Shankar Pakoda House

Our little shop is at No:2, right behind the HDFC bank in Khargate. People in Bhavnagar usually find us because we are opposite PL Thakkar. It’s a small space, but we manage to get a lot done. We spend most of our time over the hot oil, making pakodas. It gets pretty warm in here, especially in the summer, but that’s the job. The 364001 area has a lot of little shops, and we’re just one of them. We don’t have a seating area that’s very big, so most people just stand around or take their food to go. We keep the counter clean as much as we can, but with flour and oil everywhere, it’s a constant battle. We use simple ingredients and don't try to do anything too complicated. If the pakodas are crispy and hot, we’re happy. We see a lot of people coming from the bank or the nearby shops during their breaks. It’s a local routine. We open up, get the oil heated, and start frying. There’s no marketing or big signs, just the smell of the food that lets people know we’re open. It's been our way of life for a long time now in Khargate. We’re just regular people making snacks for our neighbors. Some days are long, but seeing the same faces every afternoon makes it worthwhile. We just keep the batter ready and the stove going until the sun goes down.