Nov 30, 2025 review ----- I had heard a lot about this place and decided to give it a try on a super cold day. They have seating option in front of food truck but it was so cold that mostly everyone was just picking up food and eating it in their car or taking it as to-go. We got rosemary chai and orange pistachio chai. For the quantity, the $4 price is decent for a full cup of tea. Both flavors were good, I personally liked the Rosemary a little bit more but my husband preferred orange as that was very unique. Vada pav was SUPER fresh. Not oily at all and not made on burger bun. Overall very good hangout place. Couple of parking spots near by. Dog park right next to it. I may try other snacks items next time read more

Samay Chai - Vada pav - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Very good Indian street food. I enjoy the chaat the most. Pav bahji is flavorful and the buns are nicely toasted. Chai is too sweet and the ginger flavor is too strong. read more

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We really liked the food at Samay Chai! The dahi puri had a lot of flavor and so did the vada pav. The vada pav was my favorite - a little crispy on the outside and soft pillowy with potato on the inside and the sauces pulled it all together. Decent portions and prices and the food came out super fast! I am excited to try the chai (it's really cool they have multiple flavors) next time when I can withstand caffeine in the evenings. FYI there doesn't seem to be a lot of parking at this food truck lot but we got lucky. read more

Samay Chai - Dahi Puri Vada Pav - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Austin, Texas

This is one of my favorite spots for chai in Austin, and they also serve dahi puri which makes it even better. The chai flavors are bold and creative, with options like ginger cardamom, orange pistachio, and rosemary ginger that all taste unique but still perfectly balanced. They lean a little sweet, but not in a way that overwhelms, and each cup feels carefully made. The dahi puri is a fun addition, light and flavorful, and pairs nicely if you want something savory with your drink. The owners are friendly and welcoming, which makes the whole experience even more enjoyable. Between the inventive chai and the street food touch. If i do some sort of meat dish i order naan and bring my own rice because I live close haha. read more

We liked the sabudana vada and vada pav. The server who took our order was patient with us as we asked about non-spicy items on their menu. He gave us a taster of their pav bhaji, and we realized it was too spicy for my wife to have. So we ordered the paneer masala instead, which was decent. The seating outside was pleasant even on a hot August evening since there was enough shade. We do wish the menu was longer though; other than the pav bhaji which we found too spicy, we've exhausted almost all their vegetarian options in one visit. read more

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Fan of their Orange-Pistachio chai. It was super frigging hot and I wish the container would let us hold the heat. My fingers got burnt BUT the taste was really great. The pistachio flavoring was so rich but the best part was the after-taste with orange! It is a must-try and make sure it does not run out before you go there, since it is very popular. We checked the stock in real-time on google and went there. We got the Sabudana vada -came with 4 peices. The vada did not have enough salt in it. It was alright. The two small tiny pieces of chutney holders were of no use. My order Sabudana vada - $7 Orange-Pistachio chai - $4.5 read more

When this food truck first started, it was really good - it offered a personalized experience. Some dishes that aren't very common at most Indian restaurants here are offered like sabidana vada and real nice flavorful chais. All of that still exists but this place is now run by people other than owners. A bit over priced and has the taste isn't the same either. Either ways, not a lot of options close to downtown so unless you're willing to drive for decent Indian food - this might be your only option read more

Samay Chai - Sabudana vada - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Samay chai is fantastic all around! The food is on point, owner the nicest, and chai outta this world. We ordered butter chicken which came with garlic roti on the side. The butter chicken was creamy and flavorful, the roti thin and perfect to devour it with! It was my first time having vada pav and I'm sold! While I don't have anything to compare it to, I hope they're all this tasty. The bun was soft with chutneys on it, sprinkled with garlic crunch, and the aloo in the middle chunky and packed with flavor. Also loved the dahi sev puri, which was drenched in dahi and satisfied my chaat cravings! The only thing that could've made this even better is tamarind chutney on top as well. But the CHAI, Y'ALL. They have 3 flavors - rosemary, orange pistachio, and ginger cardamom. I love the creativity in flavors and I'll be back to try them all! I ordered the orange pistachio, which was magic in my mouth. The subtle favors came together perfectly and I could see the fresh orange shavings at the bottom when finished. It's chai szn, perfect for a chilly day! We chatted with the owner for a while after our meal and he told us a little about the origin of the name. Samay is a romanticized way to say "moment" in Hindi. It represents how chai creates reason for people to gather, to enjoy a moment together as they enjoy the beverage. Excited to see the success of this food truck. Go check it out! read more

