Indian street food
What is pani puri?
Pani puri is a hollow, crisp shell filled with spiced potato and chickpeas, then flooded with cold, tangy mint water and eaten whole in a single bite.
From the Tapri Chai kitchen · November 2026 · 2 min read
Shell
Crisp, hollow puri
Filling
Spiced potato
Pani
Mint-tamarind water
Also called
Golgappa, puchka
01
What is in it
There are three parts. The puri is a small, round, deep-fried shell that puffs into a hollow ball. The filling is usually mashed potato, sometimes with chickpeas or sprouts. The pani is the thin, spiced water that gives the dish its name: mint, coriander, green chilli, cumin and often tamarind.
A little sweet tamarind chutney is often added on top.
02
One dish, many names
The same snack goes by a different name depending on where you are:
- Pani puri: Mumbai and western India.
- Golgappa: Delhi and much of North India.
- Puchka: Kolkata and eastern India.
- Gup chup and other local names exist in other regions.
03
What it tastes like
It is a burst: the shell shatters, the cold pani pours out, and you taste spice, mint, tang and a little sweetness at once. The first bite surprises most newcomers, and the second is usually requested immediately.
04
How it is served
At a stall the vendor fills each puri to order and hands it to you straight away, because a filled puri turns soggy within a minute. The right way to eat it is in one mouthful, so the water does not run down your chin.
05
Pani puri in Ottawa
Our Pani Puri is hollow semolina shells filled with a spicy, tangy mint water and a potato mix, $9.99 at Tapri Chai, 200 Kennevale Dr in Barrhaven. The menu is 100% vegetarian. If you want something creamier, try Dahi Puri ($11.99), filled with yogurt, mint, tamarind chutney and sev.
Questions, answered.
What is the difference between pani puri and golgappa?
They are essentially the same dish. Pani puri is the common name in Mumbai and western India, while golgappa is used in Delhi and much of North India.
What is puchka?
Puchka is the Kolkata and eastern Indian name for pani puri. It is traditionally served with a tangy tamarind water.
Is pani puri spicy?
The water carries heat from green chilli, though it is balanced by mint and tamarind. It varies from mild to quite hot.
Is pani puri vegetarian?
Yes. It is made from semolina or wheat shells, potatoes, chickpeas, herbs and spices. The kitchen at Tapri Chai is 100% vegetarian.
How much is pani puri at Tapri Chai?
Pani Puri is $9.99 CAD at our cafe in Barrhaven, Ottawa.
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.