TUNDEY KABABI

People know the name Tundey Kababi around Lucknow, so we don't have to say much about what we do. We are over here on Aashiyana Road, right at the K 714 spot near the Chauraha. Most mornings start early with the meat coming in and the guys getting the spices ready. It’s a lot of work that people don't see from the outside. The kitchen gets really hot by noon, especially in the summers when the Lucknow sun is hitting the roof. We just focus on keeping the tandoor going and making sure the kababs are soft like they are supposed to be. Sometimes the crowd gets a bit much and people have to wait on the pavement, but that’s just how it is here. My father used to say that if the food is right, people won't mind the noise or the lack of fancy chairs. We’ve been at this Aashiyana location for a while now. It isn't a huge place, just enough room to get the plates out. The traffic outside at the chauraha never really stops, so there is always this background noise of horns and people talking. We don't spend money on big signs or ads because the smell of the smoke usually does the job of bringing people in. We just want to get through the day, serve everyone who walks in, and head home to our families after cleaning up the grease.