The Bhukkad Café — Hidden-Gem Indian Street-Food Café and Casual Restaurant in Dubai and Sharjah

FORECAST — REALLY HUNGRY CUSTOMERS✱TEMPERATURE — SERVING HOT✱ISSUE 6 · VOL 2026✱NOW FRANCHISING GLOBALLY✱SINCE 2018 — DUBAI✱7 OUTLETS · UAE✱FORECAST — REALLY HUNGRY CUSTOMERS✱TEMPERATURE — SERVING HOT✱ISSUE 6 · VOL 2026✱NOW FRANCHISING GLOBALLY✱SINCE 2018 — DUBAI✱7 OUTLETS · UAE✱
Freewith every cutting chai

The Bhukkad Times

Diwalispecial edition inside
The most viral Indian street-food brand in the UAEIssue №6 · Vol. 2026
ExclusiveCover story · from Karama, 2018

Seven outlets later. Same chutney arguments.

Born on chai, frankies and pav. A menu the city quotes back to us.

The Bhukkad Café, Mumbai brand collage
Picture:Mumbai as we remember it. Paper-cut collage, The Bhukkad Café.

We don’t serve Indian food. We serve a feeling: the vada pav outside the college gate, the cutting chai at the station, the pani puri wala who knew exactly how spicy you liked it.

It started in one small café in Karama in 2018. Today there are five Bhukkad cafés trading across Dubai and Sharjah, and the chutney arguments have only got louder.

★ Stay Hungry, Stay Bhukkad ★Continued on Page 3 →

Our Story

Page 3
Chapter OneDubai · Since 2018

Two young entrepreneurs. One deep, irrational love for Indian street food. A few thousand burnt fingers from kettles full of cutting chai.

The Bhukkad Café screams of nostalgia on every page of the menu — inspired from the busy, chaotic, beautiful streets of India. Ambassador taxis, kulhads of chai, Mumbai’s CST, the BEST bus.

bhukkad · भुक्कड़ · adj.

Someone craving or consuming large quantities of food. A title earned, not given.

Taj Mahal

Our Journey

Page 4
Six years in

From a single Karama café to seven outlets across the UAE — a journey written one vada pav, one BEST-bus ticket at a time. Tap any ticket to flip it.

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KARAMA
— the original —
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करामा↑
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परिवहन
उपक्रम
★ The Bhukkad Café · Outlet № ०१ ★
2018
Karama
— the original —
"Where it all began. Two friends, one Kuwait-Street kitchen in old Karama, and the vada pav that started everything."
DUBAI · UAEView on Google ↗
PUNCHED२०१८
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देरा↑
बृहन्मुंबई विद्युत
निगम
परिवहन
उपक्रम
★ The Bhukkad Café · Outlet № ०२ ★
2022
City Centre Deira
— first franchise —
"Our first café in a mainstream mall. The brand goes mainstream. The chutney, thankfully, does not change."
DUBAI · UAEView on Google ↗
PUNCHED२०२२
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SILICON CENTRAL
— the community one —
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सिलिकॉन↑
बृहन्मुंबई विद्युत
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परिवहन
उपक्रम
★ The Bhukkad Café · Outlet № ०३ ★
2022
Silicon Central
— the community one —
"The quirkiest café in a community mall. Long evenings, slow chai, and infinite refills for the regulars."
DUBAI · UAEView on Google ↗
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AL ZAHIA
— Sharjah arrives —
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बृहन्मुंबई विद्युत
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★ The Bhukkad Café · Outlet № ०४ ★
2023
Al Zahia
— Sharjah arrives —
"Bhukkad crosses the border into Sharjah — the first cup of cutting chai north of Dubai."
SHARJAH · UAEView on Google ↗
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FESTIVAL PLAZA
— shisha & paan —
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फेस्टिवल↑
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परिवहन
उपक्रम
★ The Bhukkad Café · Outlet № ०५ ★
2023
Festival Plaza
— shisha & paan —
"Our first shisha café. Late nights, paan, and the slowest playlist in town. Built for unhurried bhukkads."
DUBAI · UAEView on Google ↗
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BITS PILANI
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★ The Bhukkad Café · Outlet № ०६ ★
2023
BITS Pilani
— full circle —
"Operating our alma mater's canteen — as alumni. The bhukkad cycle, complete with extra chutney on the side."
DUBAI CAMPUSBhukkad ★
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AL SEEF EXPRESS
— the flagship —
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★ The Bhukkad Café · Outlet № ०७ ★
2024
Al Seef Express
— the flagship —
"Express format. Right by the creek. Our biggest yet, and somehow the quickest line you'll stand in."
DUBAI · UAEView on Google ↗
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1 / 7Swipe →

Two serial entrepreneurs.

