Super cute spot to hang out and have some chai and snacks which, in my opinion, is the superior hangout food. They have plenty of seating indoor and a few outdoor tables. They had a variety of different types of chai and I was also amused to see some classic non caffeinated options on the menu like Bournvita and Horlicks. I was happy to see they offered nondairy milk and an array of sweeteners including jaggery. They have a shelf with limited books and games as well. Highly recommend this spot for a casual afternoon hangout. read more

Chayakada Cafe - Ordering counter - Cafes Near Me - San Jose, California

*Vegetarian Foodie Review* Always wanted to try this cafe and finally went in there today. It was at a walkable distance from my daughter's gymnastics camp. It was around 2PM, and we wanted some quick snack bites. This felt like a perfect place. Super cute cafe kind of ambiance. It has books, games etc to chill and my daughter & I had fun exploring it together. The menu didn't feel super huge, which is good because it makes me feel the items must be really good. I ended up ordering the paneer sandwich for myself and the veg panini for my 5 year old. 1) The paneer sandwich was my fav - it had a subtle hint of sweetness. The flavors really talked to me. The paneer portion was generous in my sandwich, a good protein-packed sandwich. 2) My daughter attacked the Veg panini and finished it in just a few mins. She told me it was super tasty, and didn't even let me try it. All sandwiches comes with fries - they were super yummy too, however, they were a tad bit salty and it would have been the best if they would tone down the salt a bit. Overall, I would rate the food at 5/5. My spouse joined us a little later, and I ordered the paneer sandwich one more time for him to eat. He also agreed that it was a 5 on 5. He loved the place too and told me he will definitely try the chai there next time he drops our kid to the gymnastics class. Service was surprisingly a little slow. They took 15 mins to get us the sandwiches, which in my opinion was a bit long considering it was just us in the cafe at that time. However, I had a feeling that they probably made it fresh, so it might take longer due to that. Took off 1 star for slow service. Definitely coming back again to try out more options from the menu! read more

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I don't know how this place has gotten so many great reviews but I can confirm that its a disaster for vegetarians. We visited during an afternoon, ordered a veggie puff, Veg parotta roll, Kal Dosa and Veg Panini, Filter Coffee and Zafrani Chai. Other than the Chai and filter Coffee, everything was just tasteless. I don't think I ever had such horrible/tasteless sambhar with a green chutney (or whatever that was!). We had to wait for few minutes before someone would attend us, then the guy couldn't offer recommendations so I had to ask a lot of questions, but ultimately, the food was a total disappointment. This place was recommended by a friend but didn't meet my expectations by a million miles. The one star is for the openness in the cafe along with the vibe it offered, but thats about it. read more

South San Jose finally gets an Indian cafe/bistro with some modern vibes , friendly staff and most importantly amazing food and beverages. Pros: great food, very friendly and welcoming staff. Modern vibes , bright interiors , board games. Cons: lack of staff ( in my opinion) feel like they are short staffed as tables are not cleaned promptly , chairs are stained from prolonged exposure to food items being dropped. Just overall upkeep is lacking. Hence the 4 stars. read more

Located in a big plaza south SJ, and they had lots of chai on the menu and plenty of Indian food as well. Service: workers were nice and friendly Ambiance: nicely designed modern space, the place is spacious. There are boardgames and plenty of tables to sit down and study. Wifi is provided. The place wasn't packed on Wednesday afternoon Masala chai $4.49 (3/5): This chai was fairly average, cardamom-forward tasting. Didn't really taste much spice. Kerala chai $4.25 (2/5): This tasted extremely earthy and not sweet. I'm not sure what this is supposed to taste like, but it wasn't my jam. Vegetable porotta roll $12 (4/5): the curry was yummy, it's hearty, and had a soupy-like texture. The porotta was nice and crispy. Wished the curry was given bigger portions Hazelnut puff pastry $4.25 (4.5/5): warmed up crispy puff pastry filled with nutella and they're delicious. I recommend this place for an excellent study/work spot. Nice and quiet with extremely fast wifi. The food options for a cafe are great as well. Their chai however is their weak point. read more

