Mysore Bonda with Coconut Chutney (Enjoy for Breakfast or evening snack)
                                                                        -"my sweeheart's creation".

Ingredients needed:

-5 scoops of self raising flour (readily available at walmart or indian grocery stores)
-One glass of butter milk and some water
-1/2 tablespoon of cumin seeds or jeera
-1 tablespoon of salt
-Oil to fry
-Green chillies
-Grated coconut or fresh if it's available
-Cilantro

Mix the flour with butter milk and make sure it is in the semi-solid state. Do not add water at one time, add slowly and use your best judgement. Add cumin seeds and green chillies in the mix if you want to get added flavors. then add salt which is the most important and rest the dow for atleast 5-10mins. Meantime you can make cocunut by adding some water, green chillies and salt.

Take a frying pan and add oil in it. Make small balls of the Dow  with your hands and drop it in the oil. Make sure they are apart and fry them until they turn light brown color. You can also try mint chutney which is readily available as a side to it.

The complete procedure only takes 20mins, which can be served as a snack for anyone.

Tip: "You can use ice cream scoop to make and drop the dow in the oil".

Swathi Tiffin's - Sunnyvale

I went to Swathi Tiffin’s in the afternoon with my friends on a Friday which is near to my work place. This is tucked in a small strip on Lawrence expressway. People who are responsible for taking the order were really good and warm welcoming. I have placed an order for Gobi Manchurian which is almost like an appetizer and Vegetable Hakka Noodles. My friends have ordered Spring Dosa and Mini Thali.



Gobi Manchuria



Though the place is not neat, meaning the tables weren't wiped immediately after the customer leaves, flooring is dirty and the bathrooms do not meet the restaurant standards at all. But, for the cheap fast food this would be the place to in the silicon valley area. Irrespective of the overall ambience the service was really good and food was delivered fast.

Gobi Manchurian was little soft, it would have been good if it is little more "crispy", I had tried to eat with mint sauce to try out a different taste and it wasn't bad at all. Well, the quantity of the Hakka noodles was a lot. (In my opinion they will be good for two people). Eating Hakka noodles with Manchuria had more taste than eating individually. I saw someone has ordered Cut Mirchi which is pretty famous in India, need to try that next time (I bet they will be super spicy).

My friends commented that the Spring Dosa was good which had tons of vegetables combined with potato curry. I took a bite and it was little spicier than I thought, but the dosa seems to be little heavy served with peanut chutney. The taste of the chutney is different meaning good different. Mini thali had poori, two curries, fried rice, white rice, yogurt and dessert. That had more quantity than I expected. He said taste wasn't that good.

Overall if you are only for the cheap food, dine in and getting out fast Swathi Tiffin’s will be ok. You need to leave the cleanliness outside of the door before entering the restaurant. I would say that this once of the Best and Cheapest Fast Food Place in Bay Area.

"But, it's a great place for carry-out; you can enjoy the taste at home".

They are located at:

1202 Apollo Way
Sunnyvale, CA 94085
Phone: (408) 617-0482

Sarvana Bhavan - Sunnyvale

Masala Dosa

Mango Lassi

Sarvana Bhavan was recommended to us by my colleague. He said this is one of the best places in the bay area to go and have breakfast, lunch or dinner in the bay area. So, tried it out over the weekend. It's interior is not good at all and lack's cleanliness. But it is my impression that most of the people choose this restaurant for food. The front people who are responsible for the seating lack some coordinating with waiters or supervisor's.

We have ordered the fried idly, samosa's as the appetizers,  rava dosa and masala dosa as the main entries. The waiter got each item at different times, which was really odd. They have to improve on bringing the items together like appetizers first and then the dosa's (i think that would be minimum to expect). He first got the masala dosa for me and my wife had to wait 5 more mins to get her rava dosa. Even though they delayed it, taste was really good. The combination of chutney's and aloo masala was really fantastic.

After completing I have ordered a coffee and my wife decided to get something new mango lassi. The taste of the coffee was awesome and we have the choice to add more sugar if necessary and wife has commented that the lassi was little more sour.

Even though the whole atmosphere and customer service of Sarvana Bhavan is not that appreciating but, we will definitely visit this South Indian restaurant again for the taste. While I was walking out I have seen lot of sweets or desserts, planning to try them out during the next visit.

When I was searching for the address, I noticed they are in couple of different locations in the bay area, we went to the one in Sunnyvale.

Location which we visited is

Sarvana Bhavan
1305 S Mary Ave
Sunnyvale, CA 94087
(408) 616-7755

Another location is at
3720, Mowry Avenue,
Fremont, CA 94538
Phone: 510-791-7755

Hyderabad House - Palo Alto

I went to PaloAlto downtown yesterday during my lunch time. I was walking on the university ave and was able to find lot of restaurants on it. Finally landed at "Hyderabad House" near university and Kipling street. Though the place is small it is well maintained and has awesome pictures representing India. I specially like the one with the Indian currencies and picture of a market in Hyderabad. I have placed an order for lamb biryani, butter chicken and naan. As we are party of two people thought it will be sufficient. one down side to this restaurant is that the hand wash area is at the back of the restaurant, so you need to pass through the kitchen. They took approximately 10-15mins to get the order. well the pricing wasn't bad at all. it was approximately around 20 dollars for two people, which i think its not that bad.

Butter chicken was very delicious with the naan which they are hot and had couple of naan and started with the biryani. Though biryani was little oily it was spicy and the lamb pieces were cooked well. To make it little more better, had the gravy with the biryani which has esculated the taste. I would rate this restaurant for the indian cuisines as a "Awesome" (taste wise) on the unversity ave.

Sometimes I even look at the faces of others who are eating at the same restaurant to check out what their response is. when i was there 3 more tables which were filled and they seem to be really happy.

well this is my experience at this restaurant. they do have a website and sure can check out the menu and pricing. I dont think you need reservations for this restaurant and you can directly walk in.

They are located at
448 University Avenue,
Palo Alto, CA
(650) 327-3455

P.S: Sorry no pictures available, forgot to take them. But, will not forget for the upcoming postings.

Lovely Sweets - Sunnyvale

While I was driving on El Camino real towards San Jose, spotted Lovely Sweets in a small strip mall after El Camino and Wolfe intersection on the right hand side. It look's like a fast food restaurant. Went inside and found that tons of chat items, pastries, sweet and hot snacks. I have ordered Samosa chat so the person who took order mentioned it may take few minutes. He also mentioned that
"Meantime if you want to eat Pani Puri you can try them out". They were served outside of the restaurant near the entrance. Each Puri is dipped in the spicy water and accompanied with aloo masala and sweet tamarind sause, taste was very good. Had one order (plate). Immediately after completion Samosa Chat has arrived, quantity was huge. I was full by the end of it. Thought the atmosphere and neatness is not that great, Overall experience was "Good". {Sorry pic quality is not that good}.

They are located at:

932 E El Camino Real
Sunnyvale, CA 94087

(408) 245-6512

Peacock Restaurant - Mountain View

I have recently moved to Northern California in mid June and settled in a tiny apartment in Palo Alto, CA. When I searched for the blogs for the Indian restaurants in bay area, was unable to find any. Thought to start my own blog and share the information to every one. This blog will help you guys to check my personal reviews of the Indian restaurants or cuisines in Bay Area, CA. You will also find coupons, deals and special offers available. You are always welcome to comment and give me suggestions to improve this blog. Appreciate for visiting my blog.

Please click on the restaurant name to check out my review.

Spicy Chicken Dum Biryani