Cutting Chaii in Edinburgh, City of

This place permanently changed my expectations of butter chicken, in a good way! We've only ever got their food delivered, so I can't comment on the restaurant itself, but their curries are to die for. The menu is small compared to most other Indian restaurants, and I think that's a positive because they can really put effort into each individual dish. If you want high quality, non-generic curry, definitely try this place!

Very welcoming atmosphere with fantastic food and service, everything we ordered for the table was very tasty. I will definitely be back and would highly recommend a visit to Cutting Chaii.

I was at Scotland for a business trip, and ordered some take away from here. Although I was somewhat secluded, the food arrived on time, and was really good. My personal favourite was the lamb chops, which my whole family enjoyed. If the in store service is just as good as the food, I would highly recommend going.

Food was excellent love the small portions of curry so we can try more items. All are so good! Great prices and service- will return and recommend ♥

Food as excellent as ever however, minimum staffing levels coupled with a continuous takeaway demand put a strain on service times (an hour plus for main course). Last time we visited, there were 3 front of house. Last night, one. Pulling staff from the kitchen to expedite drinks orders isn’t perhaps the most efficient use of staff. To that end, no puds or after dinner drinks/ chai were ordered….meals were divine though….

Had cutting chai and chaat which are as Tapas style, would say chai was brilliant, reminded me of the ones in India. Definitely would recommend. For the chaat, portion size was small as for the price, but delicious!

Tremendous for a sit in or a takeaway

Strange experience average food cheap and cheerful atmosphere but pricey

Maybe the food here was good but unfortunately I couldn't not find that out as I placed an order online which was never delivered even after calling the restaurant multiple times, noone was picking up the phone.

Food was perfect service was good and very well priced.

Hands down the best Indian Restaurant in Edinburgh. All of the food is exceptional, have always enjoyed every single thing I've ordered. Plus the value for money is fantastic. Cannot recommend enough. 10/10

I have tried 3 different Indian restaurants while in Edinburgh and this was definitely my favourite one. The restaurant is not very big but very cosy and lovely. They offer a lot of different dishes to choose from and the ones I have tested were all delicious. We tried to go a second time without reservation and it was full which would also tell a lot of other people enjoy it as well. I would definitely come back to try another meal.

Great selection of dishes, hard not to over order as they're all so good!

We ordered take away for collection a couple of weeks ago. When we arrived to collect, we still had to wait for about 20 minutes outside in the cold before the food was ready. Sadly the food was not good either. Everything tasted spicy but not spiced. there was no depth to it and it all felt quite bland. It’s a shame because we’d heard good things about this place and we were quite disappointed.

Yet another wonderful meal at Cutting Chaii last week - and with a changed menu! The classic dishes remain with a few additions, including the delicious potato chop chaat - would recommend in a heart beat! Service always super friendly and prices reasonable. Thanks again!!

Highly recommend the Gunpowder Chicken and Spicy Chips.

Visited here on a Thursday night after a recommendation from my son. Food was so good. In fact I would go as far as to say that it’s the best Indian food I’ve had in the UK. So tasty. We had 3 curries, samosas, a rice and a nan. The staff were lovely, very friendly and welcoming. Will definitely be back 😀

Had my birthday dinner here, it was amazing. The service and food was great. Couldn’t recommend it more

I’ve been here many times over the last couple of years and frequently recommend it as the best Indian restaurant in Edinburgh. But recently my favourite dish (the lamb biryani) isn’t as good as it used to be. Before the lamb and potato were layered, providing lots of perfect bites, now it seems they chuck lots of lamb in and less spice and flavour. Most recently this was in a take away. Additionally the service the last couple of times I visited has been quite rude. I’m not sure what’s going on but I hope things go back. So I’m taking off one star, but hoping for the best and not rating too low. I still love the appetisers like the chaats and the secret bomb. But sad my favourite dish is not as great as it used to be and that it’s not been as pleasant to visit.

Excellent meal.. delicious food, and quality service. Highly recommended

Amazing food and atmosphere. Great choice including vegans and vegetarians. Friendly service . . A fantastic experience.

