Indian Street Snacks, Boozy Slushies Arrive This Fall in Alpharetta

Earlier this year, chef Meherwan Irani (Chai Pani, Botiwalla) announced his plans to expand his mini Indian street food empire to Alpharetta. The chef confirmed Friday he’s opening his second Botiwalla in the Alpharetta City Center complex some time this fall.

Botiwalla joins Restaurant Holmes, Jinya Ramen Bar, Highland Bakery, and Vitality Superfood Cafe at the retail and dining complex. The development is spread over six blocks and 26 acres throughout downtown Alpharetta.

Like the original stall at Ponce City Market, Botiwalla-Alpharetta will serve grilled meats, kebabs, naan, paneer, and chaat (small plates). Boozy slushies, cocktails, and Indian and local beers are also planned for the menu.

Irani is playing up Botiwalla’s street food roots at the Alpharetta outpost. The restaurant is located in the heart of the square and will include large windows and a dining room that opens to the outdoors. The chef says he wants to “blur the line between indoor and outdoor, as any true street food eatery would” with this second Botiwalla.

“For those of you who have been to Ponce City Market, you know that Botiwalla is a high-energy, open-market feel,” Irani says.

A small marketplace selling restaurant merch and spices from Irani’s company, Spicewalla, is in the works for the space, as well.

Official

This past spring, Irani told Eater Atlanta of his plans to expand Botiwalla to three more metro Atlanta locations, including Alpharetta, the perimeter, and a third somewhere in the city of Atlanta. If all goes well, Irani says a fourth Botiwalla could open in 2019.

The chef hopes to open between eight to ten more Botiwalla locations in the next five years throughout the southeast. Irani says there could be as many as 50 Botiwalla’s across the country in the future. These future plans may morph into smaller, kiosk locations (food court stalls), too, in the lobbies of large office buildings or complexes where good food options are usually scarce.

Irani opened his second chaat-centric restaurant Chai Pani in Decatur in 2013. The original Chai Pani is located in Asheville, North Carolina. Botiwalla opened at Ponce City Market in 2016.

• Meherwan Irani Plans to Expand Indian Street Food Empire [EATL]
• Botiwalla Opens Monday at Ponce City Market; What You Need to Know [EATL]
• All Botiwalla coverage [EATL]