Bombay street-style sandwich: spiced lamb hash with tomatoes and aromatics on two toasted buns, finished with onions, cilantro, green chutney and sweet yogurt.
Meherwan Irani opened Chai Pani on Battery Park Avenue in 2009; the restaurant won the James Beard Foundation Outstanding Restaurant award in 2022, the highest national restaurant honour. The Sloppy Jai (a riff on the American sloppy joe and Bombay's bun maska tradition) is one of the most ordered plates on the street-sandwich menu. Irani's Botiwalla expansion took the format to Atlanta and beyond.
4 editor picks for Chai Pani Sloppy Jai in Asheville, ranked by editorial score. All Asheville signature dishes · Chai Pani Sloppy Jai across every city.
Chai Pani ★ 4.7
south-slope · 32 Banks Ave, Asheville, NC 28801
Meherwan Irani's Chai Pani opened in 2009 and won the 2022 James Beard Outstanding Restaurant award. Moved May 2024 to 32 Banks Ave on the South Slope.
Botiwalla by Chai Pani ★ 4.4
downtown · 22 Battery Park Ave, Asheville, NC 28801
Botiwalla by Chai Pani on Battery Park Avenue is Meherwan Irani's tribute to the late-night sigri (grill) cart culture of India. Counter-service kababs.
Botiwalla by Chai Pani West ★ 4.3
west-asheville · 697 Haywood Rd, Asheville, NC 28806
Botiwalla's second Asheville location on Haywood Road in West Asheville opened in 2022.
Mela Indian Restaurant ★ 4.2
downtown · 70 N Lexington Ave, Asheville, NC 28801
Mela Indian on North Lexington Avenue in Asheville has been the downtown dependable for regional Indian cooking since 2007. Lunch buffet weekdays, full menu.