chhaya cafe

Espresso is solid. Chia is deliciously spicy. But the almond milk was the richest/​flavorful I’ve ever had.

Food is good but overpriced. Coffee products are not good. When they make latte, milk is too hot and there is not creamy, silky foam.

Excellent blend of coffee drink selections, along with a nice atmosphere and attentive friendly service!

What a great and unique place. Even though it got pretty busy, the service was wonderful and super friendly. The bathroom was even spotless. My meal consisted of the very fresh squeezed OJ, eggs, bacon, & home fries w/​a side of sausage gravy… I had to try it don’t judge me. The gravy was very tasty not super thick and coagulated like down south but more of a creamier reduction with sausage crumbles. I loved it all. I’ll return for sure when I’m in South Philly next!

Being that i have a business on this strip CHHAYA should have been a convience to get a quick bite… NOTTTT, waited as the waitress pointed out 18 minutes even though i said 20 min… ok kill me for 2… Yogurt parfait. took again 18 min… i could have made 8 courses… all that being said the staff is what annoyed me mostly… like i was bothering them, seriously when an Italian girl is hungry there is no waiting that long…

I eat brunch out with friends a lot and rarely does something really stand out, but Chhaya’s Huevos Rancheros cornbread waffle stands out! It’s expensive for brunch– $ 14– but absolutely worth it. One of the best restaurant meals I’ve had in awhile. A lot of places seem to think that a giant portion equals value, but I disagree. This meal was a value because it was so incredibly good and thus satisfying in a way that those giant generic waffles/​omelettes/​pancake plates just aren’t. Can’t wait to bring friends here to try this great dish!

At first when we ordered our food took a while to come and we were wondering what happened. We noticed our waitress kind of scrambling around confused and we were then informed that someone who ordered very similar orders to us had claimed our food by mistake so our order was gone.
Most people would probably start melting down harder than fukushima at this point since we’d been there for a while with no food but the staff was very apologetic about what happened so it was no big deal. They even comped our entire brunch plus any more coffee or juice we wanted while we waited. The coffee at Chhaya is also awesome with the variety and different brew styles to choose from.
I love this place!!!

L’endroit hipster idéal pour un brunch ou un petit dej’ dans le south philly. C’est cosy, chaleureux et comme dans beaucoup de cafés, les serveurs sont aux petits soins, et de très bon conseil. Si vous hésitez face au menu, surtout demandez quelles sont leurs recommandations.
Voici les miennes :
— Yogourt parfait. Muesli maison, fruits, yaourt bio. à se damner.
— Mocha. délicieux
— Gaufres (toutes leurs variations sont top)
— Jus d’orange pressé. Rien à dire
Les portions sont assez conséquentes, veillez à né pas trop vous lâcher sur la commande !

I’ve been here a couple times for breakfast. Usually can always get a seat (but ive never come during peak times on the weekends). The food is excellent but service is sometimes spotty.
One of the last times I went, a waitress forgot to bring coffee i ordered for nearly 20 minutes as she waited a few other tables and stood at the front chatting. I think it honestly slipped her mind and she was nice about it when she did bring it, but I was almost finished with my meal at that point. Wouldn’t stop me from coming back because of the good deal on good food!

Good food ! And drinks. Well, I sipped my sister’s coffee because I will be jumping off the walls if I had one to myself, but they have great tea !
I had a burger for brunch (I know. Super awesome of me eh?!) and it was great! Wasn’t a fan of the potatoes that came with though. Burger was juicy and cooked perfectly the way I like it. We also ordered waffles which was devoured in 2 seconds because my boyfriend eats a lot and two waffles didn’t do anything for him.
Service is awesome. Everyone is very sweet and helpful, however, don’t expect to get seated right away during Sunday brunch (when do you ever during brunch?!).
I live a block from this place and I think it’s a pretty cool place to check out during a random Tuesday noon stroll.

