The Hong Kong-based Chaat restaurant serves up a great sample of India’s street snack culture in a sophisticated setting with sweeping skyline views. Chaat is the Hindi word for chatna or to eat a snack chat . The restaurant invites guests to transport themselves to the Indian peninsula with a spectacular menu that will leave you wanting to savour every last bite of the food. At Chaat, chef Manav Tuli introduced favourite traditional street snacks from his childhood growing up in central India, including his savoury homemade paneer cheese and pav bhaji. But with the departure of Manav Tuli, chefs Gaurav Kuthari and Dheeraj Kumar have now taken over as head chefs at Hong Kong’s popular restaurant Chaat.
Using a trio of authentic tandoor ovens, the colourful menu pays homage to the rich and diverse cuisine of India’s central states and the Bombay coast, northern Punjab and Kerala in the south. Chaat’s sociable atmosphere revives the spirit of India’s much-loved social bazaars, where family, friends and new acquaintances congregate for a shared love of food and conversation.
The focal point inside the restaurant is a custom-made wall mural by Hyderabadi contemporary artist Kandi Narasimloo. His naive, voluminous figures on a colourful, beautiful backdrop tell a vibrant story of bustling Indian street life, where the roadside chaat ritual forms part of the cultural fabric of towns and cities that transcends social strata to unite people around the shared pleasure of food. (Courtesy Chaat’s website)
