Vada Pav In Madras

I have been a fan of vada Pav from my Bombay days. I remember the spicy and crisp vada at the Sri Krishna shop at Dadar West outside the station. I had been searching for a similar shop in Chennai and I came across an article http://www.hindu.com/rp/2008/06/29/stories/2008062950050200.htm which mentioned a shop called Mehta's in Mint Street (which is in Sowcarpet, a predominantly Marwari area). 

Once I read the article, I was waiting for the right occasion to go to Sowcarpet and gulp down a few vadas. And that day came

The persons who cook and serve customers in the shop (note that this is a shop which is about 3' by 3' and all customers stand outside on the road and eat there) wear ear studs, they are from Rajasthan.

If you love driving, like good roads without traffic, then you might just want to forego the idea of going to Mint street. But if you are like me and would take any risk in life to get some good (read unhealthy) food, then a trip to that shop is worth it. The vada is good. I ate it without chutney, but with a lot of chili powder spread on the pav. I would have loved to have fried green chilies served along with the vada. But that was not to be. The shop does not serve fried green chilies. But until I find another place which serves good vada (with or without pav), I will keep coming to Mint Street. 

Additional reading: http://m.thehindu.com/arts/magazine/article3657300.ece/