Vik’s Chaat

Love this place. Line moved fast. Next to a native nursury. I also stocked up on seasonings in the store attached.

This isn’t your typical curry naan Indian restaurant. This place is more reminiscent of street food you can find in India. I come here whenever I’m craving pani puri or bhel but for some reason, I never leave completely satisfied. Don’t get me wrong, its good but not great. Maybe its because I compare it to my mom’s homemade pani puri, which is the best thing ever.
I usually get a variation of pani puri, dhai (yogurt) puri, or sev puri. They may all seem the same and definitely share similar ingredients but the flavors, in my opinion, are very different. These dishes are good but not anything that sets them apart from other Indian restaurants or from home. We also usually share a chole bhature (fried doughy goodness) and that I admit, is pretty damn good. Of course my stomach is never too happy with me after eating it because it is oily and fried but definitely delicious while eating.
I keep coming back because a) its close and b) it holds me over until I can visit home

Consistently some of the best chaat West of Mumbai. Yes it’s cafeteria style (they never claim to be a Michelin-​star establishment), but chaat was never meant to be served «deconstructed» or on white linen table cloth. Frankly, that would deter from the appeal of having Indian fast food!
I am admittedly a great cook and I’ve got to give Viks props for authenticity. Over the years, I have had the chole bhature, dahi papdi chaat, dahi pakori chaat, chai, and of course, the wondrous Rasmalai. All of it, I mean ALL of it.perfection. A bit of a drive if you don’t live in the East Bay, but well worth it.

A large group of 11 came to vik’s chaat for a reunion of friends from undergrad, some of us meeting for the first time in four years. We were all from India, so we know what a good chaat is. The verdict — even though vik’s isn’t as good as street food in Mumbai and Delhi, but it comes pretty close.
Among us, we had roughly everything on their menu. The dahi batata puri, pav bhaji, chole bature, and the lychee maazaa deserve special mention. And It’s all very affordable.
Our only complaint was with the seating. It was a Saturday afternoon, plus the fact that we were 11 did not help. We had to wait for about 20 minutes before a big enough table cleared out, and an additional 15 before it got wiped clean.

This place is LEGIT.
It’s farther away from campus but you can easily get here by taking the 51B to get to 4^th street. All the food i’ve had here is amazing and tasty. It definitely fulfills my cravings for Indian food.
Ambiance: When you walk in it’s like a big cafeteria where you order at the cashier and then they call you to whichever station your food is at. It’s then served on lunch trays.
Suggestions:
— Cholle Bhature — comes with lentils and some sauce in the side to dip it in
— Lamb roti — delish! I’ve never really been a fan of lamb until recently and this is so worth. It’s like an egg pancake with dipping sauces on the side.
— Chicken schwarma
— Mango lassi — nice and tangy. Not the typical kind of drink you would associate with mango since it’s mixed with yogurt but it’s a great cleanser after your entrees.
Will come back to try their desserts though! Delicious food, fast service, and friendly staff.

This place is excellent — Think of an open seating (e.g. school cafeteria) space selling delicious indian food for affordable prices. It’s no surprise to see a mix of people here because Vik’s Chaat truly brings people of all ages together: 2 year old kids from to Indian grandparents.
When I arrived, I was famished so I ordered a small appetizer (Dahi Batata Puri) and main dish (Cholle Bhature) for a total of $ 16. I thought there was no way the food would fill me up but I struggled finishing my plate. I would highly recommend both dishes. My sister ordered the Dosa & Rose Lassi and my boyfriend ordered the Lamb Biryani and I would highly recommend both too. Infact, I may have enjoyed the Lamb Biryani a bit more over all of the dishes but if you don’t like spicy dishes, this dish isn’t for you.
The food comes out quickly (~5 minutes) and you need to keep your ear out for your name because your dishes will come out in a staggered manner. I didn’t have a problem getting a table for 3 despite its popularity because the tables turn over quickly. Credit cards are accepted.
Overall: Incredible and filling Indian food for a bargain price. This is a great place for group outings, families, and even dates (casual setting). Credit cards are accepted. Can’t go wrong with any of the items on the menu.

