Dana Bazar
Categories: Grocery, Ethnic Food [Edit]
5113 Mowry Ave(between Blacow Rd & Farwell Dr)
Fremont, CA 94538 (510) 742-0555
- Price Range: $
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Private Lot
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
28 reviews
Palo Alto, CA
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27 Reviews for Dana Bazar
Great place for chaat! The aunties just keep making and
feeding you pani puri's until you say "STOP!"!! :) The other
dishes are very yum and the only downside is that there's
no place to sit... unless you want to try copping a squat
on the huge rice bags! LOL!!
Go - I promise you won't be disappointed! Oh and as Maneesh S.
wrote - spicy *IS* spicy - they will make it as HOT as you like and
baby, I like it HOT HOT HOT!!
Five stars for Chaat Too bad I can only make it once a year.
They should convert it to a chaat place.
Dana Bazar does OK for an Indian grocery store...but what gets all the people lining up in this store are for their excellent CHAAT especially their Panipuri (http://en.wikipedia.or...). I once waited for 40 minutes in a line that snaked through the backroom for the serving...there is no seating...simply holding the plate and eating. I have tried the Kachori, Samosa and Paapris...they are about as good as it gets!
A note about the spice levels...spicy is really spicy!
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Dana Bazar isn't the largest Indian grocery store in the Bay Area but it has a little bit of everything and it's been around for years and years. It's more like a department store than a grocery store. I've purchased some lovely sparkly Indian necklaces, earrings, and bracelets here and gazed at the various Indian pots and pans. I have a tava which is a griddle with a handle that you use for chapati and other Indian breads. They have those and idli makers too.
Too tired to cook? Pick up some street food inspired snacks (chaat) inside (I've had a couple and they're scrumptious, bursting with flavor, and inexpensive. I like the thick potato patties topped with spicy garbanzo beans and mint chutney a.k.a. aloo tikki chole) , some fresh chapati, and Indian sweets.
Want entertainment? Pick up some Indian CDs and movies. If you are in the mood for cooking, you'll find produce, huge bags of spices and imported Indian groceries. I like to pick up some frozen parathas.
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The place feels like it needs a little tidying up, but then again, so does every other ethnic market in the Bay Area, so I can't rag on them for that.
They have AWESOME CHAAT.... great cheap afternoon snack (or lunch) if you ask me. A previous yelper was right when commenting on how the flavors just linger. They really do, it's that good. They also have a good selection of kulfis here, the other reason I come.
This place is so good, I bring out of town visitors here, well my pops does anyway, but I would if I could.
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I don't quite understand everyones fascination with this place. It could be that I was one of the few non-asian people eating here. The food was wierd... for my palatte anyway. Lots of soggy breadlike-stuff and yogurt. Perhaps this really is true authentic Indian chaat, and if that is the case, then I don't like authentic chaat.
I'll stick to my samosa's and Desi Chicken wraps at Chaat Cafe.
I like this place a lot. They are bigger than they look and they carry a lot of different things including CDs, DVDs, magazines, kid's books, groceries....you name it I bet they could get it, even if they don't have it on hand! Everything I've ever bought here has been of the best quality (watch the expiration dates - I have never been sold anything expired, but some of the stuff has been set to run out a week or so from the date I bought it).
Like other Yelpers, the groceries and goodies aren't why I come here....the Chaat is. They don't have tables to eat at so I always get everything to go (and then I rush home and eat everything I bought before anyone else wanders along and tries to get me to share!) I've never had anything bad....and I've tried a lot of things.
They only get 4 stars because I find their hours confusing. Many times I have tried to come here at normal times (like 2pm on a Wednesday, or noon on a weekend) only to find them closed. As far as I can tell they don't have set hours, they're just open when they can be.
Dana Bazaar. Wow! I have been going here ever since I was about 7 years old or so, maybe even 6 but I forgot! I used to go with my dad a lot and he used to make pan and give it to me too.
OK anyway, they have good South Asian groceries there and I really like the Chat Patta corner as well. Before I started dieting and all, I used to eat aloo tikkis and mixed chaats a lot. They were always very good. I go there like every other weekend with my mom & sister. They always get chaat there, in fact sometimes when we don't really need to buy groceries, we just go in so they can eat.
The owners and chaat servers are very nice as well. I really like the store overall especially because I have memories with my dad there. And you can find a lot of items there like Bournvita & more. You can also find Indian toothpastes and stuff there.
Nice store!!
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I just tried the Papri Chaat today and my mouth is still singing from the happy flavors and textures. Great recommendation! I had no idea this was here, and I pass by this shopping center every day. Right next to H&R Block and Hoot Judkins. You can have Chaat while waiting for your taxes, and go home with some an unfinished end-table.
