Chaat Cafe - San Jose

So, I didn’t really eat much Indian food until I moved to Seattle…so it was actually my first time that I ate Indian food in San Jose (I’m pretty sure that I have not eaten at any Indian place while I lived there for 22 years . I am happy to say that I was pleasantly surprised at how tasty it was. I am in no way an expert when it comes to Indian food so I can’t really speak for its authenticity, but I liked it. The dish that I got definitely had a kick of hotness and tasted equally good as some places up in Seattle, so I’m guessing that it is pretty close to how it should be. The restaurant is very casually decorated, and the service provided was casual as well, but they were all very nice. We ended up here because the tofu house next door was closed for Thanksgiving. Tough to find a place open on a Thanksgiving noon-time. :

Chaat Cafe is the best Indian fast (semi-fast) food joint ever. You can order items a-la-carte or as a dinner meal. The place is clean and bright, with friendly serving staff. Fast food joint no tip :D

Me and Indian food don’t mix. I like the flavors, but my Chinese stomach usually rejects the spices India has to offer. Therefore, I don’t eat much Indian food… so Chaat Cafe is a great find for me. It’s Indian food, but kind of lightweight, Americanized Indian food, which is fine with me. I love the paneer wraps (paneer is a cheese with a tofu-like texture), and the sides of spicy cucumber salad or potato salad are a nice touch. I also LOVE naan, so the wraps are a great option for me. The lamb-stuffed naan is always a little disappointing for me though… the lamb is flattened into a thin little layer, and I’m not a fan of the flavor. It’s a great place for an Indian food n00b to get acquainted with Indian food beyond Tandoori chicken.