I love Thosai.
To be more precise, I love Ghee Masala Paper Thosai.
(I know somone is saying “It’s DOSAI lah!)
Many many many years ago, one of my best buddies and I were in the vicinity of Serangoon Road one afternoon and we decided to have lunch. He brought me to the famous Komala Villas (the old one at Buffalo Road and not the newer one along Serangood Road itself) and treated to me to thosai.
But not just any thosai.
My buddy, Raffiq, ordered for me a Ghee Masala Paper Thosai.
I’d always ordered just normal Masala Thosai in the past and it definitely used to be my favourite.
But – my life was changed forever that day.
And I know the extra ghee gives it the unhealthy edge so we should definitely enjoy it in moderation. But, I tell you, the few times that I DO have it, it’s the bomb!
Now every time I have thosai, it has to be Ghee Masala Paper Thosai.
And I always went back to the Komala Villas at Buffalo Road because I knew I was guaranteed a delicious meal.
But recently, my darling wife told me that one of HER best buddies, Marina, recommended a new place to try some thosai. And it was just a stone’s throw from Komala Villas.
Sri Kamala Vilas is just at the block opposite Tekka Market. It seems like a humble enough place but the food inside is waiting to take you for a delicious and sinful trip.
Okay first things first – what’s the difference between a normal Thosai and a Paper Thosai.
Well, as the name implies, in the latter the thosai is ‘paper thin’ (just like the difference between a normal prate and a paper prata). A layer of the dough batter is scraped off while on the pan resulting in a thin crusty pancake known as the Paper Thosai.
Now for those of you who have had Paper Thosai before, you will also know that it is very obviously bigger in size as compared to a normal thosai.
That picture seems like it’s small right? Well that’s just the camera angle so I could fit the whole thing in the frame. That Paper Thosai there is as long as my arm!
The thosai itself was very crispy and despite being ‘paper thin’, make no mistake – it will fill you up.
And the ghee which is drizzled on the batter as it cooks definitely gives it the extra ‘kick’ that many of us enjoy albeit a very unhealthy one.
Another important factor is the filling.
And this was one part that had me pondering quite a bit.
The masala filling at Sri Kamalas was different from most other places where I’ve had Masala Thosai.
It was a little more ‘mashed-up’ to put it one way. Most other places I went to had a more chunky texture to their masala where you can see the chunks of potato and carrots etc.
Make no mistake the masala was super tasty but it had more of a ‘creamy’ texture if I could put it that way.
And because I was so used to a more ‘chunky’ masala, my initial reaction was one of surprise.
But the more I think about it, maybe it wasn’t so bad after all.
I guess one of the main advantages of having it this mashed-up is that it’s not too dry!
Of course you’ll the usual assorted accompaniments all of which were tasty.
In fact, my darling wife seldom has the coconut chutneys but even she was going for it!
Wash it down with a nice cool Lassi to finish off the meal!
Well after years upon years of going to Komala Villas, I finally have another place to go.
And to be perfectly honest, it’s been quite a long time since I went to Komala Villas for a meal so it would not be fair to compare the 2 right now.
Maybe I sense a Food Battle on the way yes? 🙂
Well whatever your taste may be – normal or paper, ghee or masala, egg or plain – I seriously recommend you try out this place if you have not yet done so.
But I’m sure you thosai lovers will agree with me on the next statement…
Sri Kamala Vilas Restaurant
Blk 662 Buffalo Road
#01-16 (Opposite Tekka Market)
Operating Hours: 8.30am til 9.00pm daily
================================================
Updated 7 May 2013
Well it’s looks like Sri Kamala Vilas has undergone a slight makeover!
They have renamed themselves to a simpler ‘Kamala Restaurant’.
Not to worry, it’s still at the same location. They’ve just done some minor renovations to clean up the place and make it a little more roomy.
And in case you were wondering, it’s still Halal and the prices are still the same 🙂
In fact, I had another Ghee Masala Paper Thosai today and it seemed a little bigger! An absolute monster!
So head down soon and don’t be shocked to see the new decor!
