Cutting Chaii menu with up-to-date-prices

Cutting Chaii Menu

September 7, 2026
by
1 min read

Cutting Chaii is an Indian restaurant at 18–20 Salamander Street in Leith. Opened in 2019, it takes inspiration from the sociable Bombay café tradition, combining a relaxed setting with dishes intended to be shared around the table.

Indian tapas are the restaurant’s speciality, giving diners the chance to try several preparations in one visit. Street chaats layer crisp textures, yoghurt, chutneys and chaat masala, while fish, chickpeas and crushed samosas show the breadth of the smaller plate selection.

The kitchen prepares food from scratch and emphasises spice blends, marinades and texture rather than relying on a standard curry sauce. Locally sourced ingredients support both familiar and less expected Indian combinations across the menu.

Poppadoms, chutneys and chai fit naturally around a spread of shared dishes, and vegetarian choice is built into the tapas format. Cutting Chaii’s warm, low key character makes it suitable for a casual dinner as well as a longer gathering with friends in Leith.

Address: 18–20 Salamander Street, Leith, Edinburgh EH6 7HR, Scotland

Cutting Chaii Menu

Nibbles

Mini Masala Papads
£5.95

V. Mini poppadums deep fried for two (all chutneys are separate to order)

Bombay Bhel
£5.95

V, N. Puffed rice with crisp gram threads, peanuts, red onions, tomatoes and coriander mix

Chutneys

Onion Chutney
£1.50
Mango Chutney
£1.50
Yougart & Mint
£1.95
Chilli And Coriander
£1.75

Veg And Non-Veg Starters — Cutting Chaats

Vegetable Somosa
£8.25

4X Crispy mix seasonal vegetables pastry, served with chutney

Secret Bomb
£8.50

V D. 3 X Mixed spiced potatoes and home made Indian cheese(Paneer) vermicelli doughnuts. Chef special recipes from Bombay street food. Served with sweet chilli sauce. Suitable for Vegetarian.

Cutting Chaii House Chaat
£8.25

V D N. Crushed vegetable pastry somosa (home made singhara) topping with mumbai street chaat masala, Yougart, house chutney’s, onions, cucumber and batata toppings. Contains dairy and nuts. Lightly warm and cool

Khasta Kachori
£8.95

V D N. Deliciously made 3x puffed pastry filled with spicy moong dal mixture inside & deep fried. Prepare with mixed salads, sweet & spicy chutney’s, mint yoghurt chutney, bombay bhel & pomegranate on top. Delicious chaats to share. Contains dairy & nuts.

Bombaiya Ragda
£8.50

V D N. 3 X Vegetarian, Popular afternoon potatoes pattice in Mumbai. Spiced potatoes cakes served chef special chutney’s and leaves

Sabji Ki Singhara
£7.95

V. 4 X Vegetarian, A traditional Bangladeshi pastry stuffed with freshly prepared seasonal vegetables with drizzles of chutneys.

Chicken Sixty Nine
£8.50

Gf. Gluten free, Deep fried chicken strips with spicy batter coated.

Crispy Lamb Somosa
£7.95

4x Punjabi shortcrust pastry stuffed with spiced minced lamb.

Vegetable Spring Rolls
£7.95

Mix seasonal vegetables rolls. Served with chutney’s

Tamarind & Ginger Chicken Wings
£8.95

Gluten free. Chef special Bombay mix spices marination mixed with baby chicken wings to cook in char coal grill before tossed with home made tamarind sauce, garnished with sesame seeds.

Dirty Wings
£8.95

*new*. Whole Chicken wings marinated with tandoori mixed spices to cooked in Charcoal grill then tossed with Chef’s special green mango, lime and crushed chilli sauce. Taste better eating with hands. Sweet and Spicy. Gluten free.

Chop tikki
£7.95

Vegan Chaats

Vegan Khasta Kachori
£8.95

N. A delicious, spicy, fried puffed pastry; is filled with spicy moong dal mixture and then deep fried. Serves with yogurt-based chutney, chilli and coriander sauce, garnished with leaf’s.

