Address: | 501 S 42nd St, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA |
Phone: | +1 215-386-1999 |
Site: | desichaathouse.us |
Rating: | 4 |
Working: | 12–10PM 12–10PM 12–10PM 12–10PM 12–10PM 12–10PM 12–10PM |
PE
Penn Appétit
Looking for something different? Desi Village owner Hassan just cant seem to quit. Hes added yet another treasure to the toolbox. Desi Chaat House, a stones throw away on 43rd on Balitmore, offers something completely unique to Philadelphia: authentic Indian street food, also known as chaat (pronounced like "chart"). Bits of bhel peppered with papris are placed in a pool of tangy yoghurt and sweet n spicy tamarind chutney. Cold and salad-like, these are surprisingly satiating as a quick bite or dinner on the go. For beginners, dont be fazed by their confounding conglomerate of choices. And dont let the sulfurous odor dissuade you: its the natural brimstone-containing black salt pervasive in these parts. If youre planning a trip, well help you out with your order. The papri chaat, samosa chaat, and bhel puri are all safe bets, each with their own spin on this crispy, crunchy treat. Be sure not to miss out on their student deal (but which doesnt include authentic Indian sodas like Thumbs Up! and Limca). If youre itchy for a litchi, theyve got that, too. Unlike Taglio and Già Pronto, this dynamic duo really packs a punch...to your tastebuds, not to your wallet. --Timothy Sakhuja
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Sim Tracks
A hidden philly gem. They sell the best chaat. the owner, a man with a stellar mustache is one of the nicest owners and kindest people you will meet. their paapad chat is so genius, he adds radish and mango in it! this is unheard off, he is basically adding his own twist on a classic dish and proving that change is excellent. so brilliant, and it really adds to the appeal of this item. he is also a courageous man, and isnt afraid to try out new things, for example, they started selling a Paan Ice Cream. it is going to test the palate. cardamom and rose syrup with candy fennel on top. this is revolutionary. i hate paan, but i do love this ice cream.
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David Smith
This place is delicious! Their naan is hot and fluffy, the paneer makhani came with not only lots of paneer but onions and bell peppers as well, and the chicken curry my friend ordered was very flavorful. The service is a bit slow though, something to keep in mind if you are trying to grab a fast meal. The only reason I cant give them 5 stars is because while Little Delhi is delicious, it still cannot compare to the majestic indian food of Chicken and Rice in Philadelphia, PA.
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Nadir Sharif
One of my favorite places to get authentic South Asian "street food" in Philadelphia. I have been here four times in person, and have catered from them twice. The samosas and pani puri (gol gappas) are great. I have not yet tried all the different chaat flavors and recipes but the ones that I have tried have all been great. I have not been here in the summer so I cannot say how the iced falooda is, but the winter version without the ice is quite good as a drinkable dessert.
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Smitha Sindagi
This is the only affordable chat house in Philadelphia where you get lots of variety and many dont even exist in India. Even they do the intermediate are pretty much the same and has a lot of Pakistani influence . Pav bhaji and pani Puri are the best. Bhel is a disaster with lot of papdi ,raisins , pomegranate in it. I didnt even know I would eat such a bhel any day . But then you can walk in any ands particularly famous for its non veg chat
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Joshua Hupp
I cannot think of a better place to go if one finds themselves hungry in West Philadelphia. Desi Chaat House is fast--its fresh and healthy--and its a value! One order of chaat is at least 2-3 meals at at ~$7.50, so its perfect if youve got some romantic company. That being said, the only thing you should be wary of is post-meal.Onion breath is a reality. Prepare accordingly.
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Keith Farmer
The best chat in all of Philadelphia. The staff was very friendly and suggested that I put the yougart and sauces in a cup where I could mix at home since I was ordering take out. Great suggestion. I savored every bite and crunch. Thanks Sir. I will always stop in for take out whenever I visit Philadelphia, because it is a must have!!!
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James Bradford
Im a creature of habit so I have only ever had the samosas or samosa chaat here, but Ive had it time and time again and it is delicious and perfect every time - and only about six bucks! I suggest you order takeout because there is very little seating inside and it isnt very comfortable.
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A Private User
I turned into an immediate fan after my first visit (shortly after they opened). The chaat was amazing. However, Ive been disappointed in my last few visits. It seems theyre letting their standards slip. 4 stars (mostly because their slogan is "mild to wild")
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Muhammad Ahmed
Absolutely delicious vegetarian and vegan meals. It is one of the most authentic pakistani places for casual snacks. My wife and I devour this option at least once a week even though this place is located about 50 miles away from my home.
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Saurabh Shetty
This place has a plethora of chaat options, even chaats specific to different states of the country. I had the gujarati chaat and the dahi bhalla chaat, and both were really really good. Eager to go back and check out the other chaats.
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Balaji Mankompu Subramanian
Only the samosa and the vara pav were good. Didnt like the bhel Puri, samosa chat and the aloo Tikki chat. The tamarind was too high and the mint chutney did not do any justice to the taste.
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Benjamin Zerone
Worst pav bhaji... smelled strange Worst chicken wrap. In paprika chat they using some other substitute for papri. Worst experience ever. Wouldnt recommend to any desi. Sorry but the truth.
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Michelle Lee
Samosa chaat + mango lassi FTW. The owner is super friendly -- ask about 1 thing on the menu and hell have you sampling five. Food is all very delicious, cheap and prepared with care.
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Max Heinritz
In three words: cold indian food. Worth a try. Get the samosa chaat or the chicken/lamb chaat if you prefer warm food. FYI you get a free lassi if you "Like" them on Facebook.
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Saifur Chowdhury
I love their chicken chaat! Amazing dishes, and their ice cream is pretty awesome too. Desi flavored ice cream. Best place to get your desi street food cravings!
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A Private User
My favorite is the Shahi chaat---ask for it super spicy, with green chilies and red sauce. Dont forget to ask for the free daily mocktail when you go!
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Suresh Chintalapudi
This is not at all Indian Chat. Everything is served cold and is not mixed at all. I expected a lot looking at the name but it is not even 1% of it.
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Phaedra Helem
The counter employee was unpleasant and they were out of 3 of 5 items ordered from the menu. The food was unremarkable at best. Wont be back.
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Mallesh Pai
If youre in West Philly and missing some good old chaat (non south asians, take a south asian friend along), this is pretty much where to go...
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Lathishsundar V
Never eat here if you wanna have chaat.. you are gonna stop liking chat if you do. You can learn how to cook badly from this the restaurant.
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Saurabh Agnihotri
good food as always. new look with remodeling. waitstaff is great. portions are big so be careful with ordering too much. pricing is good.
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Edward H
I love authentic indian food. The best food in university city area. You should try their Samosa Chaat and Mango Lassi :)
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mohd ali
man o man the best chicken biryani i ever had and the kabobs were amazingly delicious!!!! definitely recommended!!!!1
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Nabeel Sarwar
Honestly, if you want near frozen food, this is the place. Not fresh. Not much service. The guy is a bit of a dick.