Fabulous food Freshly prepared Great service Friendly staff Good relaxed atmosphere

Hi All, I went to the Cutting Chai yesterday and ordered the famous Dum Biryani which was hyped in the reviews. After the order, I asked for a glass of hot water. It took more than 45 minutes for the waitress to come and say that they don't give water. I was shocked by this answer. In my culture, we offer water for free whether a person requests it or not, because it is one of the most important elements in Indian culture on treating guests. She said that the shop only offers alcoholic drinks and Indian - made drinks. I have never been treated like this anywhere. Is this a custom of Edinburgh Indians to treat other Indian immigrants as low class citizens? If yes, then please change your attitude ASAP. After all we are all human beings. Let's now talk about the main order which came as a small sack size portion "Dum Biriyani". Please don't expect any salad or spicy pickle along with it because they will never give it along with the dish. As an Indian, to my surprise, the Biriyani was not even "Dum Biriyani" because it was just boiled rice along with mutton curry. I enquired whether they gave me the wrong dish but again to my surprise the waitress told me that this is how they serve "Dum Biriyani". Please don't waste your money (£13.97) over there. I am sure that you all can make it yourselves by watching cooking videos on social media, practice, usage of right utensils and ingredients.

Fantastic wee place, amazing food, great atmosphere, and exceptionally attentive staff. Well worth visiting if you’re in the area, or are after proper food.

Great vegan options, everything was fantastic!

Hands down the best Indian in town. Outrageously good food, very friendly service and a relaxed atmosphere. Been here for food more times than I can count and never once been disappointed. If you like good food then this place is for you.

Fantastic food and a great, intimate, relaxed setting.

It says online they close at 11pm but we had been let down at 8:37pm. They said they won't do siting anymore. Very Very disappointing We were really looking forward to it. If they close at 8.30 they should update it online. Disappointed Not recommend

Friendly small establishment with a very interesting menu...top marks for the best freshly spiced food I've been served since many visits to Goa and other mainland India . I wish I lived in Leith !

Delicious food and everyone was happy. Strangely no chapatties on the menu.

Great food and good sized portions. Service was excellent and food arrived hot and quickly. Indicated spicy food level was accurate, 2 peppers is spicy, I probably would struggle with the 3 peppers one. If you are not used to spicy food, stick with one pepper or less. Would visit again.

Ordered take away for collection on Friday evening, half hour wait which was totally fine. Staff friendly on arrival, restaurant looked nice would come back to sit in. Food was really good, non greasy and tasted really fresh. Portion size was very generous; we ordered two mains, a rice and a naan - plenty left over. Prices on higher side but paying for quality good food. Will be back.

Fantastic food (eat in or takaway) and lovely staff. My girlfriend and I have been customers since 2020 and love the food from here.

Lovely food, lovely service, some unique dishes. Family meal with 11 of us. Fitted us all in couldn’t have been friendlier. Easy to walk to from the tram. Great value as well.

A very, very good venue. A varied menu that caters for vegan, veggie and carnivores. Fabulous selection of curry types that are well presented. Unsure of what to choose, the waiter will help - the fish was simply sublime. Two curries per person was more than enough and the naan was beautifully cooked. Will deffo eat here again

Extremely disappointed. Very unprofessional. Ordered on Deliveroo at 19:00, estimated delivery 19:35. Called over hour after this and told “driver had just left - will be with you in 10 minutes”. Still no food after 21:00 and when called again was told the order had not been processed at all. Very unimpressed that we were lied to. Would not recommend.

Amazing consistently high standards. Great customer service

Fantastic food. Highly recommended

This wee restaurant in Leith is a pure gem. Wonderful food served in wee doses!! Nae need fur rice... a Naan does the job!! Gunpowder chicken is supreme!!

Popped in here on a Saturday because we walked past it not long before it opened and the smell was out of this world. It was busy but thankfully managed to get a table. The food was every bit as good as it smelled and the cheese and chilli Nan was one of the best I have e ever had

Food: summary: I'm horrified. it's designed to look good on instagram and taste like the same - too sweet. expensive for what it was descriptions are off. Koliwada fish: literally came with healthy boy sweet soy sauce (???) Khasta Kachori: tasted like starter from greek restuarant (enjoyable) (chicken curry): was sweeter than the lassi. curry itself tasted like satay marinade. Service was promt. Atmosphere: loud music (not to my taste)

Best food I've had in Scotland, absolute perfection!

