The snack with an iconic status in north India and other chats are tingling the Malayalee taste buds, especially in this commercial capital, thanks to the push cart street vendors like Singh.

Made of puffed rice, sev, mashed potatoes, chopped onions and tangy chutneys, these snacks are not very expensive, probably that is why they find many takers even during these hard times when families think twice to go to restaurants.

At least over 40 such vendors are doing brisk business as day light fades and night creeps in Kochi, which is home to people from different states.

But it was not a bed of roses when Bhoop Singh started the business. His customers were earlier north Indians, but over the years, Malayalees have also joined it and have taken a liking to the tangy chats and 10 different varieties of bhelpuris and vada pavs, Singh said.

Buoyed by the success, he brought his younger brother Santosh to help him in the business, who is now independently running the business at another spot.

As daylight fades, the vendors begin their business, which goes on till 9 pm, Santosh said. Recession has not hit their business and school and college students, office-goers and even elderly people are their regular customers.

Bhelpuri, dahipuri, sevpuri, samosa chat, papri chat and kachoris are some of the mouth-watering delicacies offered by these vendors.

According to Singh, when he began his business Malayalees were not aware of bhelpuris and were very cautious accepting the snack. "But over the years, people from all walks of life unhesitatingly came to eat my bhelpuris and chats," he says.

The different varieties of puris and chats are economical, light on the pockets and tasty, which is why it is a big hit among teenagers, say engineering students Mathew, Sanub and Radhakrishnan.

"We love bhelpuris and cannot get enough," they said.

However, there are issues of cleanliness. But the vendors say they use good water and oil for their delicacies and do not compromise on that and that is why they are allowed to do business by the corporation authorities.

Singh, who had earlier worked in sweet shops at Mumbai and Nasik, decided to come to Kerala as he was confident of his skills and hoped that Malayalees would like his snacks.

His earnings come to about Rs 6,000 a month after all the expenses, which is enough to feed his family of wife, and three children and a brother.

Other vendors are from different states, including Orissa and Rajasthan.

Cashing in on the growing interest in north Indian food, several restaurants have also begun serving chats and bhelpuris. Some say, the younger guests prefer these snacks to the traditional idlis and dosas.