National, April 2026: SALT Indian Restaurant, one of the celebrated homegrown brands is going a step further to serve vibrant flavours from India to its diners. Beyond the usual menu, the restaurant has announced a Street Food Festival across its outlets in Chennai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad. A limited time culinary experience that brings the energy, nostalgia and bold flavours of our country’s iconic street food culture to the dining table.

SALT born from a passion for authentic Indian food extends the belief that every dish we cook has a story. Aromatic spices, traditional ingredients and diverse cooking techniques, champion the real taste and soul of Indian cuisine. With the street food festival, the restaurant turns the spotlight onto the bustling bylanes, busy corners and regional variety in street snacks from North to South.

The menu is thus a curated journey through India’s iconic street-side favourites: A crunchy-layered Matar Samosa Chaat of North, indulgent Mughlai Paratha from Kolkata, crispy fried Madras Chicken 65, and the bold spiced Kothu Parotta from South India. In addition to much-loved Aloo Tikki Chaat, there’s also a spin on it with Avocado Chaat Poori. For lovers of non-veg, there are other options like Gilafi Mutton Seekh Roll, Kolkata Fish Chop and Chicken Tawa Pulao. And a street food trail, albeit being on one table, deserves a sweet ending. The menu rounds off with Rabdi Gulab Jamun and Gajar Halwa Samosa.

The menu truly lets one explore the chaos, colour, and charm of India’s street food culture, all in one place. Talking about this selection Chef Balachander says, “India’s street food is not just about flavour, it’s about stories from every corner of the country. With this festival, we’ve brought together an iconic menu featuring dishes from Delhi's bylanes, Kolkata's streets, and Southern kitchens to celebrate regional diversity. It’s our way of giving guests a true taste of India, all in one place, with a touch of SALT."

If you’ve been craving a street food jaunt but don’t want to go from stall to stall, the Street Food Festival is the perfect place to visit. Go with a group so you can taste dishes from all over and enjoy the regional flavour diversity. The event is live across all SALT’s restaurants in Bengaluru, Chennai and Hyderabad.

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A 160-Year-Old Home Where Indian Street Food, Memory and Conversation Come Together

National, February, 2026: In a restored 160-year-old Goan home tucked away in Sangolda, a new restaurant is quietly changing the way Indian street food is experienced. Vaarta, a fine-dine yet deeply approachable concept, opens its doors with a simple but powerful idea: food is never just about flavour it’s about memory, conversation, and belonging.

Unlike conventional street food destinations, Vaarta is not a chaat counter or a nostalgia-themed café. It is a carefully thought-through dining experience that gives Indian street food the time, dignity, and emotion it deserves, set within a heritage Goan home that already carries stories of its own.

What makes Vaarta first-of-its-kind in Goa is how interactive nostalgia is woven into the experience. Guests are welcomed by a live Puchka counter that anchors the experience, where each puchka is assembled fresh . They can choose from fillings like Aloo Masala, Aloo Dum, Dahi Aloo and Churmur, before selecting from the house-made waters from Sharp Jaljira and Tangy Tetul to sweet Saunth and cooling Pudina recreating the anticipation of a bustling street-side ritual, now reimagined in an intimate heritage setting.

Adding to the theatre is a ‘Make Your Own Barf Ka Gola’ cart, brought directly to the table, allowing diners to personalise flavours, textures, and spice levels turning a familiar childhood treat into a shared, conversational moment.

The space itself sets the tone long before the menu arrives. The 160-year-old home has been thoughtfully restored, with its original arches, aged flooring, and vintage windows preserved . The lighting is interconnected across the space, and the use of vintage round bakelite power switches has been intentionally retained to bring in an old-world, nostalgic feel. Rather than redesigning the house to fit a concept, Vaarta lets the home lead creating an atmosphere that feels intimate, unhurried, and deeply rooted in Goa.

“Vaarta was born from a simple longing, the kind of food that carries memory and invites conversation. I didn’t want to recreate street food; I wanted to give it the space and respect it deserves.” says Neha Mehta, Founder of Vaarta

The menu is rooted in Indian street food traditions from across cities and states, approached with care, restraint and deep respect for their origins. Each dish is thoughtfully composed to evoke memory while preserving the warmth, spontaneity and comfort that lie at the heart of street food.

It flows seamlessly from chaat favourites such as Palak Patta Chaat, Jhal Muri and Tokri Chaat to familiar, comforting snacks like Chelo Kebab, Suz Ke Seekh and Aloo Ki Taheri. The bar bites features flavour-forward plates including Spinach Chop, Tujj Tikka and Chicken Roast Kulcha, while the main courses celebrate regional depth with dishes like Dalcha Gosht, Gavran Chicken, Bharwaan Karela, Moti Pulao and Cholar Dal amongst others. Desserts bring the experience to a nostalgic close, with classics such as Bhapa Doi, Patishapta, Payasam, Shahi Tukda and Basundi offering a quiet sense of indulgence.

The bar menu mirrors the spirit of the kitchen, offering a playful yet thoughtful selection of drinks inspired by familiar Indian flavours. From the Pani Puri Popper and Kala Khatta Kamikaze to the Masala Chai Martini, Nimbu Mirch Margarita and Aam Panna Sour, each cocktail reimagines everyday tastes in unexpected ways. Lighter, refreshing options like the Shikanji Sparkler and Rose & Cardamom Lassi add a nostalgic finish, making the bar experience both inventive and comfortingly familiar.

Vaarta speaks equally to Goans, long-term settlers, and travellers. For locals, it recalls familiar flavours tied to markets, seaside evenings, and everyday indulgences. For those who have moved to Goa, it offers an emotional anchor, a reminder of flavours that once shaped home. And for travellers, it becomes an unexpected discovery: a place where Indian street food feels both refined and deeply personal.

In a state known for beach shacks and global cuisine, Vaarta offers something different: an intimate return to Indian flavours that shaped childhoods and cities alike. Here, street food slows down, conversations linger, and every bite carries a story.