M. K. Foods

M. K. Foods is situated at 117 Rajagolpalan Street in the Keshavardhini area of Valasarvakkam. It’s a residential-style street, so it’s not as crazy as the main roads. We do all our work from here. The kitchen is usually the busiest part of the whole building. You can usually smell what we are making from a few houses away. We focus on getting things cooked and packed. We aren't a restaurant where you sit down and eat. It’s more of a production spot. We have people coming in early to start the stoves and get the ingredients ready. Valasarvakkam has changed a lot over the years, but we’ve stayed right here on Rajagolpalan Street. Most of us have been working in food for a long time. It’s not an easy job because you are on your feet all day in the heat. But we like it. We don't have any fancy machines; it's mostly just hands and regular pots. We keep it simple because that’s what we know. Sometimes we run out of things and have to rush to the market. That's just how it goes. We don't do much in terms of marketing. The food mostly speaks for itself. If the neighbors are happy, then we are doing okay. It’s just a small local food business trying to keep up with the orders and making sure the supplies don't run out before the end of the week.