Rating: 4.5 stars (rounded up to 5) The ambiance: not a white tablecloth type place, but still classy. The service: quite on point, although we had some trouble getting the attention of the servers when we needed serving spoons for a few dishes we wanted to share. The food: Well prepared and tasty. The heat was toned down a fair bit, likely to better match the local palette, and the sweetness was a tad higher than what one would have in India. One comes to the sister restaurant of a James Beard award winner with high expectations. While I had no complaints about the food, I did not find the dishes had much of a twist or being particularly inventive. While this kind of an Indian restaurant, that has a specific focus on street food, may be a novelty in the ATL area, this is not that much of a novelty from a global perspective. Most of the dishes were good. The two exceptions were the naan (I’ve had better at many Indian restaurants) and the gulab jamun (excessively sweet). The verdict: if you’re craving Indian food that is skillfully cooked and tasty, this is great! If you’re looking for some inventive Indian food, then this is not going to meet that expectation.

We went here for dinner and were able to sit right away inside. I love the decor. Bright and colorful. Welcoming with lots of flowers and lights. The food was excellent. We started with pani puri and okra fries. So delicious. Lots of flavor and fun to eat. Then we ordered chilli chicken, sag paneer, butter chicken with rice and naan. All delicious!!! Except we never got the butter chicken and after 30+ mins of finishing the other dishes we just canceled it. Will have to be back to try it another time. Our server was ok but a bit disengaged and when our dish didn't come out, she just avoided us for quite a while. Didn't really apologize until we canceled it and made it seem like she was doing us a favor for not charging us for a meal we didn't receive. I will be back bc the food was great and the atmosphere was nice. Just a bit disappointing missing a dish and the server.

We came for the weekday lunch buffet and were pleasantly surprised. At $14.99 a person, you get a larger variety of quality options than any other Indian buffet I've ever been to. This isn't the greatest Indian food I've ever had, but when I want a lot of volume and variety for cheap (AKA most of the time), Chai Pani more than hits the mark. The branding of the whole place is amazing, but I expected that as Atlanta is chock full of beautiful restaurants. I thought it was cute that the buffet carts were laid out in a way reminiscent of street food vendors. I forgot the name of my favorite item, but it was the potato fritter that a staff member assembles with sauces and herbs for you. It's delicious with or without the toppings. We'll be back!!! 😄

3.8 | came here per a recommendation of a friend during lunch and enjoyed my food more than expected. it’s a buffet style which may be unique to this location but I’m not super sure. I had the mango lassi which felt like it was probably made with frozen not fresh mango, but everything else tasted pretty good. it didn’t feel like the best Indian food I’ve ever had but it was pretty spot on flavour wise with Indian food I have had in the past from friends and highly recommended restaurants. most importantly, it tastes pretty fresh, especially the naan, saag paneer and the dal. I would go back. the buffet style is around $16 and it’s unlimited.

What a delicious and mind-blowing experience. The food was powerful, mighty, and sublime. My husband and I enjoyed sharing with each other. However, I would recommend bringing friends or family to share food with. That way you can get everything off the menu and try bits here and there.

Chai Pani is a trendy and vibrant Indian restaurant located in the heart of Decatur. From the moment I walked in, I was welcomed by the colorful and eclectic décor, which exuded a lively and fun atmosphere. The menu at Chai Pani offered a modern and creative twist on classic Indian street food, featuring a variety of small plates and entrees that were both flavorful and innovative. For my appetizers, I ordered the tomato and cheese uttapam, which was a perfect blend of tangy and savory flavors, and the matchstick okra fries, which were delightfully crispy. For my main course, I ordered the classic butter chicken, which was cooked to perfection and had a rich and creamy sauce. To complement my food, I also enjoyed two delicious cocktails called "Fall Mantra" and "Isle of Time". The Fall Mantra was a delightful blend of spiced rum, pomegranate liquor, and other spices, while the Isle of Time featured gin, lemon, thyme, and elderflower. The service at Chai Pani was outstanding, with the staff being friendly, knowledgeable, and attentive. The restaurant's lively atmosphere and great music also contributed to an overall fantastic dining experience. Overall, Chai Pani is a must-visit for anyone looking for a fun and modern take on Indian cuisine. The food is delicious, the cocktails are creative and refreshing, and the service is top-notch. I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for a memorable dining experience.

Elegant location, Indian decorations makes u feel like in India. Interior is great. Indian home style meals. Buffet is amazing and damn satisfactory. Tea is great. Live fresh fried potato patties. The bar open in the evening. Great choices of beers. Out door seating is very pleasant. Well maintained and very clean environment.