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I stopped by Chayakada yesterday for an afternoon chai break and tried their strawberry milkshake, onion fritters and veg puffs, both were decent and paired nicely with the tea. The masala chai, however, was a bit of a letdown since it didn't really have any masala flavor I was assured. They do have other light snack options, rice bowls, sandwiches & coffee etc as well, and the ambiance is cozy with rattan-style sofas and cute serving trays. It's also fun that they have a carrom board to play while you sip your chai, making it a relaxed spot to hang out for a bit. Ambiance: 10/10 Service: 9/10 Food: 8/10 Music: 10/10 Seating: indoor & outdoor Parking: Ample, free parking available Price: $10-$15 per person read more

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Came here after I read about this place on KQED.org regarding how this place was the Bay Area's first Kerala-Style Chai Shop to open. I was very impressed by the creaminess and spiciness of the chai, and it was very foamy. I also enjoyed watching it getting poured from a meter up. Service was good, and they offered good advice when I inquired about the best drink to take to go. read more

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We tried Chayakada Cafe for the first time today. Maya took our order and was so warm and welcoming, and helped us understand the menu. We ordered a variety of delicious dishes. I especially enjoyed my rice bowl with salmon curry. The brown rice bowl base and vegetables are so yummy. I look forward to trying the vegetable version next. The Parrippu Vada/Lentil Fritters are the best I have ever tasted. The chai is bold and wildly flavorful. They even have a saffron version. I can't wait to go back and continue working my way through the menu. read more

The main entrance made you feel like it was a bakery and cafe kind of place with lounge like seating and bakery display case. We almost left but saw the large nook area on the right that has several tables for eating-in and decided to give it a try. We picked the Kerala Parotta with Mutton and Kizhi Parotta with Egg. The flavor was pretty good. The mutton was tender, not chewy at all. The parotta were thick with nice soft layers inside and a tad crispy outside layers. Service is typical of a cafeteria. Order at the counter, they call out your name when it's ready. You get your own side sauce (mint chutney, sweet and sour like chutney, and ketchup) if you want to. They do have someone to clean the table instead of having you bring your plates to a designated drop-off counter. Tap to pay thingy at the ordering counter with the typical Tips screen while the guy stare at you. The biggest problem I have is the portion. The kerala mutton curry cup has 4 tiny pieces of mutton meat. At $18, I think you can afford to drop a few more tiny pieces in that cup. And the Kizhi has one egg split in half along with the curry and one parotta. And since it is out of the way from my usual route to anywhere else, I doubt that I would go for a 2nd visit. read more

Chayakada Cafe - Kerala Porotta - Cafes Near Me - San Jose, California

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SERVICE - located away from the rest of the South Bay near the intersection of 85 South and 101 South - large parking lot with lots of spots - interior is big and has many seating options for groups or individual diners - great hangout spot - board game and book corner gives it a fun atmosphere - service is friendly and welcoming MENU - South Indian inspired cafe drinks and bites - vegetarian and vegan options available - average price FOOD - kesar oat chai (7/10): saffron infused tea made with oat milk. Their main selling point is the meter chai which is pulled from about a meter to give it froth and mix the chai with the milk. It tasted good and was not super sweet. Otherwise, nothing too special about it. - unnakaya (7/10): deep fried plantain filled with coconut, raisin, and cashews. This seemed like a unique sweet snack to pair with the chai. It tasted similar to a lot of Indian sweets that have the raisin and cashew combination and are made with jaggery. The sweetness has a caramel note which is not overpowering. Although they fried it fresh, it felt a tad burnt and oily. - pazhampori (6/10): two pieces of deep fried plantain fritter. In comparison to the other sweet we got, this one was not as interesting. WOULD I GO BACK? Yes. I liked the ambiance and the purpose of having a casual hangout spot with Indian snacks and drinks. I wish it was closer to the South Bay as this was a bit of a drive. read more

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Always had a takeaway from here. Their veg puffs are really good - crisp, flavourful and flaky. Price point justifies the portion size. read more

Great food and ambiance Love the relaxing open decor, yummy savory food choices, and friendly staff. A good to! read more

Heard about this place from our friends so had to try it out. The place has a very welcoming ambiance. Spaced out seatings with a game area which has carrom and foosball. The menu has a lot of items on it. We tried almost all of the savory snacks. Everything was very yummy. Specially the chicken cutlet and puff. It reminded me of the bakeries back in India There is ample parking nearby. Will definitely visit again. read more

