Chaakoo Bombay Café Edinburgh is an Indian restaurant at 117 Lothian Road. Its design and menu draw inspiration from the Irani cafes of nineteenth century Bombay, combining period character with a lively modern dining room. The central location works well for lunch, dinner and food before nearby cultural events.
Small Bombay plates are intended for sharing, allowing a table to move between chaat, pakora, kebabs and other street food inspired dishes. Curries, dhal and rice add more substantial comfort, while the grill brings smoke and spice to meat, paneer and vegetables. Thali style lunches provide a structured way to sample several elements at once.
Vegetarian and vegan choices are available throughout the selection, with breads, chutneys and sides helping diners balance heat and richness. Current menus identify dietary information, but guests with allergies should still speak with the team about ingredients and cross contact. Lunch and early evening offers may use a more concise choice than the main menu.
Beer, wine, cocktails, lassi and alcohol free drinks complement the bold food. The atmosphere is designed around sharing and discovery rather than formal courses. Chaakoo Bombay Café Edinburgh brings the warmth, spice and social character of a Bombay cafe to one of the city’s busiest central streets.
Address: 117 Lothian Road, Edinburgh EH3 9AN, United Kingdom
Chaakoo Bombay Cafe Tollcross Menu
Indian Salads
Aloo Chana Salad
Spiced potatoes, delicate chickpeas and rocket, splashed in a sweet tamarind dressing.
Chaakoo House Salad
Sweet pineapple and mango rocket salad tossed in our house mango chilli dressing.
Irani Kebabs
Smoked Chicken Tikka
Our own whisky chip smoked chicken, coated in our tikka dry rub, served with homemade mint chutney.
Afghani Tikka
Flame grilled chicken pieces marinated with yoghurt, cashew nuts, garam masala, red chilli powder, garlic & ginger.
Seekh Kebab
Minced lamb marinated with lime, coriander & cumin, grilled over coals & served with homemade mint chutney.
Tandoori
Paneer Tikka
Grilled skewer of pineapple, capsicum & paneer dipped in garam masala, vinegar & cumin.
Cauliflower
Marinated in yoghurt & classic tandoor spices, slowly grilled over coals.
Spiced Lamb Chops
Steeped overnight in a middle eastern blend of spices with ginger & garlic, finished over open coals.
Tandoori Spiced Wings
As good as they get chicken wings, tossed in our Bombay house sauce.
Tandoori King Prawn
King prawns steeped in our house smoked tandoori rub, flash flamed on the robata grill & finished with citrus lemon.
Hara Chicken Tikka
Chicken pieces marinated with yoghurt, methi, ginger, garlic & basil, chargrilled over open coals.
Bombay Small Plates
Lamb Samosa
Crisp pastry, minced lamb, onion & spices.
Sabjee Samosa
Crisp pastry, green peas, mashed potatoes, green chilli & fresh coriander.
Machali
Fish pakora in a coriander & green chilli batter.
Masahari
Crispy fried chicken pakora.
Shakahari
Crispy fried vegetable pakora.
Humble Curries
Rogan Josh
Slow-cooked lamb, onions, peppers & tomatoes, Kashmiri style with yoghurt.
Lamb Madras
Everyone’s favourite old style curry originally from Madras (Tamil-Nadu).
Butter Chicken
Tandoor chicken & tomatoes, cashews & green cardamom in mildly spiced butter sauce.
Korma
From Turkish origin, braised chicken in mildly spiced sauce made with yoghurt & ground cashews.
Railway Chicken
A rich, savoury chicken curry of tomato, garlic & North Indian spices.
Chicken Tikka Masala
Tandoor chicken tikka with a mixed spice, tomatoes, coriander & creamy yoghurt sauce.
Junglee Mass
Slow-cooked lamb, onion & tomato sauce, flavoured with whole Indian spices.
Black Pepper Chicken
A spicy chicken curry cooked in onion, tomato and yoghurt sauce, flavoured with black peppercorns.
Daal Makhani
Overnight cooked black lentils & red kidney beans, tomato purée, fresh ginger & cream.
Chana Mushroom
North Indian chickpea, mushroom & tomato curry.
Saag Paneer
A classic jalfrezi dish of spiced spinach, studded with cubes of fried creamy paneer cheese.
Bombay Potatoes
Baby potatoes cooked with onions, mustard seeds & curry leaves.
Garlic Lamb Bhuna
A deep rich tender lamb curry of tomatoes, onion & garlic flavoured with fenugreek.
Garlic Chili Chicken
A garlic & spicy South Indian speciality, flavoured with curry leaves, tomato & onion.
Chef’s Café Special Curries
Dum Biryani
Slow-cooked Awadhi lamb in spiced stock & layered with rice. An abiding café favourite.
Jinga Kushrang
A rich velvety prawn curry with onion, green & red peppers, shaved ginger & tomato.
Kerala Monkfish
From the land of spices; monkfish curry with coconut, ginger, garlic & mustard seeds.
