The 18 Best Restaurants in Asheville, North Carolina | Eater Carolinas

"After winning the 2022 James Beard Award for Outstanding Restaurant, chef Meherwan Irani’s lighthearted homage to Indian street food outgrew the tiny downtown space where it earned its reputation, and in 2024, moved to much larger digs in the old Buxton Hall Barbecue location on the South Slope. The massive kitchen and dining room have allowed for an expanded menu and an explosion of Chai Pani’s signature buoyantly colorful decor and joyful Bollywood verve. Menu favorites like the kale pakoras and lime-kissed matchstick okra fries remain alongside newer offerings, including crispy sabudana vada tots and bihari steak kebab. Chai Pani still doesn’t take reservations, but on weekends customers can wait for their table with a grand view of the dining room from the upstairs cocktail and pani puri bar." - Gina Smith