Chai Pani Asheville
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We kick off this season’s Places to Love in Asheville, North Carolina! And the timing is perfect. Living amongst ancient mountains, the people hold a wisdom of the past and a creativity to forge brilliantly into the future. You will meet local Makers and artists, proud shopkeepers, and history tellers all whose stories are strongly spoken or beautifully sung. Asheville is an episode good for your soul. Check your local station for air dates and times (check link in bio!) and don’t forget to set your DVR to see why Asheville, North Carolina is a Place to Love. @visitasheville @noircollectiveavl, @chaipani, @citizenvinyl, @alexarosemusic, @blueridgenps, @craftguild, @biltmoreestate #SamanthaBrown #PlacesToLove #Season5 #travelinspiration
samanthabrowntravelssamanthabrowntravels
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Chai Pani, located in Asheville, North Carolina, has garnered significant acclaim for its innovative take on Indian street food, earning the prestigious James Beard Award for Outstanding Restaurant in 2022. **Ambiance and Atmosphere** Upon entering Chai Pani, guests are greeted by a lively and colorful environment that mirrors the vibrancy of Indian street markets. The decor is eclectic, with bright hues and artistic touches that create a welcoming and energetic atmosphere. Despite its popularity, the restaurant maintains a neighborhood eatery feel, avoiding any sense of pretentiousness. **Culinary Offerings** Chai Pani's menu is a tribute to the diverse flavors of Indian street cuisine, offering a range of chaats (snacks), uttapams (savory crepes), and hearty platters. Chef Meherwan Irani's creative approach results in dishes that are both authentic and inventive. A standout appetizer is the Matchstick Okra Fries, which are thinly sliced, crisply fried, and served with a lime wedge, providing a delightful crunch and tang. For the main course, the Butter Chicken Thali is highly recommended. This dish features tender chicken pieces simmered in a rich tomato-cream sauce, accompanied by basmati rice, garlic naan, masala slaw, and a sweet yogurt sauce that balances the spices perfectly. Vegetarian options are plentiful, with dishes like the Paneer Tikka Roll—a wrap filled with spiced paneer cheese, complemented by fresh vegetables and chutneys—showcasing the restaurant's versatility. **Beverage Selection** The drink menu at Chai Pani offers traditional Indian beverages such as chai and lassi, alongside inventive cocktails like the Jal Jeera—a blend of tequila, spices, and mint—and the Bold Fashioned, featuring house masala bourbon, orange syrup, and bitters. **Service and Dining Experience** The staff at Chai Pani are known for their friendliness and attentiveness, contributing to a dining experience that is both enjoyable and efficient. Given the restaurant's popularity, especially after receiving national recognition, wait times can be considerable. However, the establishment's system of taking phone numbers and notifying guests when their table is ready allows patrons to explore downtown Asheville while awaiting their turn. **Community Engagement** Beyond its culinary achievements, Chai Pani is noted for its commitment to social justice, supporting various causes and engaging with the community. This dedication adds a layer of integrity to the establishment, resonating with patrons who value businesses that contribute positively to society. **Conclusion** Chai Pani successfully brings the dynamic flavors of Indian street food to Asheville, offering a dining experience that is both authentic and innovative. The combination of a vibrant atmosphere, diverse menu, and commendable service makes it a must-visit for both locals and visitors. While the increased popularity may lead to longer wait times, the quality of the food and the overall experience justify the patience. For those seeking a culinary adventure that captures the essence of Indian street cuisine, Chai Pani stands out as a top destination.
Faisal AhmedFaisal Ahmed
00
Over rated ! Chai pani more like chai pain ( due to wait times and stressful atmosphere, certainly not my cup of chai Underwhelmed & disappointed with the taste After reading rave reviews, I had my hopes up and was ready to eat some authentic Indian Chaat , decided to give this place a try and boy was i Disappointed! Not my cup of Chai ( tea) I am not food critic but I believe chai pani has certainly turned me into one Their self claim “mind blasting “ food , is meh at best imo, I’m talking about the 2 items we ordered, vada pav and aloo tikki . ( to go ) after waiting for over an hour . I’d like to mention that while waiting for our take out , we went strolling , it was a gorgeous, we came across this super cute cafe , LaughingSeed Cafe 👍🏻 has awesome patio seating! I highly recommend, ordered some fries , I highly recommend trying jalapeño onion fries , great ambience great staff and service , way better than chai pani I have had way better tasting Indian food at other Indian restaurants than Chai pani Being originally from the Maharashtra region of India, home of the vada pav , and being a bit of connoisseur of vada pav , their vada pav taste isn’t even close to what it should taste like. There’s a 100 diff ways any dish can be prepared , I get that , but to put peas in a vada pav is something that I’ve never seen being done A samosa stuffing can have peas but a vada pav …. I don’t think so Some dishes are best left unaltered. The aloo tikki and the vada is the same! How !!? Why ? Only difference, One is served in a pav while the other with chole . But the “ patty “ is the same Again , peas in an tikki aloo , just , no ! I feel like it the tastes / flavor are altered tremendously, not very Indian imo I’m glad I didn’t order the uttapam or any other dish We went Sunday nite hoping to eat dinner , but ridiculously long lines and wait list full …. Thought we’d give it another try and decided to come back for lunch Monday afternoon, wait list full , again It was either wait 80 mins to be seated or 63 mins for take out , we decided on take out to, save us some time Came back after 65 mins , went inside to pick up our order , its not ready , waited another 5-6 , while looking at the ambience inside ….. average! And outside seating is horrible ! I get it , that it being in the downtown area , touristy place , parking issues , I get all that …. But the quality of seating , trying to give it a road side eatery in India , those metal chairs looked so uncomfortable! I’m glad we didn’t dine in or out , eating under scaffolding isn’t my idea of a pleasant experience either The five stars reviews are surprising , had me fooled The dish that I really wanted to try , pav bhaji , was out of stock . Go figure I wouldn’t go back here or recommend
