Bombay Chaat House

The samosa dough was five times as thick as it should be — little more than eating fried dough!

One of the best Indian places in Rochester. It’s not a fancy place but the food is incredible. If you aren’t a fan of spicy food this place may not be for you. I can barely tolerate spicy food so I have to get two soda cans to wash down the spicyness but it’s so worth it!

My wife and I were down in the Jefferson Rd area doing some assorted shopping, and we decided to stop for an early take-​out dinner at the Bombay Chaat House. We saw numerous excellent reviews, which led us to give this a try.
I’d say we were very slightly disappointed, but that’s only because we had read such glowing reviews so our expectations were high. The food was quite decent, but in our opinion, spiced too hotly. I should emphasize that we have had LOTS of Indian food in the past, so we’re quite used to Indian spices. When asked, we always ask for dishes «Medium» and we never have issues with things being too spicy; if anything, sometimes dishes could be more spicy than they are. We had chicken biryani, a vegetarian dish from the whiteboard which isn’t on the regular menu and the name of which we can’t quite recall, vegetable samosas, and nan.
The vegetarian dish was ridiculously hot, at least for our palates. The biryani was quite good, but was overly spicy in my opinion, such that the complex more subtle flavors that biryani should have were a bit overwhelmed. But the biryani was quite edible, although slightly on the dry side. The samosas were good but my wife felt they were a bit on the greasy side (I didn’t really have that complaint). The nan was excellent.
All in all, it was a decent meal, for a very modest price. But it would have been so much more enjoyable if the heat from the spices was less overwhelming.

This is the best Indian food I have had so far in Rochester!!! Never knew there was a Chaat spot here till my wife pointed out and we immediately made a beeline for it. Situated in a very quaint place it is not much to look at. They have a very limited menu. I ordered the chicken biryani and a Bhel Puri. My wife ordered a Papadi chaat and Samosa Chaat. We took it to go as we wanted to watch something nice on the TV and relax. The food was fantastic!!! I loved the biryani which was almost the same like how I had in Jersey City. Flavorful and truly dum. The chaats were pretty awesome too. We ordered it to be spicy and loved it.
Overall I think this is the best review I have ever given :) Looking forward to go more often and hope they give larger portions: D

Had the best samosa chaat plate here. I love Indian food and have struggled to find authentic tasty and quality food around Rochester. Went with a friend tonight who is a regular and Bombay Chaat House is now a Rochester favorite! I look forward to coming back and trying other menu items.

Really casual but really nice service and food; they’re very accommodating and nice place for quick bite to eat; my friend from out of town loved this place

It’s a good thing I’m not dyslexic otherwise I might call this Mob-​bay Chaat which might incite some kind of Mob Riots. Are there riots in India? Or did Gandhi put a stop to that? I tell you what. If Gandhi had ever lived in Rochester (hey, you never know), he would have dined here. A lot. Definitively. He’d have skipped the Garbage Plates entirely. But that would be his choice. And not for us to question, amirite? This is my last review for today, I promise. (Hides)
So I have a friend who lives in Western India. So every now and again, I pop into Bombay for a Chat. These chats have become so legendary that there is now a restaurant, in Rochester aka Rawrchester aka Ro-​cha-​cha named after these legendary all night discussions.
What to get: Seekh Kabob, not Shami Kabob. The harder one, not the squidgy one.
What else: Samosa Chaat, everything.
If this were run by girls that are better at soccer than me, it would be Tomboy Chaat.
What an absolute gem. By far the best Indian food in Rochester, and along with the Chicken Karahi at Grill Kabob in East Amherst, it’s clearly the most delicious Indian food within 100 miles (probably more) in any direction. You have to go all the way to Pittsburgh (India On Wheels) or NYC (a few places) to find anything more delicious than this in the way of South Asian cuisines.
If this were a seller of odd-​looking pillows, it would be Lumbar Chaat.
The best item on the menu is the incredible, hot, juicy, spiced kebab known as «Seekh.» It’s the harder one, not the soft mushy one, which I don’t like at all, is called Shami. It’s easily the best Seekh Kabob I’ve ever had, up there with the best of the best in the UK. Probably because it’s so spiced and so flavourful, so juicy and just perfectly made. Full marks. Sensational.
If this were owned by Duran Duran, it would be Simon Le-​Bön Chaat.
My friend is a huge fan of Samosa Chaat, and she thinks this one might be the best she’s ever had. I’m not a Samosa Chaat fan, but everyone I know is (especially females), so you should probably try one of those here too. Granted, I’m not into them, but the ones from here are so good that I can eat a whole one and then keep going. Very very impressive.
If this were part of the mall and overpriced, it would be Bön-​Ton Chaat.
By the way a Samosa Chaat is a combination of all kinds of chick peas and sauces and bits of samosas… it’s very spicy… it’s a crazy concoction and you may well fall in love with it. It’s Indian Snack food. In fact the word «Chaat» translates as snack food. You learn something new every day. Maybe.
If this were in Colorado, it would be Bong-​hit Chaat.
I’ve also tried the curries here and they were pretty good. Not British Indian the way I like, but more «homestyle real Indian» with a lot of flavour and deliciousness. I’m all about them. Give them a try too. But mainly it’s all about the Kebab and the Samosa Chaat.
If this were a surf shop Down Under, it would be Bondi Chaat.
It’s a tiny little unassuming place that needs all the support it can get. The owners are wonderful and friendly, there are places to sit, and if you like authentic and spicy Indian snack food, the tastes and flavours here will blow you away.
If this were a way that geeky 50somethings carry their money when touristing in Europe, it would be Bunbag Chaat.
If it were a place that sells tickets to music festivals, it would be Bonnaroo Chaat.
And if it were a place you go to have a*al sex, then it would be «Bumway Chaat.» But it’s not. Which is probably for the best. Or???
The kebab and chaats here are so spicy, though, that you might feel a similar burn in your bumway, anyway. How ironic.

