Jodhana Namkeen

We’re over on Kutcheri Road, right where the street is usually buzzing with people. We specialize in namkeen, those savory snacks that everyone likes to munch on. The smell of frying usually drifts out the door and into the street. We’ve got big vats for frying and long tables where we mix the different spices and ingredients. It’s a very hands-on process. We make everything in small batches so it doesn't sit around for too long. My brother and I run the place with a few helpers. We grew up learning how to get the crunch just right, and that’s what we still focus on. The shop isn’t very big, so we have to be smart about how we stack the bags and containers. Customers come in all day, some for a small bag to eat right then and others for large quantities to take to a party. We try to keep a variety of options on the shelf, from spicy mixes to the more plain stuff. Sometimes we experiment with a new flavor, but mostly we stick to the classics that people ask for. It’s a loud, busy environment with the sounds of the road right outside. We’ve become a bit of a fixture on this street. We just keep our heads down, work hard, and make sure the snacks are fresh. We also sell some drinks to go with the snacks because people get thirsty after eating the spicy stuff.