Delicious, cheap, great for groups and kids.
I got two words for you: young coconuts.
MAN. where have I been all my life to have never experienced one of those. Sliced open with a straw… the amazing nectar of the coconut gods is probably one of the best drinks I have had. Then… it becomes the drink you eat! Depending on how motivated you are to scrape and peel the coconut meat off the sides, of course. How motivated am i? lets just say there was literally nothing left. ahhh i want one right now!
My family and I came here for lunch while I was up visiting for some cheap and delicious cafeteria indian. i was told this is slightly different than most indian places out there, being more of street food indian style. I was a bit overwhelmed with options, so I opted for one of the plate items that comes with sides — got the «Bone in lamb curry dinner.» Although the lamb was good, it was rather fatty and that is just not my thing… so I probably wouldn’t get it again. I would go for the Tandoori chicken, instead, which was one of the many items my family got to share. I have no idea the names but they also got some GIANT burrito looking thing that had veggies in it and that was delicious. This is a place to just come with an open mind and try a bunch of num-​nums to share with a group of people. You can’t really go wrong.
Everything is served on giant metal TV trays with different dipping sauces, small pickled things i couldnt even tell you what they were even after I ate them, etc. Sort of like they do in Korean food with Banchan. I thoroughly enjoyed my experience. We also got the little ice cream cups… which were… interesting. My brother in law got one that sort of tasted like potpourri. it wasn’t necessary bad, just very different. Had all sorts of funny things in it — definitely rose. i think I got pistachio and it was better :)
There is also a joint market to buy food items, buy your spices, and whatnot. Love the super open floor plan with high ceilings. This place is happening on the weekend.

This is the Indian cafeteria-​style place that all the reviews and blogs are hyped about. I personally asked 2 of my Indian friends, and they both love this place. I guess today is the night to finally try it out. I went along with their recommendations as well as all the Unilocal reviews, and ordered all of their signature dishes: Cholle Bhature (big puffy thing), Dahi Batata Puri, Lamb Biryani (lamb rice), Mango Lassi (yogurt drink).
You first order at the cash register near a booth-​like place, and then wait at your table. When they call your name, you go to the cafeteria and pickup your food by the kitchen. All meals are served on a stainless steel tray, along with some small dishes/​pickles. All are super authentic, but I didn’t enjoy it that much.
I have to say this place failed my expectation, I guess I’m more used to the regular Indian curry and naan rather than traditional chaat deli. Next time, I will order their naan and curry specials (it looks really good!), pani puri (my friend’s favorite) and dosa (super popular). I will come back and give it a second chance.
Food:1/5
Price:3/5
Service:3/5
Ambience:2/5
Favorites:
* Cholle Bhature ($ 7.50) — The big puffy thing. It is basically fried bread served with green paste and cooked lentils. The way to eat it: Break off a piece of bread with your hands, dab the pickle and lentils and scoop the cholle into your mouth.
* Chicken curry to go ($ 4)
Other orders:
* Lamb Biryani ($ 9) — layers of rice and bone-​in lamb cook together all day long, served with side yogurt sauce. Lamb is super soft, but only a few pieces.(lots of bones!) Not worth the money…
* Dahi Batata Puri ($ 5.75) — puris (fried puff balls) filled and topped with yogurt and tamarind chutney. The plate is served cold, not what I expected. It was kind of sweet, like a dessert???
* Mango Lassi ($ 3.25) — traditional yogurt-​based mango drink, very sweet.

I LOVE this place; highly recommend it! Yummy, Cheap, Fast and Clean.
I live in SF but visit this place at least once in a few months. It is by far one of the bests!
I have brought so many family members here and everyone has fallen in love with this place.
The lines can be long to order the food but they move relatively fast. The venue is relatively really clean for an Indian fast food place.
It’s really big so getting a table is easy. It is a good spot for cheap, yummy, fast Indian food even with big groups.
The staff doesn’t come by often to clean the tables people leave behind dirty but I always use tissues to clean it myself so that I can grab a table before the food comes.
The food delivery is fast! Your name is called when the food is ready and each item comes as it gets prepared.
They have Limca and Thumbs Up too (Indian Sodas).
They also have a grocery store (market) attached to it so you can buy Indian snacks, spices, grains, sweets, frozen, fresh veggies, fruits etc.
Recommendations:
Really Good:
1. Cholle Bhature (big puri with chickpeas gravy). It comes with pickle and onions
2. Pav Bhaji — one of my favorites here
3. Bhel Puri
4. Sev Puri
5. Dahi Batata Puri
6. Pani Puri
7. Mango Lassi
8. Koliwada Fish
Not So Good:
1. Rasgolla — one dish is 2 pieces. It’s not bad but it’s not great either.
2. Indo-​Chinese — the noodles are okay. The Manchurian is good, but really really spicy.