Vegan Sabji Ki Singhara
£7.95

A traditional Bangladeshi pastry stuffed with freshly prepared seasonal vegetables with drizzles of chutneys.

Vegan Veg Somosa
£7.95

4 X Crispy mix seasonal vegetables pastry, served with chutney

Vegan Bombaiya Ragda
£7.95

N. Popular afternoon potatoes pattice in Mumbai. Spiced potatoes cakes served chef special chutney’s and leaves

Vegan House Chaats
£8.25

Crushed vegetable pastry somosa (home made singhara) topping with mumbai street chaat masala, house chutney’s, onions, cucumber and batata toppings. Lightly warm and cool

Vegetable Spring Rolls
£7.95

Mix seasonal vegetables rolls. Served with chutney’s

Palak Pakora
£7.95

Vegan Nibbles

Bombay Bhel
£5.95

N. Puffed rice with crisp gram threads, peanuts, red onions, tomatoes and coriander mix

Mango Chutney
£1.50
Onion Chutney
£1.50
Chilli Coriander Chutney
£1.75
Mix Pickle
£1.95

Chef Special Vegan Mains

Kadai Kathal
£13.95

Green baby Jackfruit slow cooked with chef special Punjabi masala sauce with fresh green chilli, onions, ginger & peppers to make not too saucey or not too dry dish. Jackfruit is the substitute meat of Vegan & vegetarian in India. Hot to taste.

Vegan Jackfruit Dum Biriany
£14.50

Popular south Asian sweet fruit is a meat substitute for veg.& Vegans. Young green jackfruit cooked with chef special biriany spice mix and then dum cooked layered aromatic basmati rice. Medium Spicy.

Vegan Dal Makhani
£13.95

Dark black lentil cooked for several hours to make rich and deeply flavoured, medium to taste, garnish with fresh chops og ginger and coriander. Medium Spicy.

Vegan Temple Palak
£13.95

Tender cubes of soft potatoes cooked with mixed spiced, tomatoes, freshly grounded baby spinach. Medium Spicy.

Okra Fries
£13.95

Fresh Lady fingers cook with mix spices, chopped onions tastes crunchy cooked with fresh garlic, giner, tomatoes and fresh coriander. Not saucy but dry; so it tastes great with breads. Medium spiced.

Chaii Steeped Chickpeas
£13.50

Afgan Chickpeas simmered in a rich Darjeeling mixed spiced, tea, tomato and garam masala. Bit saucy and medium spiced. Medium Spicy.

Bombay Benjan
£13.50

Fresh aubergines deep fried but you won’t see any grease; cooked with mix masala sauce. Tender as meant melt in mouth. Medium to taste. Great with rice or breads.

Channa Mushrooms
£13.50

Punjabi chickpeas and fresh mushrooms cook with mix spices. Bit saucy and medium to taste

Aloo Benjan
£13.85

NEW. Deep fried aubergine cooked with turmeric & garlic potatoes in mixed spiced curry sauce. Medium to taste. Simple and taste good with rice or bread. Gluten free.

Naked Chilli Tofu
£13.50

*newly Added*. Vegan Paneer (Tofu). Its Irani cafes recipes with a blend of Indian & Chinese recipes combined! Tofu cubes deep fried with spiced checkpeas flour battered then tossed with chef special chilli sauce, fried onions, capsicums. Sweet & spicy to taste.

Vegan Carbs

Steam Basmati Rice
£3.95
Tandoori Roti
£3.95

Wholemeal bread cooked in clay oven. Suitable for vegans

Chips
£4.95
Chilli Chips
£4.95
Vegan Plain Nan
£4.25
Vegan Garlic And Coriander Nan
£4.50
Vegan Chilli Garlic Nan
£4.50

Nan with chopped green chilies. Spicy

Vegetarian Chef Special Mains

Maas Butter Paneer
£14.25

NEW. Medium. A popular Bombay dish. Indian cheese cubes are chargrilled with smoky flavor, in a thick butter sauce with special spices. Includes Goan spices, curry leaves, garam masala, tomatoes, caramelized onions, & cream. Contains nuts & dairy.

