Chai Social - Milton — Restaurant in Milton

Ok, here it goes. Honestly, this place feels a bit overhyped, especially when it comes to their chai. I’ve had better elsewhere. I went in hoping to try their large Karak chai which I assumed would be a staple here but they didn’t have it. That was disappointing, especially since that’s what they’re supposedly known for.

So, we ended up ordering the small Karak chai, and unfortunately, it was served cold. Chai, especially Karak, needs to be hot always. That’s non-negotiable. I’d rate it 2/5.

We also ordered the large pakora plate, which included potato, onion, and mirchi pakoras. The quantity of mirchi pakoras was noticeably less (only four), while the other two were fine. Taste-wise, it was alright. I’d give it a 3/5.

Tried the vada pav as well, but it really missed the mark. It took a long time to arrive and was served cold. The bun was dry and a bit too oily, the vada was falling apart and lacked flavor. The chutney on the side was watery and didn’t taste quite right. They also included just two tiny fried chillies — which felt like an afterthought, so might as well not offer any.

We also tried the dahi puri — yes, we ordered a lot of food because we had heard good things about this place, and wanted to give it a fair shot. I specifically told the counter I’d be taking the dahi puri to-go, and asked them to keep all the wet ingredients in separate containers. Unfortunately, they only put the dahi (curd) on the side — not the chutneys. By the time I got home, all the puris were soft and soggy, thanks to the watery chutneys already mixed in. I'd rate that one 2/5. Not happy with it at all.

Now, the spicy Creamy Maggi was probably the highlight for us. It was flavorful, comforting, and definitely hit the spot. I’d give it a solid 4/5. That said, for $9, the portion could’ve been better.

And here’s the part that really surprised me — I asked the counter for an extra empty glass so we could share our soft drink. The server flat-out said it would be $0.50. I honestly thought they were joking. I had placed a pretty decent food order, and yet they were still trying to charge me for an empty cup, as if I was trying to get away with something. The attitude was unnecessary, and it left a bad taste.

Bottom line: Overpriced, overrated, and underwhelming. They’ve nailed the hype, but definitely not...

We went there as a group of 6 and love trying out newer restaurants in and around the GTA, Mississauga, Milton, Oakville and Burlington. We came to Milton as our central meeting point and chose Chai Social for our birthday celebration. My first experience with one of the servers was not very pleasant because he was rather abrupt. He later softened up after I complained to his colleague about his attitude. We indulged in their karak chai, Persian tea which I thought was well served( not hot enough though), 3 different medium boards and chicken tikka rolls. The food arrived in a timely manner however the buzzers don’t work quite as efficiently. The pakora board was decent but I question the use of wooden boards for the chaats and yogurt based dishes from a hygiene perspective. How are these boards cleaned and sanitized? After our meal we waited for the boards to be cleared as would be assumed in a restaurant but that did not happen to our dismay. We then chose to clear the boards and placed them on the empty table next to us since it was not busy at that time. Sadly though, the owner of the restaurant proceeded to yell at me and tell me off about having left the dishes on the table. There was no signage stating where the dishes had to be left. This is uncalled for behavior to a customer and I guess customer service on this situation is not a requirement for opening a restaurant. Not only does this place lack customer service skills but there is no decorum around efficiency and running a restaurant . Having a separate prayer room for the staff would be helpful since it also hampered our access to the washroom. Overall, I don’t think I will be visiting this restaurant again. My girlfriends were so distraught about the owner’s behavior that one of them actually went up to him and although apologetic he didn’t make any amends...

I visited Chai Social in Milton expecting a great tea-time snack, especially their Aloo Bajji (Potato Bajji), but the experience was underwhelming. The biggest letdown was the extremely light coating of besan (gram flour) batter on the potato slices. Instead of the crispy, golden exterior that makes this dish so satisfying, the potatoes were barely coated, making them taste more like plain fried slices rather than the flavorful fritters they should be .

The batter was so thin that it didn’t adhere properly, leaving patches of uncoated potato, which resulted in an uneven texture—some parts were soggy while others were undercooked. A good Aloo Bajji should have a thick, well-spiced besan layer that crisps up beautifully when fried, but this version missed the mark entirely .

Additionally, the seasoning was lacking. There was barely any hint of ajwain (carom seeds) or red chili powder, which are essential for that authentic, aromatic kick. The dish just tasted bland and oily rather than crispy and flavorful .

For a place that prides itself on chai and snacks, this was a disappointing execution of a classic Indian street food item. I hope they revisit their recipe—perhaps adding more besan, rice flour for crispiness, and proper spice balance—because right now, it’s not worth ordering again.

Suggestions for Improvement: ✔ Thicker batter consistency (should coat the potatoes evenly). ✔ Better spice balance (ajwain, chili powder, and garam masala). ✔ Proper frying technique (oil temperature control to avoid sogginess).

Until then, I’ll be looking elsewhere for my...