In the back corner of Taj Mahal Imports, a small Indian grocery store located in Richardson, sits a couple of food stands. It is very popular for shoppers to find these cafes in the back of Indian groceries. The menu is simple with 12 items and the two women behind the stands are making Chaat, a popular Indian street food. There are only a few benches for customers to sit and enjoy their food. These chaat cafes have become quite popular over the last decade and cafes like this one are challenging the traditional Indian restaurants that serve curry based dishes.
Chaat is an exciting dish. It is always made fresh and on the spot. It contains a mix of fried chickpeas, fried mashed potatoes, and puffed rice. Combinations of spices and herbs give the dish an incredible taste and sometimes yogurt is added. It is very surprising with its contrasting elements. Cold versus hot, spicy versus tangy, crunchy versus soft. With so many elements, one might think the consumer would be overwhelmed, but that is not so. The flavors work together amazingly. Each bite offers something new. It may seem like there is not a lot of food, but chaat is very filling and going back for seconds could offer a challenge.
Chaat is a casual meal, not one a person usually sits down to as most chaat stands in India are street vendors. It is something that friends do for a quick meal. In From Curry Mahals to Chaat Cafes, author Arijite Sen tells us that it is popular for men to buy one another chaat after a day at work. This is an equivalent to men in the U.S. going out to buy a round of drinks after work. Because many Indians drink little to no alcohol due to their being Hindu or Muslim, this is a common alternative and good way for people to come together.
No longer are chaat cafes a rare occurrence. Chaat is filling, delicious, in a convenient location for most costumers, and cheap. This has helped its popularity. It is becoming popular not just in informal settings, but also at upscale restaurants. Arijite Sen writes that many five-star hotel restaurants in India have chaat cafes or counters now. Chaat is growing in popularity in the States as well, and not just among the Indian population. Sen explains that a variety of ages, races, and ethnic groups, all with different occupations, can be found in chaat cafes.
By having the café connected to the grocery store, cliental experience Indian customs and tastes. For example, as soon as our group walked into Taj Mahal Imports, we found a group of Genesha statues on sale. We learned that on September the 17th, only a few days prior, there had been a holiday dedicated to the god, called Ganesha Chaturthi. Chaat cafes are a way to bring Indian communities together and for people of all different backgrounds to learn about India in their own backyard.
Taj Mahal Imports Chaat Corner Aloo Tikki