Namkin Kachori in Chicago?

Is this available in Chicago?

I have a box of "special namkin kachori" in front of me, that was delivered to me by some of our Indian friends, they bought it as they left India recently. It's the second box I've gotten, and I can't get enough of it.

After googling, it seems that namkin (or namkeen) refers to sweets, and kachori is a type of food, sometimes served as appetizer, but almost always a round flattened ball filled with ingredients. The "sweet" karchoris have a LOT of spices, dried fruits, and "condiments", per the box of H. J. Vyas kachori in front of me.

Here's the rub: the friends say this isn't available anywhere in Chicago. That can't be right. They're essentially sold duty-free in India at the airports, foil wrapped and the date of manufacture stamped on there. Has not someone imported these, or even have a local source making these?

I COULD hit the grocers on Devon, but thought I'd post here first, always the most informed folks here!
THANK YOU

ohfreddie, kachori (various types) should readily be available on Devon, though it may take some sampling to find the type you have now.

Namkeen means salty (or savory) item - meetha is sweet and mithai is the sweet (item).

Kachori is essentially a stuffed poori (puri). The stuffing is made into a paste and and inserted into a small ball of dough which is then flattened, rolled out and deep fried. The stuffing can be sweet (a mix of jaggery dal, and spices - this is popular in Gujarat, well represented on Devon) or savory (any number of things). Is the one you have sweet? I'm a little puzzled as you say it is "special namkin kachori". Also kachori forms have regional variations though the name on the box suggests yours may be of Gujrati origin.

Kachori (or Kochuri in Bengal) makes for good breakfast - so perhaps Tahoora and other such places that serve 'sweets' and breakfast may have them.
Here is a pic from a recent breakfast in Kolkata
Mator-shuti-r Kochuri with Aloo-r Dum (matar-shuti = peas, aloo = potato)

click pic for larger view

Also 'Kachori' is sold 'prepared' as a chaat or snack (see pic below). So do try Sukhadia and Kamdar Plaza on Devon. They may have versions. These may be different from what you mean.


Kachori-Man across the street from the New Empire Cinema Theatre in Kolkata* - which boasts a Domino's now and a KFC to open soon. (hope the kachori man survives)

click pic for larger view

Raj kachori and dahi kachori are forms of 'chaat' in which the kachori is filled with additional items (dahi=yogurt, onions, etc.).
note on price, 1USD currently is approx. 37 Indian Rupees, so nearly three plates of kachoris for a buck.


Anyways, ohfreddie, I hope you will explore Devon for Kachoris and I look forward to your reports.


*I've jumped the gun, but I hope to post on my recent trip to India once I can get all my film developed

Namkeen is a salted and/or spiced savory (as opposed to a mithai, which is a sweet). Namkeen are snacks, usually served with tea (not appetizers, they are not served with a meal).

Kachori is a type of small, filled pastry that is then fried - it may be served as a namkeen or as a part of a thali (for a meal). It usually has a savory filling but they may have dried fruit (i.e. like the Vyas-brand ones which are also usually quite spicy, or other sweet fillings) in them. i.e. all namkeen are snacks, but not all kachori are namkeen.

Vyas brand kachoris are produced in India & are, I believe, not exported to the US, so no, you're unlikely to find them here as your friends say. If anyone has them it will either be Patel Bros or Kamdar Plaza, but I think they all carry the Haldiram brand, which is exported to the US (Patel also offers non-branded namkeen in their bulk barrels, they may have kachori). I'm not aware of any of the sweets shops on Devon who offer locally-made dried fruit-filled kachoris (Rajbhog used to, but that shop has closed; Sukhadia only offers savory khasta kachoris; Kamdar also offers probably the best variety of locally made namkeen, they might carry the fruit ones).

ETA - sazerac, what you have written is correct, but its not the type of kachori that Vyas makes. Its a different beast entirely, a speciality of Jamnagar. (And there is a huge variety of other sweet kachori available).

ETA2: ohfreddie, if you call & they don't have the Vyas brand, ask for Jamnagar kachoris to get the same type.

Excellent, I will definitely try these shops and report back. Thanks to both posters for their very informative responses!!

Athena wrote:ETA - sazerac, what you have written is correct, but its not the type of kachori that Vyas makes. Its a different beast entirely, a speciality of Jamnagar. (And there is a huge variety of other sweet kachori available).

Athena, thanks for the clarifications. I had a mild suspicion that the OP's kachori may be different. This Jamnagar nu kachori you mention - is it more of a small slightly flattened ball with a more of a crust (but flaky) and a lot of filling, as opposed to the 'filled poori' type in the pictures above? This would match ohfreddie's description too - I wasn't sure earlier if description was of the final product or before rolling, frying etc.

Also could Village Hut be possible source for this type of kachori?