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Chaiiwala — Cafes in London

Chaiiwala

CafeLondon, ENG

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

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

Chaiiwala serves an Indian cafe and tea room menu on Southampton Row in London, with 72 dishes spanning breakfast plates and tea. Karak Chai anchors the list alongside the Desi Indian Breakfast, and the kitchen also runs an Omelette Wrap and chicken tikka, with both vegetarian and non-vegetarian options on offer. Orders are taken on a walk-in basis, and the cafe opens daily. The step-free entrance suits visitors with mobility needs, and high chairs are on hand for families with young children. Dogs are welcome inside, and free Wi-Fi runs through the room for anyone settling in with a laptop or phone. Takeaway and delivery both extend the menu beyond the tables for those eating off site. The format keeps the counter simple, with the tea and breakfast dishes as the throughline of the visit.

Good to know

  • Reservations
    Walk-in only
  • 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

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, chicken tikka, omelette wrap and desi indian breakfast.

5
2,303
4
184
3
47
2
33
1
131

Customer Review Summary

Karak Chai draws the most repeat mentions, with reviewers calling it authentic and flavorful and comparing it favorably to chai found in India. Close behind, breakfast dishes stand out, especially the Omelette Wrap and the Desi Indian Breakfast, both described as fresh and quickly served, along with a chicken tikka one diner found spot on in flavor. Several reviewers also point to the tea selection and general menu variety, noting good options for both vegetarians and non-vegetarians. The staff draw consistent, repeated praise for friendliness, patience, and helpful menu guidance, with multiple diners singling out individual servers by name for walking newcomers through unfamiliar dishes and making recommendations. The atmosphere is repeatedly described as clean, relaxed, and welcoming. No recurring complaints appear across the reviews. Diners often note they plan to return, with several saying they've already been back more than once for the same chai.

Featured reviews

  • 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!
  • 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!
  • Nel650
    Favourite Chai in London, been going here a couple of times for the Karak Chai. There are a nice selection of foods as well. Great and fast service from Sami this time.
  • Sameer Nanda
    I had a great experience at Chaiwala Holborn thanks to Dhakshu. She was friendly, welcoming, and provided excellent customer service with a genuine smile. Her positive attitude made my visit even better. It's rare to come across someone who makes customers feel so valued.
  • Usmaan Shaikh
    I had a wonderful experience at Chaiwala thanks to Bhavik, the in-store team member. He attended to me very nicely and provided excellent service with a friendly and helpful attitude. His professionalism and warm approach made my visit even better. I truly appreciate his great customer service and would happily give him a 5-star review. Highly recommended!

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

How Chaiiwala compares to nearby cafes

  • Chaiiwala · This shop4.7
    2,698 reviews

    Mentioned in reviews: karak chai, chicken tikka, omelette wrap

  • 699 reviews0.7 mi

    Mentioned in reviews: lasagne, panini, pasta

  • 1,106 reviews0.7 mi

    Mentioned in reviews: flat white, banana bread toasted with butter, avocado toast

  • 261 reviews3.2 mi

    Mentioned in reviews: blueberry pancakes, park location, cappuccino

How this listing is sourced

Where the data comes from
Name, address, hours, contact details, amenities, ratings and review counts come from the business's publicly available profile data — not from the owner and not from paid submissions.
How it stays current
Every listing is re-checked on a recurring crawl, and anything reported as wrong is corrected at the source rather than patched on the page.
How it is ranked
Placement is never sold. Every business on the page is ordered and compared using the same public signals, so an owner cannot pay to move up.
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