Dish of the Week: Masala dosa from Vik's Chaat

"As an undergrad at Cal in the late 90s, Vik's was one of the "must visit" spots. At the time, it was about 10 years old - Vik's Chaat opened in 1989 as a small food counter in Vik's Market, which itself opened in 1987. Back then, it was in a warehouse. In 2009, Vik's moved to a bigger location in West Berkeley, complete with bright pink and orange painted walls on the outside."

"The divine dosa is delivered on a stainless steel tray. On a recent visit, I remembered why Vik's still pops up as a food memory. The dosa batter was perfectly cooked, thin with a bit of crisp, one side hovering over the edge of the tray. The inside was filled to the max with spiced potatoes. I could not get enough of the thin crepe with its slightly fermented taste."

"To get to said dosa, you can line up in front of their counter and order (behind the glass case are many desserts), or walk through the other entrance where you meander through a well-stocked Indian marketplace that has a ton of spices, bagged lentils, and fresh produce. You then arrive in a cavernous area, where you line up to order."

Vik's Chaat opened in 1989 as a small food counter inside Vik's Market, which opened in 1987. The restaurant moved in 2009 to a larger West Berkeley location with bright pink and orange exterior walls. The venue offers chaat, spicy Indian street snacks, and a cavernous cafeteria-style dining area connected to a well-stocked Indian marketplace with spices, lentils, and fresh produce. The masala dosa is thin, slightly fermented, crisp at the edges, stuffed with spiced potatoes, and served on a stainless steel tray with sambar, two raitas, and chutney. A plain dosa costs about $13 and constitutes a full meal.

Read at The Oaklandside