With a plain black shade to protect from Delhi’s scorching sun, Saraswati stands with a few utensils and an idli-maker, selling two types of quintessential vadas and no prize for guessing hot-soft tender idlis. Clad in a saree,  Saraswati would perhaps be in her 50s. She is not alone, just next to her is Raju’s food corner and a few houses away is Lagumtai, selling dosa, vadas, idli, porontha and fiery red chicken curry. These are some of the food corners at Block 22 in Trilokpuri. This block is part of a larger Tamil ghetto in the Trilokpuri area of Delhi. Literally, these are food corners, because they are located at different corners of the crossroads crisscrossing the block. Well that’s enough of cross and corners in a sentence, but a true foodie can never get enough of these food joints that serve so many varieties of snacks.

Most of the residents in Block 22 are Chettiars, not to confuse them with the affluent Chettiars of the Chettinad region, it’s a weaver community that originally belongs to Karnataka, but migrated to Tamil Nadu many years ago, and now many of them are leaving here in Trilokpuri. Many years ago, poverty compelled them to get out of their homes looking for greener pastures in faraway lands. Well, they didn’t find greener pastures, what they found is a 25 sq yard land in the Trilokpuri resettlement area, which became their home away from home.

The men do jobs, while the ladies run these food corners from early morning till afternoon. Only, two corners open in the evening. Recently, one gentleman has started selling Tamil-style egg and chicken biryani on Sunday mornings.

Eating in these corners is as good as eating in a Tamil household; most of these joints are set up at the entrance, with minimalistic settings such as a bench, and a few chairs, the food is prepared live and served hot. The shop closes as soon as they are sold out. Most importantly, the taste is homely, sambar is not spicy, you can see more of dal and less of water in the sambar, the idlis and vadas are piping hot and the porontha is crunchy. There are quite a few exciting non-vegetarian options, too, egg dosa and porontha with a fiery red chicken curry.

Eat the chicken curry with caution, it’s hot and it’s so spicy that it may make some of you jump out of your seats. The porontha, is your typical South Indian maida lachcha porontha, famously called the Malabar Porontha which is best had with Malabar Mutton Curry. Well the chicken curry here is a far cry from the coconut based mutton curry, but for all the spice lovers, it is worth a try.

Last, but not the least, the pricing is reasonable. The vada and idlis cost Rs 5 each, sambar and chutney is complimentary. A single porontha with potato curry/sambar cost Rs 10 each, and two pieces of porontha with chicken curry cost Rs 60/plate. Saraswati was serving more and more, as if I was a guest at her home, but I was a little wary, than she said, “Khao khao, bohot sasta hai, sirf paanch rupeese.” And there was a grin on my face.