Chai Pani Decatur

"This Indian restaurant is a feast for your eyes (and palate). A kaleidoscope of colors from string lights to bright orange garlands mirrors the colorful dishes packed on every table. Plates like lightly fried okra sliced thinner than a penny, a saucy saag paneer dusted with garam marsala, and creamy butter chicken only sit on the table for a few minutes before being hastily devoured. From the perpetually present crowds to the polished-clean plates at the end of dinner, it all backs why this has remained the top Indian restaurant in the metro for well over a decade." - juli horsford, jacinta howard, nina reeder

"Chai Pani in Decatur and Botiwalla at Ponce City Market both have revamped outdoor patios, strung up with faux marigold flowers and lamps that make you feel like you’ve walked straight into a Bollywood wedding. At Chai Pani, be sure to order the innovative cocktails that change seasonally and are infused with Indian flavors. James Beard award-winning chef Meherwan Irani brought Decatur this spot dedicated to Indian street foods like disco bhel, samosa chaat, matchstick okra fries, vada pav, and kale pakoras. Look for a lunch buffet daily, from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and pani puri nights every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. A new location is set to open in Washington D.C." - Henna Bakshi

"Every single dish at Decatur's Chai Pani could compete for best bite of the night—even the free pani puri they offer as you wait for a table (they don’t take reservations). And the kale pakoras fried with a light curried chickpea batter, saag paneer doused in a warm garam marsala, and incredible butter chicken are all dishes that’ll make you wonder if you’ll ever taste a better version in the city. You won’t. Doesn't matter if you stop by their daily lunch buffet ($21 on weekends, $17 on weekdays) or their la carte dinner. The experience is always great, and the place is always lively. Just soak in the dining room’s kaleidoscope of colors, from string lights to bright orange garlands strung from every surface. And breathe easy knowing whatever winds up on your table will be excellent." - juli horsford, jacinta howard, nina reeder

"For light and buttery naan and a rotating daal of the day, order from Chai Pani. This Decatur staple is one of the best affordable restaurants with ample options. From chutney-topped sliders to spice-filled lamb hash, light bites are also plentiful for lunch or late-night snacks. Don’t forget an extra order of chapati and a classic mango lassi, too." - Beth McKibben, Molly Harris

"Chai Pani offers plenty of vegetarian options for both lunch and dinner. Try the famous kale pakoras, any of the daals (lentil stews), gobi 65 (fried cauliflower bites), samosa chaat, potato vada pav, and bhel. The lunch buffet is a great option to try many vegetarian dishes, including the south Indian vegetable uttapam, chaat (Indian street food snacks), and saag paneer. Be sure to wash it all down with fresh ginger chai." - Eater Staff