Chai
What to eat with chai.
Chai is sweet, milky and warm, so the best partners are salty, crisp or buttery. These are the pairings Indian tea stalls have been serving for generations.
From the Tapri Chai kitchen · November 2026 · 2 min read
Dunk it
Bun maska
Crunch it
Samosa, kachori
Fill up
Vada pav, paratha
Share it
Fries, snacks
01
The principle: contrast
A sweet, warm cup wants something salty, savoury or crisp beside it. The tea cleans the palate between bites, and the snack keeps the sweetness from feeling heavy. That is why bland, sweet biscuits are the classic, and why fried snacks are even better.
02
Made for dunking
Bun maska is a soft bun split and slathered with butter. You dip it into hot chai and the bun soaks up the tea while the butter melts into it. It is simple, and it is the most traditional tea-time snack of all. Plain biscuits and rusk follow the same idea.
03
Crisp and salty
Samosas, pyaaz kachori and fries bring heat, salt and crunch. The pastry stands up to the milk, and the spice makes the next sip of chai taste sweeter. A pair of samosas and a cup of kadak chai is a meal in itself.
04
When you are properly hungry
Vada pav, a spiced potato fritter in a soft bun, is Mumbai’s classic pairing for a small, strong cup. For a heartier breakfast, an aloo paratha with butter is a natural partner for a mug of masala chai.
05
What to order at Tapri Chai
All of these are on our vegetarian menu in Barrhaven, Ottawa:
- Kadak Chai ($4.49) with Bun Maska ($3.49).
- Kadak Chai with a pair of Samosas ($4.99) or Pyaz Kachori ($7.99).
- Vada Pav ($5.49) with Kashmiri Chai ($4.99).
- Aloo Paratha ($9.99) with Kadak Chai.
- Peri Peri Fries ($6.99) to share.
Questions, answered.
What is the best snack to have with chai?
Bun maska is the classic, because it is made for dunking. Samosas and vada pav are the most popular savoury choices.
Do you eat sweet or savoury food with chai?
Both appear, but savoury and salty snacks are the most common pairing because they balance the tea’s sweetness.
Can you dunk food in chai?
Yes. Dunking buns, biscuits and rusk in chai is a traditional and much-loved habit across India.
What do you eat with chai for breakfast?
Parathas with butter, toast, buns and biscuits are all common.
Where can I get chai and snacks in Ottawa?
Tapri Chai in Barrhaven serves Kadak Chai alongside bun maska, samosas, vada pav and parathas, all vegetarian, Tuesday to Sunday, 11am to 11pm.
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.