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Meet us where authentic samosas are made
Where can you find loose-leaf teas, seasonal lattes and authentic Indian treats all under one roof? Wise Cup in Oak Park!
In the fall you might cozy up at this intimate café with a maple cinnamon latte and a samosa with a side of sweet tamarind chutney.
Year-round favorites at Wise Cup include the turtle mocha with almond, caramel, and dark chocolate; the honey latte; and the Kashmiri latte with organic cardamom. Loose leaf teas come in sweet little pots and the delicious masala chai comes with ginger and cardamom.
At Wise Cup, the flavors of India are naturally infused with the coziness of an American café.
Wise Cup occasionally hosts Indian street food pop-ups, with a rotating seasonal menu. You’ll find samosas, of course, but you might also find dal makhan, a black bean lentil soup, in the fall or roti tacos in the summer.
The coffee shop is open from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Sundays.
Wise Cup's Indian street food pop-up shop starts at 11 a.m. and runs until supplies run out. Pre-ordering is advised. Check out the Wise Cup Facebook page for the menu that changes monthly.
Coffees start at about $2 for drip and run to about $5 for a specialty drink. Teas are between $2.50 and about $4. Smoothies like a Mango Lassi are $5.50. The Indian street food pop-up menu varies every month.
Naveen and Shivangi Khetarpal opened Wise Cup in 2017 after Naveen grew tired of missing authentic Indian cuisine from home. In the beginning, they offered a selection of seasonal samosas and a small offering of Indian dishes, but then the pandemic hit.
Like most small business owners, the Khetarpals had to get creative to keep their doors open. That’s how the Saturday street food pop-up experience began.
Their pop-up shop was so popular that they continue to offer a rotating menu of seasonal Indian street-food dishes on Saturdays.
It’s easy to get to this cozy café that’s just a five-minute walk from the Harlem/Lake Stop on the CTA Green Line or a five-minute walk from the Oak Park Stop on the Union Pacific West Railway. Wise Cup is located at 1018 Lake St. in downtown Oak Park.
