
Quick info
About Chaiiwala
On Southampton Row, Chaiiwala serves as an Indian cafe and tea room with a menu spanning 72 dishes. The desi breakfast brings together chick pea curry, roti, and omelette in one plate, alongside options like Chicken Tikka and Butter Chicken. Orders are taken at the table, with staff bringing drinks and dishes out once seated. The cafe opens daily and takes walk-ins rather than reservations. A step-free entrance allows access for visitors with mobility needs, and high chairs are available for families with young children. Dogs are welcome inside, and free Wi-Fi is available to customers. Those wanting food off site can order takeaway or delivery. Music plays through the space as part of the setting.
Good to know
- ParkingFree of charge street parking
- AccessibilityHas wheelchair-accessible entrance · Has wheelchair-accessible seating · Has wheelchair-accessible toilet
- Good for kidsGood for kids · High chairs available · Has kids' menu
- DietaryServes vegan dishes · Serves vegetarian dishes
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Menu & Prices
72 dishes · mains £2–12- Chicken Kebab£5.95
- Mixed Kebab£5.95
- Bombay Twister£5.95
- Chicken Tikka£5.95
- Butter Chicken &Slaw£4.95
- Butter Chicken£9.95
Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention karak chai, desi breakfast, chicken tikka and mini donuts.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention karak chai, desi breakfast, chicken tikka and mini donuts.
Customer Review Summary
Reviewers most often return to the chai, with the karak chaii called better than at any other branch and described by others as strong, rich and just like the chai in India. Close behind is the staff, who are credited again and again for friendly, attentive service, including one server who walked a first-timer through the menu and a team member who offered a free tea sample. The chicken tikka, butter chicken roll, omelette wrap with roti, rocky road cheesecake, rose falooda shake and mini donuts all get named as highlights, and the Desi breakfast is called fresh and full of flavour by one diner. Several describe the music and atmosphere as relaxing and homely. The complaints are specific. One reviewer waited 27 minutes for a Desi breakfast and found the omelette salty and tasteless. Another says a blueberry white matcha looked nothing like its picture and tasted vile, and staff declined a refund or remake because they blend the matcha. A third saw a lone front-of-house worker taking orders, making drinks and handing them out.
Customer Review Summary
Reviewers most often return to the chai, with the karak chaii called better than at any other branch and described by others as strong, rich and just like the chai in India. Close behind is the staff, who are credited again and again for friendly, attentive service, including one server who walked a first-timer through the menu and a team member who offered a free tea sample. The chicken tikka, butter chicken roll, omelette wrap with roti, rocky road cheesecake, rose falooda shake and mini donuts all get named as highlights, and the Desi breakfast is called fresh and full of flavour by one diner. Several describe the music and atmosphere as relaxing and homely. The complaints are specific. One reviewer waited 27 minutes for a Desi breakfast and found the omelette salty and tasteless. Another says a blueberry white matcha looked nothing like its picture and tasted vile, and staff declined a refund or remake because they blend the matcha. A third saw a lone front-of-house worker taking orders, making drinks and handing them out.
Featured reviews
- Sohan Jagmohan
“Wonderful place. Server was very quick and helpful. Would recommend to anyone looking to have Indian flavors”
- Santo
“Visited Chaiwala and had a good experience. The chai was excellent consistently strong, flavorful, and just as good as always. The atmosphere is loud, lively, and packed with a vibrant South Asian crowd, giving it a great community feel. It’s the perfect, bustling spot to grab a quick, authentic cup of chai when you're on the move. Definitely worth a stop!”
- RosyRadha
“Had a wonderful experience at Chaiiwala! The chai was absolutely amazing and tasted just like the chai you get in India rich, flavorful, and perfectly brewed. It brought back so many memories of home. The atmosphere was great, and the service was friendly as well. If you’re craving authentic Indian chai, this is definitely the place to visit. Highly recommended!”
- Dana Daub
“I had the Omelette Wrap and really enjoyed it. The food was fresh, tasty, and served quickly. The staff were friendly and the atmosphere was nice. I would definitely come back to Chaiiwala again. Highly recommended!”
- Rashad Shaikh
“Great experience at Chaiiwala! Had the Desi Indian Breakfast, and the food was fresh, tasty, and full of authentic flavour. The ambience was clean and welcoming. A special thanks to Bhavik for his excellent service. He was friendly, polite, and made the ordering process smooth and enjoyable. Will definitely be visiting again!”
Hours
- Monday
- Tuesday
- Wednesday
- Thursday
- Friday
- Saturday
- Sunday
Highlights
- Serves great coffee
- Serves great dessert
- Has great tea selection
- Popular for popular for breakfast
- Popular for popular for lunch
- Popular for good for solo dining
Amenities
- Has Wi-Fi
- Has wheelchair-accessible entrance
- Free of charge street parking
- Dogs allowed outside
- Offers delivery
- Offers takeaway
Show more amenities
- Serves dine-in
- Family friendly
- Serves vegan dishes
- Casual
- On-site services not available
- Serves coffee
- Offerings· 7
- Has free water refills
- Serves healthy options
- Serves late-night food
- Sells prepared foods
- Quick bite
- Serves small plates
- Serves vegetarian dishes
- Facilities· 1
- Has toilet
- Family-friendly· 3
- Good for kids
- High chairs available
- Has kids' menu
- Dining options· 7
- Serves breakfast
- Serves brunch
- Serves lunch
- Serves dinner
- Has catering
- Serves dessert
- Has seating
- Highlights· 2
- Serves great dessert
- Has great tea selection
- Atmosphere· 2
- Cosy
- Trendy
- Popular for· 4
- Popular for breakfast
- Popular for lunch
- Good for solo dining
- Good for working on laptop
- Crowd· 5
- Good for groups
- LGBTQ+ friendly
- Popular with tourists
- Transgender safe space
- Popular with university students
- Accessibility· 2
- Has wheelchair-accessible seating
- Has wheelchair-accessible toilet
Location
Cafes near Chaiiwala
- Flying Horse Coffee4.9300.1 mi£1–10
latte, batch brew coffee, coffee beans
- The Lagoon4.11510.2 mi£1–10
hot puddings, chef's breakfast special, hazelnut latte
- Little Venice Cafe4.62540.2 mi
full english breakfast, cajun chicken pasta, espresso
| Place | Rating | Distance | Price | Mentioned in reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chaiiwala | 4.72,698 | — | £1–10 | karak chai, desi breakfast, chicken tikka |
| Flying Horse Coffee | 4.930 | 0.1 mi | £1–10 | latte, batch brew coffee, coffee beans |
| The Lagoon | 4.1151 | 0.2 mi | £1–10 | hot puddings, chef's breakfast special, hazelnut latte |
| Little Venice Cafe | 4.6254 | 0.2 mi | — | full english breakfast, cajun chicken pasta, espresso |
The 3 nearest cafes by distance. Ratings, hours and review terms come from public business profiles.
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