Dosa at Nooru Mahal Restaurant
Posted on 07/03/2010
Address: 2783 E. Hastings, Vancouver, Vancouver
Every once in a while I get a craving for Indian food - and not just any Indian food but, specifically, dosas. To the uninformed, dosas is made of a wrapping of fermented crepe (made from rice and black lentils), stuffed with well, anything that tastes like Indian food! There are so many varieties and versions of dosa, but the one I know and love from my experience in Singapore three years ago is the Masala dosa -- that is spiced potatoes.
Nooru Mahal is a first-class place to try South Indian food. I have been to Singapore and sampled the best Indian food outside India (Tekka market anyone? Banana Leaf Restaurant on Race Course Rd. anyone?) and this dosa rivals those I have tried in good old Singapore -- home to arguably the world's largest concentration of foodies..
What could be better than a first-class masala dosa for $4.95? A masala dosa for $4.95 everyday!
The front cover of the menu features a gorgeous photo of the Taj Mahal. Nevermind that this is a South Indian restaurant and the Taj Mahal is in the North! We are here for the food not a geography lesson..
An interesting menu. I have never sampled Sri Lankan cuisine before and am looking forward to a taste. But today all I have come for is a dosa.. and maybe a goat curry? Mmm, I love goat.
More menu..
You have heard of the "bucket list"? This is the dosa list! Notice the $6.95 price of the masala dosa which is priced everyday at $4.95.. what the?
Uncle D -- my eating partner and eating guide. He has tasted the best food in almost every country on earth. Originally from Singapore, he could reasonably be called 'chief foodie' and given some sort of degree or medal?
Catch of the day! Nothing like a piping hot dosa served on a stainless steel tray with the appropriate fixings of chutney et al.
Another view to illustrate the almost ridiculous length of this mouth-watering treat.
Goat biryani. Nothing like a restaurant that actually has goat in stock and serves it when asked. You would be surprised.
The friendly waitress brought us over an egg in some sort of tomato-based sauce after we drooled for so long over the menu and waited so patiently for the food to arrive. Maybe she liked it when we asked her where she was from, how long here etc. Something special for her special guests?
A restaurant is defined by its food but is bounded by its decor. Good food and good decor = a winning combination. I took some photos of the rather good art I noticed hanging around the joint. This piece illustrates a nostalgic scene familiar to people all across Asia. A farmer sitting on his ox-driven cart with the setting sun behind him as he brings tired bones to hearth and home to rest for another hard day's work ploughing fields etc.
A nice fabric piece depicting probably the most romantic architectural landmark ever known -- the Taj Mahal.
From Wikipedia "The Taj Mahal also "the Taj"; (means "crown of buildings" in Urdu) is a mausoleum located in Agra, India. It was built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal." Obviously the proprietors of this establishment have a special connection to "the Taj". Somehow, after eating delicious dosa and goat biryani so do I. So do I..