This is an easy top 2 Indian spots I have been in the entire United States.The food was so amazingly delicious, the entire time I was eating, I felt like I was in India. I was shocked to know that the place is not only owned by an American non-Indian but he also cooks the food. He could easily give top chefs in india a run for their money 🙂 I wish I could meet the owner and give him a hug, but had to catch my flight back home, so was in a hurry.

Very nice atmosphere. Food was good, specifically pani puri, corn bhel, kolhapuri mutton(not authentic but taste was nice). Three of us tried paav bhaji which wasn’t good at all; they had added tomato ketchup in the bhaji. Overall atmosphere is awesome and service is very fast. Would like to go there again to try other dishes!

Visiting Chai Paani for the second time. Beautiful weather outside with rains and some hot Indian food was a great experience. Ordered Samosa Chaat, Pav Bhaji, Cauliflower appetizer and jaljeera soda. Overall - Good experience in regards to food, service and ambience.

We loved the place and the vibe!! Beautiful setup thanks to team who has done this wonderfully. Gave us the feee we are in hometown with all the pictures and other perks. We came here on my girls birthday and we had a beautiful with tasting some good taste buds. Started with ordering chat food - then we dint stop ordering. This is more authentic taste and if we expect spice then we need to communicate that before. Whatever items ordered are amazing!! Finally desert halwa. It made our night. Thanks chai paani!

Can come here for the gol gappas any day. This place is lit, the food here is close to home cooked as it’s mild of spices and taste is consistent. I’d recommend anyone to try their SPDP (oh! So good), Pav bhaji and hot chai. I tried their vegetable uttapam but not a huge fan as I have had better. Everything is so mild on spices and will be suitable for everyone. I personally loved their service, ambiance and street food. Will come back soon.

Probably one of the best modern Indian restaurants in Atlanta, if not in the US. The original location is in Asheville, NC and they have another concept, Botiwalla, at Ponce City Market. Their ingredients are always fresh and the food is always consistently excellent. They were recently closed for renovations for over a month and they used the time to completely date their menu. Since we were away for 3 years, it was a great surprise to see this great menu when we got back recently. The staff are always so helpful and friendly. It's a great spot for families and kids. It's also great spot for a date night. It's conveniently located in Decatur near other cafes and restaurants in case you want to continue to hang out after a meal here.

Phenomenal Indian street fare with some indo-Chinese and typical Indian fare thrown in there. The pani puri cart was incredible - they pack and dip them right in front of you and hand them to you one by one to enjoy fresh before they get soggy - make sure to eat them fast and in one big bite! The Bengali fish fry was the absolute highlight - perfectly fried and tender and covered in a heaping pile of fresh red onions and served with a lime wedge on top of a cilantro aioli. The chili chicken was crunchy, sweet, and spicy and served on top a bed of fresh coleslaw that was a perfect contrast. The vibe here is fun and they even sell some cool branded merch and snacks at the host stand up front.

Chai Pani is fantastic Indian cuisine, and has easily moved to my “favorite restaurants in Atlanta” list. The space is colorful and bright. The service is warm and friendly. We absolutely loved our first experience from start to finish. We started with the Gobi Pepper Fry which was flavorful and spicy and had a great texture. The Samosa Chaat was equally delicious. The Goan Prawns Masala were a standout dish with a great heat factor. Make sure you like spicy food before ordering. The Butter Chicken had great flavor was well, but it was slightly overcooked. That’s really the only criticism I can give for our meal. The cocktail was delicious, and we loved drinking Indian beer with our meal. All in all it was an amazing experience and we look forward to returning by and exploring more of the menu.

Wow, what a gem! We stopped here without realizing they had a lunch buffet but it was such a great deal! (it was pricey but all you can eat). I was particularly impressed with the freshly prepped chat in the buffet line. The place was pretty packed on Sunday at lunch but there was no wait to get food. They also had a great selection of sauces and toppings. Needless to say, I ate too much. One gripe is that the only hot not vegan option was Butter Chicken. It was really good, but I would have liked to see another option. That said, this would be a fantastic buffet if you ARE vegan. A highlight for me is the decor in here, even down to the bathrooms. You feel like you are actually in a lunch spot in India. I only wish I lived closer!

We went for the Saturday lunch buffet and we were underwhelmed. The restaurant was 50% filled when we reached n still took them 10+ mins get us seated!! The buffet food layout was not well thought out at all. They have the plates kept at one corner which weiredly always resulted in a queue even when you were just trying to get a single dish. Also the food was not arranged in the order you will usually eat the food. The menu was pretty limited for a $20/person Indian buffet with very limited and not that great non veg options(only 2). The veg food n snacks tasted good and fresh, pretty close to simple Indian home cooking. Service was slow.

I was really impressed with the food and the ambiance. Highlight was their free refill chai, which was really tasty as well. Only issue I had here was that the waiter didn’t really care much about the customers. She would just take her own time to take orders, wouldn’t ask if we needed anything or took so much time to give the check and place wasn’t even crowded.

