Irani Cafe’s are quintessential to Mumbai. More importantly, when someone thinks of the word ‘Bombay’, one cannot think beyond an Irani joint. The staples at an Irani joint? Irani Chai, Bun Maska and Kheema Pao. The Iranians who moved to India brought their cusine with them, and added to the diverse culinary experience in India.
What defines an Iranian joint? It should look really, really and I enunciate on the REALLY part here - Old. Shabby, with old wooden chairs and tables with old paintings. Honestly, at a time when everyone has upgraded their place, Irani Cafe’s haven’t. Yes there is Sodabottle Openerwala or even Jumjoji, but both are restaurants rather than Cafe. At this very Niche opening, Cafe Irani Chaii comes in like a maska and a breeze of fresh air. Sadly it is extremely tiny, but my, the food is out of the world. I have been to a few Irani joints like Britannia, Kyani’s, Koolar, etc. but the food here is outstanding. The service is quick and the owner is helpful and friendly.
Here is what I ordered:
Breakfast
Akuri (5/5): This was the first time that I had this dish in my life. Now I have really high standards for an Akuri anywhere I go. Smooth and Velvety, this was like drink some rich, creamy egg that was melting in my mouth. If someone now asks me, 'how I want my eggs?’ I am going to say Akuri.
House Pao (5/5): This was served with all the dishes, and literally it’s the best Pao I have had. It is soft and really epitomizes how bread should be. I have grown up eating bread from City Bakery, but these guys will definitely give them a run for their money and even win the crown. However, they don’t sell it commercially. So when we asked them to give us a few loaves to take him, their were more than happy to do that as an exception. Guess they liked us 🙂
Kheema Ghotala (5/5): Another outstanding dish. Just weeks prior, I tried the Kheema at Kyani and I was disappointed. I mean, I did cycle 10km early in the day, just so I built up an appetite for a breakfast there. Little did I know, the best Kheema was being served 6km away. The Kheema here melts in your mouth, but still has a nice bite to it. The seasoning is perfect. You have to eat it to believe it.
Bun Maska (4.5/5): Already complimented the amazing bread, but now with some maska. I can definitely eat this all day, every day. Dip this in some Irani Chai, and look out the window when it is raining - Heaven.
Bun Maska Jam (4/5): I got this after my meal, just so I could eat more of the Bun Maskas. The jam took me back to my childhood.
Bun Maska Honey (4/5): This is a great combination. I think the Iran’s have their sweets on the spot.
Brun Pao (3/5): I am not a big fan of brun Pao, so my rating is biased. However, the people who swear by it loved this one. Considering the quality of the other dishes, I am sure Brun Pao aficionados will go crazy for this one too.
Chicken and Cheese Omelet (2/5): The weakest dish of the day. This was just an omelet stuffed with cheese and chicken. Seasoning could have been better. Be warned, this is a heavy dish and there are definitely better dishes you can order for.
Irani Chai (3/5): I was disappointed that dish the cafe is name after was disappointing. It wasn’t terrible, but after the high standards set by the other dishes, this one didn’t raise any bar.
Dinner:
The breakfast was so good, that we decided to order Dinner from here as well. Ordering in from here was a great decision!
Irani Chicken (5/5): If you love caramelized onions and melt-in-the-mouth chicken, then you have to try this dish. This was rich, the gravy was scrumptious and I couldn’t stop myself from lapping this one up.
Chicken 99 (5/5): This is supposed to be one of the best-seller's here. It’s sort of like a sweet-ish fired chicken. Perfect as an appetizer, on the lines of a chicken crispy. Another outstanding dish of the day.
White Mutton Biryani (3/5): Underwhelming. It was a bit dry, although the flavors were great. I really had high expectations from this one, but hey, you can’t win them all.
Bread Pudding (4/5): The surprise dish. Bread pudding at most places is just about all right, but this one really hit the spot. It wasn’t heavy, but It had a nice dense texture. As mentioned before, the bread here is outstanding, so no wonder it translated into this dish too.
Ambience: 3/5 The place is really tiny, so it can get really cramped up. They have done a good job of trying to keep the old school irani cafe vibes alive, but you feel like you are in a high-end udipi joint rather than an irani joint.
Service: 5/5 Very quick. The manager at the desk was really helpful with the dishes, and made sure we didn’t over order. Important for someone like me who tends to order the menu.
Recommendations: Irani Chicken, Akuri, Kheema Ghotala, Bread Pudding, In-house bread
Overall: 4.5/5
If you want to eat high quality Irani food at a reasonable price, then look no further. I would love to spend every Sunday morning here for a scrumptious breakfast.
Note: The place is tiny and especially crowded on Sundays, so be wary when you get here. We had to wait for 20-25mins for a table for 3. But they are really quick to get you seated, and very accommodating.
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