Indian street food
Punjabi comfort food, explained.
Punjabi food is generous, buttery and made for people who work hard: stuffed parathas, thick lassi and slow-cooked pulses.
From the Tapri Chai kitchen · November 2026 · 1 min read
Famous for
Parathas, lassi
Staple
Wheat
Fat
Butter, ghee
At Tapri Chai
8 of them
01
Stuffed parathas
A Punjabi breakfast centres on paratha: aloo, gobhi, paneer, mooli and more, cooked with butter and served with curd and pickle.
02
Chole and kulche
Spiced chickpeas, served with puri, bhatura or kulche, are a popular breakfast or lunch.
03
Lassi
Punjab’s signature drink is lassi, thick and creamy, sweet or salted, served in large glasses.
04
Winter food
Sarson da saag with makki di roti, mustard greens and cornmeal flatbread, is a winter classic, along with sweet jaggery treats.
05
Dhaba culture
Punjab is known for its dhabas, roadside eateries along highways that serve truck drivers and travellers. A dhaba menu is short and generous: parathas with a slab of butter, dal, a vegetable curry, thick lassi and a glass of tea. The food is cooked fast and in large quantities, and it is the template for much of what people call Punjabi food abroad.
Many of the dishes in this guide began as dhaba breakfasts, which is why they are so filling.
06
Try it at Tapri Chai
Punjabi favourites on our menu:
- Aloo Paratha, $9.99
- Gobhi Paratha, $10.99
- Paneer Paratha, $11.99
- Cheese Paratha, $10.99
- Chole Puri, $13.99
- Mango Lassi, $5.99
- Kadak Chai, $4.49
Questions, answered.
What is a typical Punjabi breakfast?
A stuffed paratha with butter, yogurt and pickle, with tea.
What is lassi?
A thick yogurt drink from Punjab.
Is Punjabi food vegetarian?
It includes many vegetarian dishes. Tapri Chai’s menu is fully vegetarian.
Where can I eat parathas in Ottawa?
Tapri Chai in Barrhaven serves five stuffed parathas and a plain one.
At Tapri Chai
Taste it for yourself.
Our kitchen in Barrhaven is 100% vegetarian. 200 Kennevale Dr Unit 104, Ottawa. Tuesday to Sunday, 11am to 11pm. Closed Mondays.