It is good takeout food if a bit too spicy and too hot for my tastes, and I like hot. The owners are wonderful Hindu people who serve halal to respond to the demand from their Muslim customers. I have to go back a second time to try more things and provide a fuller review.

Authentic Indian street foods– with yummy, warm samosas & the most delicious chaat ever!

Okayish

Love this place. food is phenomenal meat is halal and the owner of the restaurant is very nice. if you like Indian food this is the place to go

Its a small space… A big group cannot fit in… but food seems good and fresh… We tried kulcha chola, alu paratha… Can try out other items too.

My first experience at Bomaby Chaat House was amazing and the owners are very friendly and game me and my friends a very warm welcome. I am from India and would say that the chaat here is better than anywhere else in Rochester and is very close to what you will get back home. The have a good menu of chat to choose from and the chai I had was the best. Do try the mirch pakora and Jalebi. I would also recommend samosa chat and dahi paapdi chat. Do keep in mind that the place is small with only 5 – 6 tables and also credit card is accepted for $ 8 or more. I would recommend for anyone who’s never tried Indian Chat before or If you miss chat from India.

Went there for quick and ‘chatpatta’ food. Got what we came for. Great chaat. Good aloo parantha. Great chola bhatura. Decent prices. The owner couple’s hospitality — priceless. I wish more indian restaurants were like this– inexpensive, quick and service with a smile.

This is a take-​out place with 4 small tables if you want to eat in. (All plates and utensils of the disposable kind, so keep expanding those landfills!) The food is quite good and not outrageously priced. I had a 2 veggie dish + naan combo — both dishes spiced heavily and right, and I liked the naan. No other place quite like this in Rochester — quick and tasty Indian takeaway.

If your ideas of India, like mine, are informed by cinematic spectacles such as Monsoon Wedding, then you will be sorely disappointed by Chaat House; there’s no color, no flash, no fabulous fabric set with sparkling mirrors … in short, and despite some posters of Bollywood stars, it’s plain to a fault. Could be why most of the customers, all Indian save for the two of us, were doing takeout. Try it regardless.
With a few exceptions, everything on the chaat menu is between $ 3 and $ 4.50 and well suited for a light meal. The Samosa-​Chaat, with samosa pieces, mint sauce, homemade yogurt, garbanzo beans, onions and spices, is colorful combo of sweet and sour.
We also tried more substantial plates. The veg biriyani with seasoned basmati rice and chole bhatura was satisfying but lacked cinematic pizazz; the aloo paratha, though seriously spicy, was full-​on Bollywood fabulous — tough and terrific all at once. Just like my image of India.

