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Chaiiwala — Cafes in London

Chaiiwala

CafeLondon

4.7 out of 5 stars4.7(2,698 reviews)

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Quick info

+44 20 3649 4833
Southampton Row 72, 72 Southampton Row, London WC1B 4AR, United Kingdom
£1–10 · Reported by 1,065 people

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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

  • Parking
    Free of charge street parking
  • Accessibility
    Has wheelchair-accessible entrance · Has wheelchair-accessible seating · Has wheelchair-accessible toilet
  • Good for kids
    Good for kids · High chairs available · Has kids' menu
  • Dietary
    Serves 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
See full menu & prices →

Reviews

4.7/5
2,698 reviews

What reviewers say

Reviewers most often mention karak chai, desi breakfast, chicken tikka and mini donuts.

5★
2,303
4★
184
3★
47
2★
33
1★
131

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

Chaiiwala
£1–10
4.72,698
  • 0.1 mi£1–10

    latte, batch brew coffee, coffee beans

  • 0.2 mi£1–10

    hot puddings, chef's breakfast special, hazelnut latte

  • 0.2 mi

    full english breakfast, cajun chicken pasta, espresso

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