Botiwalla by Chai Pani

"While their parent restaurant Chai Pani has the edge with a bigger menu, Botiwalla is a reliable spot for a fast-casual Indian meal. This Ponce City Market counter-service stall focuses on street foods. Think: puffed sev potato dahi puris with a sweet yogurt, a delicious chicken tikka roll on a buttery naan, and other eat-on-the-go dishes that make it easier to dodge strollers and wandering tourists. Plus, they do an Irani cafe high tea during the week from 3-5pm—precisely when we like to retreat for cardamom-spiced masala chai, cookies, and a general reprieve from PCM chaos." - juli horsford, jacinta howard, nina reeder

"Set within the busy food hall of Ponce City Market, this boisterous stall is part of the Chai Pani brand of restaurants, and the brainchild of award-wining chef Meherwan Irani. The hyper casual restaurant stall with counter service offers popular Indian street foods like chaat and a street food favorite from Pune, sev puri dahi puri or SPDP — a snack mix of puffed crisps filled with potatoes, doused in spicy, sweet, and tangy chutneys and smothered in chickpea vermicelli or sev. With a large selection of wraps like chicken tikka and lamb boti kebab rolls, tamarind glazed spare ribs, burgers, and grilled skewers, there is something for everyone at Botiwalla. It includes a few vegetarian and vegan options, too. The friendly staff is happy to make recommendations for dietary preferences. The in-house spice blends from Irani’s Spicewalla are available for purchase here. Irani also owns critically acclaimed restaurant Chai Pani in Decatur, serving variations on Indian street food favorites with cocktails during dinner and a buffet during lunch." - Nandita Godbole

"While the ribs at Botiwalla are a great way to go for something hearty, the Desi salad is extremely satisfying when in need of something lighter. This salad is a happy mixture of shredded cabbage, carrots, scallions, roasted cashews, cilantro, and sev (crunchy noodles) tossed in a tangy cumin-lime vinaigrette. If it’s too light on its own, add a protein like chicken tikka." - Lia Picard, Sarra Sedghi

"This grilled Indian street food stall at Ponce City Market from Meherwan Irani also serves chaat, including the chef’s popular “SPDP” (sev potato dahi puri). It’s been a menu staple for years now at Botiwalla. Originating in Mumbai, the savory puffed flour crisps are filled with sweet yogurt, green and tamarind chutneys, potatoes, onions, and cilantro and topped with crunchy chickpea noodle bits. The SPDP paired with a cup of chai is a must at Botiwalla, as is the sweet potato chaat (pictured in the lead photo for the guide)." - Henna Bakshi

"From the menu to the music, this Ponce City Market food stall tries to capture the energy of the late-night street food scene in India. Instead of featuring Indian classical tunes like sitar and tabla that tend to play in the background at many Indian restaurants, Botiwalla’s playlist includes Indian pop music, mixing Bollywood songs with other Indian pop styles like bhangra. And just as the restaurant draws from the Indian and American influences in chef and founder Meherwan Irani’s life, so do the songs. Expect a blend traditional Indian musical elements with Western pop styles to create energetic dance tracks. One song might include Southern hip-hop style drums, the next song might feature techno roots and mix English lyrics with Hindi or Punjabi." - Kris Martins