Chaat Café
San Francisco’s Chaat Café (3rd between Folsom and Harrison) has been around a few years, and indeed there was a Sepia meetup hosted there, but I only just got around to checking it out. Of the things I miss most about Bombay, chaat and Bollycinemas rank high — even in major desi areas you have to drive far out of your way to get any Bollywood selection.
Vinod and I had dahi papdi chaat, a chhole bhatura and aloo tikkis. The chhole weren’t spicy enough and the papdi chaat wasn’t tangy, but the aloo tikki was spot on. Everything was tasty, though greasy like most chaat places, and not up to Vik’s Chaat standards.
I’d definitely go when in the neighborhood, but I wouldn’t make it a destination. For that, head across the bay to Vik’s, which is quite the social scene on Sunday afternoons. Then work it off with a hike along the fire trail up Strawberry Canyon. It runs along a ridgeline, and the Golden Gate view is astonishing.
on Tuesday, December 4th, 2007, 3:44 pm in Food, Photographs › 
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:-)
I dont know man. i was recently on an early morning flight across the continent. the flight was overbooked and i was going cattle class. i couldnt but help compare the olfactory experience between this flight and a flight at a similar time across desh. spicy food makes for a piquant flying experience, and these close encounters helped me formulate my thesis. I think the same would hold when walking a few feet behind another’s rear up a strenuous climb. So yes to granola, no to chaat, when partaking in le hike.
Can’t speak to flatulence, but I think you’re confusing fire trail with Fire Island ;)
Nice painting. What are some modern Indian art websites and places the readers recommend?
you havent eaten good chaat in the bay area until you’ve tried Aunty’s chaat (chaat corner? in newark/fremont).
It beats Viks hands down and the gol-gappas are served authentically (i.e. one by one near the counter).
The only thing I’ve ever really liked at Chaat cafe is the tandoori salmon (served with rice etc) which they make on fridays at their fremont cafe. I’m not sure if they follow the same routine on the 3rd street store, but that was some good salmon with masala.
I haven’t tried Auntie’s, but Dana Bazaar in Fremont used to serve it that way too. And it was so hot, it made you cry. Which is good.
Manish,
Please “flip” that photograph so that Vinod ends up holding the spoon in his right hand and the fork in his left hand. I like everything to be in its place, even when it’s none of my business. Aaaargh, where is my Valium?