Diamond in the rough. That's all that can be said about this chaat-catering, strangely delicious, unbelievably friendly environment. For the sake of full disclosure, my taste buds were certainly adjusting to chaat as I was at Mood. It's a strange sensation: the mixing of the hot veggies and meat, the cold yogurt, the crispy wonton shells - all of it crunched up in a bowl. Hasan, the owner and one of the friendliest faces in all of Philadelphia, explained every step of how he prepares and serves the food. Then, for dessert, he prepared a carrot and cream cheese dish, with hot, stewed carrots (naturally sweet) and homemade cheese. It was somehow similar to a pumpkin or sweet potato pastry. Like other reviewers's experience, I too was blown away by both Hasan's kindness and his restaurant. He remembers faces well, and will prepare you a different kind of dish every time you visit. He promised a different, hot rice and beans dish next time I came. He also assured my girlfriend and I that we would not have to pay if we didn't like the food. However, we loved the chaat and the dessert, and were more than happy to pay every cent (though he didn't charge us for the dessert). Can't wait to go back! read more

Before I moved further West I was a regular client at Desi Chaat living just 1 block away (I'd eat their food 3-5 times a week). Chaat became an obsession of mine. Nowadays I live right next to Mood Cafe and it has become a local favorite of mine (for good reason). The owner, Hassan, is a good man who aims to please and has never once lets me down. I often stop by after class not bothering to look at the menu and always asking about any new creations or concoctions as I love to explore and try new tastes and flavors. Fair warning, there is no kitchen on premises so don't expect the meals to be made in front of you from scratch and magically served within minutes. I love and recommend the samosas (with all the fixings on them) and I always ask for a nice kick of a spice. Hassan often tells new clients of his money back guarantee if your not pleased but I have yet to see anyone take him up on it. What I really love about Mood Cafe and why I happily give it 5 stars is because of the menu; it isn't stale or rigid, rather more of work of art, dynamic and ever-evolving. The other reason is because it's one of the few places that takes me serious when I say I want "back home" spicy spicy, NOT white man spicy ;-). hehehe read more

Chaat is basically a taste-free-for-all. Do you want a sort of South Asian spicy/sweet/savory/tangy explosion in your mouth? If you do, then you should check this place out. It wasn't what I was looking for on a cold, Sunday afternoon but it was super delightful. I was glad to have found it. You know how sometimes you eat something and it's so healthful that you feel your cells rejoicing? That's this place. Also, everyone is right about Hassan. He is so helpful and so happy to introduce you to Chaat. I'd go back just for him. Also they can make their lassis vegan? Whaaaaat! read more

This place is amazing. Somehow I never came here during the year I lived in University City, but now that Phil H. lives nearby Mood has become one of our favorite places and a standard weekend visit. Chaat is fast, flavorful and filling. And cheap. It's a great value and among the chaats I've tried, there isn't a bad one. I usually go for "spicy" and my boyfriend gets medium, but since chaat includes fruit and yogurt it's never overwhelmingly spicy. This is a UCity gem. read more

The drinks selection is quite good, but the food, not so much. Stopped by here a short while back to get my mid-afternoon fix, and it was decent, I guess. The lassi/drink selection is really quite good, and I don't think that I've seen such a wide swath of selections outside of Edison, NJ, here in the US. The lassis themselves are well balanced, taste good, and certainly not for those on diets! But they're really good. The chaats and food selections, not so much. The food is pretty standard stuff, but I really was not a fan of the naans, which is a shame. Further, the chaat items are really not that great - there's other places in the locale that're much better for the food fare. But, if you're going here just for the drinks, you're in the right place! read more

I love Indian food and never had chaat before. It's like a street food dish with everything tossed in: crispy won-ton noodle things, radish, meats, tons of veggies, tons of different sauces. It attacks every taste bud. It was total comfort food, very reasonably priced and had a good portion size. The owner is SUPER nice. We told him it was our first time and he described all the ingredients and styles. Helped us choose our first chaats and spices. Also... the bottled water is free to everyone. And if we didn't like anything it was free on the house. I love his confidence and enthusiasm for his product. Food and service alone are worth checking this out. But I also loved the style of this cafe: I'm also a huge fan of places that do 1 or 2 things really well. Mood cafe only serves up Chaat dishes and lassi smoothies. But there's like 30 variations of each. I can't wait to go back and try something crazier in the chaat category. read more