I really enjoyed eating here and will definitely come back again.
The café is cute and comfortably decorated with the bare hanging light bulbs you’d expect from a slightly hipster South Philly café, fairy lights, and big comfy sofas and armchairs.
I wasn’t feeling too hungry so I ordered just simple eggs and home fries. The eggs were fairly standard but the home fries were surprisingly flavorful and delicious, I recommend getting them. I also got the Sundew tea which was phenomenal– light and fruity and very well balanced.
My dad ordered the huevos rancheros waffles, and though the waffle was a bit cold, the overall dish was excellent, as some other reviewers have pointed out. My sister got the turkey panini. The turkey was a tad dry, but the basil pesto had a very distinct and strong flavor. My mom got the Reuben, which was delicious– the bread in particular was very complex and complemented it well.
Overall a delicious meal and I look forward to trying some of the other dishes there in the future!

I came here for a Saturday brunch with three friends. We were seated fairly quickly. Our server was so sweet and accommodating.
They have the fall special menu and I immediately aimed for the Huervo Ranchero Waffle– cornbread waffle with salsa, black beans, avocado, chorizo, fried egg, and hollandaise. And it’s AMAZINGGG.
My one friend got the chocolate buttermilk pancakes. It was just chocolate chips sprinkled over and between the stack of 3 pancakes. I thought it could have been done better (I stoled some bites, I love brunch food). The buttermilk pancakes alone were still really decent. Overall, it was all good. I would come back and try their other specials.

The place is really cutely decorated but get there early because I had to settle for a bar seat and it was a bit uncomfortable sitting next to valley type girls on one side and the other a couple. I could hear everything they were talking about without trying.
I had the juevos rancheros, a special on that day. Best thing I’ve ever eaten for breakfast! Usually I go for sweet but something told me this morning to try it. I’m glad I did cuz all the flavors were just going well together, the egg, the waffle, the avocado, the beans and that sauce. I will definitely try it again. Don’t go there just for toast and eggs like my aunt did. This place can offer so much more. It’s also cute how they put your check in a small cup and you put the money in there.

Great breakfast /​brunch place for the weekend. Nice vibe and décor. Someone wrote earlier that the plates were a bit small, yea… Food fits perfectly on the plate, not much extra space. Good selection of coffee that you can have brewed overhead, French press, or siphon!
Chocolate chip waffles are really good! A little too much whip cream on top but can easily be adjusted to however much you want! Girlfriend had the latte which was also a solid choice. She had the egg sandwich with avocado. Bacon on it was perfect.
Will consider returning!

Hip spot. In the hip part of town. Passyunk Ave., for all intents and purposes, is the Philadelphian equivalent to hipster @ss Billyburg (Manayunk is also pretty hipster central, I should mention). The joint came at the suggestion on the current #1 lady for one of my best pals, and I can certainly understand the appeal. Sleek but rustic décor, hip @ss clientele (hybrid couples and same sex couples galore… do you boo boos), and an even hipper waitstaff (supes skinny ladies w/​pixie cuts or tatted up… def cooler than I ever was in high school).
So while the experience was wrapped in a trendy millennial package, did it deliver on the important things? Well, for an early afternoon brunch, getting seating for a party of five within 10 minutes was certainly welcomed; we were expecting something in the realm of 15 – 20 minutes, so way to exceed expectations on that front.
The waitstaff was also very quick to have menus in our hands and speedily took our drink orders. I’m a simple man, I don’t drink coffee, might occasion a glass of apple or cranberry juice at a brunching session… but I simply requested for water; others got their lattes, expressos, juicy things, etc… all of which were given quite hastily after ordering. By the time drinks were out, we were all ready to order; a brioche bun burger w/​eggs, bacon, and fried jalapenos for me; a bagel, w/​cream cheese, bacon, egg, and tomato for my Peruvian buddy; breakfast tacos w/​seitan (meat substitute) for the lady; and the two Italians got the Sunday special Benedict scramble (or something along those lines).
And that… was where the speed and efficiency stopped. It was a relatively well attended joint, but it wasn’t packed to the gills. The place wasn’t even that large to begin with, so seating came at a premium (note: we were seated at the centralized community table). A half hour later, after probably burning through a pitcher of water, that moody mood that you get when you’re hungry started to creep in. Just about at the breaking point did our food arrive; and thank god too; I was hungry… and you wouldn’t like me when I’m hungry (heck, I don’t like me when I’m hungry).
The burger I had ordered was cooked to an excellent medium rare (very much appreciated). However, the bread to meat ratio was a bit ridiculous; the top half of my brioche bun dwarfed the combination of meat and bottom bun. I had to first eat the top bun from the top in order to be able to bite into my sandwich; I appreciate the assertion (from somebody that morning) that the bread is made in house, but my brioche bun was a bit on the dry side; this would have been forgivable if the portion size wasn’t nearly as generous as it had been.
Additionally, the addition of french fries with my burger required extra payment; just $ 1… but it’s bothers me when one has to pay extra for fries along side the burger. I know some people probably appreciate the option… but I believe that the fry-​less option shouldn’t even exist, in any version of the USA.
All in all, a solid spot. Experience started out well, but faltered a bit at the finish. I’d venture in here again if required, perhaps fry-​less options and excessive bread to burger ratios will be rectified by then.

