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Inside Stirling’s newest veggie cafe with global menu including bubble tea and dumplings

Chai, on Barnton Street in Stirling, has a menu that includes dishes from Korea to India as well as ice cream and milkshakes.

Siya and Sanvi Agarwal who work at Chai.
Siya and Sanvi Agarwal who work at Chai. Image: Isla Glen/DC Thomson.

New Stirling cafe Chai aims to bring vegetarian cuisine from across the world to the city.

Chai opened on Barnton Street in the former Vera Artisan Bakery unit on Thursday.

The family-run business has a vegetarian menu that spans the globe, including dishes from Korea to India.

The eatery sells momo dumplings, parathas and croffles (a hybrid of a croissant and waffle) plus noodles, soup, egg dishes, Indian flaky rolls, Chicago deep dish pizza, and bubble tea.

Inside Chai, Stirling.
Inside Chai, Stirling. Image: Isla Glen/DC Thomson.
Chai is on Barnton Street.
Chai is on Barnton Street. Image: Isla Glen/DC Thomson.

A wide variety of desserts including ice cream, milkshakes, cakes and crepes is also on offer to visitors at Chai, Stirling.

Owner Arnav Gupta told The Courier it was “good” to be open after two months of preparations.

He said: “I was always passionate about food, so we wanted to have a wee cafe.

“I’m very passionate about being vegetarian.

“People are so conscious about the environment and their health and they’re not frequently able to find a place that does good vegetarian food.”

The menu is entirely vegetarian, excluding the instant noodles that can be made in store.

The new cafe is serving bubble tea.
The new cafe is serving bubble tea. Image: Isla Glen/DC Thomson.
The Bronio, served with Cookie Monster ice cream.
The Bronio, served with Cookie Monster ice cream. Image: Isla Glen/DC Thomson.

Trips around the world inspired Stirling cafe’s menu

After travelling to different countries and trying different cuisines, the dad-of-one decided to bring his favourites to Stirling.

Arnav, who moved to the city four years ago, added: “I have travelled all around the world – Korea, Japan.

“If you come to the UK, you find you don’t have that kind of place where you have food from around the world.

A dazzling array of instant noodles at Chai.
Chai will prepare a range of noodles in-store. Image: Isla Glen/DC Thomson.
Some of the ice cream on offer at Chai.
Some of the ice cream on offer at Chai. Image: Isla Glen/DC Thomson.

“That inspired me to find food from all over the world for this.”

Chai will be open from 10am to 11pm daily for sit-in and takeaway orders, with delivery also available.


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