Chaats are Indian snacks and appetizers, found widely throughout India at street stands, casual restaurants, and parties. Outside of India, chaat can be a bit more difficult to find, although in areas with a large Indian community, restaurants which specialize in chaat are not uncommon. Both in India and abroad, many people are quite fond of chaat, which is almost like Indian fast food. Chaat is generally flavorful, easy to eat with the hands, and incredibly varied, with options for everyone from vegans to devout Hindus.

Chaat is a Hindi word which means “to taste,” and most chaats are small dishes. People can combine multiple dishes to create a chaat meal, or simply eat one as a snack. Chaats take advantage of the rich library of spices in the Indian kitchen, ranging from delicately spiced puffed crisp breads known as puris to extremely spicy parathas, stuffed breads which may be filled with anything from potatoes to ground lamb. They also feature various pulses, meats, and vegetables from both India and abroad.

Like Indian cuisine in general, chaat is quite diverse. Many regions of India have specific chaat specialties which are hard to find anywhere else, and some chaat is limited to distinctive districts within Indian cities or provinces. A typical chaat stand serves its chaats on disposable plates or banana leaves, or wrapped in paper for convenience, and provides plenty of napkins to customers.

Many chaats are deep-fried, like pakoras and samosas, and they may be sweet or savory. They are designed as finger food, and eating chaat can be a noisy, messy experience. Many chaats are self-contained, like stuffed breads, while others come with a side of soft bread which is used to scoop up the chaat. A variety of dipping sauces like yogurt raita and spicy ground chili dips are served with chaat, along with relishes and various garnishes.

A typical chaat stand in India may specialize in only one or two items which are prepared fresh to order. Larger establishments such as sit down eateries may have a range of chaats on offer, along with traditional Indian drinks like lassi. Chaat can also be made at home, either as a standalone meal of mixed chaats or in the form of appetizers for a larger Indian meal.