For Indian food enthusiasts who miss the experience of dining in, chaat crawls have become the new go-to quarantine activity. Drive down El Camino Real in Sunnyvale, and you’ll see a variety of chaat shops and trucks along the way — and, next to each one, a host of people sitting in their cars and stuffing their faces with pani puri, chhole bhatura, aloo tikki chaat, and more.
Chaat is a category of Indian food, often sold by street vendors, that’s usually served as an appetizer or quick meal. The beauty of chaat is in its a variety of flavors and textures: sweet, salty, tangy, spicy, crunchy, and creamy. And luckily, in Sunnyvale, where there’s such a dense concentration of Indian immigrants, it’s hard to come by a chaat that’s truly disappointing. While a few of the South Bay’s top chaat shops have closed either temporarily or permanently due to the COVID-19 crisis, many others continue to thrive. They’ve even found new ways to reach customers, whether it be through delivery or takeout. Here are six of the very best spots.
Pro tip: If you plan on taking your chaat home to enjoy, order the chutney on the side so that the food doesn’t get soggy by the time you eat it. But for the best experience, enjoy your takeout chaat fresh in the privacy of your car.
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