Tapri Chai Guides
Chai and street food, explained.
Plain-English guides from a 100% vegetarian Indian cafe in Barrhaven, Ottawa: what it is, where it comes from and how to enjoy it.
Chai
Masala, kadak, cutting and Kashmiri: what each one is, how it is made and what to eat with it.
- The best tea for chai.Which black tea makes the best chai? Why Assam and CTC leaf are popular, how they compare to loose leaf and tea bags, and how much to use.Read
- Chai spices, explained.What each spice does in masala chai: cardamom, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, black pepper and fennel. How to balance them for a better cup.Read
- Chai vs chai tea latte.A chai tea latte is a cafe adaptation of masala chai. Here is how real Indian chai differs in method, taste, sweetness and the name itself.Read
- Chai vs coffee.Chai and coffee are both hot, caffeinated and social, but they taste and feel very different. Compare flavour, caffeine, preparation and when to drink each.Read
- How to make masala chai at home.A simple stovetop masala chai recipe with cardamom, ginger, cinnamon and cloves. Quantities, timings and tips for a creamy, fragrant cup.Read
- The complete guide to Indian chai.Masala, kadak, cutting, Kashmiri, Irani, Sulaimani and kulhad chai: the main styles of Indian tea explained, with what to order and what to eat with each.Read
Indian street food
Chaat, pani puri, vada pav, parathas and Indo-Chinese favourites, explained from the first bite.
- Chole puri vs chole bhature.The chickpea curry is the same; the bread differs. Puri is small and whole wheat, bhatura is large, soft and made with refined flour. Compare and decide.Read
- Delhi street food, explained.Delhi’s street food is famous for chaat, golgappa, stuffed parathas and chole bhature. A guide to the classics, and which you can try in Ottawa.Read
- Gujarati street food, explained.Gujarat’s street food mixes sweet, sour and spicy: dabeli, dhokla, fafda and more. A guide to the classics and what to try in Ottawa.Read
- Hakka noodles vs chow mein.Indian hakka noodles and Chinese chow mein are both stir-fried, but the sauces, vegetables and heat differ. Compare them before you order.Read
- How spicy is Indian street food?A heat guide to Indian street food: which dishes are mild, which have a kick, how to cool down and how to ask for less spice. Tapri Chai in Barrhaven, Ottawa.Read
- How to eat pani puri.The right way to eat pani puri: one bite, right away. Tips for first-timers, how to handle the spice and what to drink with it, from an Ottawa chaat cafe.Read
What is inside
The layers and ingredients of your favourite Indian street foods, one dish at a time.
- Indian cafe thick shakes, explained.What makes an Indian cafe shake thick, sweet and dessert-like: ice cream, whole milk, syrups and toppings. How it differs from a milkshake or smoothie.Read
- What is inside Aloo Paratha?What is in Aloo Paratha? See its 4 layers, the key ingredients and how they work together, from a pure vegetarian Indian cafe in Barrhaven, Ottawa.Read
- What is inside Aloo Tikki Chaat?What is in Aloo Tikki Chaat? See its 5 layers, the key ingredients and how they work together, from a pure vegetarian Indian cafe in Barrhaven, Ottawa.Read
- What is inside Bombay Frankie?What is in Bombay Frankie? See its 5 layers, the key ingredients and how they work together, from a pure vegetarian Indian cafe in Barrhaven, Ottawa.Read
- What is inside Bombay Masala Sandwich?What is in Bombay Masala Sandwich? See its 5 layers, the key ingredients and how they work together, from a pure vegetarian Indian cafe in Barrhaven, Ottawa.Read
- What is inside Bun Maska?What is in Bun Maska? See its 5 layers, the key ingredients and how they work together, from a pure vegetarian Indian cafe in Barrhaven, Ottawa.Read
Make it at home
Step-by-step recipes with Canadian measurements, tips and the mistakes to avoid.
- How to make Aloo Paratha at home.A step-by-step aloo Paratha recipe with Canadian measurements, tips and the common mistakes. Rather not cook? Order it in Barrhaven, Ottawa.Read
- How to make Aloo Tikki Chaat at home.A step-by-step aloo Tikki Chaat recipe with Canadian measurements, tips and the common mistakes. Rather not cook? Order it in Barrhaven, Ottawa.Read
- How to make Bombay Frankie at home.A step-by-step bombay Frankie recipe with Canadian measurements, tips and the common mistakes. Rather not cook? Order it in Barrhaven, Ottawa.Read
- How to make Bombay Masala Sandwich at home.A step-by-step bombay Masala Sandwich recipe with Canadian measurements, tips and the common mistakes. Rather not cook? Order it in Barrhaven, Ottawa.Read
- How to make Bun Maska at home.A step-by-step bun Maska recipe with Canadian measurements, tips and the common mistakes. Rather not cook? Order it in Barrhaven, Ottawa.Read
- How to make Cheese Paratha at home.A step-by-step cheese Paratha recipe with Canadian measurements, tips and the common mistakes. Rather not cook? Order it in Barrhaven, Ottawa.Read
Ottawa and Barrhaven
Where to find Indian street food and chai in Ottawa, neighbourhood by neighbourhood.