How I have lived less than five minutes from here and never tried it before is beyond me... and was a huge mistake. The food is AMAZING. I love Indian food but had never had chaat before and I have been leery. I'm one of those people that doesn't always love all my food mixed together. However, this proved me wrong. The food was really flavorful and the guy who made my food was really helpful about recommending what to get, how spicy I would like it, what kind of lassi to pair it with AND even made the whole thing (lassi included) vegan for me! Seriously, in a neighborhood of good food this place is a standout. Go here, eat amazing food, drink a delicious lassi, and experience friendly and helpful customer service. read more

PROS: Delicious, flavorful, cheap, lots of interesting layers of ingredients, super helpful & friendly guy CONS: Better for takeout! Not that I'm particularly knowledgeable about chaats, but this is THE best chaat (samosa chaat) I've ever tried. It's like a really flavorful, exciting salad mixture of all things crispy, savory, and sweet! I'll definitely return to try more items off the menu (including the extensive list of fruit lassis)! read more

Mood Cafe is such a delightful place for a quick meal. You basically get to customize your dish which includes an array of spices, flavors and textures. I usually get the samosa combo which is so yummy!! Everything is made to order, including their lassi's (which can also be made vegan) so plan to wait a few minutes for your order. It's worth the wait! Omnomnom. read more

Hassan bhai is among my favorite Pakistanis now. Good chat. Excellent lassis. Hassan bhai ke baathein aur imaandaari se bani behthereen mahol. read more

The owner at Mood Cafe is wonderful and is a super sweet guy and a great conversation. I haven't had a chance to eat any of the food yet but the lassi's are AMAZING. I highly recommend the Pina Colada lassi! It's amazing and definitely worth skipping your diet for! read more

I walked in to Mood Cafe a few weeks ago completely skeptical about lassis in general. How many times had friends tried to force mango lassi on me with cries of, "try it, try it!" I pretty much hate mango/mango-flavors, so after my second mango lassi or so, I swore off the concept...associating mango + lassi forever in my mind, and resigned myself to never having one again. Turns out mango is just one of the many flavors (over 20) you can get at Mood Cafe-I've had the blueberry lassi twice and it has a fantastic flavor and texture. Kind of like a milkshake plus a slurpee that's blueberry flavored and basically super delicious. I also have to say I really appreciate the fact that you can make any lassi vegan without any big fuss! I'm definitely coming back and trying more flavors. read more

Came here with a girl. Ordered some lassi's and a veggie chaat. I loved the rose and mango lassi drinks (smoothies). The chaat was interesting with some strong spicy flavors even though it was on the lower end of the spiciness level but I really enjoyed it. Very healthy choices and Hasan was very helpful, friendly and very generous. Something you do not find a whole lot of, so I appreciated that about this place. There's only enough seats (along the storefront window) for about 4 people + chairs and they bring out the outdoor patio tables and chairs in May (after winter) so it'd be nice to eat outdoors. This place did seem like an order-to-go spot. Saw a lot of people come in and take their orders to-go. I'd definitely go back and try out the other lassi's. It does contain yogurt so if you're lactose intolerant, you might want to take that into consideration. Also, this is not just a vegetarian/vegan spot, though that is what they primarily have, they also serve certain chaat dishes with different kinds of meats. It's neighborhood street parking here so it's best if you took pub transportation or if you're close enough, walk (it didn't seem too ghetto). Oh yeah, West Philly. Parking: Street Price: $4-$8 Wait: 5 mins after ordering read more

I took my Pakistani friend from NJ, we drove 2 hours one way to try food in this place which we picked based on numerous positive reviews. So friendly, I felt like owner knows us and he tried his best to please us. I just wanted to say thank you and also my friend told his desserts are very authentic. I would suggest to try Rasmalai. read more

I love orange. I love orange buildings where they offer orange things to eat and drink, then use the orange fruit pulp to mulch the orange marigolds in the orange-rimmed tree lawns out front. If Mood Café's "mood" is reflected by their color scheme, then that works for me. Also the Mood offers vegan lassi in 20+ flavours. However, the Mood uses almond milk, which tends to overpower the fruit--Maybe switch to rice milk so that we can taste the fruit? Now all that Baltimore Ave needs are dosas and a proper kati roll and we'll be good to go... read more

