INTEL — FROM UPSTATE TO NYC, CHAIGUY RETURNS TO REOPEN ALIF CAFÉ 2.0 IN GLENS FALLS
Coffee-shop owner + pop up chef, Saud Khan, is widely known for his chai ratings and food creations as the popular TikTok content creator, Chaiguy. But Khan is now best recognized for his New York City-based Pakistani chai + coffeehouses, Kaafi by Chaiguy, in Harlem and in the Lower East Side, plus his roving Pakistani pop up dinner series, Azzad.
Upstate he is remembered as the young founder of Alif Cafe in Glens Falls, an offshoot of Alif Cafe + Tandoori Grill owned by Saud’s parents in Lake George. Khan also runs an upstate cleaning business which brings him regularly back to Warren County from between Manhattan. Having caught up with him recently at his Harlem coffee shop, I knew something new was brewing… So this week marks the soft re-opening of Alif Cafe in Glens Falls with a few changes built in. I checked in with Saud to ask him why here and why now.
— SDP
Round 2: After helping his parents close Tandoori Grill in Lake George, Saud Khan reopens Alif Café with the vintage decor intact + his parents running a tandoori kitchen.
Alif Cafe Glens Falls Visit
SDP: You’re the ChaiGuy on TikTok, so it wasn't a stretch when you moved to NYC and opened Kaafi, a Pakistani chai + coffeehouse in Harlem and a second location in the Lower East Side. Why are you reopening Alif Cafe in Glens Falls now?
SK: The plan was to always open back up in Glens Falls. Construction rescheduling and on going projects in New York City caused a bit of a delay, but Glens falls was just a tough cookie to crack. I definitely don’t give up easily.
SDP: You had a very cozy-casual café vibe at Alif Café before with your chai counter and Pakistani twists on American handhelds like the naanwich. Will you be doing the same sort of food and drink menu again?
SK: Alif Cafe 2.0 will keep the best of what it was and have new additions to really take us to a higher level. My parents just shut down Tandoori Grill (Lake George) so we plan on bringing their menu to Glens Falls in some sort of fashion. But the biggest blessing is my mom and dad get to overlook the kitchen. I couldn’t have more qualified and trustworthy people to hand over the reins to.
SDP: We’ve seen the rise of late night Yemeni coffee shops in this area. Has this inspired your return and what sort of hours will you be open?
The halal cafe scene has been booming for the past 3 years and I’m just happy I was one of the pioneers for this industry. Self proclaimed, yes, but I opened Alif 10 years ago and even still there’s no Pakistani cafes in the 518 other than Alif. Even though most of the local Yemeni coffee shop franchise managers are Pakistani, they’re still operating Yemeni cafes. That tells me two things: First, that Pakistani entrepreneurs recognize there is a need for cafes but they’re scared to jump into making their own brand. Second, the people of the 518 are ready to have these third space cafes. So, for me, it’s definitely worth to looking into as far as opening a new location maybe in Latham or Colonie.
While you've been living in the city but traveling upstate frequently, have you seen much change in Glens Falls? How do you feel Alif Cafe 2.0 will be received?
I’ve seen so many new families move into Glens Falls and the city of Glens Falls taking lots of initiatives for new housing and new businesses. It gives me confidence that we’ll do well on our return! We’ve completely renovated the kitchen and we’re hoping to open on Monday, August 10.
Thanks, Saud. We’ll be serving that up in your upcoming tastemaker interview! Congrats on the soft re-opening.
[Ed note: Read founder Susie Davidson Powell’s original 2021 Times Union dining review of Alif Café.
