![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KLGX5CDN3JADJFD54BLPTWIQVE.jpg?smart=true&auth=b90b1a53d20ae0b7338c89f09420efc62e084512647ceb8fbd959df25adc04c4&width=400&height=225)
Chai Pani's sev potato dahi puri. Photo: Jack Sorokin
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QZYDR2FXRBBLFFYB3PQAUNDADA.jpg?smart=true&auth=d51d98f436c0ffdea06d0d3425e315176ea96cc60c5b5294cc0cd869fa9b24be&width=400&height=225)
Chai Pani in Asheville, North Carolina, was named the best restaurant in the US by the James Beard Foundation Awards. Photo: Laura Van Epps
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FL55FHAFDZHHFFA4V2OO6KYZPY.jpg?smart=true&auth=0cff27411a1b60ebf10c5bcefe7784409753f58212e8c713f7caee01793b39c7&width=400&height=225)
Chai Pani serves up classic Indian street food such as bhel puri. Photo: Molly Millroy
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XCILYHG6UNEENHWYO3ZHAZPJRM.jpg?smart=true&auth=8fcc91b07a00ce279dcdfce9ce6831c8ef392d4c5224a2e31d52b9495952331c&width=400&height=225)
Colourful dishes served at Chai Pani include sev potato dahi puri and more. Photo: Jack Sorokin
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NOVJBV5X6JCABN3NZVAQPDKWAU.jpg?smart=true&auth=cbb011aea76455fbdaccf120aed573e5b50faad63b09793b9cbc8a58a24d9528&width=400&height=225)
Bhel puri with a variety of ingredients at Chai Pani in Asheville, North Carolina. Photo: Molly Millroy
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TBKZXCEHMVFBNC4ZJQJWOQZM7U.jpg?smart=true&auth=c9da0184d92d19ee99422fb5921bf7d1ca64a975db038f53a12a57ada722ea6e&width=400&height=225)
Various chaat served at Chai Pani. Photo: Jack Sorokin
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GZDFNDL2CZHWJJMVJLIQTSCMIY.jpg?smart=true&auth=be7a3446cd555f5dbb27ed3206e26bcb4bb0175d36973dbbfb2ff30cb81655fe&width=400&height=225)
Chai Pani's kale pakoras. Photo: Molly Millroy
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3FNCMQ374ZDKLGS42SVMWDHCPQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=c521c0efd1e3e82abd46981b0e3f5e9c81be805910985fc5c871e725cb0ee0b6&width=400&height=225)
Chai Pani also has a location in Decatur, Georgia. Photo: Jack Sorokin
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/M34ZQD4WGZDG3PC7N2KMJSGMDI.jpg?smart=true&auth=2e086a7cad117e90be45c5123e79d1bae2a1b17db3efc08b2368f9089aa1fc1d&width=400&height=225)
Kale pakoras, okra fries and sev potato dahi puri at Chai Pani in Asheville, North Carolina. Photo: Molly Millroy
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KLGX5CDN3JADJFD54BLPTWIQVE.jpg?smart=true&auth=b90b1a53d20ae0b7338c89f09420efc62e084512647ceb8fbd959df25adc04c4&width=400&height=225)
Chai Pani's sev potato dahi puri. Photo: Jack Sorokin
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QZYDR2FXRBBLFFYB3PQAUNDADA.jpg?smart=true&auth=d51d98f436c0ffdea06d0d3425e315176ea96cc60c5b5294cc0cd869fa9b24be&width=400&height=225)
Chai Pani in Asheville, North Carolina, was named the best restaurant in the US by the James Beard Foundation Awards. Photo: Laura Van Epps
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FL55FHAFDZHHFFA4V2OO6KYZPY.jpg?smart=true&auth=0cff27411a1b60ebf10c5bcefe7784409753f58212e8c713f7caee01793b39c7&width=400&height=225)
Chai Pani serves up classic Indian street food such as bhel puri. Photo: Molly Millroy
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XCILYHG6UNEENHWYO3ZHAZPJRM.jpg?smart=true&auth=8fcc91b07a00ce279dcdfce9ce6831c8ef392d4c5224a2e31d52b9495952331c&width=400&height=225)
Colourful dishes served at Chai Pani include sev potato dahi puri and more. Photo: Jack Sorokin
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NOVJBV5X6JCABN3NZVAQPDKWAU.jpg?smart=true&auth=cbb011aea76455fbdaccf120aed573e5b50faad63b09793b9cbc8a58a24d9528&width=400&height=225)
Bhel puri with a variety of ingredients at Chai Pani in Asheville, North Carolina. Photo: Molly Millroy
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TBKZXCEHMVFBNC4ZJQJWOQZM7U.jpg?smart=true&auth=c9da0184d92d19ee99422fb5921bf7d1ca64a975db038f53a12a57ada722ea6e&width=400&height=225)
Various chaat served at Chai Pani. Photo: Jack Sorokin
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GZDFNDL2CZHWJJMVJLIQTSCMIY.jpg?smart=true&auth=be7a3446cd555f5dbb27ed3206e26bcb4bb0175d36973dbbfb2ff30cb81655fe&width=400&height=225)
Chai Pani's kale pakoras. Photo: Molly Millroy
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3FNCMQ374ZDKLGS42SVMWDHCPQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=c521c0efd1e3e82abd46981b0e3f5e9c81be805910985fc5c871e725cb0ee0b6&width=400&height=225)
Chai Pani also has a location in Decatur, Georgia. Photo: Jack Sorokin
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/M34ZQD4WGZDG3PC7N2KMJSGMDI.jpg?smart=true&auth=2e086a7cad117e90be45c5123e79d1bae2a1b17db3efc08b2368f9089aa1fc1d&width=400&height=225)
Kale pakoras, okra fries and sev potato dahi puri at Chai Pani in Asheville, North Carolina. Photo: Molly Millroy
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KLGX5CDN3JADJFD54BLPTWIQVE.jpg?smart=true&auth=b90b1a53d20ae0b7338c89f09420efc62e084512647ceb8fbd959df25adc04c4&width=400&height=225)
Chai Pani's sev potato dahi puri. Photo: Jack Sorokin
Chai Pani named best restaurant in US
Executive chef celebrates 'watershed moment' as Indian street food restaurant named best in US by the James Beard Foundation
![Kyle Fitzgerald](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2Fe297815b-8be8-4a80-be15-3937cadd53ff.png?smart=true&auth=645277fd3284f0ef3be24c41e53e44bef6ccdec5b325c0481af7accff659b889&width=70&height=70)
Kyle Fitzgerald
15 June, 2022
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