We went here with great expectations after reading all the reviews. But I don’t think it is worth it at all. Here is my experience:
As soon as you enter you will be hit by the buzz of swarm of people talking. You need to stand in a queue to place your order. Since the order counter is far away from the kitchen counter you cannot do any customizations to your food. So what they like to prepare is what you get.
After you place your order, you have to track two counters, if you have ordered tea. The place they serve tea is behind the cashier and if they are out of tea, you will need to wait and add to the crowd in that small space till they make a fresh batch.
Then you head to the kitchen counter when they call out your number. Issue here is that anyone can take your order and go. Happened to us. We had wait for the dish to be made again.
As for the food itself, it was very mediocre. Some of the chaat shops in San Jose are way better in taste. For those who say that it is the best Indian ever, I wonder if they have ever tasted any other Indian food.
Finally the ambience and cleanliness of the restaurant and the bathroom is sub optimal. I won’t be going back.

What’s there to say about this place that hasn’t been said in 1800 reviews? I actually thought I had written a review of Vik’s long ago. It is hands down our favorite Indian food place in the East Bay, especially for South Indian.
You know you can tell this place is legit? It is always, always crowded… and with all kinds of people, including Indians, from first-​generation to third. My in-​laws, first-​generation immigrants from Kolkata, make this a must-​visit spot every time they’re on the West Coast.
It can be big and confusing, especially the first time you visit. It’s a counter service style place, so you first get in line near the deli counters selling candy and sweets. You order at the registers. Then you find a table and wait for your name to be called at the pick up windows. The sound system is about two decades old, so good luck making out your name in the loud dining room, hopefully it’s something distinctive or use a last initial.
Dishes I would recommend include samosas, masala dosa, chole bhatura (the big puffy things), tandoori chicken combination plate, or the chicken khathi rolls. To drink, skip the chai unless you’re really craving it… too small, too hot, and overpriced. Mango lassis (like a mango yogurt shake) are good but filling. But most people I see just get a few waters.
Don’t forget the Indian foods and spices market next door, which has some great imports waiting to be discovered.

Went back with a big group of friends for dinner at 7pm on Saturday night. Took about 15 mins to get a table, but man was it worth it. Boyfriend and I got sev puri, chhole bhatura, and chicken biryani. Every dish was fantastic! The place was packed and food took a while but for the price and variety, it’s so so worth it. Where else can you get chaat, dosa, biryani, South Indian fried fish, and Bengali sweets all under one roof? If you haven’t been to Vik’s Chaat yet, you’re seriously missing out.

I have lived over 3 years in India so know a thing or two about authentic Indian cuisine. Vik’s Chaat is authentic Indian cuisine at it’s best. Come early for lunch or budget time as there is a long wait time. India is probably the most vegetarian country in the world yet dairy there is ubiquitous. In India many restaurants are fully vegetarian not serving eggs yet always serve dairy. The dosas here are authentic & the sambhar as well as chutneys are tasty.
There are several items at Vik’s Chaat labeled vegan which is great yet would love a vegan option for the weekday lunch special. Raita is on the vegetarian weekday lunch special featuring yogurt or curd perhaps for a vegan option add another veggie dish or more roti instead of the raita. Berkeley has a sizable vegan population so think this would be a reasonable option at Vik’s Chaat.
Besides the authentic cuisine one thing that makes you realize you are in Berkeley & not in India is a visit to the loo. There you will find a stand up waterless urinal that saves 40,000 gallons per year. The toilet is dual flush saving 22,000 gallons a year. Plus you dine on authentic metal thali plates with compostable sporks (spoons & forks made from corn).
A meal at Vik’s Chaat is a true Berkeley experience worth seeking out.
Props for being eco-​friendly & a weekday vegan lunch special would shift things to five stars!

Busy fast-​food joint that meets your craving for some oily deep fried Indian chat food.
Tasty food and well run joint with lots of space. Recommend a 10k run prior to treating yourself a batura and lassi!