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Ok how do they have so many things on the menu and do it all so well??? I stopped by on a Friday evening for a quick snack but that was a mistake - I didn't realize they do a full service dinner with biryani, rice bowls, kizhi Parotta and so much more. I only had room for a chicken roast sandwich so I couldn't try all the different treats. The sandwich itself was bomb and came with masala fries. It wasn't overpoweringly spicy or oily - just right. Can't wait to come back and try all the other amazing things on offer! read more

Chayakada Cafe - Cafes Near Me - San Jose, California

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I really like this place but today was a disappointment. It took us almost 20 mins to get 2 kerala chai...that is with just one other family besides us in the restaurant. On top of that, the girl making the chai did a lousy job, it tastes nothing like the kerala chai i usually get. disappointing. Get proper folks, otherwise this place will end up closing just like the other 2 places before. 9:30 am, no lights, chairs not put out... read more

Grand opening and welcome banners everywhere :) a happy vibe calls you in! Spacious interiors and outdoor seating in the shade were both equally tempting. Lots of free parking in this lot so super easy to get here. In $42, we got: - masala chai 3/5- brewed fresh and they customize it the way you want it. First i found it too foamy to be a chai and second it was not hot. I went back and the guy fixed it to be extra hot. Then it was good :) next time i will try the "glass" glass - strawberry milkshake - 4/5- as promised, it was blended fresh strawberries with milk and thats it. No sugar unless requested. Perfect! - Kerala paratha with chicken curry - 5/5- this was the real deal for me. Good portion size. Comes with 2 parathas and greasy but yummy boneless chicken gravy. Not too spicy so it can cater to many. - scrambled paneer sandwich - 5/5 - freshly panini pressed and yummy! I wish the portion size was bigger for the price. I wish it came with a side salad or fries at that price. Clean restrooms and good board games. I also saw some games for kids and fuse-ball / carom board at the back. Definitely coming back for more :) Deducting 1 star for being too pricey. I wish they increase the portion size that can justify the price for becoming a weekly stop. For a self service place, it seemed expensive! read more

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This café is tucked away in a rather unusual spot, far from the South Bay; so it's not the most convenient choice when you have to drive miles to get there. That said, once you arrive, it checks all the boxes for a great hangout spot with friends. The ambiance is warm and inviting, perfect for sitting back and chatting. We tried all their puffs, including the butter croissant, and they were absolutely on point - flaky, flavorful, and fresh. The chai, on the other hand, was just okay and could have been much better. Our friends were disappointed with the sharjah shake. Improvement needed on drinks. As the crowd picked up, the staff seemed to get a bit chaotic and lost track of a few orders, which slightly disrupted the otherwise pleasant experience. Still, thoughtful touches like the Malayalam-themed board games gave the café an authentic, well-curated charm that stood out. read more

Chayakada Cafe - Cafes Near Me - San Jose, California

This year we decided to try new tea and coffee places around the bay. Chayakada was on the list as an Indian tea place and focused on Kerala cuisine. We drove there one Saturday morning and it was not very busy at the time. We ordered irani tea which was milky and sweet. Husband had filter coffee which was delicious and kiddo had holiday hot chocolate. We also had veg puff which i was not a big fan of and potato bonda which was yummy! Overall this is a larger space and ambience was good. Service was friendly. We will be back to try other items. read more

Chayakada Cafe - Potato Bonda - Cafes Near Me - San Jose, California

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This cute, new cafeteria serving tea, coffee and delicacies from India (probably from Kerala, India with influences from few other regions?). It's spacious, clean with very friendly service! Ample parking available! read more

Chayakada Cafe - Egg puff , fish cutlet - Cafes Near Me - San Jose, California

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Stoped by for their grand opening today. It's in the same parking lot as my physical therapy. Located in the lucky shopping center off of Bernal Rd and Santa Teresa Blvd. They have a nice menu of coffees and teas, pastry's, snacks and sandwiches. They are very welcoming and kind. I decided to try the chicken puff, veg puff, meat puff, chicken cutlet, veg cutlet and meat cutlet. All were to take home. And I ordered a saffron chai for my husband. My husband really liked the tea, but the only negative was that it was so small for $4.99 price. I think if they have a larger portion, it would be worth getting again. The puffs were all delicious. I warmed them up in the toaster oven for a few minutes. My favorite was the chicken. It had such a wonderful savory flavor with a bit of heat. The cutlets were okay. The beef and chicken were good. The veg cutlet was very mild in flavor and not as savory as the other two. The inside is nicely decorated and there are many options for seating. Overall, I would definitely come pack for the puffs and maybe try some other menu items next time. It's definitely worth checking out. read more

