Bikanervala Restaurant to Open in Fremont
Bikanervala, an Indian restaurant chain based in San Jose, is set to open its first location in Fremont. The expansion adds a new dining option for residents in the area.
- The new restaurant is part of a global chain with a history dating back to 1905, when it began as a single sweet shop called Bikaner Namkeen Bhandar in Bikaner, India. The family-run business expanded to Delhi in the 1950s, where it gained the name "Bikanervala," and now has over 60 outlets in India and a presence in countries like the UAE, Canada, and Singapore. - The restaurant's menu is entirely vegetarian, specializing in North Indian cuisine, traditional sweets (mithai), and savory snacks (namkeen). Popular dishes include chaat, samosas, and thali platters, and the company also sells packaged snacks under the brand name "Bikano". - The choice of Fremont for expansion aligns with the city's demographics; according to 2020 census data, 63.7% of Fremont's population is Asian, and other estimates report the Indian population to be as high as 29.3%. Recent estimates show Fremont having the second-largest Indian population of any city in California, with 69,258 residents of Indian descent. - The Fremont establishment, located at 3860 Mowry Ave, is one of several Bikanervala locations in the United States. The company's U.S. expansion is being led through franchising, with other restaurants already operating in New Jersey, Kansas, and Texas. - Bikanervala's growth into an international brand is significant for a company that started as a small family sweet shop, now operating more than 195 restaurant outlets across the globe.
