Jasrotia Dhaba

Our dhaba is located in Pathankot, right near Mammon Chowk. It’s a spot that a lot of people pass when they are traveling through this part of the country. Being near the chowk means it is never really quiet. There are always horns honking and people moving around. We’ve got Jasrotia Dhaba set up to be a practical place for anyone who is hungry and needs a seat. The benches are old but they do the job. We get a lot of truckers who are tired from driving and just want a hot cup of tea or a simple meal. We start the fire early in the morning, often before the sun is even up properly. The air in Pathankot can be quite chilly in the winters, so the heat from the kitchen feels good. We don’t have a big menu or anything complicated. It’s just the same things we’ve been making for a long time. My uncle and I handle the front while a couple of boys help with the cleaning and the dishes. We see a lot of different faces, some staying for an hour and others just grabbing something to go. The floor is concrete and we have to sweep it out multiple times a day because of the mud people bring in from the road. It is hard work and the hours are long, but this is what we do. We just keep the tea brewing and the food ready for whoever stops by.