Chai Pani
ASHEVILLE + DECATUR + DC
Chai Pani Asheville opened in 2009 and immediately struck a chord. The menu brought together classic street snacks from India and homestyle thalis, served in a vibrant, high-energy space that brings the vibrancy of the Indian street food scene to America. Classic street snacks like the Sloppy Jai, kale pakoras, and okra fries became instant signature hits. It was affordable, innovative, and completely mindblasting and it changed the way America thought about Indian food.
In March 2013, Chai Pani opened in Decatur, GA, and was quickly named one of the best new restaurants by Atlanta Magazine. The menu stays true to the Asheville original, with the addition of a beloved daily lunch buffet that has become a Decatur staple.
In 2022, Chai Pani Asheville received one of the highest honors in American dining, the James Beard Award for Outstanding Restaurant.
In 2025, Chai Pani opened its doors in Washington, DC, bringing Indian street food to our nation’s capital and a new audience.
Botiwalla by Chai Pani
ATLANTA + CHARLOTTE + ASHEVILLE + RALEIGH
The first Botiwalla opened in Atlanta in March 2016, and was named one of the ‘Most Anticipated Restaurant Openings in the World’ by Bloomberg Magazine.
Botiwalla is Meherwan’s homage to his life-long love of late-night street food in India, grilled meats, and Irani Cafes. Botiwalla Charlotte opened in November 2020, and it was named one of the best new restaurants by Charlotte Magazine. We brought the Botiwalla concept home to Asheville in summer 2023.
In June 2026, Raleigh, NC, welcomed Botiwalla in the Iron Works neighborhood to fans who wrapped around the corner.
Meherwan founded Spicewalla years after opening his first restaurant in Asheville, NC, Chai Pani, which was named Outstanding Restaurant by the James Beard Foundation in 2022 and changed the perception of Indian food in America. With Spicewalla, he and his team of chefs, creators, and enthusiasts are on a quest to help consumers harness the power of fresh and high-quality spices to become better cooks. Spicewalla offers chefs and home cooks 250+ spices and exclusive blends that are roasted, ground, and packed by hand. Taste & believe!
Initially founded to supply fresh, high-quality spices to professional kitchens, Spicewalla quickly expanded to home kitchens after being named to Oprah’s Favorite Things list and and has received countless accolades from outlets including Bon Appétit, The Wall Street Journal, Fast Company, Buzzfeed, Garden & Gun and others.
Spicewalla
CPRG Retired Brands
-

Buxton Hall Barbecue opened in Asheville's South Slope in 2015. It was named one of Bon Appétit's Best New Restaurants and its menu was centered around 100% locally-sourced whole hog barbecue. It closed in 2023.
-

Buxton Chicken Palace opened in the S&W Market in the summer of 2021. While it is no longer part of the CPRG family, it continues to serve Buxton's world famous fried chicken sandwich and Cheerwine slushies in Downtown Asheville.
-

Nani's Piri Piri Chicken was our beloved rotisserie chicken shop with locations in Asheville's Grove Arcade and Atlanta's Ponce City Market. We served up radiant, healthy chicken plates, sandwiches, and sides from 2020-2023.
-

MG Road opened in 2012, downstairs from Chai Pani Asheville. It had a glorious 7-year run, hosted numerous pop-ups, and was a staple of Downtown Asheville's social scene. MG Road shuttered in 2019, but its spirit lives on!