The first of its kind, a new Punjabi breakfast and brunch café has opened Stevenage Indoor Market today.

Cha Kulcha specialises in traditional Punjabi breakfast offerings such as curries and South Asian flatbreads, aiming to replicate the street stall experience found in Lahore, Pakistan. 

Owners Jennifer Arndt and Faiq Lodhi are pleased with their vegetarian and vegan menu, which also includes takeaway chai lattés and almond cookies.

The café can be found where the Leavened bakery used to be - near Fruit Fayre and Buttons & Bows.The café can be found where the Leavened bakery used to be - near Fruit Fayre and Buttons & Bows. (Image: Jennifer Arndt)

Faiq said: “We want to provide the authentic Punjabi food experience our tagline, 'your local Dhaba' - meaning local street stall.

“Hopefully our customers will feel the homeliness of the food which we prepare fresh every morning."

The couple wish to avoid becoming a typical Indian restaurant instead maintaining a smaller menu of “street-style” food with “great flavours”.

Their signature dish known as the Kulcha Cholay is a chickpea-based curry, which received rave reviews from customers with one saying they were “mind blown” and another claiming it “reminded me of my childhood”.

Some of the authentic dishes on display.Some of the authentic dishes on display. (Image: Jennifer Arndt)

Cha Kulcha accommodates dietary preferences with halal and gluten-free choices in a bid to be “accessible” while sharing their cultural heritage with the Stevenage community.

The café opened its doors on Wednesday, August 28, and you can tuck into their authentic street food Wednesday through Saturday 9am to 5pm.

To stay informed with the café you can check out their Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/cha_kulcha/ or their at https://chakulcha.co.uk/