Paani kum Chai is an odd establishment you’ll find on the way to Swagath Garuda Mall in Tilaknagar (one of its three branches spread across the city), buts it’s a good place to have the namesake paani kum chai, a strong, ginger-laced tea.
Though it does have a few of the usual dishes, they serve no bun maska, or bhonu , both of which have been popularised by the typical Irani café, that most excellent kind of cornershop.
However, you get a strange combination of stuff here — ‘Kentucky chicken’ being one of them, along with samosas, lassis, ‘chicken hyderabadi’ rolls, ‘chicken anda’ rolls, vegetarian and chicken cutlets and even several different types of burgers; and last but not least, the caramel pudding, which particularly stands out and is pretty thoughtful of them, because most of their food does tend to sting a bit, including the joint’s namesake brew.
This seven-year-old joint is definitely a welcome break from the more modern coffee shops that have overshadowed Irani cafés. Like most others of its ilk, the café provides a strong drink to those who need it, enough to revitalise and put some strength back into tired limbs. This is probably the best time to pay a visit to Paani kum Chai — take advantage of the cold weather to go have a piping hot drink and a burger, a combination which goes rather well together, according to both Sayyed Aijaz, the owner, and the establishment’s numerous clientele.
