Vik’s Chaat Corner – Cheap, Fast, and Unbelievably Delicious Indian Food Just Outside the City
Living in San Francisco, there really is no excuse to venture outside the city limits for good, quality food. From American Cuisine to Cuisine from the Yucatan, you can pretty much find something that fancies your cravings. However, when it comes to Indian Cuisine, San Francisco doesn’t quite meet the mark. I mean yes, you’ve got the fast-food-type Naan N Curry and the more fancy-sit-down-type New Delhi, but when it comes to the REAL kind of Indian food, nothing compares to Vik’s Chaat Corner in West Berkeley.
Roughly once every three to four weeks, I venture outside the city limits of San Francisco to get my monthly fix on two things: Eyebrow threading and Vik’s Chaat Corner.
Set on Allston Way, neighbored by empty warehouses and old houses, Vik’s Chaat Corner is probably Berkeley’s best kept secret. And having often been called the best Indian Restaurant in the Bay Area, Im surprised more people don’t know about it.
It is very fast paced in Vik’s. Usually, no matter what time of day you go, there is a line forming out the door. There is kind of a methodology to this place. Being a regular there, I pretty much know what to order: One Dahi Papdi Chaat, One Bhatura Chole, and a can of Diet Coke. As the not-so-regular patrons are looking at the large chalkboard menu posted on one of the walls, pondering what to order, my partner-in-crime heads straight to the counter and orders our dishes, while I scour the cafeteria-style warehouse for an empty table (which is a rarity, by the way). Wanting ambiance? Forget about it.Don’t expect much decor at Vik’s, its all about the food here.
While we’re sitting at our table, pretty much always sticky and dirty, we hear names being called out on a microphone. Sandra. Gopal. Dave. Madhu. All you’re doing as you sit there on your table, with your spoons (no forks and knives here) and stack of napkins (trust me, you’re going to need a stack of them), is waiting for your name to be called. As soon as you hear your name, nothing else in the world matters but the fact that you have your dish and are about to indulge in pure bliss.
Here are a few quick and easy facts about Vik’s Chaat Corner:
Cuisine: Indian roadside snacks, mostly vegetarian
Price: Everything ranges from $3-6
Best Item on Menu: Bhatura Chole, hands down
Noise level: When full, very loud. And it is pretty much always full.
Service point: Efficient, quick and to the point. Don’t come expecting fluffy, bubbly personalities.
Where: 726 Allston Way (@ 4th Street) –> they are moving to another location in July 2009 so check the website for updates on their location
Hours: 11 am – 6 pm, closed Mondays.
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