Nirula's facts for kids
 |
|
| Private | |
| Industry | Quick serve restaurants |
| Founded | 1934 |
| Founder | Lakshmi Chand Nirula Madan Gopal Nirula |
| Headquarters | , |
|
Number of locations
|
77 (Sep 2022)
|
|
Area served
|
North India (focus: NCR Delhi) |
|
Key people
|
Deepak Nirula |
| Products | Fast food, Indian cuisine, ice cream, pastry |
Nirula's is famous for being India's oldest fast-food chain. It opened the very first fast-food restaurant in Delhi back in 1977, located in a popular area called Connaught Place.
Today, Nirula's has more than 70 restaurants across states like Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, and Uttar Pradesh. The chain is known for selling its own Indian-style, or "Desi", versions of Western fast foods. Besides its main restaurants, Nirula's also has other businesses. These include "Potpourri" restaurants which serve Indian cuisine, "Nirula's 21" ice cream shops, pastry shops, and even two hotels.
Contents
The Story of Nirula's
How It All Began
The journey of Nirula's started long before its first fast-food outlet. In 1934, two brothers, Lakshmi Chand Nirula and Madan Gopal Nirula, opened "Hotel India" in Connaught Place, New Delhi. It was a small hotel with 12 rooms, a restaurant, and a bar.
In 1940, they opened the Indian Coffee Shop. It was a huge hit because it was one of the first places to sell espresso coffee in the city. The brothers also launched other unique restaurants, including one of Delhi's first Chinese restaurants, the 'Chinese Room', which is still open today.
The First Fast-Food Restaurant
The 1970s was a big decade for Nirula's. In 1977, they opened Delhi's first-ever fast food restaurant. It quickly grew to include a pastry shop, a snack bar, and an ice cream parlor that offered 21 different flavors.
Nirula's became a landmark in Delhi. It was the go-to place for young people who wanted to try Western-style foods like burgers, pizzas, and submarine sandwiches. For many years, before big international chains arrived, Nirula's was the most popular spot for fast food.
Facing Competition
In the 1990s, international chains like McDonald's came to India. This created a lot of competition for Nirula's. To keep its customers, Nirula's adjusted its prices and gave its restaurants a fresh new look.
In response to Nirula's popularity, even McDonald's had to change its menu to better suit Indian tastes. By the year 2000, Nirula's still held a large part of the fast-food market in Delhi.
Trying New Things
To grow their business, the Nirula's group also opened hotels in Noida and Panipat. They also set up food processing plants near Delhi to prepare their ingredients.
For a while, Nirula's was also the first Western-style fast-food restaurant in Kathmandu, Nepal. They had two outlets there, and their pizzas and ice cream were very popular. However, as more fast-food places opened in Kathmandu, Nirula's eventually closed its stores in Nepal.
New Owners and Big Changes
In 2006, a company called Navis Capital Partners bought Nirula's. This meant the restaurant chain had new owners. In 2012, the chain was sold again to another company, A2Z Excursions Pvt. Ltd.
Under the new ownership, Nirula's made some exciting changes. In 2007, it opened India's first ice cream museum at its factory in Noida. The company also launched new types of stores, like "Nirula's Express" for quick takeaways and small ice cream stands. The first Express outlet opened at the Delhi Airport.
Today, the chain continues to operate across North India, with restaurants in many cities including Delhi, Gurugram, Lucknow, and Patna.
What's on the Menu?
Nirula's is famous for some classic and much-loved food items. Some of the most popular ones include:
- Hot Chocolate Fudge sundae
- 21 Love ice cream
- Banana split
- Lime Ice (an ice cream soda)
- Chilli Chicken Pizza
- Mutton Sausage Pizza
- Chicken Curry with Naan
- Cakes and pastries
Types of Nirula's Restaurants
You can find Nirula's in a few different formats:
- Nirula's Family Restaurants: These are quick-service restaurants where you can eat in, take away, or order for home delivery.
- Nirula's Express: Smaller outlets, often in places like airports, that are for take away only.
- Potpourri: A restaurant chain with waiters, serving a variety of cuisines.
- Nirula's 21: Shops that specialize in selling their famous ice creams.