I really cannot compliment this place enough, it sets the bar for chaat. I never been disappointed there. The mix of flavors and textures always comes out just right. Also, the owner is the friendliest guy you'll ever meet. It's obvious that he loves what he does; he always goes out of his way to make the experience great. Sometimes I do not order anything off the menu and just tell him to suprise me. He is more than happy to just throw some things together, explaining as he goes along. read more

Everyone already knows how fantastic the lassi is. The real sleeper hit is the chaat, which is an incredible mixture of savory and sweet in a single dish. As the owner explains it, it's an Indian/Pakistani street snack that he's adopted and enhanced into a full sized meal. Savory lover? We got that. Walnuts, feta, chick peas, figs, potatoes. Sweet fiend? Mango slices and dried cranberries galore, a few dates for good measure. Want it spicy? He can do a variety of flavorful mouth burners. Vegetarian? All of them can come with an optional vegetarian protein in lieu of the tasty tasty meats. Screw kale, eat more chaat. Or eat both? I dunno, you're a grown-ass man who makes his own decisions, or a grown-ass woman, or a grown ass-woman, hell chaat is totally PG, enrich your kids' palates and stuff and junk and whatever I recommend the salad chaat option for the most efficient meal in history. read more

I was lured to Mood Cafe by all of the positive reviews, and it has since become one of my favorite spots in the city to grab lunch, and I always stop there when I go to West Philly. There are so many flavors going on in this chaat, many of them I'm not accustomed to together. Looking at it, you're wondering how it can all come together, but it somehow does, and does extremely well. As other reviewers have mentioned, the owner is really friendly, will happily cater to your tastes, explain what's what, and walk you through the menu. It shows that he is passionate about what he's doing, and enjoys exposing people to new tastes. However, the last time we were there he had mentioned that he would probably be working out of a new restaurant that he opened, so I can't speak for the new guys. read more

Deserving of all 5 star reviews. When I moved to West Philly, my friend brought me here because he'd been wanting to go. I was so happy he did because with an uninteresting and undescriptive name like Mood Cafe, I'm not certain I would have come in anytime soon. The service is fast and friendly and the food is a gigantic and pleasant surprise. Bountiful flavors, meshing and contrasting textures, color, and novelty. No one's heard about chaat and it's unfortunate because it's so tasty. I love to introduce this place to others because they deserve the attention. read more

Can't beat it! The huge selection of lassi's are outstanding (fig lassi mmmm...) and the samosas are great, but the real thing to come here for is Hassan and his chaats. Chaat is kind of hard to describe. It's a South Indian street food that is a medley of a whole bunch of things: crunchy noodles and puffed rice, dried fruits and nuts, chutneys and sauces, and other things. There's a menu of about 15 different varieties, but Hassan is always helpful and will make you exactly what you want. So much love for this place! read more

This place had some amazing chaats and lassis. We got bhel Puri, garlic and ginger chicken chaat, chicken green chili chaat, rose lassi and Pina colada lassi. The chaats were delicious and the spice level can be customized to your preference. The rose lassi was really good.. it's made out of fresh roses. The owner is super friendly and the service is good. Would definitely recommend! read more

What can I say about mood cafe that has not already been said? 1) Hassan is one of the friendliest and most welcoming person I have ever met. He creates a really unique concoction of chaat and knocks it out of the park everytime. 2) get the mango lassi 3) just get it 4) seriously. 5) It's veg and non veg friendly. Which is strange because as an Indian, this was the first time I ever had meat in my Chaat. it was absolutely awesome. 6) If you are unfamiliar with Chaat, just get ready for an explosion of flavor and pure deliciousness of textures and tastes. Hassan does a great job at walking you through it and I seriously doubt you will ever regret coming here. read more

