Mumbai Food: Eatery in Kalina serves value for money fare

We believe that the most important lesson our generation has learnt is that basic is good enough for fashion labels to have a subcategory of basic apparel and Instagram to source gifs and stickers that say basic This should transcend to food as well because at the end of the day nothing beats sasta and tikau And so Kalinas Chindianeatery King Chilli has risen above the glitzy culinary offerings of BKC that are high on the glam quotient but not easy on the pocketWe have been ordering in from what is easily one of the neighbourhoods favourite haunts for months But a week ago we learnt that it has launched in a new avatar with a larger dining area not far from the space it started in five years ago So on a Sunday night we finally step out to pay the place a visitAt the corner of St Marys Chowk a brand new shade covers the space Potted plants line the shacklike eatery and a tawdry magenta curtain which we identify mdash having spotted hawkers selling it for 150 at the roadside Monday market mdash serves as the door Inside chairs and tables that evoke the memory of Nilkamal furniture makes for the seating space along with three booths with slightly plusher sofas that offer some privacy but are rickety all the sameWe join a queue that comprises Catholic aunties in their Sunday frocks and roadside Romeos in their GullyBoyinspired garb waiting outside the restaurant The crowd is substantial but fast moving so we get a table in five minutesTom yumOur partner who is whining about a sore throat calls for a tom yum soup Rs 139 while we order the crackling spinach chicken Rs 285 and kung pao potato Rs 174 to begin with and a chicken in chilly oyster sauce Rs 295 veg pad Thai noodles Rs 190 and chicken North East pot rice Rs 249 for the mainsKung pao potatoWe find how nothing about the tom yum soup being Thai cute adrak replaces galangal nimbu takes the place of kaffir lime and its identifiable piquant brothy flavour has transformed into a chatpata and fiery soup with a strong kick of spice The addition of finely chopped dhaniya is equally endearing Tom yum or not it works The chicken appetiser is enjoyable in that the meat itself is juicy and hot The crackling spinach that it comes with is nice too but perhaps could have been elevated with a stronger dose of garlic We relish the kung pao potatoes and find the use of wedges quite cool it adds a certain girth to the dish The lightly toasted whole cashews lend a mild sweetness marrying the dish with its inherent tanginessChicken in oyster chilli sauceThe pot rice has a smoky hotness that is likely to have come from the overuse of chilli powder This dish leaves two out of the four people at the table gasping for breath We are still undecided about the preparation and could only safely say that we did not hate it The pad thai noodles are a slight letdown having been overcooked this time However the chicken in oyster chilly sauce a staple for us from the eatery helps liven up the noodlesWe eat quickly despite the shortcomings of the mains and thats where King Chilli actually passes the test Its the kind of eatery that may have a few botchups but will remain the goto place as is evident from the queue even as we leave the restaurant an hour and a half later for Kalinas humble diners including us What we mean is where else could we have afforded an endofthemonth double date for a total cost of Rs 1522 and take home doggy bags Only a sasta and tikau place rightTIME 1130 am to 330 pm 7 pm to 1130 pm AT King Chilli near StMarys Chowk Kalina Santacruz EastCALL 9833487217Catch up on all the latest Crime National International and Hatke news here Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get latest updatesKing Chilli didnt know we were there The Guide reviews anonymously and pays for meals