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Aleena, the owner, has great passion and attention to detail that makes Chayakada Cafe warm and inviting. She really cares about customers having a great experience. Chayakada Cafe is impressively spacious. There is a room in the back if you're looking for a quiet spot to work or study. The cafe also has games and books for entertainment at all age levels. Aleena told me she wants Chayakada to be a space for the community to come together, and she is doing a good job of making that happen. The decor is aesthetic with a pleasant green nature theme, and there are signs about Kerala and India. I love cultural cafes, and this is my first time at an Indian cafe. I really liked the banana and date smoothie and the egg sandwich. I've never had a date smoothie before, and it did not disappoint. Aleena made the egg sandwich on the spot, so it was fresh, hot, and flavorful. The salted caramel latte was a little sweet but still refreshing. Also, really appreciate that Chayakada Cafe accepts my reusable glass cup! A win for sustainability. read more

Chayakada Cafe - salted caramel latte in the reusable cup I brought - Cafes Near Me - San Jose, California

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I was there on a Saturday for lunch. The place was not crowded. Pazhampori and chicken cutlet were my favorites here. Pazhampori was made from sweet platains and fried nicely. Chicken cutlet was crispy and flavorful. Beef had nice flavors with pieces of coconut. Kizhi porotta was lamb was excellent with flavors of plantain leaf. Ghee rice was flavorful. Chicken curry was ok. Kerala tea came steaming hot. In my hurry, it burned my tongue. Once food was over, it cooled to the right temperature and was the right sweet combination that washed down the spices. read more

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Just tried this place. Ordered up a few sliders for a test drive and wow, pretty damn good. Def going to explore and sample other items from this place. read more

South Bay definitely needed a place like this for chai lovers!! They have a unique selection of cutlets and sandwiches. We tried their masala chai and Saffron chai - both amazing but masala was better. Veg Puff was good too, we tried cutlet last time but I found puff to be better. Service is quick and they serve cutlets hot and fresh (do not keep them premade which is great), location and the seating is amazing. Perfect spot to hang out with friends and come for a date read more

Chayakada Cafe - Masala Chai - Cafes Near Me - San Jose, California

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My mom and I came to this outdoor mall to Staples and after our shopping trip, we spotted this new Indian restaurant/bakery. The cashier said that it has been opened since June 1, 2025. The pastries at the counter behind the glass looked delectable, and they had a special menu for Friday and Saturday. I ordered the chicken puffs, beef puffs, masala chai, my mom ordered a latte. For the meal, we ordered the delicious Malabari Mutton Biriyani and the Thalassery Chicken Biriyani. If you're interested in trying out some delicious Indian food and pastries, be sure to check this new bakery restaurant out, you won't be disappointed! read more

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I was here with my friends to grab tea, and we ended up buying their freshly prepared savories. Very cool, and beautiful ambience to spend time by yourself or with your friends and family. I missed seeing the 'chenda' picture on their wall along with all other beautiful art and nature of the place that it re ok represents. It was a hot day so I ordered a shahajahan drink, pazyampori, and unnakaya - a malabar savory. The service is great and they prepare your tea and coffee based on your preference if you have any. A very friendly staff. My friends ordered Chaya, coffee, strawberry milkshake, puffs and chicken cutlet. We shared to taste each one and enjoyed the delicious freshly made savories. The beauty of it is that you get the experience of Kerala right sitting in San Jose. I will highly recommend and yes it's a women owned place and I highly support them. Must visit. read more

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Loved the new generation chayakkada/ tea shop ambiance- this is literally the malayalee version of starbucks! You have kids and professionals working in a corner humming with productivity. You have the traditional snacks that are fried to order and too good to pass! Highly recommend unnakkai , pazhampori , fresh cutlets and the sughiyan stole the show! The tea and filter coffees , are a more coffee-machine fusion rather than the authentic thing. The ila Ada was a complete disappointment with soggy banana leaves and watered down stuffing- skip! But the other main courses we tried were the mutton koshi porotta -(8/10) . The thalassery chicken biryani (4/10) cuz it wasn't the fragrant jira rice used typical to thalasserry biryani and lacked traditional flavor. The porotta chicken curry and porotta egg curry (7/10) -yummy flakey porotta. Neychor (7/10) loved the neychor combination but missed the ney/ghee flavor. Also the beef curry(4/10) felt like it was made in a hurry due to taste of raw spices blended down with coconut milk. It's an unassuming self service model. Clean bathroom and roomy facilities. read more

