Peyala, the beloved local cafe in Dhaka, has held a special place in people’s hearts since its inception in 2016. This affection stems from its diverse menu and its proud and elegant celebration of the various culinary traditions of the subcontinent with daily specials.
All staples of a cafe menu can be found here from their signature cheeseburgers, salad bowls, and of course, masala tea.
Their trademarks are so fundamental to the experience that the phrases "Boro" and "Mejo" have evolved into their proprietary portion sizes.
Arsalan Ahmed, the senior manager at MGH Group, said: "Our aim has always been to deeply connect with the rich spices of the subcontinent and present everyone's favourite dishes in the form of wraps or bowls."
Food
Their burgers are hands down some of the best in Dhaka. So much so that it has a cult following. Upon first glance, the elements of their regular cheeseburger, consisting of a beef patty, cheese, onions, lettuce, and tomatoes, may appear straightforward. However, the true star of this dish is its exceptional flavour. If you're a fan of the classic cheeseburger, this version will transport you back in time, capturing the essence of the classic burger perfectly.
Next, we sampled their Mejo tandoori chicken salad bowl, accompanied by Thousand Island dressing, creamy coleslaw, oven-roasted mushrooms, and onions. While this indulgent salad bowl teeters on the edge of being less than healthy, it's absolutely worth it thanks to the freshness of the ingredients. What's remarkable is how each component shines through—the charred, smoky chicken, the creamy coleslaw, and more—all complementing each other beautifully.
To conclude our lunch, we had a delightful churros bowl. This tempting dessert featured a choux pastry bowl filled with vanilla ice cream and drizzled with chocolate sauce, offering a blend of tradition and innovation.
Their chocolate chip cookie, served piping hot, was nothing short of perfection—buttery, slightly doughy, with gooey dark chocolate oozing from every crevice. It's the kind of treat that awakens your taste buds even before you take a bite, and once you do, you're in for a delightful journey through its chocolatey goodness and chunky, doughy bites until you've savoured every last crumb.
We also had the opportunity to try one of their specialty drinks, "The Swedish Sin," a mango-flavoured beverage with a touch of house-made syrup. While we appreciate the effort put into crafting a drink that highlights tropical flavours, we couldn't help but wish for a more pronounced natural sweetness and tang from the fruit, as an excess of syrup left a slightly sour aftertaste.
As for pricing, meals at Peyala range from Tk120 to Tk600, excluding VAT.
Ambience
Situated in key locations throughout Dhaka, every branch boasts a lively and spacious ambience created by the combination of ample natural light, cosy leather seating, and inviting booths. While each of their three branches shares a design essence, it's the generous use of large windows that truly distinguishes them.
Challenges
As a result of the current economic state, Ahmed underlines the challenges that their employees are currently facing.
“Both the cost of food and the cost of living of our colleagues have increased, the inflation is making it a difficult situation for all of us,” he said
The satisfaction of the customer is their ultimate objective, despite the fact that there are challenges at every step of the service industry.
While there are problems in every aspect of running a business, he believes that seeing happy clients is what makes it all worthwhile.
Verdict
It is hard for us to recommend this cafe without first mentioning their cheeseburger and then their salad bowl. Both of these choices are top-notch.
When it comes to their bowls, another one of our suggestions is that you choose one of their grilled options rather than one of their curry-based alternatives. Make sure not to leave until you have finished your meal with a cup of masala chai, as it is the ideal accompaniment to your meal.
Even if the prices are on the higher end, it is still well worth it to get the experience because of the overall atmosphere and the flavours that they offer.