Chai Walla – restaurant review

Tucked in a few doors down from hulking Hamilton House, Chai Walla’s tiny interior bursts with colour. It’s only big enough to house a fridge full of dips and salads and spices that’s clad in recycled wood, plus two brightly-painted stools under a shelf for perching at, but there’s a genuinely friendly atmosphere as the place rapidly fills up one sunny Friday lunchtime.

The short menu is up on chalkboards on the wall, and will be recognisable to anyone who has eaten at the sister takeaway in Bath. Lunches are just £5 with three tempting options on offer: traditional Indian street food samosa chaat (chickpea curry with a samosa broken up into it, topped with crunchy noodles), or a falafel or onion bhaji wrap, served with a samosa.

I opt to have my samosa separate from the curry, and a takeaway box stuffed full of chickpea curry with tamarind sauce and fresh onions, rice, salad and a samosa on the side costs just £6 in all.

Bassy reggae makes the wooden floor vibrate, and a steady stream of people come in, all smiles. Someone returns the plastic tub their previous meal came in and receives an onion bhaji as reward for their diligence – just one of the things Chai Walla are doing to reduce plastic waste in this eco-friendly joint with its wooden cutlery.

Sitting on a bench seat in the window covered in bright patterned fabric, I tuck into the tasty curry with a powerful spicy punch that is totally delicious with a splodge of yoghurt and mango chutney. It’s all topped off with salads including shredded red cabbage and pomegranate seeds, adding colour and crunch to the fairly wet curry – now I understand why I’ve been given a spoon.

The samosa is a real delight – it’s fresh and hot and crisp, with light, flaky pastry and none of the usual greasiness. It’s made to be eaten straight from the paper bag, a corner dipped in salty-sweet mango chutney. The filling is thick with potato and peas – like everything else on the menu, it’s vegan – and the mild spiciness adds depth to the flavours.

There’s a moment of calm as the lunchtime rush clears, a French photography student and a couple of office workers taking their food to go, and the very smiley woman serving behind the counter comes to the front of the shop to take a snap for Instagram. Her partner in the tiny open kitchen in the back of the room continues to prepare the fresh samosas.

A chap comes over from Turbo Island saying he’s feeling a little worse for wear, and she sits with him in the sunny window for a few minutes, discussing the importance of having positive energy. He leaves looking a little more upbeat – as anyone would from a visit to chai Walla, bringing a bit of colour and sunshine to any lunchtime.

Chai Walla
70 Stokes Croft, BS1 3QY
www.instagram.com/chaiwallabristol