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Pretty good! It's expensive for what you get with limited food options even for a truck, but the food had flavor.

Samay Chai was great! I just moved to Austin and my Indian boyfriend was worried that the Riverside area wouldn't have any Indian food. by first impression he was right, that is until we found Samay Chai. It's a food truck, so don't expect an expansive menu or table service. That said, the food they did have was great, and the prices were (compared to traditional Austin prices) really quite fair. We got the butter chicken and aloo chaat and both were delicious. The accompanying naan and roti was excellent as well. The seating area was cute and full of families and friends. A+ vibes. At the end the owner came and chatted with us for a bit also-- a kind act of hospitality not often seen these days. read more

Samay Chai - Sanket in his natural habitat - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Austin, Texas

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A friend recommended we try the chai at this food truck so we decided to stop by and so glad we did! The pistachio orange chai is such a unique take on the traditional Indian tea. I enjoyed the zesty flavor. The sabudana vada is served super hot and authentic. It is one of the hardest snacks to make and totally appreciate how crispy they were on the outside and perfect filling with peanuts. But the star of the food truck is the vada pav. This is hands down the best vada pav in Austin which I have strived to find in so many years. The pav is perfect (not burger bun that most other restaurants serve) and the green and peanut garlic chutneys reminded me of classic vada pav back in Bombay :) Papdi chat was very tasty too although potatoes/chole were missing. Service was a little slow but we didn't mind as it was a breezy evening and the truck n is in a nice spot with plenty of seating to hangout. read more

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This was the best chai I've had in Austin. Some real gnarly flavors that the owner let us try! They had ginger rosemary, ginger cardamom, and orange pistachio. All three knocked my socks off. The orange pistachio was such a refreshing flavor, the orange and pistachios were subtle and added a delightful flavor to a great milk chai! The chai was a little on the sweeter side but not overwhelming. My wife had the classic ginger cardamom chai and she loved it. Good ginger flavor which really stood out, but the tea base was so perfect it paired excellently. I went to go tell the owner how delicious these were, then he poured me a sample of the rosemary ginger and boy was that also incredible. Subtle rosemary flavor really elevated the drink. Friendly owners, delicious drinks and near the river walk. This is a hidden gem read more

Amazing food! I asked for a simple meal yet delicious and my dear friend highly recommended this place and it was indeed delicious!

The food was absolutely to die for! Could not believe how authentic and savory the food was. The staff were super helpful and kind! Loved the on the lake view next to Lady Bird! 5/5 stars! read more

We love Samay Chai! Worth driving in to town just to get their Sabudana Vada and cardamom Chai. This time we tried the Bun Maska (Jalapeño Cheese Bread) and the papdi chaat, although we've tried the Vada Pav in the past (not our favorite). The service is quick and prompt. They are friendly. We like that there are a fair amount of tables in the area and there is a canopy in the back with a couple tables. We like that it's outdoors and we can bring our dogs with the dog park next door. read more

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Stumbled upon this truck randomly on a cold day after kayaking and was really craving some hot chai. They have some unique flavors I've never seen, such as the rosemary which I tried. It didn't have very strong chai spice flavors but it surprisingly worked well and sweetness was perfect. I also got their dahi puri and loved the addition of pomegranate seeds on top. The owners were super friendly and told us about how they recently started this endeavor outside of their tech jobs which was cool. Highly recommend them! read more

Samay Chai - Dahi puri - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Best Indian food I've ever had! The service is fantastic! Barely any wait time for food! Right on lady bird lake off the trail! So pretty!

