Ashirwad Dabeli

You have to head up to the 1st floor at 12th Cross Double Road 6 in Surat to find us. Ashirwad Dabeli has been our project for a while now. Being on the first floor is a bit different from having a street-level stall, but our regulars know where to find us. We spend a lot of time mashing potatoes and mixing the special masala. The smell of the peanuts roasting is something you get used to after a while. Surat is a city that loves its food, so we have a lot of competition. We just focus on our own little corner. The space is simple, with just enough room for the prep counter and a few people to stand. It gets quite warm near the griddle. We don't have a big team, just a couple of us doing everything. Sometimes we run out of buns early if it’s been a busy day on Double Road. We see a lot of office workers coming in during their breaks. It’s a bit of a climb up the stairs, but people don't seem to mind. We aren't fancy and we don't have a glossy menu. We just serve the food on paper plates and keep things moving. It’s a decent way to earn a living and we like the people we meet every day. There is always someone coming in for a quick bite before they head back to work. We keep things fresh as we can.