Filling my cheeks with crisp puffed shells packed with spiced potatoes, chutneys, and tamarind water is a core Delhiite memory, and one that comes rushing back at Gokul Sweets in Decatur. The no-frills, counter-service spot is a longtime vegetarian Indian street food staple, complete with a bakery case stacked with dozens of sweets. North Indian treats abound, but the massive South Indian dosa is the envy of the canteen.
There will be moments, even years, when I forget about Vik's Chaat. But then I suddenly remember the giant, crispy, thin masala dosa, and a temporarily dormant craving returns. It's hard to find a place in the East Bay that has chaat the spicy, fun, Indian street snacks. I remember poking the garbanzo bean-filled pani puris and watching cholle bhature puff up as a cook fried it. Eating at Vik's is a hands-on, visceral experience.