Aug 11, 2024 - Food and Drink

Meet Chaatwala, lick-worthy Indian street food in Denver

John Frank

Illustration of the Colorado flag, with a plate for a C, a knife and fork alongside it, and a dollar on the plate. — Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios

It's OK to lick your fingers after eating puchkas, says Pradyut Bansal — after all, the concept is in the name of his food stall, Chaatwala. (Chaat means lick.)

Dig in: Think Indian street food that defies stereotypes of the cuisine. It's not just spicy, it's zingy flavors, herbaceous and tangy.

Bansal, who left his software engineer job this year to focus full-time on the food stall, wants to share his experiences eating street food in his native Bangalore, India, where he grew up before moving to the U.S. for college in 2013.
"There is a lot of joy I get in feeding people," he says.

What to try: The puchka is a two-bite crispy shell typically filled with potatoes and chutney with a broth poured over top, a "rollercoaster of texture and flavors in your mouth," Bansal explains.

Stop by: Chaatwala serves at the City Park Farmers Market on Saturdays and the Highlands Square market on Sundays.

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Meet Chaatwala, lick-worthy Indian street food in Denver

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