Daily Times

Karachi is a cosmopolitan city of Pakistan with lights and so much fun. It is home to practically all of Pakistan’s ethnic and language groups. In recent years, Karachi seems to be getting safe and now people living here are enjoying their lives with ease. However, people are so busy with their daily hectic routines that they are getting bored by their working hours, studies and classes. Interestingly, one can find food from all over Pakistan here, to match your tastes.

If anyone is interested in some lavish dine out, then Dou Darya is the perfect place to go. Head over to Burns Road for the best kebabs, haleem and other desi foods. Or, if you like to have karrak dhoodh patti, chai or elaichi chai, then head to the Chotu Chaiwala at Seaview, Khayaban-e-Bukhari, Defence Housing Authority.

Recently, I got the chance to visit Chuto Chaiwala. They serve a range of traditional beverages and snacks. It is not a lavish restaurant or a café, rather a roadside dhaba, focusing on a menu that’s simple. Bright coloured tables and chairs adorn the premises but one has to wait in a long line for getting a table. People come here to relax because of its open atmosphere where families and friends can let lose and have fun.

It’s a place for having a great cup of tea and to mingle. There’s a big television screen, where people can see matches, films, songs or just news.

What I realised was that Chuto Chaiwala was established to make people feel comfortable and easy as if there’s no problem in their lives and everything was as easy as a cup of tea. It’s the same traditional kind of dhaba but with an advance formula where there’s multiple food items for its customers.

Quality group meetings between some old friends, office employees and teachers could be perfectly done in this lovely atmosphere. The Chotu Chaiwala dhaba has become very successful in very less time as it has a distinctive menu which includes parathas, snacks, chai, kehwa, shakes, mocktails, other drinks, coffee and ice-creams.

It’s a place for having a great cup of tea and to mingle. There’s a big television screen, where people can see matches, films, songs or just news

Apart from the standard doodh patti, karak and elaichi chai, the tea menu includes options such as Cadbury, zafrani, Kashmiri, masala and cinnamon tea.

I have tried many roadside tea khokas or dhabas in Lahore but the hygiene and quality control exercised at this khoka is impressive, especially when it comes to the raw ingredients used, seating area and the utensils. Here at Chuto Chaiwala, everything is well managed and clean. This makes it a perfect hangout spot in the evening where people can gossip, socialise and talk.

The highlight of the café is that even people from the elite class come and get served. They are accompanied by security guards on luxurious vehicles. According to some frequent visitors, it’s affordable, clean and relaxing. Moreover, the family-friendly environment and variety of desi food served is a definite puller.

While sitting there, I found everyone ordering parathas and cups of tea. It was about 7:30pm and almost every table was occupied. The whole environment was bursting with the mesmerising smell of parathas being fried and the fragrance of kehwa and elaichi tea. I tried a combination of Chicken Cheese Paratha and Elaichi Chai which made me realise I had never had anything like it. All my worries went away!

Last but not the least, if anyone is planning to visit Karachi in the near future, do include this place in your schedule.

Choti Chaiwala gives one the ultimate dhaba experience! Its serves the finest chai, incredible traditional parathas abd delicious shakes, all in the comfort of a lively environment!

Chotu Chaiwala is a project of Qamber Hussain, a young entrepreneur who has taken this initiative to re-build the image of Pakistan’s chai dhabas. His hard work and dedication is always appreciated in media and society. Qamber Hussain is an inspiration for all young people around, at the age of 17, only a few achieved what Hussain has. The word “chotu” and the mascot doesn’t represent the idea of child labour.

The writer is a social and political activist based in Lahore. He can be reached at salmanali088@gmail.com and Tweets at @Salmani_salu