Up South at Jayanagar is an exclusive South Indian restaurant which offers combination meals at affordable prices. "We do not have the concept of thalis but we have combo meals", says Vinay Kumar, manager, 23. "There are totally six types of combos, there is lunch combo priced at Rs 85 which has white rice, sambhar, rasam, flavoured rice and a sweet", he explains. There is a wide range of dishes; each dish is accompanied with different types of chutneys and spicy sambhars and also they do not use soda. Up South is easy on the pocket and a fun place for hanging out.

#23, 26th main, 9th block, Jayanagar. Ph: 080-22443434

Peppers is one of those few restaurants offering authentic Kerala cuisine at BTM layout. Recommended dishes are mussels fry, karimeen porichathu (a fish delicacy) and crab masala. The restaurant serves Kerala style thali at just Rs 80. The thali has fish curry prepared in tomato puree and tamarind flavourings known as kondampulli, beetroot masala, rice, pickle, pulliserry with toasted pumpkins (a yogurt curry), avial (vegetable mix – a famous Kerala dish), beans mezhukkupuratti, thoran and curd. Home delivery is available for those within the radius of three kms.

#4, 1st floor, 1st D Cross, 20th Main, Maruthi Nagar, BTM Layout 1st stage. Ph 9742798809

Nagarjuna Chimney, at 3rd block Jayanagar, can be your stop when you feel like savouring tasty Andhra cuisine. The Andhra style veg thali is served on huge plantain leaves. The tastiest item is perugu polussu (curry made of curds and vegetables). Price: Rs 120. Nagarjuna is famous for its gongura chutney, podi (a kind of dry blended masala powder) and crisp and hot fried chillies. It promises you a sumptuous Andhra meal. Biryanis are also available.

9th main, 3rd block Jayanagar. Ph: 25559848

Gud Dhani is a small restaurant which offers authentic north Indian food. The thali has two curries, rotis, pulav or jeera rice with gravy and sweet is available for the special thali. "I am a regular customer here and I am in love with the food. Paneer starters are exceptionally good and drinks like jaljeera and lassi are really well made and also the thalis here are filling and affordable", says Kiran Sawarkar, 24, a customer. The items on the menu are not unique, but the taste is!

Price: Thali: Rs 50 and special thali: Rs 85. #470, 16th main, near Punjab national bank, BTM Layout 2nd stage Ph: 65323663

Kamat Bugle Rock, is further away at Bull temple road, and serves tasty authentic north Karnataka fare along with music from the region. So when you feel its jolada rotti time, this is the place. The food is served on a huge plantain leaf and the thali offers unlimited jolada rottis also known as bhakris (a cube of butter for each bhakri), stuffed brinjal curry, two types of chutneys, a pickle, papad, rice, curd, buttermilk, finally a banana after the meal. Fruit salad available with special unlimited meals. Priced: Rs 160 and Rs 180 (with fruit salad)

#1, 5th main road, Bull temple road, Basavanagudi. Ph: 26605734.

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