Chai Kadai Croydon

Featured reviews

• G

  Google user

  ·2 months ago

  “Very disappointing experience from start to finish. We placed our order and had to wait an extremely long time for the food to arrive. Even a simple soda for my husband took ages to be served. The biggest issue was the prawn biryani. It had a strong, unpleasant odour and clearly did not seem fresh, so we couldn't eat it. To make matters worse, the staff didn't even clear the spoiled biryani from our table after we informed them. We had to sit there smelling it throughout the rest of our meal, which completely ruined the dining experience. There was no proper cutlery provided, and although water was served, there weren't even any glasses. Overall, the service was poor, the food quality was unacceptable, and there was a lack of attention to basic customer care. Unfortunately, I cannot recommend this restaurant.”

• G

  Google user

  ·3 months ago

  “I HIGHLY recommend the karak chai and the Punjabi samosas. The chai is a little small but it is wonderfully delicious! The staff can accommodate to your spice tolerance; please ask when placing your order. It can be a bit busy at times so please give some time for your order to be ready as everything is made fresh. Edit: I returned and was served by Sahid J who was phenomenal.”

• G

  Google user

  ·3 months ago

  “I ordered puttu pothi from uber eats. I ordered because i saw a video in their insta page. So in that video the item comes with puttu, chicken curry , chicken fry, omlete and papodoms. I ordered puttu pothi with beef instead of chicken because we can select either chicken, beef or fish from the menu.I was expecting all the items as they showed on their insta video. When i opened it was really disappointed, i got only puttu and beef fry. I contacted them and they said it only comes with puttu and beef roast. Eventhough if i got beef roast i was ok. But they send with beef fry and it was so dry to have with puttu. I was not able to finish the puttu with that beef fry.”

• G

  Google user

  ·3 months ago

  “It sounds like you and your family had a fantastic time at Chai Kadai Croydon! The staff's quick thinking to bring out cold milk when the kids found the Fish Kanthari too spicy is a perfect example of truly first-class and thoughtful service. It's those little details that turn a good meal into a great family memory. The spread you ordered sounds absolutely mouthwatering: The Parathas: The Paal Paratha and media paratha seem to have been the stars of the night, especially with how extremely tasty they were. The Starters & Sides: Classic crowd-pleasers like the Chicken 65 and masala fries always hit the spot, especially for kids. Main & Drinks: Savoring some seafood noodles, washing it down with a refreshing mojito, and finishing the evening with a warm cup of masala chai is the perfect way to wrap up a meal. Getting such high-quality food and attentive service at a reasonable price is always a win for a family night out. Are you planning on making this one of your regular family spots, or is there another dish on their menu you're keen to try next time?”

• G

  Google user

  ·4 months ago

  “We ordered two chicken biryanis, and unfortunately, the food was not fresh. We informed the waiter about our concerns, but the response was not helpful. We were told that the food had been prepared that day, which did not seem true based on its condition and taste. What was even more disappointing was that the only solution offered was to replace it with the same biryani, which made no sense given that our concern was about the freshness of the food itself. In the end, we paid the full amount for both biryanis despite not being able to eat them. Overall, a very disappointing experience due to both the quality of the food and the way the issue was handled.”

• G

  Google user

  ·4 months ago

  “Ordered Chettinad chicken biriyani for dinner but totally disappointed. Rice was not flavourful & chicken was fried and became very dry. With biriyani they alwo served papadam , raita , coconut chutney & lemon pickle.Quantity was good with 2 pieces of chicken.”

• G

  Google user

  ·4 months ago

  “Great Chai, Terrible Food and Service! We visited Chai & Kadai in Croydon recently, and unfortunately, it was a massive disappointment. The service was incredibly slow and poorly managed from start to finish. We had to wait ages just to get noticed, and the staff seemed completely overwhelmed and disorganized. When the food finally arrived, it was horrible. It lacked flavor, tasted completely off, and to make matters worse, it gave us severe stomach problems later that evening. The only saving grace of the entire experience was the tea. The chai is genuinely very good rich, flavourful, and perfectly brewed. However, as good as the tea is, it's definitely not worth the awful service and the stomach ache that followed. We won't be returning for food.”

• G

  Google user

  ·6 months ago

  “Recent visits are slightly disappointing, you need better customer reception and training. Staff works hard but may improve a little on hospitality standards. Floor and chairs not clean enough for such a restaurant at times, I guess it’s because it’s very busy at times and dedicated cleaning staff needed to make it spotless. Old review: Delicious food and good ambience, We were served well. I would recommend for fusion Kerala cuisine.”

• G

  Google user

  ·7 months ago

  “I feel like I wasted £12.99 on the Pothichoru. Unfortunately, the experience was disappointing from the start. The rice was not properly cooked, which already affected the overall dish. What surprised me even more was the curries. According to the menu description, the meal was supposed to be served with fish curry, but it wasn’t provided until I specifically asked for it. The fish fry was also disappointing. There were only two very small pieces, and they tasted like frozen sardines that hadn’t been prepared well. The coconut chutney served alongside felt unusual for this dish—it seemed more like something typically served with biryani rather than Pothichoru. The egg omelette portion was extremely small as well. Overall, I think the chef should consider removing Chattichoru from the menu until it can be prepared and served properly. I’ve also had a similar experience before when I ordered two mutton biryanis through Uber. The biryani was basically just ghee rice with 4–5 small, hard pieces of mutton. There was no proper masala or onion base—it tasted more like plain ghee rice than biryani. If the restaurant is not going to focus on quality, these dishes probably shouldn’t be on the menu. I strongly believe the kitchen needs better supervision; otherwise, it may affect the restaurant’s future. The image attached was captured soon after unwrapping the dish.”

• G

  Google user

  ·8 months ago

  “I came to this restaurant especially because I was craving Manchurian Gobi. When it arrived, I realised that I hadn’t requested it non-spicy and found the dish too hot. Rather than waste £7.99, I asked them if they would mind making it again without spice. They did so without fuss, and I greatly appreciated it. Thank you for your humanity. They make a great Karak Chai too.”