Kolkata’s contribution to the country’s culinary landscape is notable. You can find jhalmuri vendors in hipster London, or phuchkas in high-end restaurants in the US and a plethora of Bengali restaurants in any major city across India. And, one of its greatest contributions is the unique Kolkata-style Tangra cuisine. The Chinese immigrant community of Kolkata has created a cult-like status among diners and served as an inspiration to many. One such company, that has taken inspiration from Tangra cuisine and has been delighting its customers for the past 17 years, is Mr Chow’s.
In a city like Mumbai, where there’s an abundance of Chinese restaurants and take-aways — not to mention street vendors tossing plate after plate of noodles and rice masquerading as a Chinese dish — it’s amazing how this delivery kitchen has created a niche for itself. Diners across the city have their favourite neighbourhood Chinese restaurants that they frequent but when it comes to ordering in — it is almost always Mr Chow’s.
In 2007, best friends Rahul Velkar and Sandeep Talaulicar identified a gap in the market. At the time, Chinese food was available either at high-end, expensive restaurants, mostly in five-star hotels, or at smaller eateries. A clear divide prompted them to bridge the gap by offering a premium-quality Chinese menu at non-premium prices. Chinese food is all about comfort dining and what could be better than dining in the comfort of your own home? Hence they operate solely as a delivery service. With their head chef Kenneth, Mr Chow’s menu features some iconic Tangra-style dishes like Kolkata Chilli Chicken, Sweet and Sour Pork, Chowmein, Fried Wontons, and lots more.
Best friends Rahul Velkar and Sandeep Talaulicar started Mr. Chow’s in 2007
“Kolkata is known for its community of Chinese immigrants, and we wanted to replicate that flavour,” says Rahul Velkar. “We sculpted a menu where every dish not only delivers on taste but also travels well for home delivery — without the extravagant cost. We were amazed at Kenneth’s style of cooking with subtle as well as bold flavours,” he adds.
Mr Chow’s has come a long way since its inception in 2007, and in nearly two decades, it has now multiple outlets across Mumbai, Thane, Pune and Nagpur. Such is its popularity with Mumbaikars that, despite being a delivery kitchen, Mr Chow’s has tied up with some of South Mumbai’s prestigious private clubs like the The Willingdon Sports Club and Cricket Club of India (CCI) as their exclusive Chinese cuisine caterer, serving their food in a restaurant format.
Despite an elaborate menu, including a healthy section with lighter meals for the calorie-conscious, some dishes stand out as classic favourites. Dishes like Gin Chicken, American Chopsuey, Kolkata Chilli Chicken, Lotus Root Honey Chilli and Chow Chu Prawn are all-time favourites, and the majority of orders will feature one or more of these. When we ask Rahul for his personal favourites from the menu, he promptly replies, “The classic old-school Chinese American Chopsuey which is on the sweeter side, balances out really well with the Kolkata Chilli chicken, which has a punch of spice.”
We ask Rahul what the secret sauce is behind Mr Chow’s success and he modestly credits “the incredible team behind the brand, who have remained dedicated and loyal throughout our journey” — a tough feat to manage while running a hospitality brand, which usually has a high churn rate in staff. “Equally important is our wonderfully supportive and encouraging customer base, who have shown us immense kindness, even during times when we might fall short. The key to creating great food is passion — there are no shortcuts when it comes to quality, whether in ingredients or preparation methods,” says Rahul. With a brand that has been so inspired by Kolkata Chinese cuisine, one can’t help but wonder if Mr Chow’s will make its Kolkata debut. He laughs and says, “Not at the moment but hopefully in a few years”.
At its core, the philosophy behind Mr Chow’s is simple. Rahul and Sandeep aim to go beyond a purely transactional relationship with their customers, focusing on consistency and quality in every order. This philosophy has ensured that the brand has seeped its way into most people’s regular ordering routine and we realise just how much while wolfing down their delicious Gin Chicken (possibly the best in the city currently) and a plate of their iconic Kolkata Style Chilli Chicken.