EAT BARK LOVEEAT BARK LOVE
00
Chai Pani in Asheville was a real blast! It really lived up to its name in serving some real delectable Indian food. We got: Matchstick Okra Fries: Okra is a staple in the Indian state where I’m from, but I haven’t ever had such kind of okra before. The seasoning in the fries wasn’t too overwhelming, and made the dish even more worth having. The lemon wedge was a nice addition too. Chicken Pakoras: The fritters with chicken were quite flavourful and made for another wonderful dish to share. I could really taste the delicious chickpea batter. It went well with the green chutney and the hot sauce, which they provided on request. Tomato & Cheese Uttapam: I really loved their twist on the South Indian dish of Uttapam. The cheese was delicious and fresh, and the tomatoes made it even more flavourful. 5/5 to this dish too! We also ordered a couple of drinks—Jal Jeera Soda, which had just the right amount of mint and ginger, and the Baby Tiger—which we found a bit wanting in taste. I’ll skip getting the Baby Tiger drink the next time I’m here. Chai Pani is one of the most popular restaurants in Asheville. We visited on a Friday evening around 15-20 mins before they opened(at 5:30pm). There was already a long line before us, and we had to wait for around 30 mins to be seated. They’ve seating both inside as well as outside. If you’re looking to visit on a weekend or during busy hours, it would be a good idea to visit very close to when they open if you don’t want to wait long. I read the story of how Chai Pani started and the story of its founder, Meherwan Irani. It’s a classic immigrant success story, and I’m glad for Irani and his success. The Chai Pani group has a bunch of other restaurants in the US, one of them being Botiwalla, which is right next to where I live in Charlotte, North Carolina. So I had always been excited about visiting Chai Pani, and I’m so glad I did. Parking nearby is street parking. They’ve restrooms inside. Visit Chai Pani for some delectable Indian street(and non-street) food. You won’t be disappointed! The funky murals on the wall are a nice addition as well.
Akshat KumarAkshat Kumar
00
Truly the best Indian food I've ever had in the United States! I had heard about this place before our trip to Ashville and it was on my list of must-try places. We found the restaurant hours at most places in Ashville weren't great, many closed a few days every week which meant we had to try certain places all within specific days and a lot of them were open on the same days. Looking at their website I think this had more to do with the pandemic than what their business is typically like. My friend and I are visiting Asheville for the weekend and a lot of people recommended this place to me. When we arrived it was a 1.5-hour wait without a reservation. While we were hungry, I was advised it was worth the wait. A little over 1.5 hours later we were led to the bar where we ate. The staff was kind and accommodating to my allergies. The food was delicious and the service was great! The naan was impressively soft with perfect crispy browning. Highly recommend the Sev Potato Dahi Puri appetizer. All the textures and flavors in these bite-sized portions were the best way to start the meal. The creamy butter chicken was the special of the day and it did not disappoint. The food was truly incredible! The flavors are so rich and well blended. It was a real gift to my palette! We got the sweet potato chaat as an appetizer and wow! What an array of flavors! It was somehow both sweet and savory! For my main dish, I got the sloppy Jai, which is their take on a sloppy joe. I'm convinced the bhel puri is not from this earth, this beautifully balanced and sweet yet crunchy and acidic chutney that just glows with every bite. Add on to that the chicken pakoras, some fries-like okra, and the vada pav and you'll see the magic. Just wish I left room for the butter chicken! I'm still thinking about it! If you're ever in Asheville, make a reservation, or wait the standby time to eat here; I promise it's worth it!
Vaibhav RathodVaibhav Rathod
00
I heard so many good things about this restaurant and since we love Indian food, we made sure to stop here on our last trip to Asheville. Covid-19: they are not currently open for dine in. You order and pay online. Our order was ready when we got there. They have picnic tables outside the restaurant that you can eat at. We chose to do that since there was no one at them. We got Gobi Do Pyaza, Aloo Tikki Chaat, Paneer Tikka Roll, Vada Pav, Paratha, and Cholle. We love Indian street food and tried several new things here. We really loved everything except the Cholle which we've had much better versions of elsewhere. The flavor just wasn't there (it wasn't bad, just not what it should be). Our favorite things were the Vada Pav and Paneer Tikka Roll. I never went for something like the Vada Pav before because I didn't think it would have much flavor since it's potato based. I was very wrong. This is one of my new favorite things. I loved that the Paneer Tikka Roll really showcased the paneer. Usually I have paneer covered in curry which doesn't really show the flavor of the paneer. Paratha is my new favorite Indian type of bread. It's doughy and delicious. Unfortunately the portion here was very small. Get more than one. I wish more places had it. The Gobi Do Pyaza had a really good curry. It didn't have much cauliflower though. The Aloo Tikka Chaat was a delicious mix of flavors. If you eat Indian food frequently, I will warn you that this is more expensive than other places. We paid more than we would elsewhere and got probably half the amount of food. I'm so glad we stopped here and can't wait to try Botwallia, the sister restaurant that just opened in Charlotte.
Jacqueline TelljohannJacqueline Telljohann
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Nearby Attractions Of Chai Pani Asheville
Breakout Games
French Broad Chocolate Lounge
The Orange Peel
Asheville Pinball Museum
Mast General Store Asheville
Malaprop's Bookstore
LaZoom Tours
Woolworth Walk
Pack Square Park
Aloft Asheville Downtown

