Chayakada — Restaurant in San Jose

We were really excited to try the food here especially after seeing all their content on IG and the long drive south to get here. But don’t know if it’s just the day or time, but the food was nothing to write home about:

Egg puffs had very little egg masala/curry inside but the puff pastry outside felt like it had way too much egg wash that tasted bad. It made the puffs taste kind of stale and was a proper let down.

Chai was ok. We were having there but for some reason we were given in the togo paper cups (not glasses) because of which it didn’t have that bubbly aeration and was just steaming flat.

Ambience is decent, but ordering and where to pickup orders is chaotic:

They don’t seem to have a reasonable way to let customers know if their order is ready and neither do they bring the food to the table. This just results in the staff repeatedly shouting names out loudly and hoping the customer comes up to collect the order. Doesn’t really make for a quiet cafe like place to work in. For the customers seated outside, they have no way to know if their order is ready-they have to keep coming and checking in regular intervals to know if their order is ready or not.

Also while waiting in line to order there’s no menu in sight. If you want to check the menu, you have to leave the line to go to the front or wait till you reach the counter to see it. Could easily have menu cards readily available.

All things that can be easily fixed with process.

Again might be their off day but we left disappointed given how much we were looking...

We ordered a delightful spread from Bread Bae for my daughter's second birthday, and it was an absolute treat! We live all the way in Daly City, so it was a pleasant surprise to know that she'd deliver it all the way from San Jose.

Our spread consisted of our favorites like egg puffs, plantain fry. falafel sandwich, paneer sandwich, to the delightful payasam for dessert, everything was simply scrumptious. She even made us a customized extra plate of gluten free goodies for our guest who was intolerant. To top it off, we were pleasantly surprised with a generous order of masala fries, compliments of the chef.

The moment our order arrived, we couldn't resist digging in immediately because it all looked and smelled so tempting. The taste was authentic and had that wonderful 'nadan' flavor we cherish. It was so good that we couldn't even pause for a moment to take a photo before devouring it all!

The attention to detail, the delicious flavors, and the beautifully packed presentation all contributed to making our celebration truly special. A big shout-out to Bread Bae for going the extra mile and personally checking in with us after the delivery to ensure everything was perfect.

We wholeheartedly recommend Bread Bae for those seeking the perfect combination of modern twist and nadan...

Been waiting to try this place since the sign first went up and was not disappointed. The flavors of the savory pastries are warm and super comforting. The Kerala Chai was different from any chai I've had in the states. It was very light and complex without being overpowering. It's not sweet by default so if you're looking for something on that end of the spectrum, you can ask them to add some sugar for you. The saffron chai was also amazing with a more subtle, almost middle easten profile.

The people and the atmosphere are also amazing. I spoke with the owner, Aleena, for some time and you can tell she has a passion for her craft. I believe she said she came from the science and tech industry before moving to this. She has a focus on quality, in-house ingredients, and showing people that Indian food is so much more than what we're used to and using authentic recipes passed down through her family. She wants people to come in, take their time, have a chai and pastry, read a book, and chat with no pressure to jet out the door. It's the perfect spot not only for the relaxing Santa Teresa neighborhood, but all of San Jose and beyond.

I will definitely be back and highly recommend everyone give this...