Gosh, has it really been a couple of years since our last visit here?! We used to eat here pretty often since the food is good and inexpensive, but lately we’ve been opting to have brunch at other places nearby like Café M, 900 Grayson, and etc. Glad to know that the food hasn’t changed here.
Our most recent visit was a couple of weeks ago. I couldn’t believe how inexpensive the Chicken Biryani was. It was a generous portion with about 4 big chunks of bone-​in chicken, a good amount of seasoned rice and an egg on top. At $ 8.99, it was a bargain. It was spicy too, so the dollop of raita on the side was very much appreciated.
We’ve tried most of their dishes here throughout the years. Can’t go wrong with the Samosa Cholle, Dosa, Puri and Cholle Bhature.
This place gets really packed on weekends. It’s best to come here early. We went at 11 and it wasn’t busy yet. Enter through the doors on Channing and get in line to order and pay. They will call your name when your order is ready.
If you’re planning on making Indian food, this place has a small market attached to it. You can buy spices, dry goods, some produce and some frozen items as well. So if you find yourself in Berkeley and want some Indian street food, Vik’s is the place to go!

I left Berkeley in 1999. I still find myself in Indian restaurants trying to recreate what I ate at Vik’s Chaat. Anything Puri. And the mango lassi… mmm. And… anything. One of my fondest memories of college is hopping off of my bike salivating for lunch at Vik’s, and then that wonderful puri as it crunched sweetly in my mouth.
Do any of your cousins have a restaurant near LA? If so, I have to bring my family so they understand…
To date, I have never had Indian food reach this pinnacle of satisfaction. I would say the closest is that spot in the palisades or over by the ¹⁰⁄₄₀₅. But really no whre in DC, LA or anywhere else I have been can hold a candle to Vik’s.

I don’t understand the hype here… but this seems like the place to go for the local people in Berkeley.
The rose lassi drew me into this place but it turned out to be disappointing because it was super sour and the consistency was thin. I ended liking the mango lassi more.
Portions are pretty small for the price and the food was mediocre. I definitely had better biriyani elsewhere.

Let me preface with this — if you’re a lover of Indian food, RUN, don’t walk here.
An East Bay adventure day led us to Vik’s Chaat for a quick noon-​time pick-​me-​up. Vik’s is a cafeteria-​style place with a market in the back (on the side?) and a ton of prep stations surrounding the main dining/​ordering area. If it’s your first time, here’s a few tips:
THE HIGHLIGHTS.
— There may be a long line — embrace the line, don’t avoid it. Things move fairly quickly around here
— You most likely won’t know what most of the menu items are (unless you grew up eating these specific dishes) — don’t panic, there are picture menus near the front that will make your life a lot easier
— Once you’ve ordered, your dishes will be ready at the appropriately labeled serving stations — keep an ear open for your name being yelled, and don’t be afraid to push through the queue waiting to order to grab your food
— Enjoy
I personally recommend getting your order to go — the dining area is a bit too loud/​crowded/​warm to my liking, and there are some beautiful parks a short drive away. No matter what you order, you’ll be happy, Our favorites were the masala dosa, Koliwada fish, and samosas.
Low prices, excellent food, and fast customer service = a winner in my book.

Just visited this spot for the first time today and loved it! There are just so many options, and they’re not-​just-​your-​everyday-​Indian cuisine. I also think that most of the dishes are sized enough to share generously between two people, as was the case with this visit. We enjoyed the samosas, masala dosa, and veg kathi. This is probably the best dosa I’ve ever had. Perfectly crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. The kathi roll, which I’ve had in the City, was just delicious. The spices, the preparation, the inclusions in each dish — top notch.
Additionally, given how large it is, and the number of people going in and out, it’s impeccably clean and well-​run.

Lots of options! A good place for quick Indian food. There are lots of dessert options too. I liked the dosa and lamb biryani the most. Arrived a bit before noon before the lunch rush on a Saturday. Tastes were pretty good, but didn’t blow me away.

Fast, inexpensive and good Indian food.
Good vegetarian options.

Really good Indian food in a very clean and spacious environment.
Ample parking in the lot.
Very reasonable prices.
Kid and family friendly!

E for Exceeds Expectations
Came here for lunch.
Walked it and I was already a drawn in by the smells.
We got:
1) Cholle Patture — i was so excited when i saw this puff ball.
2) Pani puri — Really like the sauce that went with this
3) Mango Lassi — omg I am totally coming back here for this. sweet, with just the right amount of mango tartness. consistency was also smooth. I could slurp this all day
Although, I’m still new to Indian food, I would definitely come back here.