Fabulous Indian street food with great gluten free options. We picked 2 dishes each with rice and nan to share and it was delicious. The aubergine dish was the best I had ever tasted, would love the recipe. The staff were really friendly and helpful. This place is definitely worth a visit.

We ate our fill here! The place had a nice atmosphere, and the food was excellent. Already as we were coming down the street, we could smell it and we were not disappointed. Service was good, but the food was just delicious. No qualms about recommending this place.

I’ve visited Cutting Chaii a few times (as well as getting takeaway a few times too) and have never been disappointed. My favourite dishes are the railway chicken and the daal. On our most recent visit we even tried the vegan garlic naan and could not tell the difference between that and the regular garlic naan! I think that is SUCH an achievement! Bravo Cutting Chaii! They always have great specials too, so make sure to try them. Service is always great, in particular our server on our most recent visit, Dixa. Thanks Cutting Chaii for always being so consistently excellent!

I've visited 4 times now, a wonderful local restaurant. Great options for Vegans Always worth checking the specials board! (No draught beer available last night, but they do have bottled beer) Thanks to Dixa for looking after us!

Reasonable prices and reasonable cuisine. Not the best Indian food in Edinburgh but far from the worst. Nice staff. Nice environment.

The food was amazing, couldn't fault it! The service was very quick and the staff so friendly. So happy I came across this restaurant!

Sehr lecker, wir haben ein Vegetarisches und ein Gericht mit Lamm gewählt, beide Gerichte waren sehr gut. Zum Abschluss gab es ein Pistazieneis, lecker.

I'm so glad we decided to give this unassuming restaurant a try. What a treat. The food is fabulous - bursting with flavour, fresh, and delicious. The dishes are unique and a cut above your usual Indian fare. The staff are very attentive, warm and welcoming. Lovely ambiance. I highly recommend this Cutting Chaii. You will not be disappointed.

Tapas style eating. We chose dishes from the vegetarian selection, a black lentil dhal, a butter paneer, Bombay aubergine, and a house chat, accompanied by a chilli cheese man bread. (We understand that some dishes are available as vegan options). All were wonderfully flavoured and perfectly cooked, with varying textures to please the palate, absolutely delicious. We tried their mango and saffron lassi which was equally delicious. One of the best Asian meals we’ve had.

Fantastic food. Small restaurant so advise to book early. Staff is lovely. Best India restaurant in Leith.

Cutting Chai is a popular Indian street food and chai cafe located in Edinburgh, Scotland. They serve a variety of traditional Indian snacks and beverages, including chaat, samosas, and masala chai. The cafe has a cozy and vibrant atmosphere, with colorful decor and friendly staff.

Cutting Chai is a popular Indian street food and chai cafe located in Edinburgh, Scotland. They serve a variety of traditional Indian snacks and beverages, including chaat, samosas, and masala chai. The cafe has a cozy and vibrant atmosphere, with colorful decor and friendly staff.

Cutting Chaii is brilliant and if you know someone who lives nearby then it is a duty to recommend the restaurant to them. After all, it's on the corner of a road hardly anyone walks down and surrounded by construction. How would anyone find Cutting Chaii by chance? Of course, don't take my word for it; check the cosy Indian tapas place out for yourself. By "Indian tapas" I mean you'll order two to three dishes per person rather than one big meal. I've been many times, try and have something different each time and am yet to find something I didn't like. The food is fresh and fun. I really like the chance to sample broadly from the menu. Cutting Chaii helps me answer questions that begin with, "Do I like?" However, while it would be wrong to rate the food as anything less than excellent, I have to point out the atmosphere of the cosy corner too! Tip: Book in advance! Cutting Chaii is great for couples, small parties and even solo diners. I don't think it's the place to take 10 office co-workers too! The doorway (which is not wheelchair friendly) is an archway of flowers and decorations. You'll step into a romantically lit, warm, delicious smelling murmur of quiet conversations. It's lovely! It's also a dramatic contrast to windy winter nights! Staff are friendly, not particularly numerous but since Chaii isn't huge, this is never a problem. I've never had a wait at Cutting Chaii. The worst thing that's happened to me is forgetting to book, trying my luck anyway, walking down and finding no tables free. Tip: The toilets (customers only) are nice and clean here. I think they were put in a few years ago when the location was the Elbe Room, have been maintained well and are a huge improvement to what was there before. Cutting Chaii is also on Deliveroo but I'm yet to test that option. I'd much rather turn up for COVID safe (masks, table cleaning, etc) and friendly in person. Overall? Delighted to recommend this treasure to you. [April 2022: update - still great] [January 2023: update - busy for an impromptu midweek first. Still great and worth booking for] [April 2023 update - guess what? Still great]

Food was very tasty, service ok, it was a early dinner.

