Trying out Jhunur Polau for the first time

I had not been to Jhunu Polau Ghor before, but I kept hearing about it quite a lot. "Their 'morog polau' is legendary," many people promised. "It's a must-have," recommendations came from time to time. 

In business for many decades, the place has surely made a name for itself, placing it in my list of 'the league of the legendary eatery brands of Old Dhaka.'  And yet, on the other hand, quite contrarily, there are many people who (when compared to other members of the 'league') have either not heard about Jhunur Polau or have never been there.

Last week, I went, with a hungry tummy. Expectations were high! After all, Jhunur Polau has been selling pilaf since around 1970: it has survived the test of time, and therefore it must be doing something right and good. 

Along with me came a friend of mine, who, I must remark, possess the deadly combination of having a 'serious' appetite and being hard-to-impress. 

Jhunu Polau Ghor's outlet does not stand out at all. It follows the quintessential outlook of many of the eateries in Old Dhaka. It is right beside a street. Signboard has pictures of hens. There's a 'degh' at the mouth of the shop. The place is not air-conditioned. There are a small number of seats. 

But because most outlets are like that anyway, the unpretentious ambience and décor did not deter me at all.     

In no time, morog polau arrived on the table. With the egg, 'deshi' chicken and a portion of chicken's 'geela-kolija-gola' on the side, my friend and I dived in. 

Morsel after morsel, we ate silently. If not anything else, an aspect of Jhunur Polau which immediately stands out is how shockingly less oily the dish is. This feature would not fail to impress if you ever try out their pilaf. 

"It's all right. What's the big deal about it, though? Nothing's that special," my hard-to-impress friend opined. 

"Well for starters, the pilaf is not at all oily, unlike many other restaurants where the pilaf is.  And the 'geela-kolija' on the side is not something all polau sellers provide," I said, trying to defend both the brand, and myself too, since I pushed him to come with me and try out the food. 

How is the taste, really? I liked it. But did it meet my expectations? Did it match the raving reviews? Yes, in the sense that if I am to sit for a blind test, I will probably able to tell it apart. No, perhaps because (due to the reviews) I built an almost unrealistic expectation in my mind!

Try it out for yourself. At best, you will fall in love with it like so many people have, or, at worst, it will be just 'all right'. In any case, you will have crossed off yet another name from list of the 'league of the legendary eatery brands of Old Dhaka' as we talked about in the beginning!  

Essential info 

Jhunu Polau Ghor opens around 2PM and serves till the food lasts! The outlet is located at 11 Narinda, a stone's throw from the oldest surviving mosque in Dhaka, Binat Bibir Masjid. In case you cannot figure out where exactly the place is, simply ask for directions; Jhunur Polau is very popular among locals. Or call them: 01972222314. 

By M H Haider