I’m a picky eater, which unfortunately has always left my options slim to none when it came to choosing a dine-in restaurant. Because of this, I have spent years depriving my taste buds of exotic foods.
Recently, I decided to set my qualms aside and try something different from the norm.
I’m a born and raised Westsider, so I was surprised when I typed Chapati into my Google map, it navigated right to my side of town.
I found it to be an everyday restaurant with an inviting, clean atmosphere. You can feel relaxed without the pressure of dressing up, whether you’re on a lunch date or choose to have a family dinner.
Chapati is an Indian restaurant open Monday through Sunday from 11 a.m. – 9:30 p.m. The menu includes gourmet chaat dishes with East Asian spice blends of sauces, fresh vegetables, and juicy meats including Biryani, Chili Chicken, Butter Chicken, Nihari, and goat meat.
They even have gourmet vegan meals, like Daal, and vegetarian dishes such as Eggplant Masala. These menu items are under $10.
Also, spiced meats are offered for those who enjoy a bold, tangy taste including Chicken Boti, Chicken Tiki, Beef Behari, and Seekh Kabob all under $15 with different flavors of vegetarian yogurt chaats priced under $7.
With so many delicious options to choose from, it was difficult, but I ultimately selected the Chili Chicken. The sliced organic halal chicken was marinated and slow cooked with a secret blend for only $8.99.
As a ritual I do before partaking in any meal, I bowed my head to say a short prayer and blessed my food in hopes it was worth the trip.
It was different from what I am familiar with, but the exotic taste of the spices mixed with the tender chicken was tasteful.
This dining experience made me realize it’s time to stop living in a shell and step outside the box to experience new foods. I used to judge foods by looks and smells, but experiencing a new culture makes me want to visit other unique restaurants. Chapati was better than expected and I plan to visit again in the near future.
