Chatkaara, an exciting new Indian eatery, landed on Goodwood Road last week, and it’s bringing a flavourful explosion straight from the bustling streets of Mumbai.
Run by duo Rahul Shah and Sheela Chettri, also of La Bottega on Torrens Road, the two had one goal: to bring authentic Indian street food to Adelaide.
“We saw a real gap in Adelaide for genuine, street-style Indian food – the kind you’d get from a roadside vendor in Delhi or Mumbai,” says Rahul.
“Goodwood felt like the right community to introduce something bold and flavourful.”
The name, meaning ‘delicious’ or ‘lip-smacking,’ sets the tone. Expect plates piled high with crispy, tangy bites that hit all the right notes.
Highlights include ‘papdi chaat’ (deep fried flour with toppings like potato, chickpeas, yogurt, chutneys and spices) and ‘pani puri’ (crispy hollow shells filled with spiced potato, chutneys and tamarind water) alongside Indo-Chinese dishes like momos (dumplings) and saucy stir-fried noodles.
For those unfamiliar with ‘chaat,’ it’s a blanket term for Indian street snacks, typically with sweet, salty, spicy and tangy flavour combos.
“It’s that mouth-watering tanginess and spicy kick that makes your taste buds dance,” Rahul explains.
Eating chaat at Chatkaara takes me straight back to the beautiful chaos of Mumbai. Streets lined with food stalls, each slinging their snacky variations in a riot of colour, smells and noise. It’s hard to come by these delicious, flavour-packed snacks unless you’re hunting hard, and now they’re just a bite away at the convenient inner-south location.
The fusion curries also carry oomph, blending traditional recipes with modern flair. You’ll find all the classics like vindaloo and butter chicken, but you’ll also find Chinese-style chilli chicken, and plenty of vegetarian options.
The team brings more than just food to the table, they bring a modern take on nostalgic classics.
“Many of the dishes are inspired by our own memories growing up, and we spent time refining flavours and textures to ensure authenticity,” he says.
“We created the menu by blending classic recipes from India with a modern twist. We made sure the menu had options for everyone—vegetarians, meat lovers, and spice adventurers.”
To wash it all down, try classic Indian drinks like mango lassi, masala chai, and ‘nimbu pani’ (lemon soda) and – for dessert lovers – you really can’t go past ‘gulab jamun.’ It’s toasted milk and caramel sweetness, bathed in sugar, and the ultimate decadent sweet treat.
Though only in its first week, the response so far has been overwhelmingly positive, and it’s clear service is just as important as flavour. From carefully explaining the menu to customising spice levels, the team offers good old-fashioned, straight-from-the-heart hospitality that stays with you, no request too hard.
“We treat our guests like family, and we’ve been overwhelmed with support! Our team is passionate about both food and hospitality and it shows in every interaction,” gushes Rahul.
“People love the fact we’re offering something different… a lot of our customers say it reminds them of home, or it’s opened them up to new tastes they didn’t expect to love.”
Whether you’re a die-hard street food fan or new to the chaat scene, with 5-star reviews and customers raving about service, value and flavour, this new-kid-on-the-block could become your neighbourhood go-to.
Book a table, order online for pickup, or grab a quick takeaway on the go, it’s as easy as it is delicious.
WHAT: Chatkaara
WHERE: 147 Goodwood Rd, Goodwood
For the website, click here.
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