United Telugu Kitchens hopes to shake up the Andhra food scene in Bengaluru

Lifestyle

By Fathima Ashraf

03/01/2024

“Bengaluru is a good city to start anything, not just food. Here, people are forgiving, the culture is vibrant,” says Teja Chekuri, foodpreneur with 15 brands under his name.

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With an extensive menu comprising over 300 dishes, and a fine dining space, Chekuri is positive that UTK will stand out among the Andhra brands that are prominent in the city.

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“The shrimp we use is small river shrimp. It’s rare to get here. The one from farm tastes rubbery. In this one, you can taste the meat,” Chekuri adds.

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“People here don’t have the spice tolerance the way people in Hyderabad and Vijayawada do. So, we have reduced the spice levels,” he says.

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“Most Indian restaurants hesitate to explore seafood because it’s hard to prepare and source. The shark meat here for instance will melt in your hands.”

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“Consistency is still a challenge. You need to monitor your outlets closely, keep a check on reviews and feedback. Quality control is a must,” he elaborated about challenges.

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“There is a lot of vacuum for South Indian-owned South Indian restaurants there. So we are going to tap that market gap,” Chekuri is hopeful.

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