I have to preface this review by saying that I am visiting from Southern California so I may have higher standards. Also I only had Vegetarian Chaat (vegetable samosa, kachori chaat, pakora, aloo paratha, and jalebi) so I cannot comment on the other dishes.
The preparation was just below average. I have been known to drive 40 – 50 miles for good chaat. The 2.3 miles I drove to this place was not worth it. Perhaps if I was living here and since there are no other options for chaat I would be willing to eat it if I were simply homesick to the point of tears.
The portions for the price were unacceptable. For $ 4 I am used to getting an entire 8 – 9 inch paper plate of papri chaat or kachori chat this was about ¹⁄₃ of the portion. I usually buy a pound of jalebis for $ 3. Here I got 5 oz of Jalebis for $ 3. Being that this is a relatively small town and a college town at that I thought I would get more for my money.
Bottom line unless you are DYING for chaat wait until you can travel somewhere else.

I finally got to this place when it was open. Good food, but a dumpy shop. Probably rates more like 3.5 stars, but the food and the help made up for what it lacks in décor.
I tried the vegetarian sampler, and was quite impressed (although, I did think the spinach was a bit on the salty side-​next time I’ll try the lentils…). Filling, moderately spicy, and inexpensive as well. Not the cheapest for lunch, but for dinner, it sure beats that other Indian place down the street for takeout.
BTW, I would consider this place to be PRIMARILY a takeout place.

You’ll never find this place unless you’re brought here.
I love places like that. Little hidden gems in strip malls.
So, chaats are awesome. Get them spicy. You can get combos with a meal, veggie and rice or naan for $ 9. Samoas are oily but effing delicious. Get an aloo tikki (potato cutlet) too. Don’t leave without a mango lassi. Just order a bunch of stuff and share it all. Then come back and keep doing it.
The ladies there are sweet as sugar.
Don’t go for the ambiance though. There isn’t any =P but that’s part of what makes it such a hidden little treasure. Go for the cheap, delicious food.

I have always had bad experience with Indian food, I never wanted to try it again. My friend said this place was supposed to be great and that I should try again, so I did. I thought well maybe 3^rd times the charm.
The place is really small, I would say around a 6 table place, it’s more like a carry out place but there are tables. This is a no frills place, The tables are big enough for 1 or 2 people only, plastic eatingware on the table
The owners are extremely nice and friendly, I barely know anything about Indian food, other than Chicken Curry, I am so clueless. We asked them what each dish was and they were so helpful to explain what it was and what was in it.
We ordered all kinds of food, Samosas (Chicken and Veggie) both were very yummy! They give you 2 types of sauces, one was spicy (but it wasn’t very spicy to me, but my tolerance is kinda up there) and the other was a bit sweet, I liked mixing them both. Both samosas had nice flavor.
We ordered kachori (a deep-​fried pastry filled with lentils and spices), I think that was it, you put in a spiced water and eat it, it’s kinda like their version of a dumpling? I hope thats the best way to describe it. We also got this fried fritter type of appetizer, I can’t remember the name of it, I just know it had veggies in it. I think my friend also got a kebab but she ordered half of it. Luckily they are so nice and gave her only half of it, because we were getting full.
We also ordered a Mango Lassi. Wow that was sooo good! It was basically a mango smoothie, but it was delicious! It only cost 2.50! I didn’t taste like a pine tree and it wasn’t overly sweet. It was great! I snuck in a sip when my friend wasn’t looking haha.
I ordered a «special» It was 1 meat and 2 sides, so I got chicken curry, and this other type of curry, I wish I can remember the name, but I can describe it. It was curry, creamy with spinach and onions and rice; kinda had a greenish hue to it. It also came with a salad, which was cucumber, pepper, tomato and cilantro. I really havent had much Indian food to compare, all I can say is that it was very yummy. I feel the Chicken Curry could have had a bit more flavor, but the other type of curry was really good, I really enjoyed it. It was a bit sweet, I was expecting spicier, it was nice and creamy, again, not sure if thats how curry is supposed to be, but it was really good and I enjoyed the flavor.
We were so stuffed when we finished eating. We ordered quite a bit and everything only cost us $ 10 each. Most specialty food spots costs a redic amount of money. But not here.
The woman says she gets up every day and makes the food. It’s a bit different everyday. She has majority of the food everyday, but she likes to change it up depending on how she feels in the morning. This place is a mom and pop place. No packages or jars here, everything feels fresh and homemade. You can tell she cooks everything herself. It was great, and I think I am willing to try other Indian restaurants and even try other dishes.
The only con I have, I wish the food were made to order, she has it in an ice cream type of display case. Except the Lassi, that was made to order. She heats everything up as you ask for it.