Kadai Kathal
£13.95

Hot. Ask for medium if preferred. Green baby jackfruit slow-cooked with Punjabi masala, green chili, onions, ginger, garlic, & peppers. Spicy with lovely texture and tender jackfruit. A popular meat substitute for vegans and vegetarians.

Dal Makhani
£13.50

Dark black lentil cooked for several hours to make rich and deeply flavoured with butter and cream.

Temple Palak Paneer
£13.50

Tender cubes of home made cheese simmered with velvety smooth, spiced tomatoes, cooked with freshly grounded spinach and potatoes. Medium.

Okra Fries
£13.50

Lady finger cook with mix spices, onions and fresh coriander. Not saucy. Medium spiced.

Chaii Steeped Chickpeas
£13.75

Chickpeas simmered in a rich Darjeeling mixed spiced, tea, tomato and garam masala.

Bombay Benjan
£13.50

Fresh aubergines deep fried but you won’t see any grease; cooked with mix masala sauce. Tender as meant melt in mouth. Medium to taste. Great with ruce or breads.

Channa Mushrooms
£13.50

Punjabi chickpeas and fresh mushrooms cook with mix spices. Medium

Jackfruit Dum Biriany
£15.50

Popular south Asian sweet fruit is a meat substitute for veg.& Vegans. Young green jackfruit cooked with chef special biriany spice mix and then dum cooked layered aromatic basmati pilau rice. Medium.

Malai Paneer
£13.95

NEW. Mild. Cubes of home made paneer chargrilled with mixed spices before cooked with chef special Malai sauce (mango, ground peanuts, scottish single cream & sugar to add sweetness) cooked in a slow fire, rich & creamy dish, contains ground nuts.

Aloo Benjan
£13.50

Deep fried aubergine cooked with turmeric & garlic potatoes in mixed spiced curry sauce. Medium to taste. Simple and taste good with rice or bread. Gluten free.

Kadai Paneer
£13.95

NEW. Charcoal grilled Paneer (home made Indian cheese cubes) cooked with chef special karahi sauce made of fresh garlic, ginger, onions, green chilli, mixed capsicum. Curry for Vegetarian spicy paneer lovers! Hot and spicy. Gluten free.

Naked Chilli Tofu
£13.50

NEW. Vegan Paneer (Tofu). Its Irani cafes recipes with blend of Indian & Chinese recipes combined! Tofu cubes deep fried with spiced checkpeas flour battered then tossed with chef special chilli sauce, fried onions, capsicums. Sweet & spicy to taste

Cutting Old Favourites Newly Added

Jhalfrezi
£13.50

Another Classic choices if you are a spicy curry lover. Prepared with diced barbecue Chicken/Lamb with fresh chopped green chilli, peppers, slices of onion, garlic, ginger and chef mixed spices. Fairly spicy and hot curry.

Korma
£13.50

Classic choice, simply prepared with tender steam cooked with coconut, pistachio, cream and delicate spicing provided by ground mace, nutmeg and cardamom. Mild to sweet to taste.

Tikka Massala
£13.95

Britain’s most popular curry, originating from Maharashtra in northern India. Charcoal-grilled meat in a chef’s special masala sauce with Greek yogurt, peppers, oranges, carrots, mango pulp, and ground almond in a rich, creamy sauce. Mild to taste.

Dopiaza
£13.75

A medium spicy curry prepared with tender pieces of Meat, cubes of onions, mixed peppers, mix ground spices and garnish with coriander.

Non-Veg Chef Special Mains

Gunpowder Chicken
£13.95

Hot, Old Bombay Iranian cafe style. Not a curry style but a unique dish which Edinburgh never tried before! Char-grilled chicken strips are tossed with onions, peppers, garam masala and chef’s special ‘Gunpowder Sauce’. Hot to taste.