Page 5
From the Founders

Reshmi Mukherjee & Parth Kapur — Co-Founder & CEO — opened the first Bhukkad in Karama in 2018. Two serial entrepreneurs who’d eaten their way through every gali in Bombay before they ever wrote a business plan.

“Franchising globally, one vada pav at a time.”Reshmi
“Stay Hungry, Stay Bhukkad.”Parth
Humayun's Tomb with flowers

From the Streets of Calcutta

Page 7
Section — Chaat

Puchka, papdi chaat, kathi rolls — Bengal’s contribution to your hunger, served on banana leaf with a side of mustard oil.

Victoria Memorial & Calcutta taxi
Cutting chai at the café
Come hang out · Festival Plaza & Al Seef

Pull up a stool.
Get high on chai.

Open mic nights, cutting chai, and the best vada pav this side of Bombay.

Business news

Page 10
WantedNow franchising globally

Bhukkad operators wanted in your city

The café that began in Karama in 2018 is looking for partners to open the next Bhukkad. Seven outlets have opened since 2018 and five are trading today across Dubai and Sharjah.

Partners can choose a kiosk, an express café or a full-service café. Every format has already been run in a real Bhukkad outlet, so the one you open has been tried before you sign.

“A unique brand that brings nostalgia.”The Franchise Talk

The brand handles site selection, fit-out and store design, staff training, supply chain and marketing. Partners get the menu, the visual identity and the recipes: a simple menu with costed recipes, a central supplier framework, and support through opening day and beyond. Enquiries are open for the UAE, the wider GCC, India, the UK, the USA, Canada and Australia.

Continued: the enquiry form →Request the Franchise Deck
The Bhukkad Café entrance at Al Seef, Dubai
Picture:Our café at Al Seef, on the Dubai Creek.
Gateway of India & Mumbai kaali-peeli taxi
Picture:Where the next Bhukkad begins. Gateway of India, Mumbai.

By the numbers

8yrsBrand ageFrom one Karama café to seven outlets
1.1–1.6M AEDIndicative investment*1,000 sq ft Dubai café, 2026 costs
3formatsOutlet formatsKiosk · Express · Full-service café
110K AEDFranchise feeSingle unit
3moSetup to launch*Typical, after site handover
1 / 5Swipe →

* Indicative figures only. Investment and setup timelines vary by location, format, lease terms, market conditions, operating costs and other factors outside our control. These numbers are not a forecast, projection, guarantee or promise of any particular result or return.

★ Form BC-2018 · Franchise Enquiry ★

Are you ready
to join us?

Fill the form. We'll take it from there. The meter is just for fun — and the light? It's already green.

Mumbai traffic signal — the light is green
★ Green means go ★
25.00AED★ BHUKKAD ★FOR HIRE
✉ franchise@thebhukkadcafe.com◷ Book a Call★ Approved · 2026 ★

FORM № BC-2018 · BHUKKAD FRANCHISE ENQUIRY

Mind, belly, and stars.

Page 11
The Funny Pages

Tabloid traditions for the digital age — a sudoku you can win on a chai break, a four-panel comic, and a horoscope only a hungry person could write.

★ Number Pickle №07 ★

The Bhukkad Sudoku

Set by Auntyji · easy · 4×4
1
3
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1
1
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ERASE
Tap a square. Tap a number.
★ Each row, column & 2×2 block contains 1 · 2 · 3 · 4.
Solve it on your chai break.
★ Bhukkad & Co. ★

The Chutney Question.

