By: Noeka Nimmervoll, Staff Writer
Chaiiwala of London, a fast-growing chai enterprise, is coming to SFU Burnaby. A chai café serving a wide variety of South Asian street food, this franchise entered Canada in 2021 under the ownership of Shiraj Kothiwala and Ajmal Gundhra, and now has 22 locations across Canada. Chaiiwala strives to provide an environment of community and connection. Located on Burnaby Mountain at 9055 University High St, Unit 5, the café will officially open on January 9. From January 10, they are offering an ongoing 10% off for all students that frequent the café, applicable with their student ID. The Peak conversed with Ali Alogaili, franchisee for Chaiiwala SFU Burnaby, via email to learn more.
“Chaiiwala is all about warmth and inclusivity. We want students to feel comfortable coming in, staying a while, and making it their spot. It’s a place where you can study, catch up with friends, or just take a break,” said Alogaili. Chai culture of South Asia is rooted in these everyday rituals of conversation and community connection over an affordable and delicious beverage. The shop specializes in karak chai, an authentic cup of chai made with black tea, milk, sugar, ginger, and select whole spices, taking a lot of practice to make the drink just right.
Chaiiwala’s opening day will boast a 50% off deal on masala chips, samosa chaat, aloo tikki chaat, all wala wraps (meat and veggie wraps with naan or paratha) and toasties, butter chicken roll, and butter chicken poutine. Chaiiwala’s full menu, blending of East Indian, East African, and British cuisines, aims to bring accessible culinary delights to Canadians — and now SFU students — who want something different than traditional café foods.
The seeds of Chaiiwala began as a single chai stand in New Delhi in 1927. Decades later, in 2016, the recipes and passion of the original founders were revived by their ancestors, starting from a single UK shop in Leicester called Sip of East. They went on to develop their franchise, and opened a shop in Dubai in 2018 before their expansion to Canada in 2021. The company currently has ambitions to open 100 Chaiiwala locations across Canada by 2030.
“Even as we grow, the focus stays on quality, consistency, and creating a great experience. Each location still feels connected to its local community, and that’s something we take seriously,” — Ali Alogaili, Franchisee for Chaiiwala SFU Burnaby
