Viral news: Remember the Pakistani chai seller who went viral for not just serving chai but also his good looks? The internet sensation has now gone international, as he has opened a cafe in London. The once-poor chai seller from Pakistan’s capital Islamabad started his own venture in a busy London street filled with Indians, Pakistanis, and Bangladeshis.
From roadside stall to London cafe
Arshad Khan, widely known as the “Chaiwala,” has taken his brand, Cafe Chaiwala, to the heart of East London’s Ilford Lane, an area populated by South Asians. This move is an expansion of his rags to riches story as he intends to make the franchise popular in different continents.
The story of Arshad Khan is based on a traditional rags to riches tale. He had been a poor teenager who sold chai at the roadside stand in Islamabad only 7 years earlier, struggling to make ends meet. He only knew that one day, in the heart of London City, he would be a social media sensation, fashion icon, and franchise owner.
Backstory of October 2016
Back in October 2016, photographer Javeria Ali casually clicked Arshad’s picture when he was only 16 years old. Javeria shared the photograph on her Instagram account with the caption, “Hot Tea.” Arshad’s blue eyes, striking looks, and model-like face shot him to overnight fame in India and Pakistan.
Fast forward to 2023, the Chaiwala, Arshad Khan, continues to make headlines as he opens his cafe in London’s South Asian hub. The cafe, named “Cafe Chaiwala,” is located on East London’s Ilford Lane, an area predominantly populated by Indians, Pakistanis, and Bangladeshis.
According to a press release issued by the cafe, the Ilford Lane restaurant incorporates a traditional and cultural South Asian atmosphere. Its interior decor features elements such as truck art, a hand-painted Vespa scooter, desi art-adorned walls, and a vibe that exudes the modern Dhaba feels reminiscent of roadside tea cafes in Pakistan.
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