Renders by Grey Ink Studio, supplied
A huge Indian restaurant chain is about to make its Australian debut, and Adelaide has scored the nation’s first.
Bikanervala, one of India’s most recognisable names for traditional sweets, snacks and vegetarian cuisine, is preparing to open its first Australian restaurant in Campbelltown, with doors expected to open in mid to late August.
Located at 618-620 Lower North East Road, the venue is the beginning of the brand’s Australian expansion, with Melbourne and Sydney locations expected to follow in the coming months.
Bikanervala is a family-owned business that has been serving generations of customers since 1905, when founder Shri Lal Chand Agarwal opened a small sweet shop called Bikaner Namkeen Bhandar inside Bikaner’s historic Kote Gate.
Initially selling a handful of sweets and traditional namkeen tailored to local tastes, the business flourished before expanding to Delhi in 1950. It was there that customers began referring to the store as “Bikanervala”, a nickname that eventually became one of India’s most recognised food brands.
Today, the business operates more than 150 locations across India and internationally to countries including the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Singapore, Qatar, Bahrain and the UAE.
“I’ve been in Australia for 21 years, and what we used to call it was the KFC and Burger King of India,” shared Mohit Taneja from Bikanervala Adelaide. “That’s how well-known it was. It’s where everyone used to go.”
While the brand is famous for its sweets, Adelaide diners can expect a menu that goes far beyond dessert.
Guests will be able to enjoy North Indian curries, thalis, rice, naan and salads, South Indian favourites, Indo-Chinese dishes and an extensive range of traditional Indian sweets and snacks.
“Our chefs are coming from India, and we’re bringing the same flavours to Australia that we’ve grown up with,” said Mohit. “That’s the ultimate selling point.”
Menu favourites are expected to include the iconic chole bhature, a combination of spicy chickpea curry served with fluffy fried bread.
“We know we’ll be selling around 250 a day,” he said.
The 96-seat restaurant has been designed to make an impression. Architects from India have worked alongside Australian designers to create a venue that reflects the global Bikanervala identity while keeping a local feel.
The interiors will tell the story of the brand’s 120-year journey, incorporating design elements inspired by India’s rich culinary heritage. A feature ceiling, reportedly valued at around $200,000, will become one of the restaurant’s standout design pieces, complemented by dramatic lighting throughout the dining room.
With construction entering its final stages and the kitchen almost complete, local foodies won’t have to wait much longer to experience one of India’s most celebrated restaurant brands.
If all goes to plan, the doors to Australia’s first Bikanervala will officially open in Campbelltown before winter is over.
Bikanervala
Where: 618-620 Lower North East Road, Campbelltown
When: Coming Soon
For more information, click here.