All buffet items were very high quality and they had a good selection. Everything was very hot and fresh. The mango Lassi was so smooth. We were there around 12-1 on Friday and it was very crowded. They were working hard to replenish the buffet. Even though they ran out of a lot of items they got more quickly. Inside dining room can be very loud.

They set up a nice ambience and the atmosphere is pleasant. They provide both indoor and outdoor dining. The service was good and the staffs are friendly. The menu is simple and limited but the food was tasty and fresh. A good place to visit for authentic Indian chat.

I had the Aloo Tikki Cholle (crispy potato patties with chickpea stew) Chilli chicken, pani puri and Chai. My goodness! What an exciting and stunning meal this was! I've been here a bunch of times and I've always left extremely satisfied. I enjoyed the last bite just like the first. The crispy chicken with the sweet chickpea stew and the fried potato patty with the yogurt and the chickpeas... It was a sensational combination of sweet salty and spicy. The acidity in the stew was just right as well. Not to mention the perfect pani puri! Thank you chef and the ladies at the bar!!! See you soon. "mindbalst" all the way! ❤️

Recently had the pleasure of experiencing the lunch buffet at Chai Pani. The value offered was incredible, considering the wide variety of delicious dishes available. From the moment we tasted the freshly baked naan to the flavorful butter chicken, saag paneer, and lamb keema, every bite was a burst of authentic Indian flavors. The quality and freshness of the ingredients were evident in each dish. Not only did we enjoy our meal, but we were also offered a to-go cup for our chai, ensuring we could savor the delightful flavors on our ride home. Having previously visited their sister restaurant, Botiwalla, in Charlotte, and the original Chai Pani in Asheville, I knew that I was in for a treat, and Chai Pani certainly did not disappoint.

It’s more of place for young crowd. I liked the vibe and ambiance. Outdoor seating hasn’t opened yet. The food was really good. The butter chicken bowl and Bengali fish fry were delicious. The butter chicken was not on sweeter side and I loved it. They have quite a variety of cocktails and other drinks. We had The Pani and Peach drink and both were really nice. Our server seemed bit upset/tired but apart from that everything was good. It was our first time at this restaurant but it will become regular for street food.

Love this spot! The food never disappoints - especially the street food! There are lots of vegetarian options. But be prepared for long wait times. We last went during the pandemic when there was no indoor seating. But it may be open now. The interior decor is fun and whimsical and kitschy! We always go back when we are in the Atlanta area!

Always a pleasure to come during the lunch buffet 🥰 It’s so yummy and I always think about the food I ate for a week!! Definitely a place to take in all the vibes and the atmosphere ✨ The best part of coming here is how good the food is every time! I love leaving full here

Best Chats included in their buffet. Their buffet was good. The buffet includes kale pakoda, fish fingers, uttapam, naan different curry incl.uding dal. The dessert Gulab Jamun. We had Kale pakoda for the first time and it was yummy. We especially loved their chats and sweets. Their chats included bhel puri, aloo tikki chat which was made freshly on the spot which will give the feeling of Indian street chat and it will be a healthy environment. We visited this restaurant for lunch, if we had visited for dinner we would have got the opportunity to try their pani puri which has very good reviews. Try their buffet it won't disappoint you.

Loved our waiter Mickey D! She was so nice and helpful with her recommendations and allowed us to sample the salt lassi since we’ve never had it before. It’s definitely an acquired taste (SULFURIC). Since it was our first time and there was an extra made, we got the popped rice appetizer and THAT was wonderful. A mix of nutty/earthy sweetness and fresh cilantro. I highly recommend the sweet lassi. I was a subtle sweetness with rose water and saffron and very delicious. I also had the Butter Chicken dish and it was flavorful. There was some melted butter in the butter chicken sauce and I recommend tasting it first (had a sweet cream flavor) before mixing the dish. My partner has the fish tomato sandwiches which were good but nothing fancy. We also ordered the cheese/tomato pancake and we don’t recommend it. It was very plain and a disappointment so we sent it back and I’m glad it was accepted :). The desert was also so good. I got the sweet potato one and loved how earthy it tasted. My partner got the cookie butter ice cream which was thick and creamy and subtlety sweet. We can’t wait to come back!

Great food, we had vada pav, dal rice, bhel puri and lassi. Everything was good except that it was not that spicy even though we mentioned we needed extra spicy. In terms of waiting, this is a pretty busy restaurant as we had to wait around 45 mins, in the meantime we tried pani puri which was good, I really like the way it was served similarly how on Indian streets its served.