2nd visit: I had the Papri Chaat again and this time it seemed to have a different mixture, but still the same sweet/crunchy/tart/spicy/creamy,refreshing sensation as the first time. My bowl was swimming with the cold "soup" at the end, and I learned from watching my fellow aisle-diners today that you slurp it all down!
Update:The food counter is only open Thursday-Sunday. Didn't know this and wasted many trips to see an empty counter.
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Ok, I am from Bombay, Bandra and Juhu is where I grew up. After having around 7,300 Bhel Puri and Sev Puris while I grew up in Bombay, I have become a BPSP expert.
Since then I have had the honor of adding around 1000 BPSP on my trips back to India every year.
So, I would rate this place 4 STAR. They have room to become perfect. There is no other Chaat Place in the bay area better for BPSP.
The chaat is great, I think they should close Dana Bazaar and open Dana Chaat House (DC House). Ok, I am dreaming.
Recommend: YES
Will I go bak: YES
Romantic: Only if you are with a girl/boy from Bombay and it is raining outside. Without the rain, it is not romantic.
Anyone who needs company to go there: email me anytime
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too far but will still drive for spicy pani puri.
Don't let the total lack of decor scare you away. When my husband and I first walked in, I considered asking him to go somewhere else. The grocery itself is pretty mediocre, but we were there for the chaat so we pressed on.
We ordered papri chaat, which was fantastic (though my husband complained about the portion size for the price. I thought it was fine). We also ordered the mix chaat which was ok. There's a fine balance between flavorful spicy and "oops, I knocked over the whole jar of chili powder and it fell into the sauce" spicy. This was definitely the latter.
I will probably come back another time to try something else.
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Definitely great chaat for what they offer. Extra points for no onions in my fave -- papri chaat ($4.50) -- yay! The lady making the chaat was very friendly and offered to explain things. I'm thinking they should have a chart with some pix and explanations for newbies, but I guess they cater to Indians for the most part. Oh, and Dana means "a grain/a bit/ a piece" according to the chaat lady.
I also bought some Kheer mix (I'm too lazy to make it from scratch). If you haven't had kheer, you should. :-) Mmmmmm....
I will definitely go there whenever I go to Fremont.
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The store-front, with it's tiny, cramped sections of fresh produce, cds/dvds, and clothes even, is deceivingly small - that is, until you enter the vast back-room chock full of Indian groceries, and get a gander at the super long line of people waiting to get what is rumored to be the best CHAAT outside India. The rumors are true!
Chaat can refer to any number of savory Indian snacks, including, but not limited to:
Papri Chaat - consists of a combination of papris (flat discs of wheat dough that are fried till crunchy), chickpeas, potatoes and masala, topped with yogurt, and coriander and tamarind chutneys.
Samosa Chaat - same as above except you replace the papris with samosas, top with hot chickpea curry, and then cool yogurt and chutneys- it's fantastic because you get that hot/cold pie ala mode sensation, but with something savory.
Pani Puri- (MY FAVORITE) - fried wheat disks again- only this time they are formed into hard puffed up shells. You crack open the top, fill it with finely chopped potatoes and chickpeas, top with tamarind chutney, and then submerge into this spiced masala water (the "pani"). The puri is basically a vessel that manages to hold the liquid until you pop it in your mouth and then you get this explosion of textures and flavors: crunch of the shell followed by the liquid burst, then the salty masala contrasted with the tangy-sweet tamarind chutney - it's indescribably good. Then you take what's left of the pani, down it like a shot, and smack your lips in satisfaction.
The Chatpatta Corner inside Dana Bazar had absolutely amazing pani puri and papri chaat (unlike some other places I've been to lately, they know that onions have no business being in a really good papri chaat). Standing room only though - so if you want to really relish your chaat in a relaxed atmosphere, get it to go.
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Despite rave reviews in the San Francisco Chronicle, you'd never find this place unless someone pointed it out to you. And then you'd thank them endlessly.
Not only did I love the Pani Puri (a spicy Indian mixture served in a crispy fried shell), I loved the experience. It was like visiting another country without even leaving the state. Despite the fact that I'm not Indian, I got first-rate treatment and I felt very welcome by the server, who let me try several dishes before choosing. (I went on Thursday, when the stand was not crowded)
By the way, this is not a restaurant, but a food stand situated inside of an Indian grocery. On any given weekend, you'll find a line of people waiting. In fact, the friend that recommended this place occasionally drives 20 miles just to eat their chaat.
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the chaat corner is absolutely absolutely absolutely the best. 'nuff said.