It feels so great to be excited about a restaurant in Philly again. I am so, so glad to have found this place (it was a fortunate discovery by chance-- I just happened to be browsing restaurants on Yelp, as I typically do, when I came across this place). I had to click on it-- 100 reviews and 5 stars on Yelp? It seemed too good to be true. I immediately contacted my friend and told her about the place; she was extremely ready to try it as well. We ventured into the restaurant at around 7:20 PM. The place is fairly small-- there are only about 3-4 tables. The man who owns the place was incredibly warm, sweet and welcoming. We mentioned that we were newcomers and he immediately wanted to make sure we had a good experience with the food. He asked us for spice preferences and meat preferences for my friend (I told him I was vegetarian from the get-go). The food was made fairly quickly even though there were two parties of four ahead of us. Regardless, the wait time wouldn't make me subtract a star. The menu of chaat varieties is extensive; I ordered the veggie chaat (I originally asked for the paneer veggie chaat, but he was out of paneer. Next itme!) The quality of the food was absolutely incredible. The combinations of flavors made each bite exciting and different. The chutneys mixed with the yogurt sauce, the fresh bits of mango pieces, raisins and chick peas and crispy flakes/puris added a cool texture to the dish as well. The play on sweet and savory was so on point. At the end of our meal, the owner told everyone in the restaurant (all tables were full so perhaps about 12 people) that he was heating up gulab jamun (indian sweet) for everyone on the house-- my friend and I were just about to leave and we were so full, but the thought was incredibly sweet and it just added to our experience. Another thing I noticed was that while we were eating, he announced to everyone that he hoped the spices were correct-- he mentioned being able to "fix it up right away" if someone had a dish with a spice level that wasn't ideal. So cute! So much appreciation! The restaurant also had a huge menu for lassi flavors. I'm not a huge lassi fan, but my friend ordered the Date lassi and really enjoyed it. All the other people in the restaurant ordered a lassi as well, so it is probably a worthwhile choice to complement the chaat. I paid about $6.50 for my weal, and it was so worth it. I have nothing but golden and glittery words of praise for this West Philly gem. I have so many people in mind that I want to introduce to this restaurant. read more

Mood Cafe - Extensive menu of lassis at the front of the restaurant - Cafes Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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This is my go to for fast food dinner. Not the healthiest, but the service is always really nice and the lassi flavors are great. I usually get the rose lassi which is fragrant and foamy. Mango lassi is good too. There are usually small ice crystals which make the texture actually really good. Plus anything leftover from the blender that they can't fit into the large cup, they put in a small cup to give to you also. It's those little things that make you feel like a business really cares about the customer's experience. Tbh this is the only place that I've gotten chaat so I don't have much to compare to, but the owner will make you feel super comfortable about ordering. I like the chicken tikka. read more

I LOVE LOVE LOVE the Mood Cafe! I have never been a big fan of lassis, but I had heard that they were particularly good here, so I thought I'd give it a try. I walked in, saw the fresh pineapples on display and decided to get a pineapple lassi. Hassan suggested I try a mint and honey one instead. I said sure. Not only did he make the mint and honey lassi, but then he made the pineapple lassi as well so I "wouldn't worry that I had missed out." Needless to say they were both so insanely delicious that I ended up drinking two lassis for dinner that night, a decision I do not regret (although I do feel slightly ashamed- I could not stop drinking them they were so delicious!). So yes, two lassis for three dollars that night! I left VERY satisfied! read more

Ask the owner for suggestions! He's amazing. I had never had chaat before so he talked me through all the options and eventually just had him give me the most simple item- samosa chaat. Be sure to emphasize that vegan because yogurt sauce is a default ingredient. read more

Have been wanting to try this place for months and finally made it -- it was worth the wait! Hassan was super friendly and accommodating, took the time to explain the whole menu to us and give us recommendations, said we didn't have to pay if we weren't satisfied (of course we ended up paying because it was amazing!) and even let us try his homemade rose petal essence/reduction. Everything was absolutely delicious, will definitely be back to try the 100 other flavors of chaat and lassis :) read more

Absolutely absurd how wonderful of an experience this was. Too many things on the menu- no worries, the owner talked to us about what we liked, and made us delicious Chaats (how have I not tried chaat before??). And if we didn't like what he made? He told us to come back for him to make us something else. When he saw us order 3 types of lassis and try each others, he made us additional small cups with each flavor (the 3 we ordered) to share. We finish eating and return to pay, he thanks us and invites us to try a rice pudding, on the house. My only regret is not living in Philadelphia. I'll definitely be back next time I am in town. Thanks! read more

