New Irani Restaurant

New Irani Restaurant is an Irani-style cafe on Salapose Road in Laxmi Bazar in the Old City of Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. Irani cafes were introduced to western India by Persian Zoroastrian immigrants and are known for their strong, sweet tea, soft buttered buns and simple, affordable snacks. They are more strongly associated with Mumbai and Pune than with Gujarat, so an Irani-style tea house in Ahmedabad's Walled City is a notable survivor of that tradition and appeals to visitors interested in the layers of the city's food history.

The menu is short and built around tea and bread. Items associated with the cafe include Irani chai (a rich, milky, sweetened tea), maska bun (a soft bun split and filled with butter) and keema pav (spiced minced meat served with soft bread rolls). The tea is typically served in small glasses and is best dunked with the bun, which is the traditional way of eating it. Prices are very low, at roughly INR 30-150 per person, so a full snack costs little. The keema pav is a non-vegetarian item, which is less common in a mainly vegetarian city.

The atmosphere is that of a simple, old-fashioned tea room: basic tables and chairs, a steady stream of local customers, unhurried service and a noise level that reflects the street market outside. Dress is casual. As Gujarat is a dry state there is no alcohol, and tea is the main drink. The cafe suits a quiet break rather than a long meal.

There are no reservations, and approximate hours are 7AM-10PM daily; visitors should confirm before visiting. Morning is the traditional time for tea and maska bun, and the cafe is easy to combine with visits to nearby Old City sights such as the Jama Masjid, Teen Darwaja and the Manek Chowk market. Visitors who eat meat and want to try keema pav can do so here, while vegetarians can stick to the tea and buns. The cafe is a good place to rest during a heritage walk.