Chaayos - Phoenix Marketcity, Kurla
Monsoons remind me of Chai (tea), chaats and bhajjis. And Chaayos is definitely a place to be if you are craving for some chatpata delights. Heard they had come up with some Monsoon Special Chaat menu. So asked a friend of mine to join me for tasting of this new menu. We tried Bhelpuri, Samosa Matar Chaat, Egg White Chaat & Chicken Keema Papdi Chaat.
The Bhelpuri was quite chatpata with right mix of chaat masala added to crispy murmura (puffed rice) along with sev, onions tomato, spicy chutney and garnishes with coriander, crumbled papdi and presented with a lemon wedge. Loved this dish very much
Samosa Matar Chaat was made of crumbled hot crispy samosa (medium) with matar topped with teekhi & meethi chutney and chaat masala, onions, tomatoes and garnishes with coriander leaves and presented with a lemon wedge. The combination was good but I personally feel the taste could have been better.
Egg White Chaat had the hardboiled egg whites mixed with pudina and green chutney along with onions, tomatoes and coriander garnishing. A really good dish as it really surprised me when I first took a bite that normal egg whites can be turned to such a great tasting chaat.
Chicken Keema Papdi Chaat was served with the keema topped with onions and tomatoes and a wedge of lemon surrounded by sev papdis. Now this dish was the king of the entire chaat that I tasted and definitely my Thumbs Up goes for this dish. It is no doubt the winning combination and I really feel Aamchi Mumbai Manoos should definitely visit Chaayos to taste this one. Though I have a suggestion to Chaayos Management to add more of the whole papdis in this dish than the half bits. Next we ordered for some Hot Kulhad Chai and Shahi Chai. Piping hot Kulhad Chai served in a kulhad (clay glass) topped with few strands of saffron. A must try for all chai lovers. Shahi Chai was a thick creamy hot chai with nuts also called as the Royal Chai.
Later we tried Loaded Open Paratha and Keema Pav along with Kulfi Shake and Aam Panna Iced Tea.
Loaded Open Paratha with Chicken Keema was presented to us in the form of a pizza with a thin base. The base is basically thin crispy paratha (Malabar parathas if anyone have tried a South Indian bread) on top of which a nice delicious gravy of chicken keema is spread and topped with lots of cheese. A delight for the eyes. Personally I feel the parathas can be made a little bit more crispier. A really good dish worth trying though.
Keema Pav was a stunner with some yummy keema gravy stuffed in between soft pav served with pudina chutney and tomato ketchup. Take a bite of this ecstatic dish and you will keep falling in love with it over and over again.
Aam Panna Iced Tea:- Iced tea infused with flavorful mangoes and lots of chaat masala. Not really a fan though. Kulfi Shake was one helluva flavorful milkshake which refreshed me and completed the entire experience at Chaayos for the night. The presentation and flavor of this drink was quite appealing to my eyes and palate.
Finally, we had Moist Chocolate Cake which was quite good though I was expecting something else but it did justice to its name. My report card for Chaayos, Phoenix Marketcity Kurla:- Ambience: 4.5 Food & Beverage: 4.5 Service: 4.5 Location: 4.5