Number one place to go!!!!!! We got two chicken chat however mine had black chickpeas cuz i love them. YOU HAVE TO TRY THIS PLACE OUT. Oh and by the way the bathroom has a lota!!! read more

Mood Cafe - I love this place - Cafes Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Mood Cafe is a lassie and chat based cafe, it's a unique place to chill with friends. In the summer the outdoor seating is great, and fits perfect with the refreshing lassies. Unfortunately the indoor seating is subpar. As far as the food, I've never been disappointed. With all the options, selections, and combinations, along with the fact that you get a little extra lasssie to share with your friends, you can't go wrong with mood cafe! I recommend a rose-honey lassie. There are little sweet chewy pieces at the bottom, and the rose flavor works amazing with yogurt! I would like to visit in the colder months, but I doubt I will be as inclined to go with the indoor seating. If they moved the freezer (space is tight), acquired comfortable/fancy chairs, and put on some fitting music, I might change my mind! read more

After reading so many positive reviews on Yelp, I just had to check this place out. Upon walking in, I could tell that Mood Cafe was unique. The man behind the counter just about welcomed us with open arms, asking us if we'd been there before, if we knew what chaat was, etc. My friends and I looked at each other, then placed our orders of chaat and lassi. What is chaat? To this day, I still have no idea. It's a colorful mixture of spicy meat, vegetables, crispy pieces, yogurt, almonds, chickpeas, potatoes, dried fruit, and about six different sauces. Never in my life have I experienced so many flavors and textures in a single dish. Fortunately, the mixture is both delicious and satisfying. The spices deliver just the right kick to pair perfectly with a sweet, cool lassi. I'll be back to try the other chaats. In the end, what really sets Mood Cafe apart is the exceptional service. The man behind the counter is friendly and loves to share his crazy concoctions with people whether they are first-timers or longtime customers. Heck, some of Starr's restaurant staff could learn a thing or two. Mood Cafe is a neighborhood gem. So if you're craving something daring, give it a shot! read more

From the people who brought you Desi Village and Desi Chaat House comes Mood Cafe, a nice little addition to Baltimore Ave. A friend and I stopped in a couple of weeks after opening in search of something suitable for obscenely hot weather - meaning not too heavy and a short walk away. I also remembered seeing that they served lassi and milkshakes, so off we went! My friend comes from a sad, sad place where she can get Indian food but not chaat. I feel bad for her. So she was a little overwhelmed and watched carefully as the guy at the counter explained everything he was going to do to my papri chaat. That was no simple task, since this chaat was loaded up like you would not believe. I can't even begin to list all the things that went into it, just layer after layer of all good things. Maybe a little heavy-handed on the sauce so it got soupy toward the end, but every bite brought something new. In fact, it was loaded up enough that we considered sharing. We were talked into getting a couple of samosas to go with, which was very kindly turned into samosa chaat just to make our tastebuds happier. And, seeing that my friend was unused to chaat, the owner told her not to pay until after she'd eaten. Very nice of him. She loved it, though! Even though were were stuffed from our chaat orgy, dessert was needed. Namely, something cold! My friend was intrigued by the sandlewood shaved ice (something I will be trying someday) but sadly the ice machine had not been delivered yet! We both ended up with saffron milkshakes, a great choice. The shakes are made thin, which means you can suck them down on a summer day without feeling like you'll explode. The saffron ice cream is heavy on the pistachio, but tasty and something you're not going to find everywhere. Overall, Mood Cafe was a great experience. It's obvious that the owner is really going out of his way to bring in business and distinguish this location from Desi's other spots. He's doing a great job, and I'm glad to help by raving about the food and service! Another trip or two that good and I'll bump them up to 5 stars for sure! read more

My favorite place in Philly. Love the crazy chaat and rose lassi. Possibly the nicest owner on the planet. You must eat here. read more

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Not sure why this place gets so many raving reviews. They're understaffed and the non lassi food they serve is like a huge jambalaya and way oversauced with spices. The mango lassi was the only positive experience from this place. Probably won't be back here, unfortunately. Would not recommend read more

