Indian food tickling Chinese taste buds

The surge in popularity challenges long-held stereotypes across the world about the lack of cleanliness and hygiene associated with Indian street food.

"The environment is clean, and the staff members are attentive. I highly recommend that everyone come and try it out," said @itwasyou, a customer of Ganges Gourmet Indian Restaurant in Beijing, on Dianping, China's leading app that provides information on restaurants and entertainment. The customer said he had been planning to try Indian food for a long time, and he finally did.

More than 40 Indian restaurants are currently operating in Shanghai, and 19 in Beijing. This marks a significant increase from a decade ago, when there were only five Indian restaurants in Shanghai and six in Beijing, according to research conducted on Dianping.

Although Indian restaurants in China are fewer in number compared with their Japanese, South Korean and Thai counterparts, their growth rate has been phenomenal, increasing sevenfold between 2014 and 2018, according to a report on market trends for Asian food.

Some Indian restaurants have established chains, like Shanghai's Kebabs on the Grille, which has five restaurants across the city. The restaurant scene has also become increasingly diverse, with restaurants such as the Taj Pavilion and budget-friendly buffet restaurants like the Ganges Gourmet Indian Restaurant in Beijing making their mark.