Just went here for brunch with some friends. The vibe here is so great. Very cute, staff is super friendly!
My friends both got breakfast sandwiches that you can alter as you wish with delicious ad ons. They got pumpkin spice lattes which were delicious and so cute.
You can come here for brunch, or just have coffee and do work. There is outdoor seating, or you can sit by the bar, or various sofas. Pricing is VERY reasonable!

Great coffee and espresso. The food is very good as well, but the portions could be larger. It’s a great place for a quick bite and a coffee, but if you’re looking for a big meal this is not the place for you.

The corn waffle… Are you serious? It’s sooooo friggin’ genius, though it’s really simple and obvious. I usually get an Americano and a corn waffle with the sausage gravy and egg. After that I want to roll back to bed. Lol.
Service has always been spot on.
I need to come back and the get the truffled egg toast…

So My girlfriend and I heard so much about this place and when we finally wanted to try it the original place was closed and they were opening just next door to expand. We were like «wow, must be really good for them to expand» we couldn’t wait. So we finally went and sat down next to the window, nice comfortable seats and greeted right away with a smile.
I ordered the French toast waffle which people have posted pictures off and my lady ordered the waffle with a side of turkey sausage (which was good). the food comes and is presented well. Unfortunately the waffle ($ 10 nothing accompanying it) my girlfriend ordered was extremely dry, she couldn’t eat it and neither could I.
My french toast waffle wasn’t as dry but definitely not moist, the sauce with it helped. The idea of placing bread in a waffle iron doesn’t work out in my eyes nor my taste buds. it was hard on the outside like I was having a panini.terrible.
My girlfriend who rarely sends food back, regretfully told the waiter she couldn’t eat it (she was so cute, she was a lil embarrassed). The waiter apologizes for the waffle and asked if there was anything else she would like. An egg & cheese english muffin is her request. Now this comes out looking like it was made in Mcdonalds. the egg was so dry and over cooked. Yes it was $ 2.50 but please you have to have more pride. We could have gotten a better egg sandwich from a street cart.
3 plates, 2 very dry and 1 dry. I would not make this a priority to go back. The picture I uploaded is the egg sandwich. There are so may positive reviews, maybe we had the wrong chef that day.
Visited in Sept 2014
Update, I do go there for take-​out espresso.

