Mangaluru: I’m Really Lovin’ It! New Street Vendor in Town selling ‘Paneer Bargar’?

Mangaluru: This is for all those of us who find happiness in cheap and delicious junk food. We are not talking of how Mangaluru can be a ‘Smart City’, but of the couple of humble burger trolleys that have invaded Kudla all the way from uttar Pradesh. It’s your choice-either you go to McDonald’s and pay nearly Rs 100 for a chicken or Veg burger, or you can save big bucks trying the road side “Paneer Bargar”.

Run by street vendors who have come down to Kudla from Uttar-pradesh, these mobile snack-parlours sell piping-hot “Paneer Bargars”, made to order while you watch them make-and served to you on a disposal plate, accompanied with Mint-coriander chutney and tomato sauce. Delicious and also filling-forget about hygiene, when you are hungry, when you can’t find your favorite food late night, these street side burger trolleys come very handy.The trolley is manned by its owner alone, though sometimes he might have an adolescent ‘helper’.

The all-vegetarian menu is painted in red on the trolley itself, also displaying few religious chants such as Jai Mata Di (Long live the Holy Mother). Although the signs on the trolley spelled wrong in English, like “Bargar” for “Burger” or in the menu like- “Batter” for “Butter”, “Soce” for “Sauce” etc- it’s all about English Vinglish? After all, who cares about the signs. The trolley food is very easy on the pocket, with the “Paneer Bargar” priced at just Rs 20. The flaky bread roll is stuffed with a piece of paneer (spiced cottage cheese). The burger is a steal at Rs 20-it is as addictive as the aloo tikki burger at the McDonald’s, except that the tikki here is topped with sliced tomatoes, onion rings and shredded cabbage.

A 5kg LPG cylinder installed inside the bottom of the trolley is fired up to warm up the “snack”, using butter. The snacks are then served on paper plates accompanied with tomato sauce and mint/coriander chutney or if you prefer to take-home the “bargar” then it is wrapped in newspaper cuttings. “Paneer Bargar” by Ramji is indeed the best trash for Mangalurean bellies. Last night, after having a few “cold ones”, I decided to have my grub at Bombay Lucky Restaurant- but on the way to the restaurant I noticed few people gathered around a trolley -it was the “Paneer Bargar” man. I too wanted to give a try of the “Bargar”- and it was delicious, and worth the money-which tempted to buy three of them. I’m really lovin’ it!