The most complicating matter that relates to the Chaat House is the significant drive that is necessary to visit from near the Dallas downtown area.  But once you are in Plano, patrons enjoy some of the fastest, and freshest food of a very uncommon variety.  The Chaat house, the name of the restaurant within Taj Grocers, has a very expansive menu, with options from dosa and rava to samosas and masala.  Every food item does not contain any meat, and furthermore, all the utensils, pots, pans and other cooking instruments have never touched meat.  This allows the experience to within the traditions of Hinduism and the nation of India, where this food is derived from.

Once you go through the line to order and pay you have some time to sit and observe the lively atmosphere of the Chaat House.  There are families and little dates and gathers of friends scattered throughout the restaurant.  Children are likely playing tag in their pajamas all over the restaurant.  Then your food buzzer rings for your order.  To those that have not been familiarized with this type of cuisine before, receiving your sampling platter of food at the counter is a humbling experience.  You do not know what is hot or cold, or spicy or sweet.  Walking back to your table you cannot help but wonder what food goes with some of the other food, or for that matter even how to eat the food.

But no matter the best way to begin is to dig in with a light sample of everything and see what you like.  Then you can try to mix and match different elements of food with other and see what best suits your pallet.  Some things might not work out the way you intend them to, but you are sure to find some delightful food that is extremely appetizing to you.

Pictured here is the sample plate at the Chaat House.  The descriptions follow clockwise from the bottom left: a warm rice mixture that has some vegetables mixed in,  a mildly sweet rice pudding with the constancy of mashed potatoes, a yogurt of with a few clumps, a cool milky sweet, and a bean like food.  On the white plate there is a dry ball that would be most equivalent to a dinner roll on a common American dinner table with a spicy dipping sauce, below is a donut like food, and lastly a fluffy warm fried bread-like food that would be ripped and eaten in smaller pieces.

In total the pictured dish cost less than you would pay at similar fast food restaurant, but would contain a significantly better nutritional value.  Additionally, you get to experience something out of the ordinary which is very exciting.