Great food and amazing spices to the curries. Not crazy fiery heat but not needed as the flavours were fantastic. Only thing was the naans weren't amazing as I'm guessing they don't have a tandoor oven. Other than that will definitely be back for more!

Quite literally some of the best food I have had around Edinburgh, in an incredibly chilled out atmosphere with great service. Would thoroughly recommend going and eating here.

Food was great but driver was later than anyone I have ever dealt with. He had no exanation or apology and just repeatedly mumbled something about a 'car blocking...'. I witnessed him go up and down the street clearly lost and not using GPS and had to shout to get his attention as he wandered lost in the night. This man should not be driving as a job.

My son and daughter in law have been eating from this slice of perfection a few times now. Mother’s Day was my first visit with family and will certainly not be my last. Food, staff and ambience, just amazing. Menu was very impressive with incredible...

A hidden gem. Small unassuming restaurant but highly recommend!! Tapas style Indian food. Everything was outstanding and delicious, my husband said the Gunpowder Chicken was the most flavousome food he'd ever eaten!! As a vegetarian there were ample options for me and all delicious too....

It's a simple and cozy restaurant around the corner with a great taste in indian cuisine to try. The only issue is with the quantity provided for the price they charge. Ignoring that yeah they do have a variety of options in the menu and they taste good.

Incredible, authentic indian food, fairly pricy mind you, so definitely a once in a blue moon visit, but i couldn't fault it. Possibly the best lamb chops I've had. Everything was just cooked perfectly full of flavours and spice.

Phenomenal restaurant, the food is outstanding, the staff are friendly, it's well-priced, portions are a good size, the atmosphere is lovely. Only issue is it's so popular it's often difficult to get a table, so do book in advance!

Fantastic place, cozy inside with delicious food. Fair level of spice! 😈 everything very fragrant, good portions (2 dishes pp is absolutely enough!). We've had fish curry, lamb maa's butter, funny balls with potato and cheese and absolutely extraordinary gunpowder chicken. Naans are one of the best I've ever tried, good size, cheese & chilli one is hot as hell. It's totally worth a 5!

Amazing food, great service, highly recommended

An interesting indian restaurant, overall definitely worth a try, however we both felt that our different curries tasted exactly the same.

very nice service. the food was presented very nicely, but very spicy even for an Indian restaurant

My first visit tonight. There is a lovely cosy atmosphere and the staff were very polite and helpful. I really enjoyed the house chatt, it was so fresh and really delicious. The railway lamb was amazing so tender and warming, everything we ordered was first class. I will definitely be back . You really deserve 5 stars 🌟

Having had several takeaways from Cutting Chai, and believing them to be one of, if not the, best takeaways in Edinburgh, thought we'd try dining in for a change. We were not disappointed, the food is even better (the paneer is amazing straight from the kitchen), and all backed up by great service and a great drink selection. Would recommend anyone in the area stop in for a meal!

Great wee curry shop, really tasty dishes that actually taste different depending on what you order. Has to be said the instructions to order two things each is a definite hint that the portions are small which also means it can get expensive easily. I'd say it's somewhere to go for really tasty authentic food but go somewhere more bland/boring/cheap if you're feeling really hungry. I'll definitely be back though.

Great little place, nice atmosphere and food is excellent, attentive and nice staff, great cocktails, just a wonderful experience, thank you

Good food & attentive service. Able to cater for vegan too. Would recommend & would return again.

First time to try highly recommended takeaway. Manager was extremely accommodating as for some reason our food went to our old address at 15 quayside st! New tenants accepted our meal .. free of charge! Manager sorted this error straight away and delivered newly freshly cooked dinner ASAP. Food was absolutely amazing and we will certainly be ordering again… they really do deserve 5 stars

The restaurant was very cozy and charming and the staff was extremely professional and friendly. The food was really delicious though they’re more tapas style so the portion is a bit small. Id highly recommend the deep fried aubergine dish with naan!

