Every weekend, the same question: where should we go for brunch in Walsall?
And every weekend, the same options: a greasy spoon fry-up, a chain café serving smashed avocado on sourdough, or a pub doing “all-day breakfast” until 3pm.
But what if you’re bored of the same old bacon and eggs? What if you want something that doesn’t leave you feeling sluggish for the rest of the afternoon? What if you’re looking for brunch that’s actually different?
Enter Chaii Dosa Café on Ablewell Street – Walsall’s answer to brunch that breaks all the rules.
Why This Isn’t Your Typical Walsall Brunch Spot
Walk into most brunch places in Walsall and you’ll see the same menu: full English, pancakes, eggs Benedict, maybe a veggie option if you’re lucky.
Walk into Chaii Dosa Café and you’ll find something completely different: South Indian brunch.
Instead of thick toast and butter, you’re getting crispy fermented crepes (dosas) made from rice and lentils. Instead of builder’s tea, you’re sipping authentic masala chai spiced with cardamom and ginger. Instead of heavy, greasy food that sits in your stomach all day, you’re eating light, protein-rich dishes that actually give you energy.
“I used to think brunch meant a fry-up or nothing,” says one regular customer. “Now I genuinely crave dosas on Saturday mornings. It’s become my weekend ritual.”
What Makes South Indian Brunch Different?
In South India, breakfast and brunch culture is legendary. People don’t queue for pancakes – they queue for dosas, idlis, and uttapams. And there’s a reason this tradition has lasted for centuries: it actually works.
Here’s what sets it apart:
It’s Naturally Healthier
Most traditional brunch food is loaded with saturated fat, refined carbs, and salt. South Indian brunch? It’s naturally vegetarian, gluten-free (rice-based), high in protein (lentils), and made with fermented batter that’s brilliant for your gut health.
You’re getting all the satisfaction of a proper sit-down brunch without the post-meal crash.
It’s Actually Light
Traditional English breakfast can leave you needing a nap by 2pm. South Indian brunch fills you up without weighing you down. The fermented dosa batter is easier to digest, and the dishes are designed to give you sustained energy rather than a brief sugar spike.
Perfect if you’ve got plans for the rest of your weekend and don’t want to spend it in a food coma.
It’s Completely Different
Let’s be honest – how many times can you eat eggs on toast before it gets boring? South Indian brunch gives you flavours and textures you won’t find anywhere else in Walsall: crispy dosas with spiced potato filling, pillowy soft idlis with tangy sambar, aromatic chutneys bursting with coconut and curry leaves.
It’s the kind of brunch that makes your Instagram followers actually jealous.
What to Order for Weekend Brunch
New to South Indian food? Here’s what the regulars recommend for brunch. Check out the full menu, but these are the weekend favourites:
The Classic Masala Dosa
Think of it as a savoury crepe the size of your forearm, stuffed with spiced potatoes and served with coconut chutney and sambar (a warming lentil soup). It’s crispy, it’s filling, and it’s completely addictive.
One dosa is a proper brunch. You won’t leave hungry.
Idli Sambar
Soft, pillowy steamed rice cakes that are somehow both comforting and light at the same time. Dunk them in sambar, add a bit of chutney, and you’ve got brunch comfort food without any of the guilt.
Perfect if you want something gentle on your stomach but still satisfying.
Uttapam
Imagine a thick, fluffy savoury pancake topped with onions, tomatoes, and chillies. It’s like a South Indian pizza-pancake hybrid, and it’s brilliant for sharing.
Masala Chai
Forget your flat white. Authentic masala chai – fresh milk simmered with loose-leaf tea, cardamom, ginger, and warming spices – is the only drink that makes sense with South Indian brunch.
It’s creamy, aromatic, slightly sweet, and genuinely comforting. The kind of drink you’ll start craving mid-week.
Perfect for Every Type of Bruncher
Whether you’re a committed foodie looking for something new, a health-conscious eater tired of greasy options, or simply someone who’s bored of the same old brunch routine, Chaii Dosa Café ticks boxes you didn’t even know you had.
The Health-Conscious Crowd
Everything is vegetarian. Most dishes are naturally vegan (just ask). Gluten-free options everywhere. High protein. Fermented for gut health. No ultra-processed ingredients.
You can actually feel good about what you’re eating.
Families with Picky Eaters
Kids love dosas – they’re fun to eat, not too spicy, and the crispy texture is a winner. Plus, there are milder options like plain dosa or idli that work for even the fussiest young eaters.
The “I Want Something Different” Crew
If you’ve eaten the same brunch at the same three places for the last six months, this is your escape route. It’s different enough to be exciting but approachable enough that you won’t feel lost.
Date Brunch
Looking to impress without being pretentious? Taking someone to a South Indian brunch spot shows you’re adventurous, thoughtful, and know about places that aren’t on every roundup list.
Plus, sharing dosas is genuinely fun.
Why South Indian Brunch Works in Walsall
You might be thinking: “This sounds great, but is it actually practical for a weekend brunch spot?”
Here’s the thing – Chaii Dosa Café opens at 11am on weekends, which is perfect brunch timing. You’re not racing to get there before breakfast ends. You can have a lie-in, take your time getting ready, and still arrive when the food’s at its best.
The atmosphere is relaxed and welcoming – not stuffy like some restaurants, not chaotic like busy chain cafés. Just the right vibe for a leisurely weekend meal.
And because it’s located right in Walsall town centre on Ablewell Street, you can easily combine brunch with weekend shopping, a walk around the town, or meeting friends.
What Regulars Are Saying
“Best brunch decision we’ve made in ages. The dosas are incredible and we actually felt energized after, not sluggish like with a full English.”
“Finally, a brunch spot in Walsall that’s not serving the same tired menu as everywhere else.”
“I’m vegan and usually brunch options are so limited – avocado toast and that’s it. Here, almost everything can be made vegan and it’s all delicious.”
“We were skeptical about South Indian brunch, but now it’s our Saturday morning tradition. Haven’t been back to our old spot since.”
The Bigger Picture: Why Walsall Needed This
Don’t get us wrong – there’s nothing wrong with a good fry-up. But when every brunch spot in town is serving variations of the same thing, it gets repetitive.
Chaii Dosa Café brings something genuinely different to Walsall’s food scene without being exclusive or intimidating. It’s the kind of place that makes the town more interesting – locally owned, authentically run, and offering food you literally can’t get anywhere else nearby.
It’s brunch for people who are tired of the same old options but don’t want to drive to Birmingham for something different.
Ready to Try Something New This Weekend?
Chaii Dosa Café is located at 91-92 Ablewell Street, Walsall, WS1 2EL.
Open from 11am – perfect brunch timing for a relaxed weekend morning. No booking required for most visits, though weekends can get busy (which tells you everything you need to know about how good it is).
Come see why locals are ditching their usual brunch spots for something completely different. Because life’s too short to eat the same eggs Benedict every single weekend.
Your new brunch ritual starts here.
