For over two decades, driving home to Mangalore from Bangalore via the Shiradi Ghat has been a part of life for us. The stretch is around 364 kms long and passes through Nelamangala, Kunigal, Hassan, Sakleshpur, and Kalladka as major stops before you are welcomed into Mangalore at Pumpwell Circle. Having passed this stretch across several times of the day, we have explored the food and restaurants to our hearts and bellies’ content. Here is a list of tried and tested places on the Bangalore to Mangalore Highway for some great food.
Malgudi Mylari Mane - Nelamangala
A popular spot among biker groups looking for a meaty breakfast before heading out on a long ride, Malgudi Mylari Mane is a 5-minute drive/ride once you take the turn onto NH-75 at Nelamangala. The restaurant focuses on the hearty meat fare of Karnataka. Popular dishes include their koli khara and mutton chops. A tried and tested breakfast combination is the Mylari Dose with a meat curry.
Malgudi Mylari Mane: No.21 Yantaganahalli palya, Near Bharat Petroleum Bunk, Mangalore Highway Nelamangala PO, Bengaluru
Shark Hotel - Narasandra
A favourite stop for breakfast, the thatte idlis with unlimited alu sagu and chutney are the draw here. This is an open-air restaurant, with tables under trees and an open kitchen. They also dish out crispy dosas and light vadas, but the idlis with a round of tea are the best.
Shark Hotel: Bandadka - Bengaluru Rd, Narasandra
SLR Biryani - Gowdagere
Another great pit stop for a meal, be it breakfast or lunch, is SLR Biryani. Much like the military hotels in Bangalore city, this is a small place which serves hearty, heavy meals. Mutton palavs with a boiled egg, ragi mudde with naati koli saaru, thatte idli with mutton curry, and more await you. They are closed on Mondays.
SLR Biryani: Bandadka - Bengaluru Rd, Gowdagere
Hotel Mayura - Bellur Cross
A popular stop for anyone looking for a good South Indian breakfast and filter coffee. The restaurant is large and has enclosed parking, clean toilets, a play area, and a menu that is sure to make you happy. Thick, soft set dosas, crispy vadas with chutney and sambar, ghee-laden pongal and sheera, and strong teas and coffees. They are open for lunch and dinner too and have recently added some interesting vegetarian biryanis to their offerings.
Hotel Mayura: Bangalore - Mangalore Hwy, Bellur Cross
Vaishali - Hatna
Kheema with set dosa, steaming hot puris with kheema masala, lemon tea with some mint – all the makings of a great spot to eat. Made famous on the Bangalore-Mysore highway, Vaishali on the NH-75 is fairly new but carries the same delicious menu.
Vaishali: 179, Bandadka - Bengaluru Rd, next to Kalinga residency, Hatna
The Imperial Heritage - Saklespur
Within the Ossor Estate, this is the place for some good meat biryanis. The cooks here are also handy with the tandoor and the kebabs are hearty and spicy, and it all makes for a good meal. The restaurant has a decent selection of vegetarian options. The place is spacious, makes for some nice photos, and has clean restrooms.
The Imperial Heritage: Ossoor estate, Sakleshpur, Kollahalli
The Ossor - Saklespur
Just outside the Ossor coffee estate, The Ossor is a great place to stop for a vegetarian meal. They have a good South Indian breakfast and offer estate coffee and a choice of fresh juices as well. They make some good rice-based dishes for lunch. The Ossor even has a few shops attached to it where you can buy snacks and some local goodies.
The Ossor: Bangalore - Mangalore Hwy, Kollahalli
Hotel Lakshmi Nivas / KT Hotel - Kalladka
Popularly known as KT Hotel, this has been a landmark place for decades now, for its Rhimjhim coffee and KT chai. Both beverages are served in transparent glasses and are set in layers that you stir together and mix. Their goli bajis, biscut rottis, vadas, and dosas hit the spot perfectly before you enter Mangalore.
Hotel Lakshmi Nivas: G1201, Bengaluru - Mangaluru Hwy, Kalladka
Ruth Dsouza Prabhu
Ruth Dsouza Prabhu is an independent journalist based in Bangalore India with 20 years of experience across media platforms. She has published in international publications like New York Times, Al Jazeera, The National, Whetstone SA, Fodor's Travel and Good Beer Hunting and top Indian publications like Nat Geo Traveller, Travel and Leisure, Mint Lounge, Conde Nast Traveller, Architectural Digest, Reader's Digest, Lifestyle Asia, The Hindu, Firstpost, HT Slurrp.com and Zeezest. Her niches are food, travel and people stories.
