Copper Chimney. The Hunupitiya ‘branch’ appears to be the original in what has now become a franchise – while the Marine Drive counterpart is fine, it’s still an epigone to Hunupitiya’s chopped up fried flair. The two rice devoted kades produce visually identical dishes – white beads of samba mixed with veg, a small nugget of orange-tinted chicken and a dollop of sweet ketchup and chilli paste on the side – but there’s just something more special – or MSG-riddled – at Hunupitiya.
While we’re not 100% sure which of the Copper kades came first, Hunupitiya is, without a doubt, the best. The oomph lacking in Marine Drive’s fare is entirely and tastily present here. Slick pearls of buttery (ie. oily) rice are infused with a deep savoury MSG kick, strewn with slim shreds of kan-kun and brownish mottlings of what we assume is either chicken or beef.
At Rs. 130 a packet (an amazing Rs. 60 for veg) you really can’t go wrong. Dining in or peering too closely at the surroundings, however, isn’t recommended – this isn’t hygiene at it’s best. Still, a tasty affordable lunch conveniently located in the office district.
