Chai Green Portsmouth

You walk into this unassuming spot on Commercial Road and immediately smell what proper chai should smell like - cardamom, ginger, and that perfect balance of milk and spice that most places get spectacularly wrong. The menu reads like a love letter to Indian street food, with everything from crispy bhel puri to proper dosas that arrive with the right accompaniments. What sets this place apart is the attention to detail. The chai comes in proper glasses, not mugs, and tastes like someone's actually ground their own spices rather than tipped in a pre-made mix. The samosas have that satisfying crunch and aren't swimming in oil. It's the sort of place that makes you realise how many other 'Indian' cafés are just phoning it in.