Cafe Irani Chaii

Cafe Irani Chaii is a cafe-restaurant in Mumbai, India, whose activity is centered on Iranian tea and dishes associated with the tradition of the city’s Iranian cafes. In addition to cafe beverages and snacks, the establishment also includes full meals on its menu, which is why it can be classified as a cafe-restaurant.

As its name suggests, Iranian tea is one of the central elements of its identity. Alongside tea, items such as Bun Maska also appear on the menu. These kinds of foods have a long history in Mumbai’s Iranian cafes and are part of the food culture shaped in the city by Iranian immigrants.

The menu of Cafe Irani Chaii is not limited to drinks and snacks. Dishes such as qeema pulao, chicken, and biryani have also been recorded for this establishment. The combination of these dishes suggests that its menu has been shaped by multiple culinary traditions; part of it is connected to Iranian and Parsi cuisine, while another part is linked to common Mumbai dishes and Indian cooking. For that reason, the entire menu cannot be described as traditional Iranian food.

It should also be noted that the background of this cafe-restaurant is connected to the Iranian immigrant community in Mumbai. The founder of the establishment came from a family with roots in Yazd, Iran. According to reports on Mumbai’s Iranian cafes, a Yazdi family migrated from Iran to India in the late nineteenth century. This family’s long history in the cafe business in Mumbai is part of the historical context behind Cafe Irani Chaii.

Iranian cafes expanded in Mumbai from the late nineteenth century onward and were operated by Iranian immigrants, especially Zoroastrian Iranians. These cafes typically served tea, bread, butter, eggs, meat-based dishes, and simple meals in a style and setting different from ordinary Indian restaurants. Cafe Irani Chaii continues in this tradition, and its name and menu refer to that heritage.

In terms of services, Cafe Irani Chaii can be described as a place for tea, beverages, snacks, and meals. The presence of main dishes alongside items such as Iranian tea has made the business more than just a regular cafe. At the same time, its core identity remains tied to the culture of Mumbai’s Iranian cafes and the tradition of Iranian tea.