Gulab Ji Chai Wale — Restaurant in Jaipur Municipal Corporation

Its been 19 years, I am coming here regularly and the best part is the mornings moments I had lived and cherished. Morning 2 glass chai with bun maska samosa or plain bread slice and the awesome experience of having it whether I am alone or with friends or family, many times served as my pride fulfilment area.

Still if I am giving 4 star there is a reason for this, I have seen bauji (the owner) serving free tea and 2 slices of bread at around 5 am be it any season and 10 years back when Jaipur really had great winters, the 1 full glass tea and 2 slices of bread giving to 400+ street beggars, homeless people were his daily routine without failure. And post doing that service, he used to serve us the tea with full ownership of serving gave us all the reasons in the world to be there. But today, when he wasn't there at the shop and it was night around 7 p.m. when I reached there after having troubled tea experience at Tea Saga. The professionalism, the serving mindset was missing in most and with the staff size of 10 people, 7 were doing their shifts including one blood relative of bauji.

I always had a theory, to know food quality, eat it when it's cold then it talks its true essence, if eaten hot it will mostly be good.

Today, it was the night when I chose the place as Tea can be required any time of the day, and shouldn't have mattered at all especially at Gulab Ji but the tea worst experience 1st time at Gulabji in last 19 years. With the startup rise in tea shops, the competition is already growing but still, the blindfolded pride on the entire staff with bauji was the pretty bad shape. I had to literally beg and fight to have my 3 glass of tea that too when there were not more than 10 customers compared to 500 in the mornings. Today I saw the future of Gulabji chai when bauji decides to stay at home resting as his current age is already 80+. The entire shop serving experience will go to ducks if bauji is not there, the young blood generation thinks its the tea they are selling, fool they are because its not just the tea which I can have much better at my home, I go there as a ritual to pay my regards to the Man who has served me for last 19 years without a single blink of any discomfort whatsoever.

My request, please do not mishandle as the shop is given to you only as the earning machine, all the 10 people currently working at Gulabji chai including baujis grandson can not even imagine to shut this fantastically running shop and take it further interior and in next 2 years just double the customers but it was done by bauji in his 80's just 3 years back and that's what I and many like me come to have experience of having tea with him. Please understand, its the experience what we look out for not just the tea. Your staff member was in verbal spat with one of your old customers and that too not being handled by anyone, what I saw was the group of 10 youngsters who are pretty old and regular visitors to the place and still your staff member was thanklessly getting into verbal spat, none of you doing anything to hold or calm down the situation, first time I felt not to come again in the night or anytime when bauji isn't there and god forbid but still the day will come when his age might not assist him coming and working, that time you will lose us because you think we come for the magical tea which you only make... I have written this long because I didn't feel good seeing the ugly mishandled verbal spat with your old customers.

Guys, please take this not seriously if you really serious in taking this business of serving tea to...

Gulab Ji Chai Wale in Jaipur is one of those places that has built a legendary status over the years. Located near Ganpati Plaza, this humble tea stall has been serving delicious chai for decades and has become a favorite among locals, tourists, and anyone who appreciates a good cup of tea. Whether you’re an early riser looking for a strong cup of chai to start your day or someone who enjoys a late-night tea session, this place has something special to offer.

Ambience & Vibe

Despite being a roadside tea stall, the atmosphere here is always lively. You’ll find people from all walks of life—office workers, college students, travelers, and even some celebrities—sipping on chai and chatting away. The setup is simple, with a few benches and standing space, but that’s part of its charm. The buzz of people, the aroma of freshly brewed tea, and the occasional honking of Jaipur’s streets create an experience that feels uniquely local.

The Famous Chai

The star of the show is, of course, the chai. Served in small glass cups, the tea is rich, flavorful, and has the perfect balance of spices. It’s a kadak (strong) tea, with a hint of ginger and cardamom, making it the ideal drink, especially in the mornings or on a chilly evening. The tea is brewed just right—not too watery, not too milky—just the perfect consistency that keeps you coming back for more.

Bun Maska & Snacks

A visit to Gulab Ji Chai Wale is incomplete without trying their famous bun maska. The soft, fluffy bun generously coated with butter is the perfect companion to the chai. When dipped into the hot tea, it melts in your mouth, making for a comforting and satisfying bite. They also serve other snacks like samosas and kachoris, but the bun maska remains a favorite.

Affordable & Quick Service

One of the best things about this place is its affordability. The prices are pocket-friendly, making it accessible for everyone. The service is also quick, even during rush hours. Despite the huge crowd, the staff is efficient and ensures that your chai is served fresh and hot.

Crowd & Timing

It’s almost always crowded, especially in the mornings and evenings. You’ll find people standing in groups, enjoying their tea and discussing everything from politics to cricket. The best time to visit is early in the morning when you can truly enjoy the freshness of the tea in a relatively less chaotic setting. The stall opens early in the morning and remains open till late at night, making it the go-to spot for tea lovers at any time of the day.

Overall Experience

Gulab Ji Chai Wale isn’t just about chai—it’s about the experience. The combination of a legendary tea, a simple yet lively setting, and the constant hum of conversations makes it a must-visit in Jaipur. Whether you’re a chai enthusiast or just someone looking to soak in the local culture, this place is...

Today early morning (530 am), I visited Gulabji Chaiwale, one of the most recommended place for Chai in Jaipur. However, did not find anything unique or spectacular about this place.

The chai was as normal as it is available at any roadside chai tapri in India. Rates (Rs. 25 for one pyali of chai) was normal. But chai did not have sufficient quantity of adrak (ginger) and Ilaychi (Cardamom) so, taste was just average.

Even bun muska (which is another highly recommended dish with chai) was average. Bun was soft but much smaller in size, muska was possibly a local muska and not amul or branded butter. Bun muska is no where compared to the bun muskan available at various Irani restaurants in Mumbai and Pune (where buns are not only soft, but huge in size and quantity of muska is much higher than what is used at Gulabji Chaiwale, Jaipur).

May be the Gulab Ji Chaiwale is since 1946 (when possibly no one was selling chai & bun muskan on road side tapri), the place is highly recommended.

Even, I feel chai Patti used at Gulabji Chaiwale is below normal quality and possibly tea dust and not good quality tea leaves.

Majority of crowd at Gulab Ji Chaiwale were first time tourists (like me) & honeymoon couples, who possibly visited Gulabji Chaiwale after various recommendations seen on YouTube by food bloggers.

However, I personally found both Chai and bun muska at Gulabji Chaiwale as most overhyped place to enjoy chai. (Even the numerous chai tapris spread outside every railway station and bus stands across India offer equally same quality tea almost at same price).

My personal recommendation is one can visit Gulabji Chaiwale just to take some pictures and posting on social media (to say, you had chai at possibly oldest road side chai place in Jaipur, which is highly advertised and recommended), but not because it offers best quality chai and bun muska. (Since it was too early in morning I did not try samosa and mirchi bonda, but I am sure, even these food items will be average quality as offered at any roadside joint across length and...