Daryaganj Restaurants has announced plans to open its first international location in Bangkok, Thailand, in January 2025 - a significant step in the company's global expansion strategy, ET has reported.
Amit Bagga, co-founder and CEO of Daryaganj Restaurants, shared insights into the company's upcoming ventures and the decision to extend their brand overseas.
The company had no initial plans for international expansion, but received numerous inquiries from potential partners abroad.
"We have had 150-odd queries from India and another 25 to 30 from international locations. And we [kept] saying no when it comes to international locations," Bagga said.
The partnership with Park Royal, their joint venture partner in Thailand, was forged due to a shared commitment to quality and long-term planning.
The collaboration with Park Royal is currently exclusive to Thailand, but there is potential for additional outlets within the country. Singapore is next on the list for regional expansion.
Bagga went on: “Bangkok had 22 million tourists visiting it last year - that was more than many European cities - and a large number [...] are from India, which made it an automatic choice to open a Daryaganj outlet there.”
The Bangkok restaurant will feature two menus: one offering classic dishes from their Indian locations and another incorporating local Thai ingredients.
Daryaganj is involved in an ongoing legal dispute with Moti Mahal, another prominent Indian restaurant, over the origin of two iconic recipes: Butter Chicken and Dal Makhani.
Moti Mahal has accused Daryaganj of falsely advertising itself as the inventor of the popular dishes on its official website.
With the Bangkok outlet scheduled to open in 2025, Daryaganj continues its domestic growth with 13 outlets already operational and more planned within India.
Bagga also stated that by the end of this financial year, they will be looking at southern India, highlighting the company's aim to consolidate its presence in major Indian metro cities before exploring further opportunities.