Okay, first, I have to say that Secret V. is going to have to update his/her review-- Mood Cafe does serve Vegan Lassis and now has a sign in the window to advertise them! :-) Hassan, the owner, is awesome. Friendly, generous, and is really proud of his product. As he should be -- the lassis are amazing. I had the strawberry and mango lassis, and they were the perfect flavor and texture. He has a ton of other flavors, too -- mint, honey, blueberry, etc.-- so I can already see that I'm going to spend most of my summer trying them all. Add to that the juice-- seriously, I might have found a new addiction with the carrot juice. I don't even eat carrots in their natural state-- but the juice?! So pure, so sweet, so cold and refreshing. I had one last night and I tried to go by to get one again this morning (but it wasn't open yet)! They also serve beet juice, apple juice, and others-- ALL FRESH-SQUEEZED! And delicious! Seriously, Mood Cafe makes an all-liquid diet seem like a good idea. I also ate a couple of samosas that Hassan dressed for me with peas and other flavors - the spices were so yummy and the toppings made it SO good. The perfect complement to the liquid ambrosia I had been consuming earlier. I have no doubt I'm going to be making my way to Mood Cafe many times this summer. I'm only afraid that with stuff this tasty, the place may get TOO popular! read more

I stopped by there today with my boyfriend before he had to go to work. I've lived in West Philly for almost a year now, this was my first time coming in to order. I had heard great things about the Mood, and even had a friend bring some food home for me to try and I loved it. The man behind the counter was very nice and acknowledged it was our first time there and explained what chaat was, how it was made and how he could make it for us. He said if we didn't like it, we didn't have to pay. I wish I had enough $$ to give him a great big tip! It was DELICIOUS! Mine, and my boyfriend's plate too;D Cashews and yogurt and fruit and veggies and grains and beans and crunchy things and ever so perfectly spicy! I want to make the Mood Cafe a regular take-out and eat-in for me. So impressed! read more

This review is solely for the lassis and the service... I took my boyfriend here to experience his first lassi, raving about how delicious they are and how since childhood they have been my favorite part of the Indian dining experience. When we popped by the one trained employee there was training a newbie who seemed to be on their very first day. While I am usually very patient in these kinds of situations, I was pretty frustrated that they chose to train someone on how to make a lassi on a Saturday evening. When we finally got our peach lassi it was very milky, icy, bland, and not at all peachy. It was nothing like the tangy, thick yogurt-drink I imagined it to be. Maybe I just don't like their style, but this lassi was nothing to write home about and we actually ended up giving it to our cats... I'll definitely be back to give them another try though... the chaats look great and I'm hoping this is not their norm. read more

This place is great! word has it that Hassan actually invested every flavor of lassi except Mango. this guy is a genius. I got honey and mint...what a unique and not-to-saccharine flavor combo. sweet, herby and tangy! Also, the chaats are amazing, though i would not recommend the meat varieties. I am glad delicious chat is available down at this end of baltimore! read more

Mood Cafe is not located in the most happening location, but it is definitely worth the visit. I have never had Chaat before, and honestly I still dont know what it is besides the fact that it is street food. The owner was super friendly and sweet. For those that know what Chaat is, it can be customizable. Since I had no idea what to even put in it, the owner asked me a series of questions, then proceeded to make me something he thought i would like. It was delicious. There were so many different textures and flavors to explore with each bite. The lassi here is THE BEST! They have an array of flavors. If you can, please eat there! Whenever customers order lassi there is always leftovers, so the owner will kindly pour some into cups and bring it over to dine in customers for them to try. While I was eating there, I seriously tried like 4-5 different kinds of lassi that other people ordered. I had to bring my own lassi home because I was so full! The owner also has a policy of not paying unless you are satisfied. My friend wanted to pay after we ordered, but the owner said we should eat it first to make sure we like it, then pay. Seriously, the best customer service I've ever experienced. Too bad I discovered this place too late, I was only able to eat here 3 times before I had to go back to Boston. If I am ever back in Philly, I will definitely visit this place again! read more

I have to say that this is one of the best bang for your buck in Philadelphia. For 5-7 dollars you get a big plate of chaat (complete with multiple chutneys, garbanzo beans, and fried crisps) and for a couple dollars more you can get a lassi. The mango lassi was great - it was creamy and not too sweet. The owner is very friendly and is willing to customize your dish to your preferences, including spiciness. I would definitely come back here! read more