Viks Chaat (Berkeley)
Customers wait in line for their food at the large ordering stations.
The line serves both hot and cold foods.
Many students at UC Berkeley complain that most of the popular Indian restaurants closest to campus lack authenticity and quality while charging relatively high prices. With complaints of dissatisfaction, I was curious to find a great Indian restaurant that was both reasonably priced and accessible within the Berkeley area. And I think I just might have.
Sitting only a block away from the Berkeley Marina in a crevice of Fourth Street, Viks Chaat is a South Indian staple that has been visited by Bay Area natives and visitors from all around Northern California since its inception in 1989. According to one of my close South Indian friends from UC Berkeley, Viks was one of the first grocery stores of its kind established in Northern California. His parents used to drive all the way from Sacramento to Berkeley during their graduate school years to buy groceries that were a familiar comfort away from their home in India.
Wait, but I thought this was a restaurant review?
The main section to order food.
Customers can also enjoy baked goods here.
Yes, it is. Viks is first and foremost a grocery store at the front of the establishment, dedicated to selling authentic Indian groceries. However, once you walk past the cash register, you begin to see a huge seating area in the back, complete with a bakery, ordering stand, and service line for fresh, made-to-order food. It’s almost a bit overwhelming, really. When I visited, it was packed with families and large groups everywhere, and the staff was bustling around receiving orders and putting out waves of fresh plates like it was nothing.
As my friends and I visited on a Sunday evening, I opted for the dinner special with basmati rice and tandoori chicken. We also agreed to have a few orders of chaat, something that Viks is known for. Chaat can best be described as Indian street food and consists of various roadside snacks and menu items that one would genuinely find back in India. We decided to share Dahi Pakori, Dahi Batata Puri, and Uttapam. Between the three of us, it took about fifteen minutes for all of our orders to come out. Waiting was no worry with plenty of seating inside, with an optional seating area outdoors as well.
Tandoori chicken and basmati rice dinner special
The first thing that I noticed once the food came out was how much of it there was. With my dinner special alone, I received three pieces of chicken, a large helping of basmati rice, a large cup of dal (lentils and other legumes), a large cup of raita (yogurt and mint-based dip), achar (South Asian sweet pickles), chapati (unleavened flatbread, otherwise known as roti). This is easily enough for one person as a full meal, even without side orders of chaat.
The Dahi Pakori- ground lentil dumplings topped with yogurt and combined with mint and tamarind chutneys- were served cold in their traditional manner and came with five large pieces per order. They were filling, complex, and had a satisfying texture to chew on. Definitely not like East Asian dumplings in terms of taste and texture, but alike in terms of size. The sauces and toppings were my favorite as they had such a unique blend of creamy and savory flavor profiles.
Up next, the Dahi Batata Puri is somewhat similar to the above in terms of both appearance and the types of toppings used on it. However, the taste and texture are completely different. The puri (deep-fried bread cups) are filled with a tangy mixture of yogurt and tamarind chutney, similar to the Dahi Pakori. But unlike the Dahi Pakori, since the puri is fried, it has much more of a satisfying crunch and taste to it; I personally preferred this chaat over the Dahi Pakori as I found the fried bread to taste better with the toppings.
Our last chaat was the Uttapam, or a thicker type of dosa topped with various kinds of vegetables and accompanied with different types of dips and sauces. While I was not able to capture a photo of this dish (sorry), it was great with the rest of the meal and was an excellent way to tie all of the other dishes together. This chaat went especially well with the dal and raita provided with the dinner special.
Uttapam with various dipping sauces and sides
It should be noted that the traditional way of eating Indian food is a bit different from what most Americans might be used to (and that’s the best part). While utensils are certainly provided, we saw many Indian customers instead opting to eat with their hands. My friend advised us that this was the traditional way to do it. In doing so, I felt that I was able to connect with the textures and temperatures of the food much better than if I had a utensil, and it was a great experience stepping out of my comfort zone and trying something new.
If you are looking for amazing South Indian food right at your fingertips in Berkeley, look no further than Viks Chaat, I promise you won’t regret it. And while it may not be the cheapest option in town, it is still worthwhile to try, even if at least once. From the friendly staff to the quirky grocery store/restaurant combo, it’s more than likely to be one of your favorite hidden gems in Berkeley.
Viks Chaat is located on 2390 Fourth St. in Berkeley, California.
