Nearly five decades ago, when chaat was still a novelty in the city, the late Jaswant B Shah, a Gujarati entrepreneur with remarkable foresight, introduced Chennai to the vibrant world of bhel puri, paani puri, samosas and other traditional snacks. What began modestly inside Figurette, a beauty parlour run by his wife Kanakam on the then Village Road in Nungambakkam, soon evolved into one of the city’s most loved snack destinations.As business flourished, Shah shifted Milan to the bustling Chintamani Supermarket in Anna Nagar, where he built a loyal following through the 1980s and early 1990s. For many families, a visit to Milan became a ritual synonymous with flavour, freshness, and consistency. Unfortunately, ill-health forced Shah to close the establishment in 1996, bringing an end to a memorable culinary chapter.But some stories are too good to remain in the past.
Milan Chats on Arcot road
| Photo Credit:
In the early 2000s, Shah’s son Arjun Arun Shah stepped away from his corporate career to pursue entrepreneurship. Sensing a growing demand for quality ready-to-fry snacks, he launched The Samosa Factory, specialising in samosas supplied through online orders and select outlets across Chennai.Having successfully established the brand, Arun turned his attention to reviving Milan — not merely as a business venture, but as a tribute to his father’s legacy. A few trial runs and enthusiastic customer responses convinced him that the city still remembered, and missed, the iconic flavours of Milan.Today, Milan Chaats has found a new home at Madras Food Walk on Arcot Road, Porur, where nostalgia meets contemporary convenience.During a recent visit to The Samosa Factory’s Milan Chaats outlet, Arun could be seen preparing orders behind the counter. As plates of dahi puri and bhel puri came together with practiced ease, it became evident that this was more than food preparation — it was craftsmanship rooted in memory and tradition.