Paneer Butter Masala
Fried paneer cubes cooked in a rich creamy onion, tomato and butter sauce.
Keema Matar
Minced lamb simmered with garden peas, garlic & ground spices, enriched with cream.
Aloo Gobi
Cauliflower & potato curry made with jeera seeds, green chillies, onion seeds & tomatoes. Choice of tamarind, mint or mango.
Café Sides
Poppadom & Spiced Onions
Kachumber
Indian chopped salad, cucumber, onion & tomato.
Chaakoo Slaw
Spicy Bombay style coleslaw.
Raita
Yoghurt, cucumber & spices.
Jeera Rice
Basmati rice & cumin seeds.
Lemon Rice
Basmati rice, fenugreek seeds, mustard seeds & fresh lemon juice.
Masala Fries
Skinny fries with masala seasoning.
Mixed Pickle
Chutney
Choice of tamarind, mint or mango.
Bombay Bakery
Naan
Garlic Naan
Peshwiri Naan
The Café’s Ice Creams
Ice cream flavours: Vanilla, Chocolate Chilli, Pistachio, Honeycomb, Strawberry Sorbet. 2.50 per scoop.
Vanilla Ice Cream
Chocolate Chilli Ice Cream
Pistachio Ice Cream
Honeycomb Ice Cream
Strawberry Sorbet
Chocolate Orange Mousse
Gulab Jamon
Fried dumplings steeped in cardamom with rose syrup, served with ice cream.
Mango & Banana Crumble
Kheer
Our house rice pudding, flavoured with cardamom and vanilla.
Early Evening Menu
Pick 2 Bombay Plates and 1 Chaakoo Curry with your choice of Jeera Rice or Masala Fries, from £22.95 per person. Add poppadoms & spiced onions for only £3.95. Add dessert for only £5.
Masahari
Crispy fried chicken pakora.
Smoked Chicken Tikka
Our own whisky chip smoked chicken, drowsed in our tikka dry rub served with homemade mint chutney.
Tandoori Spiced Wings
Chicken wings, tossed in our Bombay house sauce.
Afghani Tikka
Flame grilled chicken pieces marinated with yoghurt, cashew nuts, garam masala.
Tandoori Paneer Tikka
Grilled skewer of pineapple, capsicum & paneer dipped in garam masala, vinegar & cumin.
Shakahari
Crispy fried vegetable pakora.
Cauliflower Kebab
Marinated in yoghurt & classic tandoor spices, slowly grilled over coals.
Aloo Chana Salad
Spiced potatoes, delicate chickpeas and rocket, splashed in a sweet tamarind dressing.
Chaakoo House Salad
Sweet pineapple and mango rocket salad tossed in our house mango chilli dressing.
Tandoori King Prawn
King prawns steeped in our house smoked tandoori rub, flash flamed on the robata grill & finished with citrus lemon.
Lamb Samosa
Crisp pastry, minced lamb, onion & spices.
Daal Makhani
Overnight cooked black lentils & red kidney beans, tomato purée, fresh ginger & cream.
Bombay Potatoes
Baby potatoes cooked with onions, mustard seeds & curry leaves.
Seekh Kebab
Minced lamb marinated with lime, coriander & cumin, grilled over coals & served with homemade mint chutney.
Sabjee Samosa
Crisp pastry, green peas, mashed potatoes, green chilli & fresh coriander.
Butter Chicken
Tandoor chicken & tomatoes, cashews, green cardamom in mildly spiced butter sauce
Korma
From Turkish origin, braised chicken in mildly spiced sauce made with yoghurt & ground cashew.
Chicken Tikka Masala
Tandoor chicken tikka with a mixed spice, tomatoes, coriander & creamy yoghurt sauce.
Garlic Chilli Chicken
A garlicky & spicy south Indian specialty, flavoursome & laced with curry leaves, garlic, tomato & onion.
Rogan Josh
Long cooked lamb, onions, peppers & tomatoes, Kashmiri style with yogurt.
Black Pepper Chicken
A spicy chicken curry cooked in onion, tomato and yoghurt sauce, flavoured with black peppercorns.
Lamb Madras
Everyone’s favourite old style curry originally from Madras (Tamil-Nadu).
Keema Matar
Minced lamb simmered with garden peas, garlic & ground spices, enriched with cream.
Paneer Butter Masala
Fried paneer cubes cooked in a rich creamy onion, tomato and butter sauce.
Garlic Lamb Bhuna
A deep rich tender lamb curry of tomatoes, onion & garlic flavoured with fenugreek.
Chana Mushroom
North Indian chickpea, mushroom and tomato curry
Saag Paneer
A classic jalfrezi dish of spiced spinach, studded with cubes of fried creamy paneer cheese.
Aloo Gobi
Cauliflower & potato curry made with jeera seeds, green chillies, onion seeds & tomatoes.
Jinga Kushrang
A rich velvety prawn curry with onion, green and red peppers, shaved ginger and tomato.