Chayakada Cafe - Snack platter - on the expensive side safe to sample any of the freshly fried to order items that are sure to please! - Cafes Near Me - San Jose, California

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Love the new addition to the neighborhood! Had Indian filter coffee, veg cutlet and veg puff! Everything tasted delicious. The ambience is also pretty nice. Adding this to my list for going to for a treat on weekend mornings or after work pick me ups. read more

The embodiment of Kerala is here! With my first sip of Chaya I was taken back to the misty hill stations, cool crisp mornings, Waterfalls worth a million words, strolls through spice patches, eagles, sipping fresh coconuts, and taking in the rich history. If you don't think that something as small as a cup can do that- you've gotta try it! I had the chicken puff- the Masala was on POINT! It spicy, and the flaky pastry was crisp but fluffy. I'm so glad to see a chaya shop here in San Jose! For sure- God's own Country has come to town! read more

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This is a one month old place in south San Jose specializing in Kerala style Indian food. Stumbled into it while in the area with my wife . Great open ambiance, friendly ladies at the counter and authentic tasting Kerala specialties in the menu . Very clean and good interior. Since we went after lunch, couldn't try any of the entree items . Tried cutlets, parippuvada and pazampori with saffron chai. Everything was super tasty. Overall 5 star on customer service and food quality. Plan to return for lunch soon. I hope they do well and add more items to the menu. read more

Chayakada Cafe - Parippu Vada, Pazam Porto and fish cutlet. - Cafes Near Me - San Jose, California

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Outstanding mutton biryani, welcoming decor and owner. Very generous portions. Great to have a slice of Kerala here in the Bay Area. Highly recommend! read more

Top 5 places in the Bay Area. Some of the best chai you'll find in the bay with the best customer service. Great people running this establishment and would recommend everyone to come here. Foods also great. read more

We visited Chaayakada today and absolutely loved it!!! Plenty of space to sit and enjoy a meal We ordered paneer and egg sandwich with options like chillies. Both were great. Aleena the owner came around and chatted with us, asked us how the food was and told us something about herself. Excited to have this amazing new cafe close to home. Plenty of Parking in the shopping mall. read more

Chayakada Cafe - Aleena in front of the counter - Cafes Near Me - San Jose, California

Love the concept of a local Indian tea house and bakery. We got the mango lassi, iced masala chai, meat cutlet, egg puff, and chicken puff. Both the food and drinks were pretty good. The meat cutlet was our favorite. There is both indoor and outdoor seating. There's even a foosball table and carrom table in the back. Only complaint was staff was unenthusiastic, did not seem happy to be there or warm towards customers. read more

Chayakada Cafe - Meat Cutlet, Egg Puffs, Chicken Puffs, Fresh Mango Lassi, Masala Chai - Cafes Near Me - San Jose, California

We returned today for more good stuff, pure excellence. Yummy! Service is top notch and a casual vibe makes it all worth the long trip from Gilroy. read more

We were excited to try this place but sadly, not worth the drive down to South San Jose. Cold food lacking salt and taste. Sad because this area could use a nice Kerala restaurant! read more

Chayakada Cafe - Cafes Near Me - San Jose, California

Veg puff was amazing, masala Chaya lived upto the expectations, kal dosa was too good as well, can't wait to be back next time

Very good Kerala food, great ambience and pleasant service Must check this place out, no matter what your favorite cuisines are read more

Chayakada Cafe - Cafes Near Me - San Jose, California

I went here today for lunch. The whole staff was super friendly and recommended to me the roasted chicken sandwich. It was very tasty and cooked nicely. The fries also tasted good. Next time I'll ask for it but without the cheese. I will bring my wife and little daughter for lunch here. There is plenty of parking and this is great local Indian cuisine. This area needs more Indian restaurants like this one ! read more

A lovely new Kerala, South Indian owned tem shop. The teas are amazing but my very favorite is their Indian coffee They also arrange events and just attended a lovely Valentine's Tea. The food was amazing and with a hint of Indian spices. The service was fantastic with the owner herself, Aleena explaining the spicing in the tea sandwiches, the scones and the lovely sweets. We enjoyed being served by Matias who kept the tea flowing read more

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