The Food Treasure - Press Cart Yummy Food for Hungry Tummy

The roadside food is a speciality of Indian cities. You will find one such street food vendor right in front of School of Communication (SoC) near Udayavani office. This is a small eat out popularly known as Press Cart, located in a quiet crossroad, which leads to a garment factory is the most liked place in Manipal. This tiny little place, which started 25 years ago, initially to serve employees working in Udayavani press is very popular among students and employees working in the neighbourhood. Press cart serves the most filling and nice spread of mouth-watering snacks. It served many people till night at 2 o’clock until a few years back.

The hot fuming Idli Tove (daal), Idli Rasam, Bun Masala (customized as per your tastes with Vegetarian or Egg Filling), French Toast many other dishes are the specialities of this place.

The owner duo who were popularly known as Press Cart Anna when asked about how these different food items became part of their menu, they say that people customized certain things as per their choice and thus some dishes emerged.

The uniqueness of the food in this place is every dish has something new to be admired. The idlis here have a different shape and are served in a round plate dipped either in spicy dal or in Pepper Rasam. One other best dish which many love here is the crunchy chaklis dipped in either rasam or Dal. The chaklis are kept just below the stove by which they turn very crispy they later are dipped in dal when asked. The Taste is simply mind-blowing.

Some People Prefer even to eat Idli Masala which is made by crushing three idlis with a masala prepared by onion tomatoes and other spices. However, the basic masala for the stuffing is made ready once the shop opens. This masala is used with few other ingredients as per the choice for different dishes such as bun Masala etc. Though a common base Masala is kept ready for many dishes, every dish has a different flavor and unique taste.

The Bun Masala which is one of the most favorite cuisine of the students as well as the other customers are made in many ways as per the choice. Simple Bun Masala is made by applying butter to the buns later heating it adding Masala inside it. Some prefer Cheese along with it some prefer egg, some prefer little more spicy. Trust me he takes every pleasure in customizing it to you.

Cheese Keshto yet another mouthwatering delicacy which is most eaten by the students of this town. People come to this place just to eat this. The other best dishes to be mentioned are mixture masala, chakli Dal or Chakli rasam, bread omlette and French toast. Just for easy bites he also keeps some aloo bondas, samosas, veg Puffs. He also serves hot tea and coffee and if not interested in both them you can drink cocum and lime juice.

The shop which opens by 2.30 pm closes by around 11.30 pm in the night. As there are rules for not opening the shops late night it is being closed early nowadays. For the best taste and a great change and also in a budget that you want to spend it is highly recommended.

– Kavita Nagasampige