Chef Vikas Khanna says he has no plans to open a restaurant in India

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Renowned New York-based Chef Vikas Khanna, during a visit to India, said he had no plans to open a restaurant in India as his energy had been poured into building up the Bungalow brand in the US.

In the year 2000, the local banquet owned by Vikas was reportedly destroyed by the local authorities due to certain construction issues. Since then his fans from India have wondered when he would re-introduce his homeland to the taste of Indian cuisine, that he has refined, developed and nurtured over the years.

Asked if there’s any plan in his mind to open a restaurant in India, Khanna said, “Bungalow is my last restaurant where I’m cooking 16-18 hours a day. I’m in the restaurant all the time. It’s my last tribute… I’ve been cooking for over 40 years. And by the time I finish this project, I’ll be 50.”

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He reminisced about his late sister. “I will use my energy to create something even more different, more… This was my sister’s dream, this was not even my dream. So, the answer is no. I was asked this question many times when (will) you open in India. I say the energy you get in a restaurant is when you stand on your own. And it’s very important that in a foreign land, the most competitive market on the planet Earth, you are holding the Indian Flag there…”

According to Khanna, “Nobody can deny the power of New York City. And that is something which has more longevity. I feel that it uplifts the cuisine and currency and turns it into not just your economy, it increases the currency of the cuisine. At this stage, I’ve learned the difference.”

On Sunday, December 29, Khanna surprised greater-Delhi residents by preparing several dishes at the WaysToLays Food Truck event in Gurugram.

With a menu and recipes inspired by local tastes and global trends, the food truck serves  dishes that incorporate Lay’s chips in imaginative ways.

Chef Khanna’s consistent efforts driven by emotional factors and an undying desire to put Indian cuisine on the world map are a reality. With his “haath ka hunar” and grandmother’s recipes, he has spread the aroma of Indian spices in US.

He started his culinary journey in Amritsar where he ran a catering business at the age of 17. Mishaps and setbacks were a constant theme during his initial years.

Now he is among “New York’s hottest chef” and has to date, hosted four US Presidents, cooked for the White House and famed dignitaries around the world.

In March 2024, he unveiled his restaurant ‘Bungalow’ in New York City, which became one of the most popular Indian eateries in a short span of time.

From Hollywood star Anne Hathaway to Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, ‘Bungalow’ has attracted famous people from across the world.

“I feel it was high time Indian food took to the mainstream on this scale. It’s also very important that Indian cuisine shines through this. It’s very important,” Khanna told ANI, adding, “Of course, we have a lot of naysayers, especially in our community. But I feel that there’s nothing stopping Indian food from being one of the most influential impressions in America.”

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