Bengaluru stores with decades-old recipes for Mysore Pak

A detailed guide on Bengaluru’s renowned sweet stores, famous for their Mysore Pak.

In the 19th century, royal cook Kakasura Madappa crafted a remarkable confection for King Krishna Raja Wadiyar IV, blending gram flour, ghee, and sugar. This delightful creation was christened Mysore Pak, forever intertwining its name with the city’s rich heritage.

Recently, journalist Rajdeep Sardesai stirred up online conversation by surprising BJP spokesperson Amit Malviya with Haldiram’s version of Mysore Pak. This unexpected choice left many netizens puzzled, wondering why he didn’t opt for a traditional South Indian sweet shop. Recognising the need to shed light on the genuine flavours of Mysore Pak, we present a curated list of historic and esteemed stores in Bengaluru that serve this iconic delicacy.

Established by VA Venkatachalapathy Setty in 1952, Sri Venkateshwara Sweetmeat Stall is renowned in Bengaluru for bringing the Mysore pak from Mysuru. Raghu Setty, the grandson who has managed the stall for the past 22 years, transformed the kitchen with scientific techniques and a dedicated food technician to ensure consistent texture and flavour. Raghu confirms, “At that time there was no one else selling Mysore Pak in Bengaluru.” They even import a special cream from Denmark to uphold the quality.

Raghu oversees the ghee sourced from loyal vendors and mills and sieves the gram flour, ensuring a consistent taste year-round. Rejecting automation, the sweet is still handmade, preserving the traditional flavours. Raghu says, “We don’t believe in automating the process, as it would compromise the authentic handmade flavours.” Their packaged Mysore Pak can last one month at room temperature. 

Price: 1 kilogram Mysore Pak is ₹1,000.

In the 1970s, N K Mahadeva Iyer from Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, put a different spin on Karnataka’s Mysore Pak through extensive experimentation. Eventually, the result was the creation of the Mysurpa, which became their distinctive dish. According to regular visitors, it is a seamless combination of pure ghee, gram flour, sugar syrup, and a hint of turmeric for colour.

They have over 60 retail outlets across India, including Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Chennai, where they not only offer sweets but also a variety of snacks. Bollywood actor Deepika Padukone is a devoted fan of their Mysore Pak , known for its powdery texture, sponge-like consistency, and generous use of ghee.