Chashni Café: A Pakistani-American Brunch Spot in Montclair, NJ

This article is sponsored by Chashni Café.

In a town already dense with coffee shops, it takes more than a decent latte to stand out. Since quietly opening in Montclair this past December, Chashni Café has done just that, becoming a certified favorite for the MG team. Located at 349 Bloomfield Avenue, Chashni Café introduces New Jersey brunch-goers to a thoughtful mix of Pakistani flavors and American comfort food, all wrapped in a soft blush-pink aesthetic that’s both camera-ready and cozy. Keep reading to find out more about Chashni Café in Montclair, New Jersey.

From Nashville Hot Chicken to Montclair Brunch

Chashni Café’s journey began in 2020 with Namkeen Hot Chicken, a hot chicken concept that blended Nashville heat with the unapologetically bold spices of South Asian cuisine. This project, which offered a delightful balance of comfort and kick, quickly gained a loyal following across New Jersey, paving the way for something more ambitious.

The brunch experience at Chashni honors its roots without compromising accessibility. It’s not a “Pakistani brunch” spot in quotation marks; it’s simply Pakistani brunch, presented naturally and authentically. The team behind Chashni explains their vision, stating, “We wanted to create a space where people could experience these flavors without feeling like it’s a special occasion. This is our everyday food, just expressed through brunch.”

With this concept, Chashni’s first location opened in Chatham in 2022. It was a modest operation with big ambitions. The space quickly filled, and the team’s ambitions grew. With its lively food scene, Montclair felt like a natural next step — and the sunny space in downtown a natural next location. Chashni promptly opened its second location in Montclair in December 2024.

A Brunch Menu Reimagined

Enter Chashni: a name that roughly translates to “sweetness” in Urdu.

The menu at Chashni doesn’t aim to reinvent brunch, but reshape it, with subtlety and intention. Expect the unexpected: familiar brunch favorites, layered with new and unique flavors.

The Mint & Tamarind Smashburger, for example, arrives tucked in a soft bun, familiar in format but transformed by its tangy chutneys and heat. The Caesar Masala Wrap pairs the creamy crunch of romaine and parmesan with the zing of masala.

“We didn’t want to just add spices for novelty,” says a Chashni team member. “The idea was to let South Asian flavors tell their own story within a framework people already understand.” Seasonal specials like ricotta and peach toast or a crisp peach salad showcase a kitchen that’s as interested in freshness as it is in spice.

It’s an ethos that extends to the café’s unique drink and dessert menu. From a Rose Saffron Latte to the Gulabi Cake, delicately infused with rose, cardamom, and saffron, paired with Chashni’s signature Pakistani Chai — a quiet nod to tea time traditions in a modern way.

Pair that with a lineup of breakfast, brunch, and lunch dishes and a carefully crafted specialty espresso drink, and you just might have yourself a perfect morning.