Image: Loaded.
Last Updated: July 2026
Overview:
Chai Pani is an explosion of color in the middle of the Union Market complex. The large festive space is a bustle of diners moving their way through a large number of delicious dishes. Per the current trend, the cooking is derived from street food. Items like buns packed with spicy fillings, rich curries to spread over rice, and flatbreads are sprinkled over the menu.
The menu is large. They note no substitutions, presumably to make the kitchen move briskly. So, the variations available has been built in. While there are two kinds of uttapam, if there is not one you like move on to the sandwiches. Based on a couple visits and a slew of dishes, the set menu has been perfected and subject to strong quality control. Two of the signature dishes are the SPDP, which is a take on puri filled to the rim with yogurt sauce and a slew of other ingredients. The okra fries (perhaps a nod to the southern roots) are shavings fried and piled high. Other American influenced dishes are under the pav category, including rolls filled with spicy lamb called (Sloppy Jai) and spicy crispy chicken – K(ashmiri)FC Sandwich. More traditional dishes are also plentiful. Potato dumplings in chickpea stew is one of the more deeply satisfying dishes, as is the smoky daal.
The scale and commercial nature of the place hits immediately in the footprint and shelves of merch – sweatshirts, cookbooks, spices. The scale has an upside, including affordability. We were reminded of the early days of Zaytinya, albeit with a bolder color scheme and different cuisine –small plates, huge space, bustle of popularity, and a staff constantly dropping dishes on tables. The restaurant is an offshoot of the original that started in Asheville (itself a serious food city) where it garnered a James Beard outstanding restaurant award in 2022. We noted that street food is a current trend, but Chai Pani should be recognized as an instigator rather than follower. D.C. is the second location under its expansion (the first was suburban Atlanta). It is a welcome addition.
Other Guidance: It is a modern build-out of an old building with ramps and steps up. It is located on single floor. The atmosphere is casual. GF and V can do well.
Summary:
Cuisine: Indian
Neighborhood: Union Market
Address: 1325 5th St NE Ste A, Washington, DC 20002
Website: https://chaipani.com/
Reservations: Opentable
Other Critics/Voices:
Washington Post: Sonia Rao, writing during the interregnum, is positive.
Washingtonian: Immediately made it to #29 on the 2026 Top 100.