Breakout Games
5.0
(3.3K)Click for details

French Broad Chocolate Lounge
4.5
(1.9K)Click for details

The Orange Peel
4.6
(1.4K)Click for details

Asheville Pinball Museum
4.8
(1.4K)Click for details
Nearby Restaurants Of Chai Pani Asheville
Pack's Tavern
Mellow Mushroom Asheville
Off The Wagon Dueling Piano Bar Asheville
Wicked Weed Brewing's Brewpub
Farm Burger Asheville
Biscuit Head
Early Girl Eatery
White Duck Taco Shop Downtown
Tupelo Honey Southern Kitchen & Bar
Red Ginger Dimsum & Tapas

Pack's Tavern
4.6
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Click for details

Mellow Mushroom Asheville
4.5
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Off The Wagon Dueling Piano Bar Asheville
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Wicked Weed Brewing's Brewpub
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Basic Info
Address
32 Banks Ave, Asheville, NC 28801
Map
Phone
(828) 254-4003
Call
Website
chaipani.com
Visit
Reviews
Overview
4.5
(1.9K reviews)
Ratings & Description
Description
Indian chaat (street snacks) plus homestyle platters (thalis) in a funky, laid-back space.
attractions: Breakout Games, French Broad Chocolate Lounge, The Orange Peel, Asheville Pinball Museum, Mast General Store Asheville, Malaprop's Bookstore, LaZoom Tours, Woolworth Walk, Pack Square Park, Aloft Asheville Downtown, restaurants: Pack's Tavern, Mellow Mushroom Asheville, Off The Wagon Dueling Piano Bar Asheville, Wicked Weed Brewing's Brewpub, Farm Burger Asheville, Biscuit Head, Early Girl Eatery, White Duck Taco Shop Downtown, Tupelo Honey Southern Kitchen & Bar, Red Ginger Dimsum & Tapas

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