Karak Chai in Calgary: Cafe Karak and the Best Chai in the City

Say "karak" in Calgary and most people name one cafe in Savanna. Karak chai is now the drink a lot of Calgary Muslims plan an evening around. I looked into the drink, the karak cafe Calgary keeps talking about, what its reviewers say, and where else to find good chai.

What karak actually is

Karak is strong black tea boiled - not steeped, boiled - with milk, sugar and cardamom. The name just means "strong" in Hindi and Urdu.

The drink grew up in the Gulf, carried there by South Asian workers. Done right, it's closer to a dessert with caffeine than a cup of tea. Pink Kashmiri chai shows up on the same menus, but it's a different drink. Order one of each and you'll see why.

Cafe Karak Calgary: the cafe everyone means

Cafe Karak at 63 Savanna Blvd NE is the reason the word caught on here. It's a Pakistani-fusion cafe in a room of warm lighting, plush seating and gold accents. Karak and lattes sit on one side of the menu, tandoori tacos and nihari poutine on the other.

It stays open late, so a chai here is a proper sit-down, not a takeaway cup. It takes reservations, has a summer patio and delivers. Parking is around back.

On the halal question: the owners run it as a fully halal kitchen sourcing meat from halal butchers. Google lists it as a halal restaurant, and there's no alcohol on the menu. No separate certifying body is listed.

Cafe Karak menu: what to order

One thing to know first: brunch is served every day, and the rest of the day runs off different menus. Ask what's being served when you sit down.

The drinks

Start with the karak. The ilaichi karak is the cardamom-heavy classic, and the cloud karak gets named in reviews too. New to karak? The karak latte is the gentler start. It's sweet by default, the way it's meant to be. Ask for less sugar rather than none.

Reviewers also name the Kashmiri chai, the pistachio latte (one brunch table's favourite) and a Biscoff latte. The Mint Malang and Mango Masti mocktails got rave words too. The menu also lists a Brown Sugar Espresso Latte, and regulars order a "daily Karak".

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Brunch, until 3pm

The Smashed Lacha Burger ($17.50, beef or aloo tikki) is the dish reviewers rave about most. It's a smash patty on flaky lacha paratha instead of a bun. The signature pancakes ($19.50) come in rose, pistachio, mango, cocoa and ube. Masala waffles and avocado toast are on the list too. The pistachio ones were one group's favourite of the whole meal.

For a classic Pakistani breakfast, get the Desi Naashta ($17.50) or halwa puri with a karak. The Valeyti Naashta ($19.50) is the fusion version. The Birria Nihari Poutine ($23.50) is exactly as much as it sounds.

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Later in the day

Tacos are the afternoon and evening order. Try the loaded chicken tikka tacos or the karak chicken tandoori ones. The fish pakora gets praise for being crisp, not oily. The street noodles and light gol gappay round it out. A pistachio milkshake is the dessert if you didn't get the pancakes. Pair anything fried with a second karak; everyone does. Portions can be small for the price, so order a few plates to share.

Cafe Karak reviews: what people say

Cafe Karak holds 4.5 on Google. The reviews keep coming back to three things: the welcome, the warm room and a menu unlike anyone else's. One group expected style over substance and left saying the opposite.

People who grew up on nihari and halwa puri say the fusion dishes feel familiar, with a real twist rather than a gimmick. The downsides are small but real. The several menus confuse first-timers. It's a hangout rather than a quick bite. And it takes reservations, which is worth using for a group.

Does Cafe Karak do high tea?

Some online listings describe a weekend high tea with sweets, savouries and tea. I couldn't confirm it. The cafe's own website and brunch menu don't mention a high tea. It may be seasonal or only on social media. If you're planning an occasion around it, call first.

Karak chai near you: other spots in Calgary

Karak is one part of a bigger tea-and-coffee scene. I wrote up the rest in halal cafes in Calgary. These places do chai properly:

• Chaiiwala of London in Cityscape - the British-Pakistani chai chain, fully halal. The karak and pink Kashmiri tea get the warmest words, with parathas on the side. It's rated 3.8, and the parathas are small for the money.
• Haifa Cafe on 37 Ave NE - a Palestinian coffee house (4.9) with karak, Adani and Kashmiri teas, shelves of books and anasheed without instruments. One catch: it doesn't state a halal policy and serves pastrami and cold cuts. Ask before ordering a meat sandwich. The tea and cakes aren't the issue.
• Qamaria Yemeni Coffee on 17th Ave and in Beacon Hill - the Yemeni take: Adeni tea, spiced and milky, with no meat on the menu. The beans come from Yemen's Haraz region.
• Cloud Naan in Cornerstone - a late-night stuffed-naan shop where reviewers finish a Nutella naan with a karak.
• Harum in Castleridge - a nihari specialist where one table ended a long feast with matka karak chai, served in a clay pot.

Two neighbours worth knowing: Henzo's Cafe, also in Savanna, does espresso and matcha for friends who don't want chai. Layali Cafe in the Beltline is the downtown spot for a long evening over tea and dessert.

The short version

Karak is boiled, cardamom-heavy milk tea. Cafe Karak in Savanna is the karak cafe Calgary means when it says the word. It's halal by the owners' own practice, 4.5 on Google and open late. Order the ilaichi or cloud karak. At brunch, get the lacha burger or rose pancakes; later, the tacos. Don't count on high tea without calling. Making a morning of it? My halal breakfast in Calgary roundup picks up from here.