Maas Butter Chicken
£13.95

Medium. A popular Bombay dish. Thick butter sauce with a mix of Goan spices, curry leaves, garam masala, fresh tomatoes, caramelized onions, and a hint of cream. Contains ground nuts and dairy. Medium spicy

Maas Butter Lamb
£14.25

Medium. A popular Bombay dish. Thick butter sauce with a mix of Goan spices, curry leaves, garam masala, tomatoes, caramelized onions, and a hint of cream. Contains ground nuts and dairy. Medium spicy. Made with tender Aberdeenshire lamb.

Malai Murgh
£13.75

Mild. Tandori spiced baby chicken chargrilled mixed with chef special tikka masala sauce cooked in a slow fire, rich and creamy dish, contains ground nuts. Mild.

Railway Chicken
£13.50

Medium Spicy. Traditional Chicken and potatoes curry served in Indias first class train compartments. Chicken cook in Indian authentic style in handi with raw species. Medium Spicy

Railway Lamb
£13.95

Medium Spicy. Traditional lamb and potatoes curry served in India’s first class train compartments; Lamb cook in Indian authentic style in handi with raw species. Medium Spicy . We only use Aberdeenshire Lamb to cook tender.

Karahi Chicken
£13.95

Hot Curry. Probably the most popular curry in Lahore, Pakistan, slow cooked chicken prepares with chef special Punjabi masala sauce with fresh green chilli and coriander. Hot to taste.

Karahi Lamb
£14.50

Hot Curry. Probably the most popular gosht curry in Lahore, Pakistan; slow cooked lamb prepares with chef special Punjabi masala sauce with fresh green chilli and coriander. Hot to taste. We only use Aberdeenshire Lamb to cook tender.

Chicken Dum Biriany
£15.50

Slow cooked tender pieces of chicken mix with chef special spices then layered with aromatic basmati rice. Garnished with caramelised deep fried crispy onions. As Biriany itself made with sauce no other separate sauce, Served with salad. Medium

Lamb Dum Biriany
£15.95

Slow-cooked Aberdeenshire tender baby lamb mixed with special spices, layered with aromatic basmati rice, & garnished with crispy caramelized onions. Biriyani is made with sauce, so no separate sauce. Comes with salad. Medium spicy.

Salli Marghi
£14.50

A well-known celebratory Parsi dish from western India, often cooked at weddings and special occasions. Tender chicken is slow-cooked with spices and jaggery (Indian cane sugar) for a touch of sweetness. Garnished with Salli crisp-chips on top.

Saagwala Chicken
£13.95

Medium Spicy. Fresh baby spinach cooked with fresh garlic, ginger and tomatoes like desi indian home style before prepare with chef special mixed spiced. Medium

Saagwala Lamb
£14.50

Medium Spicy. Fresh baby spinach cooked with fresh garlic, ginger and tomatoes like desi home Indian style before prepare with chef special mixed spices. Medium spicy. We only use Aberdeenshire Lamb to cook tender.

Dhaba Chicken
£13.95

Medium Spicy. A delicious chicken curry from the G.T roadside dhaba’s of Punjab. Medium Spicy.

Dhaba Lamb
£14.50

Medium Spicy. A delicious Lamb curry from the G.T roadside dhabas of Punjab. Medium Spicy. We only use Aberdeenshire Lamb to cook tender.

Royal Nawabi Chicken
£13.95

Mild to sweet. Dairy. Nuts. Chicken cooked in aromatic ground spice-mace, nutmeg, almonds, coconuts with fresh Scottish single cream to make a delicious sweet and creamy to taste. Very mild.

Royal Nawabi Lamb
£14.25

Mild to Sweet. Dairy, Nuts. Lamb cooked in aromatic ground spice-mace, nutmeg, almonds, coconuts with fresh Scottish single cream to make a delicious sweet & creamy to taste. We only use Aberdeenshire Lamb to cook tender.

Salli Boti
£14.50

A celebratory Parsi dish from western India, often served at weddings. Tender lamb is slow-cooked with spices and jaggery (Indian cane sugar) for sweetness, and garnished with Salli crisp-chips. Made with tender Aberdeenshire lamb.

