There is never a dull moment at the Mehta Bros Mithai Wala eatout on the busy Mint Street. People flock to the shop right from 4 p.m., when it opens shutters. This 70 sq. ft. outlet is popular for its vada pav, which is off the shelf in no time.
The deep-fried mashed potato patty on a bun is such a big hit that by 9 p.m. they are all over.
Over 800 vada pavs are sold a day and the count increases during weekends.
The spicy patty which goes well with a ghati chutney ( a combo of garlic and chillies) is priced at Rs.12.
“It is so Mumbai,” says Bina Maheshwari, a resident of T.Nagar , waiting to get her parcel. She makes it a point to buy the deep-fried snack at least thrice a month.
Bhavin Mehta, the second-generation owner of the outlet, says he went to Mumbai to learn the nuances of preparing vada pav so that the same flavour can be brought to Chennai. “The item was not popular when I introduced it 12 years ago. Today, it does roaring business. The speciality of my pav is its salty nature unlike the usual one which is sweet,” he says.
Bhavin has a staff of four to help him at the outlet, which also sells bread bajji, kachori and mirchi bajji.
The shop is near Ekambareshwar Temple. Ph: 98401 77613.