Anna Oru plate kaalaan !!!

A plate of the all-famous Kaalan

Masala Puri

Dahi Puri

Bhel Puri

              

  Kaalan kadais have for long been a phenomenon in the streets of Coimbatore. Today anyone could find a Kaalan shop in nooks and corners of most streets in Coimbatore. Although these shops are named after the exquisite dish made of mushrooms (by the people in fact) they also offer a wide variety of Indian chaat items like Bhel puri, Masala puri, Cutlet chat, Samosas ,Dahi Puri etc. Although these are the same chaat items that are found across India, the chaat dishes offered in the Kaalan kadai’s of Coimbatore have an unique South Indianess to them in terms of its tastes. This shows the effect of cultural interactions among the resident tamil population and the incoming migratory north Indians who come to Coimbatore for better jobs and business  avenues that has resulted in the birth of such unique dishes.The lip smacking, piping hot food and the pocket friendly rates have made Kaalan Kadais an instant hit among the population of Coimbatore especially among the city’s youth (no wonder). The popularity of such Kaalan Kadais could be measured by the sheer number of such kadais and the number of young customers (mostly of school and college going age) who throng such places enjoying the food with their friends having a good time. The phenomenon is such that the number of kaalan kadais in Coimbatore are directly proportional to the number of tuition centers in the city. The increase in Tuition centers have literally increased the businesses of many kaalaan kadais in the vicinity of the tuition centers. Come every evening the students after their stressful and jam-packed day of attending schools in the morning and tuition centers in the evening de-stress themselves by grabbing a plate of kaalaan or their favorite chaat dish. Every male student who has done his schooling in Coimbatore will relate to the dialogue “Vaa machi oru plate Kaalaan podalaam” (or some other dialogue which states the same thing) which he has shared on many occasions with his friends. It’s ironically true that every street in the Saibaba Colony area will have a tuition center and a kaalan kadai within a few hundred metres of its vicinity. Although there are countless numbers of Kalaan Kadais in the city each one has its unique taste and pricing and then there are these kaalaan kadais you simply can’t miss for their food.

                  

 

3 STAR KAALAN SHOP

A CUSTOMER FINISHING A PLATEFUL OF KAALAN

One such kaalan kadai is the 3 star Kaalan kadai in the VOC park area behind the roller (skating) rink. This kaalan shop has been serving to the residents of Coimbatore for more than thirty years now. Started off in 1974 it’s still in business enjoying a loyal clientele. What makes this kaalan kadai unique is the tatsty food it has on offer at down to earth prices. Kaalaan, Bhel puri, Masala puri, Cutlet chat, Samosas ,Dahi Puri, Cauliflower Chilly are priced at Rs.10/- dish, whereas combinations like Egg-kaalan, kaalaan-bhel, egg-bhel, egg- cauliflower Manchurian etc. are priced at Rs.20/- per dish. The prices are jaw dropping for the quality of food they serve, which makes this kaalan kadai a must try among the ones in Coimbatore.   3 star Kaalan kadai is open for everyday of the week by 5pm in the evening.So next time you are in the VOC park area don’t forget to try the food at 3 star Kaalan kadai.
      
  A few more kaalan kadais to try in Coimbatore:

1) Kaalan Kadai near the Puliyamaram Bus Stop in N.S.R Road in Saibaba Colony- the kaalaan here is a must try.
2) ARC Sasi's Kaalan kadai on NSR Road near IAB & Photocentre in Saibaba Colony
3) ARC Suresh's Kaalan kadai in Saibaba Colony i the cut opp. to Hotel Vijay Paradise
4)Lovely Kaalan Kadai in Saibaba Colony near Loomworld complex.