In celebration of the newest location of Chaiiwala of London I received a special delivery for lunch. They have recently opened at the SFU campus in Burnaby, and there are plans of another location opening on Robson Street in Vancouver.
For those unfamiliar, Chaiiwala is actually founded on the streets of New Delhi, despite the London mention. They hold 100 years of history and tradition with their famous Karak Chaii at the forefront. Their rendition of chai is what has now made the brand famous throughout the world, developing its own cult following. They claim to be the world’s fastest growing independent business, with plans to blossom to 500 stores across the world in the next decade.
Today I had 2 cups of the above mentioned famous karak chaiis and a couple of small bites to get better acquainted with the brand. The tea was a delicious and creamy milk tea. It had a mellow sweetness to it with no mention of ginger, making it complimentary to the snacks below, and lovely to sip on alone.
As for food, the Chicken Tikka Wrap was zesty and tangy with the spiced seasoning. The addition of cheese helped to balance things. However, I wanted some more through the likes of sour cream, mayo, or an aioli dip to add some freshness.
The Bombay Toastie was basically a samosa with the same potato and pea filling. It is stuffed in-between two slices of toasted bread, instead of its usual triangular shaped, fried dough pockets that samosas are known for. The addition of a spicy cilantro spread and cheese likens it more to a sandwich. A half was filling enough to replace a whole meal. A little one toned, I would have liked a side for a break.
In short, this was a lovely taste of what has moved into the neighbourhood and sure to be a welcomed addition to the students and residents of SFU as a morning breakfast or mid-day pick-me-up.
Chaiiwala of London
9055 University High St, Burnaby, BC V5A 4Y6
(604) 558-1055
chaiiwalaoflondon.com/ca
