Three Qurarter Chinese Bengaluru

If you want the best value Chindian in town, Three Quarter Chinese can’t be beat. Chindian, for the uninitiated, is India’s unique take on Chinese (mainly Hakka) cuisine. A perfect example of this country’s ability to absorb pretty much anything we encounter, adapt it and make it ours. Especially, when it comes to food (pork vindaloo from the Portuguese, naan from the Persians and English chai to name a few). So much so that now, nothing says Indian comfort food like Chindian. And nothing says Chindian like Three Quarter Chinese (TQC). Setup next to Amoeba (and under the very serviceable 20 Feet High), TQC is centrally located and easily accessible for anyone shopping in the CBD. Consisting of a single undivided space (apart from two private rooms) and an “open” kitchen, there’s no lack of tables. The fact that despite all these conveniences, the place can get pretty crowded at peak says a lot about its (well deserved) popularity. Service is quick, efficient and to-the-point while the décor minimal and unobtrusive. The buffet is not as wide as the nearby Chutney Chang: sixteen or so choices, split evenly between pure Indian and Chindian food. Unlike Chutney Chang however, I can’t say I’ve ever had a bad dish from among of them. That combined with a generous dessert section, salad bar and live shawarma grill more than makes up for the perceived lack of choice: quality over quantity. The minor negatives (a tendency not be fully prepared at opening time and hit-and-miss laundry for the tablecloths) do not detract significantly from the overall experience. There's not a great deal to say about TQC simply because TQC doesn't set out to do a great deal. It’s refreshingly single minded about its unpretentious USP: serve good, affordable Chindian. In a fairer world, where Chindian would be considered a legitimate regional cuisine on par with Jiangsu or Fujian, TQC would be celebrated as a leading light. Till then, if want to go somewhere affordable where the focus is on food and not frippery, you could do lot worse than here.