Tasty and quantity of the food served is good amount

Eaten here this evening and the food was amazing!! We are curry lovers and this must be one of the best we’ve ever had. It’s tapas style, which is a new experience for us for curry. But, the portions are plenty big enough. Would definitely...

Curry is a regular choice for us, we’ve eaten them all over, but this place is up there with any of them. More like an Indian tapas but very generous portions. The food was decadent, staff very friendly and would recommend to anybody

Visited with my wife twice on a recent trip to Edinburgh. Fantastic food and service. Very well priced. Sophie and Kieran were fantastic. It's only a small unassuming place but have no hesitation in recommending.

Litterally just finished my take away and I was so amazed I felt compelled to leave a review! The food is absolutely amazing… Probably the best Indian I had in Edinburgh! I can only recommend the gunpowder chicken which had the right amount of spice, while the malai murgh was delicious as well. Highly recommended!

Excellent food and staff really good prices aswell highly recommend

Excellent food and very friendly staff, would be one of my favourite places

Excellent and innovative range of contemporary dishes, a cut above the usual Indian restaurant in terms of quality and range.

Super leckeres Essen, sehr gemütliche kleine location und sehr freundliches Personal. Reservierung empfohlen.

Great Indian tapas and craft beer

Probably the best tasting Indian I’ve ever had..very polite staff and a nice atmosphere

We were with friends one week ago and oh boy...that was fantastic! Everything was amazing, food was on point, people were super nice and place is pretty nice. We didn't have time to take a photo because of amazing dishes 10/10 amazing naan bread around 110 pounds for 4 people with drinks etc.? that's nice

We were staying in Leith for the weekend but had not booked a meal for the Saturday night. We decided to have a walk to the Cutting Chaii, after reading the reviews, to pick up a takeaway. So glad we did! I had Railway lamb...

2nd time visiting again, taste has changed at all . Still delicious. Really enjoyed the daal, railway and lamb chops , nan bread was amazing 👏.

Hands down the best indian in Edinburgh. The ma's butter paneer is amazing!!

I took my mum here for a meal when she was visiting me in Leith. She doesn't have Indian food very often but our friendly server, Muskaan, was very kind and patient in explaining the menu and making recommendations. We had two "starters" and two "mains" (though all dishes are actually the same size), plus a portion of rice and naan to share. Everything was absolutely delicious with beautiful, interesting flavours - in particular the Bombay Ragda potato patties and the butter chicken. The garlic naan was also amazing! My mum was so impressed and raved about the meal afterwards. A big thank you to Muskaan for being so attentive and helpful. We will be back!

Very much enjoyed the food and the friendly service from the staff. Would recommend to others.

It's a very nice and cosy place with a staff very friendly. And I don't forget the food: delicious! You have to try this restaurant!

Wow wow wow. Incredible food, the chicken was delicious soft and well cooked. Rice and Nan also fresh and delicious. The delivery time was a wee bit longer but absolutely worth the wee wait. I’ll be ordering again. Please keep up the high standards for your food.

I really regret for being there, i should have gone straight back home.

Stunning food, lovely staff, great drinks, fab value. Will be back many times!! The butter sauce and chilli prawns are to die for.

This is one of the finest Indian restaurant I have been through in Edinburgh. Foods are absolutely amazing and the ambiance of the restaurant is clean and energetic. I’ll highly recommend cutting chaii if anyone looking for an Indian cuisine. Lamb chops , daal makhni , gun powder chicken are my favorite and kids loved their chicken 69 ♥️.

It was worst …. I travelled almost 1 hours to reach this restaurant to try there khasta kachori which is basically Indian food I had soo much hope that at least I’m finding something which I like …… but when I went and took take away when I open and eat I came to know it wasn’t kachori instead it was puri ( fried naan u can say) ….. and they just put some salad and sauces on puri and it was so disgusting trying this …. I had a plan to come with my frds almost 10/15 ppl groups but no I don’t want to after this experience…. Place take that out from ur menu or else make it right .

First time order got my new go to Indian 5/5

Delicious and unusual dishes. Friendly staff. Off the beaten track and probably a good place to visit during the Fringe. Would thoroughly recommend.