Restaurant name: Chai & Chow
Address: 14 Westwood Village cnr Phillips & Atlas Rd Beyerspark
Phone number: 087 152 5151
Opening times: Sunday to Thursday 9am to 8pm; Friday 11am to 10pm; Saturday 9am to 10pm
Average price of a main course: R90
Corkage fee: No alcohol allowed
Parking situation: Good. Various inside and outside for the centre.
Food type: Brunch, coffee, deli fare, international, casual, vegetarian, vegan
Best for:Homely comfort food, tea and cake with the family, a workday lunch.
This brand new (August 2022) spot evolved from a pop-up concept, and has clearly been created with a lot of love and comforting homeliness. As the name suggests, Chai & Chow offers a variety of South African style cooking, particularly from the Indian South African kitchen.
Start off with a few choices off the Peckish Menu, where you will find affordable small bites like mini pita steak bruschetta and veg fritter pandelas with a herby aioli. The breakfast menu is varied and interesting, from a breakfast savoury French Toast with crispy shredded potatoes to Desi Masala poached eggs.
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For mains, the chow buns on freshly baked buns are a highly recommended take on a classic burger, as your meat of choice will be topped with a variety of fresh veg and an aloo tikki. For a familiar favourite made excellently, try one of their bunny chows, particularly the melt-in-your-mouth lamb bunny. Grab a slice of cake for dessert, or order the burfee scoop, which is delightfully plated like an ice cream.
As a halaal restaurant, you will find a number of delicious non-alcoholic drinks. The chai in a cup or mug shouldn’t be missed, but there are also a wide variety of of lemonade and iced tea flavours, from hibiscus to spicy mango.
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The service is friendly and personal. You’re likely to have a warm chat with the owner and will attentively be looked after by the staff. Some of the dishes do take a while, but are worth the wait.
The restaurant is tucked into a corner of a small mall but easy to find and access. The inside is warmly decorated according to a homey theme perfect for tea lovers. This is a comfortable spot for diners of all ages.
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