Chai Pani restaurant in Decatur did not disappoint. We stumbled upon the restaurant while we were at a cafe nearby. What caught our attention was the festive decor of their porch area. The vibrant exterior extended inside the indoor dining. The restaurant serves delicious Indian street food and drinks. Here are some of my recommendations: 1. Iced Chai. 2. Buttered chicken. 3. Bengals Fish Fry Sandwich. 4. Saag Paneer. 5. Naan bread. Festive atmosphere, good service, and delicious food!

Very impressed with the quality and taste of Indian food here. Authentic yet innovative and eclectic. Portions are a little on the smaller side visually but leave you full and satisfied. Will definitely be back here!

After researching online, James Beard award winning restaurants in the Asheville area I found this phenomenal Indian restaurant! The food was literally mind blowing, and such an experience that I decided to take my wife to the one in Decatur Georgia once I arrived home. Again we had the same experience, and were blown away by the food! I recommend this place to everyone now! Can’t wait to return!

I was not introduced to Indian food as a youngster. It’s only been during these past few years, I’ve really grown to appreciate it and Chai Pani continues to AMAZE me. They care about the freshness of the food and the presentation, even when ordering takeout. They’ve now blown out the patio which I haven’t dined yet but plan to-it looks really quaint. Thank you, Chai Pani Decatur!

Very good and tasty food! Would not recommend if you want spicy 🌶️ food. Great decor! Okra was great! Every thing we had was amazing.

First-time dining was great...!!! The Lamb dish was absolutely delicious especially the okra Fry's... Friendly service I will be returning for takeout and again to dine in. Okra fries were so good I forgot and took my photo after I ate most of them. Lol 😂

Loved it! A great place serving some true Indian flavors. I really enjoyed the Kheema Pav and Butter Chicken. We also had a chance to taste their Brussel Sprouts Manchurian (A daily special). They run a cart style Pani Puri which is a must try, as well as the other items on the Chat (street food) menu. Definitely a must visit!

It was crowded when we went. There is a wait to be seated. Reservations were not taken. So be prepared to wait. They have outdoor seating with gas heaters. It serves mostly street food, for casual dining. The ambience is noisy. There are lots of Indian artifacts on the walls. It is kid friendly. They do have a bar. Food quality was good to average. Service was fast and friendly. Prices are reasonable.

Because I love Botiwalla I figured that I should give Chai Pani a try. It was lunchtime when we arrived and I was disappointed to find that they only offer the buffet at lunch so I’ll have to give the dinner service try. I had the butter chicken, saag paneer, kale pakoras, vada pav, & lavender lemon iced tea. The food was decent. I think that maybe because it was kinda lukewarm the flavor seemed to be lacking a bit. Personally won’t be back for the buffet, but will give dinner a try.

I went here for dinner with my family and overall we had a good time. I got the Mixed Vegetable Uttapam for the entree and it was alright. I think it could’ve had more flavor. The texture was great but I wasn’t a fan of the coconut chutney, it lacked flavor. The matchstick okra fries were good. I’m a huge okra fan and the crispness and acidity from the lime was a perfect match. A huge con for me was the service from our waitress. She wasn’t really attentive and seemed preoccupied. I didn’t feel welcomed as a patron. Additionally the parking is small and tight so be aware if you come during peak hours.

The food is tasty, and affordable, similar to that of Indian street food. They have all the crunchy, spicy, tangy street snacks and free refills on chai!!

We enjoyed the food we had here and it was definitely authentic inspired Indian street food with a twist. The atmosphere and decor was quirky and fun, but the low lights also made it feel kind of cozy. The only thing I was kind of thrown off by was that rice and bread had to be ordered extra. I've been to a bunch of Indian restaurants in America and Europe and can't remember ever going to one that didn't include at least rice or even naan or chapati with an order of curry or other main dish. We're all pretty health conscious and eat fairly healthy and by no means excessive amounts of food, but ended up having to order extra food because what we originally ordered just wasn't enough. Having at least some plain rice included with an entree would be my only suggestion. But that is definitely my only (and certainly not a major) complaint. The service was very attentive and helpful and our server had good recommendations tailored to our group. We all have different dietary preferences and were able to find things that met our needs and desires. My son is four years old and left happy and with a full belly. While my husband eats meat and isn't terribly picky, i try to eat mostly plant-based and all of us found very much enjoyable options on the menu. I definitely plan on going back because the food really was very good and tasty.

Chai Pani is highly rated and after one visit I’d have to agree that it makes a lot of sense. Popular for its street style serving of pani puris with a live counter, it takes up the experience by a notch or three. Other appetizers are fantastic too. They cater to serving the street food craving for desis and they’re fairly upscale for American patrons to want to step in. They’ve also got their own selection of tea, spice and other stuff up for sale too. I’d like to add that the prices seem a little higher for the portion size. Overall a good place for Indian street food fare. Worth a visit when in the Atlanta metro area.