- Where to eat Aloo Paratha in Ottawa.Looking for aloo Paratha in Ottawa? Tapri Chai in Barrhaven makes it in a 100% vegetarian kitchen for $9.99. Hours, directions and how to order.Read
- Where to eat Aloo Tikki Chaat in Ottawa.Looking for aloo Tikki Chaat in Ottawa? Tapri Chai in Barrhaven makes it in a 100% vegetarian kitchen for $12.99. Hours, directions and how to order.Read
- Where to eat Bombay Frankie in Ottawa.Looking for bombay Frankie in Ottawa? Tapri Chai in Barrhaven makes it in a 100% vegetarian kitchen for $9.99. Hours, directions and how to order.Read
- Where to eat Bombay Masala Sandwich in Ottawa.Looking for bombay Masala Sandwich in Ottawa? Tapri Chai in Barrhaven makes it in a 100% vegetarian kitchen for $12.99. Hours, directions and how to order.Read
- Where to eat Bun Maska in Ottawa.Looking for bun Maska in Ottawa? Tapri Chai in Barrhaven makes it in a 100% vegetarian kitchen for $3.49. Hours, directions and how to order.Read
- Finding authentic chai in Ottawa.How to spot real, simmered masala chai in Ottawa, what to order, and what to eat with it. A local guide from Tapri Chai in Barrhaven.Read
Order and delivery
How to order Tapri Chai for pickup or delivery in Barrhaven and south Ottawa.
- Indian food delivery in Barrhaven.Indian food delivery in Barrhaven and south Ottawa: vegetarian street food, chai and Indo-Chinese bowls from Tapri Chai. What to order and how to check.Read
- How to order Tapri Chai.Order Tapri Chai in Barrhaven, Ottawa: visit the cafe, call ahead, order online or use a delivery app. All vegetarian, open Tuesday to Sunday until 11pm.Read
- Tapri Chai on DoorDash.Tapri Chai is on DoorDash for Indian street food and chai from Barrhaven, Ottawa. What to order for delivery, what travels well and how to check your address.Read
- Tapri Chai on SkipTheDishes.Order vegetarian Indian street food and chai from Tapri Chai on SkipTheDishes in Barrhaven, Ottawa. What to pick for delivery and how to check your address.Read
- What travels well in Indian takeout.Which Indian street food stays good in a takeout bag, and which dishes are best eaten fresh at the cafe. A practical guide for delivery and pickup.Read
Occasions
What to order for festivals, parties, rainy days, exam week and cold Ottawa winters.
- Diwali snacks and food.Diwali food is about sweets, savoury snacks and sharing. A guide to the traditions, and the chaat, samosas and chai to enjoy in Ottawa with friends and family.Read
- Exam week food for Ottawa students.Hot, cheap, vegetarian food for study sessions: Maggi, parathas, vada pav and chai from Tapri Chai in Barrhaven, open until 11pm Tuesday to Sunday.Read
- A group dinner of sharing plates.How to order Indian street food for four to six people: a balanced mix of chaat, mains and drinks. A sharing-plates plan from Tapri Chai in Barrhaven, Ottawa.Read
- Holi food and snacks.Holi food traditions, from dahi bhalla to savoury snacks, and what to order for a colourful spring gathering in Ottawa. Vegetarian chaat and chai in Barrhaven.Read
- Movie night, Indian style.Samosas, fries, spring rolls and masala soda: crunchy Indian snacks for movie night at home. What to order from Tapri Chai, and how to keep it crisp.Read
- Vegetarian Indian lunch for the office.Ordering lunch for a team in Ottawa? Tapri Chai in Barrhaven has a fully vegetarian menu that suits mixed diets. Dishes to share and tips for group orders.Read
Across Canada
Indian street food at home in Canada: ingredients, substitutions and where to shop.
- Besan (gram flour) in Canada.What besan is, what it is used for in Indian street food, where to buy it in Canada and what you can use instead. Includes tips for lump-free batter.Read
- Deep frying at home, safely.How to deep fry Indian snacks at home without mess or danger: the right pot, oil temperature, what to do if oil catches fire and how to dispose of used oil.Read
- Indian grocery shopping in Canada.A practical guide to shopping for Indian ingredients in Canada: what to buy at an Indian grocer, what supermarkets stock, and how to read the labels.Read
- Indian recipe measurements for Canada.A conversion guide for Indian recipes in Canada: cups to grams for flour, besan, sugar and yogurt, spoons to mL, and oven and oil temperatures in C and F.Read
- An Indian spice starter kit.The twelve spices you need to cook most Indian street food and curries at home in Canada, with what each does and how to store it.Read
- Indian street food at home in Canada.How to cook Indian street food at home in Canada: what to stock, where to shop, what to substitute and which recipes to start with. A practical starter guide.Read
Hungry after all that reading?
Everything in these guides is on the menu at Tapri Chai, Barrhaven. Tuesday to Sunday, 11am to 11pm. Closed Mondays.