A four-panel by Pranav
01
★ BHUKKAD CAFÉ ★
Bhaiya — one vada pav?
Tuesday · 1:42 PM · Karama
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GREENREDSWEET
Three chutneys, sir. Green, red, or sweet?
The eternal question.
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…pick one? How does one pick ONE?
A man at a crossroads.
04
ALL THREE!ALL THREE!— Customer, every Tuesday.
FIN · Continued next week.
Next week: "The kulhad incident." · Send jokes to hello@thebhukkadcafe.com
★ Bhukkad-Rashi ★

What the stars are eating.

As channelled by Pandit Pranav
♈
Mesh · Aries
Mar 21 – Apr 19

A spicy week. You will start a chutney argument and finish it.

Order: Vada Pav
♉
Vrishabha · Taurus
Apr 20 – May 20

Mercury says: order the thali. Mercury is usually right.

Order: Big Bhukkad Thali
♊
Mithun · Gemini
May 21 – Jun 20

Indecisive Monday. Ask for samplers — six pani-puri flavours.

Order: Rangeela Pani Puri
♋
Karka · Cancer
Jun 21 – Jul 22

Childhood is calling. Pick up. Bring buttered Maggi.

Order: Butter Paneer Maggi
♌
Simha · Leo
Jul 23 – Aug 22

You will photograph your food and not regret it. Filter: warm.

Order: Pizza On A Puri
♍
Kanya · Virgo
Aug 23 – Sep 22

Allergens chart memorised. Staff impressed. Universe pleased.

Order: Bhurji Pav
♎
Tula · Libra
Sep 23 – Oct 22

Balance: one veg, one non-veg, one cutting chai. Repeat.

Order: Cutting Chai · ×2
♏
Vrishchika · Scorpio
Oct 23 – Nov 21

Order something so spicy the waiter sweats. Tip well after.

Order: Schezwan Cheese Pav
♐
Dhanu · Sagittarius
Nov 22 – Dec 21

A trip to Al Seef is written. Take the table by the creek.

Order: Frankie Roll
♑
Makara · Capricorn
Dec 22 – Jan 19

Skip lunch. The dal-makhni shots are why you exist.

Order: Dal Makhni Shots
♒
Kumbha · Aquarius
Jan 20 – Feb 18

You will invent a new chutney. The kitchen will name it.

Order: Off-menu Special
♓
Meena · Pisces
Feb 19 – Mar 20

Soft week. Order the bun maska. Drink chai by the litre.

Order: Bun Maska Chai
★ Bhukkad-rashi runs every Friday.
Chutney choices may vary by Bombay-monsoon levels.
1 / 3Swipe →

Classifieds

Page 12

Five Bhukkad cafés across Dubai and Sharjah, open daily. Bring an appetite.

Situations vacant

Bhukkad operators wanted, UAE and worldwide. Kiosk, express or full-service café. franchise@thebhukkadcafe.com

Al Seef

The Bhukkad Cafe - Al Seef Unit P2-15-02, Marsa Al Seef Phase 2, Al Hamriya, Dubai. +971 4 572 9377

Silicon Central

The Bhukkad Café — Silicon Central, Dubai Silicon Oasis Shop C-120, 1st Floor, Silicon Central Mall, Dubai Silicon Oasis, Dubai. +971 4 570 9139

City Centre Deira

The Bhukkad Café — City Centre Deira Shop B024-B024S, 2nd Floor, City Centre Deira, Port Saeed, Dubai. +971 4 263 1034

Dubai Festival Plaza

The Bhukkad Cafe - Dubai Festival Plaza Ground Floor, near Entertainment Car Park, Dubai Festival Plaza, Jebel Ali Village, Dubai. Shisha lounge. +971 4 546 0411

City Centre Al Zahia

The Bhukkad Café — City Centre Al Zahia, Sharjah Shop B069, Level 3, City Centre Al Zahia, Muwaileh Commercial, Sharjah. +971 6 566 2706

Public notice

The Diwali Menu is available at all cafés until 30 November. Ask for Diya Hour, 6 pm to 7 pm.

Catering

Street food for your party, office or puja. Packages from AED 59 per person. hungry@thebhukkadcafe.com