info)
5. PHOBIDDEN FRUIT: Here is a restaurant which didn’t move at all. At least in our ranking because on the ground they extended their restaurant to the next building doubling their capacity. In the plate, we’re still happy to eat Vietnamese and south Asian specialities with the unmissable “Pho” soups, the fried noodles, nems etc… We’ve also discovered some new dishes we really stand out like the “Kho”, a sort of sweet and sour rich sauce dish or the Bun Rieu, a crab soup with tomatoes. In a nutshell, a reference in the area for a change in Asian cuisine. (more info)
6. RED FORK :
First new comer in our ranking, it’s our discovery of this year. Well hidden inside an other restaurant, Daddy’s Deli (Parsi restaurant), Red Fork is offering a dozen of new dishes all different and all good. It’s a kind of polyglot restaurant, as comfortable with French cuisine (beef cooked in wine), Japonese (Udon noodles) or Americans (customizable burgers)! Their desserts and espressos are also great to finish your meal. Only drawback, the terrace is just next to the noisy 12th main. (more info)
7. THE ONLY PLACE :
We thought we were about to loose this Bangalore institution (this historic restaurant on Museum Road was supposed to close), we were finally surprised to find a new branch in our neighbourhood. The “Only Place” was until the 90s one of the few or even unique restaurant where it was possible to eat some real meat, a kind of American style steak-house. Today, even if they’ve lost this monopoly, they remain one of the most renowned place for meat in the city. It was really sad to watch them closing but we were really excited when we discovered that they were relocating their cheerful red squares tablecloths on 6th Main. We particularly recommend the Chateaubriand steack, one of the most tender we’ve been able to eat in India (and even further). (more info)
8. VASUDEV ADIGA’S :
At Adiga’s, “No Suprises”! That’s the humble slogan, opposite to the usual marketing they’re using in this famous chain restaurant of Bangalore. Here, as in most of the “darshinis”, we eat in a very simple way (but possible to be seated if you go upstairs) most of the best specialities from South India: crispy dosas (and even giant if you choose the “paper” one), vadas, khara bhats, kesari bhat and the ones we find better here that anywhere else, the rava idlis. North Indian cuisine is also pretty good if you’re still in for “gravy”. We also visit other equivalent restaurants but at Adiga’s it’s always slightly better. (more info)
9. KHAAJA CHOWK
That’s our favorite place for a proper North Indian cuisine and a mandatory stop for our guests discovering Indian gastronomy. The decor is voluntary Indian kitsh and funny (there are even rickshaw tables!), kababs are scrumptious, gravies exquisite (including our favorite palak paneer) and naans or latcha parathas perfect. Rare for Indian restaurants, it’s also possible to drink beer or wine even if we’ll finally prefer to get a more traditional butter milk. The loyal readers will remark that they fall down a bit in our ranking but that may just be because we’ve been there too often. (more info)
10. SMOKE HOUSE DELI
An other new comer in our ranking and that’s logic as this restaurant wasn’t existing last year. Among all the new comers, Smoke House is the one which has been generating a lot of buzz but didn’t disappoint us. The decor is really standing out and really well done. Imagine a fully white restaurant covered with hand drawing doodles everywhere, from the walls to every object. It’s really amazing and the decor itself worth a visit. We eat there pretty diverse dishes from an extensive Western menu. Everything is pretty good with a big effort made on the presentation. Finally, we don’t really come back here for a favorite dish and that’s maybe a drawback. It’s also a chain as they have other branches in Delhi, Bombay and one on Lavelle road in Bangalore too. (more info)
Next restaurants in our ranking:
11: Bricklane Grill, 12: So Ra Sang, 13: Srinidhi Sagar, 14: Khan Saheb, 15: Toit, 16: Cafe Thulp, 17: Habanero, 18: Achayyan’s, 19: Rasa India, 20: Humming Tree, 21: NH8, 22: Esplanade, 23: Bangalore Mandarin, 24: Laa Jawaab, 25: La Tagliateria, 26: Bow Barracks, 27: Nagarjuna, 28: New Shahi Kebab Rolls, 29: Istanbul Doner, 30: A2B, 31: Sue’s Place, 32: 100 Feet, 33: Raaga, 34: Byblos, 35: Daddy’s Deli, 36: Socie-Tea, 37: Treat (Punjabi 80 feet), 38: Aachis, 39: The Kitchen of Joy, 40: Mother Cluckers, 41: Annapoorani, 42: Little Italy, 43: Huckleberry, 44: I & Monkey, 45: Leaping Windows, 46: South Indies, 47: Cheers Coorg, 48: Mezzeh, 49: The Island, 50: Woodstock, 51: Oye Amristar, 52: Ants Café, 53: Tamarine, 54: High on Thai, 55: Empire Restaurant, 56: Cafe 42, 57: Tadka Singh, 58: Bistro Claytopia, 59: Give me 5 cafe, 60: The Biriyani World
TOP BARS :
Concerning bars, some are already in our ranking above but some couldn’t appear there as we haven’t been eating in those places.
So here are some of the ones we prefer:
– Toit : The stongest bar in the area with great handmade beers and delicious pizzas.
– The Humming Tree : a new comer this year, they’ve brought to Indiranagar a great place for indie concerts.
– Puma Social Club : atmosphere and decor are really nicely done in this branded place (their small terraces are really pleasant).
– Loft 38 : the new trendy place with a really impressive decor.
– Vapour : great terrace but the handmade beers aren’t matching the best microbreweries of Bangalore yet and the decor a bit of a “nouveau-riche” style.
We’re also a bit frustrated not sharing our other best restaurants in Bangalore but we’re not ready yet to bring this TOP 10 to the whole city. Maybe next year…