The only Indian restaurant that is worth writing a review for in my opinion. Keep in mind this is coming from a brown girl! The only Indian food I like is home made or in India, so it takes a lot for me to be moved enough to mention this joint.
The first part of my love for Vik’s begins right when you walk through the doors and into the market. Here you’ll find anything from Maggi noodles to frozen indian naan. Recently I snagged a pack of bourbon flavored chocolate filled biscuits and OMGAHD they were amazeballs. I will now plan on grabbing a ton on my next visit. Overall the market has a great selection of frozen foods, dried goods, and spices, but lacks in fresh vegetables.
Ok on to the grub! Everything I’ve tried thus far is amazing, so there’s a high chance you won’t be disappointed. My favorites are the dosa and the cholay bhatura. Hands down the two go to items for lunch or dinner. The chutney that comes with the cholay add the perfect amount of acidic balance to the rich spiciness of the garbanzo beans. The dosa dish is HUGE and can be easily shared between two people. The dosa is comprised of flaky thin dough stuffed with a spiced potato pea mash. YASSS people. Chai is also a great accompaniment to all the spicy foods you will consume.
Tip: come outside of the 12:00 — 1:00pm window to avoid a long line. Either way they’re fast so once you order the wait won’t be too long.
Get yo indian life!!! Don’t even think twice. Skip breakfast and get your behind over to Vik’s.

I like Vik’s. It’s not the best Indian food in Berkeley and it’s not a sit down restaurant where you’re being serve, but it’s fun and most of the food is good. It’s a fun place for a small group of friends or family. It can get busy around 12:30/1pm on a weekend. I like to eat family style because you get different flavors. Also your food does come out at different times so it’s awkward to watch your food go cold as your wait for a friend. It can feel a little chaotic, so here’s my guide to Vik’s:
1) Get in line and figure out what you want, preferable before getting in line. When you’re ordering, give them a ridiculously unique and easily identifying name, like Bob.
I like to choose these: cholle patture (big fried naan with garbanzo beans), the dosa (a South Indian Crêpe with potato mash and some other things), and samosas (tortilla filled with potato filling and fried). I also like to order chai and add a lot of sugar, but be careful, it’s hot! There’s also mango lassi and coconut milk. Avoid the enticing sweets. Get those later if you are adventurous and have space.
2) Have a friend nab an open table or just stalk tables of people finishing up their food while the rest of you order if it’s busy.
3) Sit down and gather your utensils. Listen for your name on the crappy speaker system (this is why a name like Bob is useful). It will be called multiple times for each item. Go to the guy with the mic and he’ll tell you where your food is.
4) Enjoy your food and afterwards go explore the store to get your own South Asian spices, frozen food, vegetables, and more!

I didn’t really know what I ate but this place gave me a pretty amazing experience and it’s AWESOME! If you are even in Berkeley looking for snack, this is the place to go.
It’s located on a street corner on 6^th cross Dwight in Berkeley with a big park lot. I walked in randomly looking for afternoon snack place, and I found this place. When I first got it, it was a little Indian market (turns out it was actually a side door of the restaurant). The market sells all kind of Indian food and sauces, and looks very interesting to me. As I kept walking I got into the restaurant, actually it was more like a big cafeteria. The celling was super tall with blue and yellow wall, creates a exotic tone of India.
As for the food, I really don’t know what I ate but it was just awesome. I ordered:
dahi batata puri (MUST TRY!!): I didn’t know what it was but it looks like snail and it’s cold, and I never really tasted something quite like this before.
Cholle Bhature (the big puffy thing): the puffy thing itself was okay, but the sauce that comes with it was very yummy.
Masala dosa: just something to fill the stomach, so I didn’t finish it.
Color dessert: I got a piece of yellow and a piece of pink dessert, and it felt like it was made from rice? I took a bite on each of them and they were super sweet.

Quite possibly my favorite restaurant in Berkeley. My favorite thing to get here is the masala dosa — a no nonsense potato filled crêpe with a warm dipping gravy sauce. It’s the most comforting thing. The flavors in the dosa are complex, and the spices are incredibly tasty.
One dosa can easily be shared between two or for one seriously hungry person.
Their indo-​Chinese dishes are also good. It has hints of Indian inspired Chinese food. It’s different, but interesting and easily a fine pick if you want something fusion-​ish.
Their chai here is a must. You must get it! It’s delicious, belly warming and exudes flavors beyond comprehension. The slight hint of ginger will soothe your senses, generate feelings of content and the drink alone is enough for me to come back. If there’s two things I need to have while here, I’m definitely going to say the masala dosa and the chai. Yum!
Happy eating.