Archive · 13 Nov 2025
Dahibara Express: From Odisha Street Food to Rs 1.8 Cr Multi-City Chain
Imagine you move away from home and really miss your favorite local snack, like Dahibara.
Sourabh Khandelwal had this exact problem!
So, he started a restaurant chain called Dahibara Express in 2023.
His big idea is to bring popular street foods from all over India to everyone, no matter where they live.
He even traveled a lot to learn the original recipes for dishes like Dahibara Aloo Dum.
The restaurants aim to feel authentic and welcoming, like a cozy cafe.
They want to tell stories through food and help people feel connected to their hometown.
Dahibara Express is growing fast, with many stores already open and plans to open even more, including in other countries.
It's all about making delicious, traditional Indian street food easy to find and enjoy.
Sourabh Khandelwal founded Dahibara Express in 2023 to make regional Indian street food accessible nationwide and globally.
The chain was inspired by Khandelwal's personal struggle to find his hometown's beloved dish, Dahibara, after moving.
Dahibara Express aims to showcase authentic regional street foods from across India, starting with 63 variations of Dahibara Aloo Dum.
The brand has opened 12 outlets and plans to rapidly expand to 100 outlets by March 2026 through a franchise model.
Future expansion includes international locations in Nepal and Dubai, with a projected revenue of Rs 1.8 crore.
- Who
- Sourabh Khandelwal
- What
- Launched Dahibara Express, a food chain dedicated to making regional Indian street food accessible.
- When
- Launched in 2023.
- Where
- Started in India, with plans to expand to Nepal and Dubai.
- Why
- To address the difficulty of finding hometown dishes when away from home and to give regional Indian street foods global recognition.
Sourabh Khandelwal's Vision
Challenges and Risks
Entrepreneurial Drive
Sourabh Khandelwal's Vision
Believes owning a brand offers control over growth, even with risks.
Challenges and Risks
Past businesses faced severe setbacks due to external factors like COVID-19 and cyclones, necessitating a switch in streams.
Recipe Authenticity
Sourabh Khandelwal's Vision
Focuses on strict adherence to traditional recipes, traveling extensively to learn from pioneers.
Challenges and Risks
Maintaining authenticity while appealing to urban audiences requires careful design and execution, with little room for innovation in core recipes.
- Founder
- Sourabh Khandelwal
- Concept
- Regional Indian street food chain
- Inspiration
- Craving for hometown dishes after moving
- Initial Dish Focus
- Dahibara Aloo Dum (63 varieties identified)
- Funding
- Rs 6 crore pre-seed from a Dubai-based investor
- Current Outlets
- 12
- Projected Revenue
- Rs 1.8 crore
- Expansion Plans
- 100 outlets by March 2026; international expansion to Nepal and Dubai
- Price Range
- Rs 39 to Rs 200