Kerala Monkfish
From the land of spices; monkfish curry with coconut, ginger, garlic & mustard seeds.
Orange Chocolate Mousse
Our homemade chocolate mousse.
Ice Cream or Sorbet
Choose from vanilla or chocolate chilli ice cream or strawberry sorbet.
Gulab Jamun
Hot cardamom sugar dusted doughnuts with honey rose syrup.
Add Extras
Poppadom & Spiced Onions
Naan
Garlic Naan
Peshawari Naan
Lemon Rice
Jeera Rice
Masala Fries
Kachumber
Chaakoo Slaw
Raita
Mixed Pickle
Chutney
Weekend Lunch Menu
Saturday & Sunday 12-3.45pm. Option 1: Thali Trays. Option 2: Grill & Curry £15.95 per person, choose one from each section.
Sabzi Tray
Daal Makhani, Chana Mushroom, Bombay Potatoes; Jeera Rice, Plain Naan
Murga Tray
Butter Chicken, Garlic Chilli Chicken, Daal Makhani; Jeera Rice, Plain Naan
Memana Tray
Garlic Lamb Bhuna, Rogan Josh, Daal Makhani; Jeera Rice, Plain Naan
Mila Hua Tray
Butter Chicken, Chicken Korma, Garlic Lamb Bhuna; Jeera Rice, Plain Naan
Smoked Chicken Tikka
Our own whisky chip smoked chicken, coated in our tikka dry rub served with homemade mint chutney.
Hara Chicken Tikka
Chicken pieces marinated with yoghurt, methi, ginger, garlic and basil, chargrilled over open coals.
Tandoori Paneer Tikka
Grilled skewer of pineapple, capsicum & paneer dipped in garam masala, vinegar & cumin.
Tandoori Spiced Wings
As good as they get chicken wings, tossed in our Bombay house sauce.
Shakahari
Crispy fried vegetable pakora.
Daal Makhani
Overnight cooked black lentils & red kidney beans on tandoor, tomato purée, fresh ginger and cream.
Chicken Tikka Masala
Tandoor chicken tikka with a mixed spice, tomatoes, coriander & creamy yoghurt sauce.
Garlic Chilli Chicken
A garlic & spicy South Indian speciality, flavoured with curry leaves, tomato & onion.
Rogan Josh
Slow-cooked lamb, onions, peppers & tomatoes, Kashmiri style with yoghurt.
Chana Mushroom
North Indian chickpea, mushroom & tomato curry.
Butter Chicken
Tandoor chicken & tomatoes, cashews & green cardamom in mildly spiced butter sauce.
Korma
From Turkish origin, braised chicken in mildly spiced sauce made with yoghurt & ground cashews.
House Signatures
Cocktails
5 Walla on the Rocks
5 Walla Chai cream liqueur over ice, the traditional way
Jungle Bird
Gold rum, grapefruit liqueur, pineapple, fresh lime & demerara
Breakfast in Bombay
Bombay Sapphire, Cointreau, orange marmalade & lemon juice
Patakha Mojito
Bacardi Blanca, fresh watermelon, mint leaves, lime juice, sugar syrup & soda
House Classics
Cocktails
Daiquiri
White rum, fresh lime, simple syrup. Flavours: Coconut, Strawberry, Mango, Passion Fruit.
Mojito
White rum, mint, fresh lime, simple syrup & soda
Aperol Spritz
Aperol, organic cava & soda
Sour
Lemon, simple syrup & aquafaba. Whisky, Bourbon, Dark Rum or Amaretto.
Zero-Proof
Cocktails
Mango Cooler
Mango, mint, demerara & lemonade
Virgin Daiquiri
Strawberry puree, fresh lime, simple syrup & lemonade
Chocolate & Mint Russian
Espresso, chocolate syrup, mint, milk & cream
Cucumber & Mint Cooler
Fresh mint & cucumber, apple juice and soda
House Wine
Sauvignon Blanc, Chaakoo
Chile, 11.5%. Dry and crisp, with loads of zingy citrus and tropical fruit flavours. Good on its own and matches lighter foods such as salads, chicken or seafood.
La Laguna Pinot Grigio
France, 13%. Aromas of sugared almonds, this off-dry Pinot Grigio has a crispness with hints of mild spices
Chenin Blanc, Franschhoek Cellar
South Africa, 13%. A full and rich Chenin Blanc with expressive fruit aromas. Fresh tropical fruit flavours and a velvety finish.
Chardonnay. All Blanc, Castilla y León
Spain, 13%. Aromas of crisp apple, ripe pineapple, and a hint of banana
Beer & Cider
Raj Mahal Lager
4% ABV
Kingfisher Lager
4.3% ABV
Achchha
3.5% ABV
Kingfisher
330ML, 4.8%
Spirits
All spirit measures are 25ml.
Arran Barrel Reserve Single Malt
43%
Arran 10 Single Malt
46%
Johnnie Walker Red Label
40%
Bombay Sapphire
40%