Each month, Exposed tucks into some of the best scran in Sheffield and finds out what makes it so good. This month, forget limp hash browns and half-arsed avocado, new Sharrow veggie and vegan restaurant Shaanti Town’s Indian-inspired brekkies will wake up more than just your taste buds. We pulled up a seat with owner Bally Johal to find out why Indian breakfast deserves its moment in the Sheffield sun.
Alright, so what’s the deal with an Indian breakfast?
It’s not curry, but we’re doing proper spicy breakfast – traditionally it’s paratha dipped in chilli or lime pickle and yoghurt. That’s across India, but every family’s got their own take. Same with chai – we’ll have our own blend on all day. Then we’ve got our version of masala beans on sourdough, and spicy scrambled eggs or tofu with paratha noodles. That one’s banging – got a good kick but still feels like brekkie.
So it’s not gonna blow your head off at 9am?
Nah, not at all. It’s authentic, has spice, but I’ve kind of anglo-fied it. I’m Anglo-Asian, so it’s about finding that balance. I like a fry-up as much as the next guy, but there’s nowhere really offering this kind of thing – and it’s all veggie or vegan by default.
You didn’t set out to open a vegan place though, right?
No, but most Indian food’s already vegan – always has been. The only non-vegan bit is butter, so we just use vegan butter. I’m not into fake meat. If you want sausage, eat sausage. Don’t eat a sad fake one. There’s loads of banging food that doesn’t have to pretend to be bacon.
Tell us about that tofu scramble – sounds like it’s stealing the show.
It’s the vegan version of our scrambled masala egg and paratha noodles. We did them side by side – you couldn’t tell which was which. Tofu’s spiced and scrambled, the paratha gets cooked on the hot plate, sliced into strips to give it that noodle texture. It’s seriously good.
So it’s just weekends for now?
Yeah, Saturdays and Sundays – breakfast from morning till mid-afternoon. We’re still building things up organically. There’s a lounge upstairs, sunny courtyard, and we’re going on Uber Eats soon. But yeah, weekends is where the breakfast buzz is at.
And beyond breakfast – what kind of space are you building here?
It’s more than just food. We’re doing wellness workshops, a coffee spot, baked goods, even a tenner deal for people working remotely – chai, Wi-Fi and a fresh bakery item. The idea’s to create a proper hangout. It’s coming together. Big courtyard, good vibes, and loads of potential.
Location:
1 Cowlishaw Rd, Sharrow, Sheffield S11 8XE
Follow: @shaantitown