Have you had Chaat ever? If not, have it here first! THE BEST. Have you had Chaat? stop going to where you go and go here. Not only do they have chaat but pani puri, aloo tikki...yum yum and yum!
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A true ticket to India. Standing in line with a bunch of Indian families salivating at the Pani Puri water as the server puts them in a bowl one by one as you quickly devour them in hopes to catch up to the rest that are dripping in your bowl. The best chaat cafe ever without the flies and unhygienic servers. The closest thing you will get to India.
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Welcome to Chowpatty! :)
OK...not quite. But close enough my friends...Chowpatty is the legendary beach in Mumbai: home of chaat, pani puri, pav bhaji and masala milk....all revered culinary institutions in that part of the world :)
And this little chaat stand in a nondescript Indian store in a strip mall in Fremont comes pretty close.......the food is quite excellent! And there's no seating...in keeping with the spirit of any good chaat place.
The highlight:
pani puri....which is a mixture of garbanzo, boiled potatoes, sprouts, chutney and pani (or spicy water) enclosed in a crispy shell.
So we have a fundamental problem here: the water tends to make the shell moist, and soft and soon the filling will fall out. So pani puri experts in Mumbai find a way around this....they make it for you one shell at a time...so that the time between creation and consumption is minimized :)
How that works is you have anybody interested in eating pani puri standing right at the counter and the person who makes it serves one puri (shell) to one customer at a time.
AND the good news is that this is replicated in Dana Bazar....other places in the U.S give you all ingredients and you make the stuff yourself on your table...but that's never as good....these ladies make it like it was meant to be made! :) The chutneys and ingredients are spot on and the pani is pretty spicy.....
Other stuff which is equally awesome are the chaats, the samosa, alu tiki (cutlet)........papri chaat too....all excellent.
Watch out for the spice levels....they sometimes go over the top....so medium spicy should really work for most.
Tips to finding the place: look out for a strip mall on Mowry that has a Bevmo and a Wells Fargo. This place is hidden in there!
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the chaat is awesome, yummy, drool worthy and all those words...
I have had chaat in chaat kingdoms - Delhi, Bombay, Calcutta (even) and this rivals them in taste and slurp factor...
the pari chaat and pani puri are hands down winners though the other stuff is pretty darn good.... the tingly feeling that lingers in your tongue is the hallmark of grrreat chaat
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I'm gonna have to agree. Hands down the best chat available around here... Been going there for years now...
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I have been in love with this place for several years. They have the Best chaat that i have ever had (of course, I am not from bombay, but...)
Funny story: I'm friends with the two ladies who make the food. I call them both "aunty". After I had been going there for some time, I mentioned that they had some new competition down the street since "Chaat Cafe" was opening. Aunty looked at me and said confidently "when they try the chaat there, they will come back HERE!". and that is the truth--her chaat is much better! all my indian friends agree.
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Absolutely, THE chaat destination. If you don't mind joining the long queues and lack of seating, you will enjoy the Kachori Choles and the Paani Puris. Of late, the taste and quality varies from day to day, but overall you can't beat this place for a quick snack.
Not a sit-down place. Pretty damn good!
This is a counter inside an Indian grocery store. I really liked the Papri Chat.
i love this place. where else in the bay area can you get pani puri, purely desi style by standing in line and having the patron behind the stand serving you and counting exactly how many you've had. i heart their bhel and sev puris as well. the grocery store is also quite adequate and will have everything you need to make that indian dish you're craving. besides the pani puri, i always have to pick up a thumbs up cold drink (a cola drink) from them every time i go there!
Actually the name ot the Chat House inside Dana Bazaar is separately owned and is called Chat Patta Corner. They now also have a second location
Chatpatta Corner (5 star)
located within Dana Bazaar
5113 Mowry Ave
Fremont, CA 94538-1055
(510) 742-0555
2nd location in Fremont
34751 Ardenwood Blvd.
Fremont, CA 94555
(510) 505-0400
Their Pani Puri is the best in the bay area. Also like going there for Chloe Batura. I haven't had time to transfer all my reviews from www.sunilsethi.com";
The store is okay. .but their Chaat Corner is to die for!!!!! I mean seriously you can die and go to heaven if you try their Gol Gappe's (Pani Pooris). No seating, standing in line and eat like the "Soup Nazi" from Seinfeld... except I guess you can call them the "Gol Gappe Nazi" but more friendlier:).. I have driven for 30 miles just to go there for a plate of those and that is seriously saying something about the taste of it. I love these types of snacks and try them out any places people say are good but have yet to find one that resembles this Chaat Corner in the store.. except for those street vendors in Bombay's Chowpati Corner. So, if you don't want to fly to Bombay and want the taste, try it here. It is a pretty pricey but worth it.
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