Monica W.
Yelp
My sister and brother in law have been coming here for years. I always passed because it's strictly vegetarian, and I like a variety, but once I heard that Chowpatty was one of the ONLY places in New Jersey that my sister's mother in law will actually eat rather than cook herself (as she is from West Bengal), I said- LET'S GO!
Chowpatty Foods is a hole in the wall, Gujarati owned, small Indian and vegetarian restaurant. It was recently renovated (as of this year I believe) and even though it's still on the small side and isn't fancy dining by any means, it's a cute place to grab a variety of excellent, authentic, Indian food at decent price with fabulous service.
The menu here is HUGE and offers quite a variety, from Gujarati, Punjabi, and South Indian dishes, from snacks, chats, sandwiches, to mini meals, "village specials," and even a kids menu. Since it was my first time, I ordered the village special, Gujarati style, because I really enjoy Bhinda (Okra) as well as and KICHIDI (mixed rice). The village special includes (and depends on what style you chose) - a choice of bajri (millet) or corn rotla (bread), one vegetable, dal/kadhi, rice/kichidi, some sweets, all served in a round, circular platter. The presentation of the food is equal to the taste- amazing!
My brother in law's "go to" mini meals here are Dosa and Chole Bhature. the Dosa (in my photos the Dosa looks like "swiss cheese bread" with potatoes and the Chole Bhature is the chickpea mixture with the big bread that is all PUFFED up and then POPs when you stick your finger in it). hahah! So So So good!
Prepare to wait a bit here. I'd say about 20 minutes on average. Why? The food is FRESH and HOT and they start cooking for you the minute you order.
The service here is incredible. When we walked in, my brother in law asked for Kishan, one of the waiters. He greeted us warmly, made a few jokes, and remembered what my sister and brother in law's orders were from 6 months ago. That said, not only is the food here consistent in it's taste, but I highly doubt your order will get mixed up if you are in Kishan's hands. Or any other employee for that matter. Chowpatty takes pride in serving good food, satisfying customers, sharing their culture, and they listen to their customers.
If you have any questions about the menu, don't feel shy. ASK!
The ambiance is very relaxed and pleasant. Since it was newly renovated, it has high ceilings with twinkly lights, and a good number of tables and chairs. They have big windows and the sun shines in and lights up the beautifully painted murals of Mumbai on the walls. There is even a small image of chow patty as a snack stand in India... so take a close look at the mural when you walk in! :) ChowPatty is clean, spacious, and inviting.
This is by no means a "fancy place" but the food is authentic, the service is excellent, and it's comfortable. Feel free to eat with your hands.... it is an Indian restaurant and the food is THAT GOOD! No worries if you prefer utensils, they provide you with them. Not sure if you will want to use them though!!!
"Have you had a meal today?".... in a world where some people get by only on rice and ghee for carbs and protein on a daily basis, I feel incredibly lucky to have had the pleasure to enjoy a fantastic, tasty, and filling meal at ChowPatty.
That said, if you are looking for authentic VEGETARIAN Indian food, you must try ChowPatty.