I had brunch here with three friends on Friday after wanting to come here for a long time. With all the amazing brunch options in Philly, I don’t think that it will make the regular rotation, although I am glad we went.
First off, the décor and interior is very disjointed. I like the Edison bulb thing, but the tables seem randomly placed, the large chairs in the windows were strange and unfitting, and the tile floor made things loud. We were seated immediately and brought menus. However, we then waited for over 10 minutes before someone came back to get our coffee order, and even longer to order food. Our actual waitress was extremely smiley and seemed very attentive when she was at our table, but it was rare that she stopped by, and we had to flag her down when we needed her.
After reading recommendations, I ordered the sausage gravy cornbread waffle, and split that and a tofu scramble with my boyfriend. They were both good, but nothing amazing. The waffle was lacking in flavor, and while the spices were right on the scramble, it was made with a soft silken tofu instead of a more firm one, which made for a strange consistency. My friend ordered the breakfast sandwich, and it was about the size of a small fist — I think he could have eaten it in four bites. I know some places in Philly boast massive brunch portions, and while I like to think I’m a moderate eater, I think all the dishes here are a bit too small.
Our waitress outright offered to split the bill (which is honestly very rare), but service was definitely overall too slow. It’s a decent spot if you’re in the area, and it has lots of potential!

Order to go at the countertop or dine in at their remarkably open space, a rare find in Philly. Yes, they did the Edison bulb and New American menus thing, but they manage to have genuinely unique fare. I had an earl grey & lavender iced tea with a salmon waffle Benedict. I was happy until I tried my sisters goat cheese eggs over a homemade sourdough biscuit. Then I was overcome with food envy. Prices are reasonable. Portions are perfect. Service was easygoing and efficient.
Is see that many of the other reviewers complain about portions. Two of my main dining companions are over 6ft tall mid 200lb men who love Chhaya. Yes, some of the plating just fits the portions, and could be larger. However, the portions seem perfect to me because I’m not stuffed or guilty if I eat the whole thing. You’re not going to have a food coma, but you will be full.

My fiancé and I ate at Chhaya Café. It wasn’t too crowded for brunch but it definitely started to get more crowded as it got later. We ordered the truffled egg toast and the omelette special– cheddar, onion, and mushrooms. They were both very good. Chhaya has a large selection of different coffees. I only had the regular coffee, which was good. Chhaya is a cute coffeehouse. I could see people coming here to do work and meet with friends… and it is a pretty large space.

Chhaya has been the go-​to brunch spot ever since the re-​opened in their larger space on Passyunk Ave. Although it still has a bit of an «unfinished» vibe in there, we have always had good food and polite service and the coffee is some of the best I’ve ever had.
I appreciate that they bring a repurposed wine bottle to the table with water when you sit down – so you never have to feel awkward about a refill. I do wish they offered more rotating specials to give us a little something extra to look forward to (those theme menus are Sabrina’s really are the best – but sometimes you’re just too hungry to hang with a 1 hour+ wait).
I would say it has a bit more of a «café» vibe than a restaurant, in that it seems like the servers would be behind the counter making coffee if they didn’t have to wait on you.
You can sort of tell the place was not really designed to be a «restaurant» first – but I’ve only eaten there on busier weekends so I’m not sure what it’s like at an off-​peak time. All in all, I don’t hold any of these things against them – it’s just different.
If I could change anything, I would make the tables by the window taller. They always feel awkward – whether you’re sipping a cup of joe, working on your computer, and especially if you are eating. I love the communal table in the middle, though, which is my go to spot if I’m spending the afternoon working on stuff.
Overall, a cute place great for take out and, again, their coffee – MMMMMmmm!!!

This place is pretty sweet.
On the recent day of a one Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Beakaboo and I were due for some breakfast and catch-​up. Our first few attempts failed because the #openinphl hadn’t been updated. She suggested Chhaya and we called, they were there.
The space of this restaurant is very cool and cozy. There are seats near the window, there is a center table where people can congregate and there are seats and nooks around the edges if you’re the type to lounge and study. We opted for an edge table and ordered our breakfasts.
My chemex, which they offer in 12 or 16 oz quantities was a nicely made cup of coffee which tasted very pleasant. My tofu scramble was on the smaller side but I feel was priced appropriately given the size of the dish. Service was pleasant, prompt and I think this place is certainly an example of a well run establishment.
I’ll be coming back here to try more menu items as I was very impresssed with what Chhaya had to offer.

great coffee and waffle brunch dishes. me gusta mucho :)