Bright and Bold Flavors at an Indian Cafe: How To Enjoy Lunch

Outdoor Patio Seating at Chaat Cafe in Hillsboro, Oregon.Photo by the Author: Trista Signe Ainsworth

My husband and I are always up for a food adventure. We all love Indian food, and ever since I found Chaat Cafe on Yelp, I knew we had to give it a try. It turned out to be a delicious experience!

This small cafe is located on 3rd street in Hillsboro. It has a small amount of indoor seating and a very charming and beautiful patio with tables.

We decided to come by for lunch on a Saturday and order our food to go. Next time, we will enjoy the patio on a nice day.

It was a very busy and bustling kitchen with cooks preparing everything from scratch. You can tell they put a lot of work and love into all of the food they prepare.

I am very intrigued by the different offerings on their menu. Chaat is an Indian snack usually served at roadside stands. There are many versions, but the original is based on potatoes, crisp fried bread, chickpeas, yogurt, and condiments. There is always a mixture of soft foods mixed with crunchy elements.

We decided to try some new dishes as well as their versions of our favorite Indian foods.

Paneer Tikka Masala Roll from the Chaat CafePhoto by the Author: Trista Signe Ainsworth

I chose to try both the samosa chaat and the paleek paneer. Our son went for his favorite butter chicken and rice.

The samosa chaat is a unique combination served in a bowl. There are pieces of fried samosas (triangle-shaped fried dough with potatoes and peas inside), yogurt, chickpeas, mint and tamarind chutneys, onions, cilantro, spices, and a crunchy topping. I liked the dish in small amounts, but the combination of flavors and textures was a bit overwhelming for me. However, it was a dish that my husband loved!

Samosa Chaat Bowl at Chaat Cafe in HillsboroPhoto by the Author: Trista Signe Ainsworth

I loved their version of paleek paneer. It is a vegetarian dish made with Indian cheese chunks in a lovely spinach sauce served with long-grain white rice. It had a lot of bigger pieces of spinach, and the sauce was flavorful and creamy. It ended up being my favorite dish!

Delicious Paleek Paneer from Chaat Cafe in HillsboroPhoto by the Author: Trista Signe Ainsworth

My son thoroughly enjoyed his butter chicken. He loves that dish so much! It was a very bright red color, the brightest we had ever seen! There was plenty of chicken and rice for him to enjoy and it lasted him two meals.

Butter Chicken and Rice from Chaat Cafe in HillsboroPhoto by the Author: Trista Signe Ainsworth

We appreciate the abundance of our food order, and we were able to enjoy these dishes for more than one meal.

You can order at the cafe, or you can order your food online on their website. They have a great ordering system that I intend to use the next time we want to try more of their dishes.

The inside of Chaat Cafe in HillsboroPhoto by the Author: Trista Signe Ainsworth

They have several sections of their menu, the most unique being the chaat, or snack section. They also have biryani (meat and rice dishes), salads, tandoori (clay oven-roasted chicken), wraps and rolls, rice, naan, and drinks as well as desserts.

Their biryani section includes choices with fish, chicken, lamb, and vegetables. I love that there is a rice dish for everyone! Their tandoori section includes both halal chicken and lamb. I hope to try these soon as well.

Chaat Cafe in Hillsboro is an Indian/Pakistani CafePhoto by the Author: Trista Signe Ainsworth

Their naan or flatbread choices include plain, onion, garlic, or bread made with potatoes. When we go back, I am excited to try more of their dishes, especially their kulfi, or Indian ice cream!

I applaud this restaurant for its creativity. There are not many places to experience Indian street foods in Hillsboro, so I appreciate the opportunity here.

Here is all the information you need to experience this unique cafe for yourself.

Chaat Cafe Location:

137 SE 3rd Ave, Hillsboro, OR 97123

Hours:

Monday-Sunday 11 am to 2:30 pm for Lunch and 4:30 pm to 8:30 pm for Dinner.

They are open until 9:30 for dinner on Fridays and Saturdays.

Phone:

503-681-3007

Website:

https://www.mychaatcafe.com/

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