The Vada Pav is amazing and authentic. They add the tamarind chutney and other red garlic chutney which a lot of places don't add. Also the kadhai chicken has a great smoky flavor. Also love their orange pistachio and classic chai. read more

Okay I'm gonna be vulnerable with y'all for a minute. I don't share this with everyone because it's a bit embarrassing as a South Asian. Okay here goes: I can't handle spicy food anymore . Luckily I found this spot because they serve fully flavorful desi food, with a nice tempered level of spice that was perfect for me! FOOD: Butter chicken was on point; vada pav was delectable; and the garlic roti was a refreshing change from the usual heavy naan places serve, plus it was included with the butter chicken. We also got the dahi sev puri which was good, though I will say a little more masala would strengthen the flavor. CHAI: Orange pistachio chai was different but delish, and the ginger cardamom chai is truly classic and rightfully named. There will definitely be crowds here begging for steamy chai as the brutal Texas winter drops temps to the low 60s. PEOPLE: Owners were super nice and even shared with us the story behind the name. Overall if you want tasty Indian food with just the right level of spice, leave the TUMS at home and come check this place out. read more

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Great food and service! The owner is so kind and makes amazing food! Don't forget to try their chai!!

The food is fantastic. best Indian food I have had in Austin. The service is also great. The staff is really polite and helpful. I actually dropped one of my containers and they immediately gave me a new batch of food for free. read more

Most delicious butter chicken I have had in Austin in a long time! Enjoyed everything from vada pav, samosas and the chai and most importantly love the location! read more

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This is the place to be for authentic North Indian food. And if you are a chai lover, you have to go here! This place has taken chai to the next level! I never knew you can put chocolate and cayenne in the cup of tea! The food is just great - I grew ip in India and it brought back all the happy childhood memories! The butter chicken and pindi chholey are out of this world. And don't forget to have their aloo chaat too! Also, they plan to do a rotating menu so don't forget to check them out as frequently as you can - so that you don't miss anything at all ;) Keep up with the Austin spirit and support this small business! read more

Samay Chai - The best butter chicken and chickpea!! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Austin, Texas

Love this place for a casual snack and chai.. Indian street side chaat and chai experience right here in Austin. Consistent quality and good service. We have tried all their vegetarian dishes and love it. Absolutely love their sabudana vada with Chai. read more

Samay Chai - Samay Chai Food truck Riverside - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Austin, Texas

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So lucky to have stumbled upon this place while visiting Austin! This is honestly some of the best chai I have ever had! Their butter chicken is also very good, overall loved this place! read more

Unbelievable North Indian food in Austin. The chai was amazing, all of the flavors were incredible. Unique variations like orange pistachio and rosemary that beautifully and unexpectedly enhanced the flavor. The food was very flavorful and comforting. Especially the dahi puri and butter chicken. The chefs were very warm and welcoming. Definitely going back soon! read more

Samay Chai - Food truck - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Hands down, the...BEST...chai in Austin! Come for the chai (pistachio orange is ethereal), stay for the sabudana vada!

Great location for a food truck. They had benches laid out in the area, with vases of flowers on them. Orange pistachio tea was especially good. Spicy vada pav, must've if you're in the area read more

Amazingly delicious food and really kind owners! The butter chicken and garlic roti combo hit the spot that I had to get an order of rice so the sauce didn't go to waste. Definitely will be back read more

Samay Chai - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Austin, Texas

Amazing chai in the Austin area! They had some wild blends like orange pistachio which was delicious and the rosemary chai which I would never mix together but it was a perfect mix! We also tried the pav bhaji and it was really good - very filling and not too spicy. I would def recommend this place if you're in their hood! read more

Samay Chai - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Austin, Texas

Great butter chicken at perfect spicy level and great bread! Hoping to have a side of rice next time but I loved it. Chai was also the best I've had. This is definitely my new Indian food go to. read more