Ruby Murray
£13.95

NEW. Chef’s special Ruby Murray sauce prepared with fresh garlic, ginger, tomatoes & mixed spices. Added honey, cream to make it rich & creamy dish. Medium to mild to taste. Available with Char grilled chicken cubes. Contains dairy(D)

Achari Chicken
£13.75

Marinated chicken tikka cubes are prepared with chef special mixed spices & desi mixed pickle. Hot & sour to taste with full of flavour.

Chilli Garlic Chicken
£13.95
Chilli Garlic Lamb
£14.50
Achari Lamb
£14.50
Ruby murray lamb
£14.50

Cutting Fish And Seafood

Chilli Tiger Prawns
£13.95

Hot. Modern Irani cafes recipes where is a blend of Indian & Chinese recipes combined! Fresh garlic-ginger-soy-chef special chilli sauce tossed with fried onions, capsicums and gunpowder. Hot to taste.

Tiger Prawn Korai
£13.95

NEW. Hot Curry. A popular dish from Fish lover’s city of Karachi, Pakistan, Tiger prawns no shell prepares with chef special spicy curry sauce with fresh green chilli, crsip onions, mixed peppers and coriander. Hot to taste. Saucy.

Malai Prawn
£13.95

NEW. Mild to sweet. Tiger prawns no shells with chef special tikka masala sauce cooked in a slow fire, rich and creamy thick saucy dish, contains ground nuts, dailry. Mild to sweet.

Chaii Char Grilled

Murgh Tikka Garam Masala
£13.95

D. Baby chicken cubes carefully marinated with mix spices 24 hours before chargrilled; Served with cubes of fried onions,peppers and garam masala sauce.

Angry Birds Thigh X2
£13.95

Succulent chicken thighs (2) marinated and roasted in tandoor spices, yoghurt, ginger and garlic. Served with mix salad and chefs special mint yogurt.

Achari Paneer Tikka
£14.50

Dairy. Cubes of home made cheese (paneer) skewers marinated with mix tandoori spices & pickle cooked in chargrilled. Served with fried cubes of onions, capsicums and tub of Mix pickle. Its not a curry but dry items from the grill

Lamb Chops X 4
£16.50

Carbs Rice And Breads

Steamed Boiled Rice
£3.95
Pilau Rice
£4.25

Fresh daily prepared traditional Indian Pilau Rice. No colour added.

Plain Nan
£3.95

Freshly baked Nan bread topped with desi Butter.

Tandoori Roti
£3.85

Wholemeal bread made in clay oven

Garlic & Coriander Nan
£4.50

Fresh Garlic and Coriander Nan. Best in town!

Chilli Garlic Nan
£4.90
Cheese & Garlic Nan
£5.25
Chilli Cheese Nan
£5.25

Cheddar cheese and chopped fresh chillies fresh baked Nan

Chips
£4.75
Chilli Fries
£4.95
Peshwari Nan
£5.25

Soft Drinks

330ml Can Of Coke
£2.30
330ml Can Of Diet Coke
£2.30
330ml Can Of Irn Bru
£2.25
330ml Can Fanta Orange
£2.25
1.5 Ltrs Bottle Of Coke
£3.95
1.5 Ltrs Bottle Of Diet Coke
£3.95
Limca 300ml Can
£2.95
Limca 300ml Bottle
£2.95

Alcoholic Drinks

Chardonnay White
£16.95

12.5% vol product of spain

Cabernet Sauvignon Red
£16.85

13 5% product of France

Rioja Red
£17

12.5% product of Italy

Malbec Red
£18.95

product of Argentina 13% vol

Sauvignon Blanc White
£17.95

product of New Zealand 12% Vol

Conti Darco Prosecco
£20.95

Product of Italy. 11%

Pato Merlot
£16.95

Product of Chile 13% Vol

Pinot Grigio White
£14.95

Product of Italy 12% Vol

Cobra Beer
£3.95

Popular Indian lager beer

Kingfisher Beer
£3.95

Indian premium lager beer