Kebab, biryani prices up 40%: LPGwoes burn a hole in diners’ pockets

Lucknow: The city's famous kebabs and biryanis are paying the price of the LPG crisis. With eateries in the Old City forced to return to traditional cooking methods such as coal, wood and diesel furnaces, the prices of famous food delicacies such as kebabs and biryanis have increased by 30-40%, much to the dismay of food connoisseurs.Owners, particularly in the old city, said irregular LPG availability has pushed them to switch to alternative fuels such as coal, firewood and diesel furnaces. They said these options are not only less efficient but also increase operational costs, leaving them with little choice but to raise menu prices. Faraz Ahmad, owner of a popular eatery, said prices of items such as kebabs and parathas were revised due to the higher cost of coal and additional labour required for traditional cooking methods."We have increased our rates by nearly 30%. We did not want to do this, but the rising fuel cost left us with no option. Coal is turning out to be more expensive than LPG and also needs skilled workers to manage the cooking," he said. Sonu Gupta, owner of a sweet shop in the old city, said his establishment is currently relying on diesel furnaces and firewood to continue production."We are managing operations on diesel furnaces and wood, which has increased the cost of items. Even firewood prices have increased by nearly 30% in a week. I bought around 300 kg of wood for Rs 4,500 last week, but now the same quantity costs between Rs 5,500 and Rs 6,000, which is about 20% higher than LPG," he said.Several small vendors and mid-sized restaurant operators said they are struggling to stay viable amid rising expenses. Some claimed they have been forced to arrange LPG cylinders through the black market at higher prices to keep their kitchens running. Food business operators warned that a prolonged shortage could affect not only business sustainability but also employment linked to the food sector. Customers said the price rise has begun to affect their daily budgets, especially for commonly consumed items such as tea, snacks and thalis. The LPG shortage has also triggered a rise in demand for traditional cooking equipment such as coal-fired tandoors and mud stoves (bhattis), as both eateries and households look for alternatives.In Mawwaiya, Vipin Tandoor Bhandaar has seen monthly sales jump from around 10 units to nearly 100. Most buyers are restaurant operators and street vendors, though some households are also purchasing them as backup options. Priced between Rs 1,000 and Rs 3,000, these traditional units are emerging as practical short-term solutions despite the higher fuel costs. Vendors said most buyers are prioritising uninterrupted kitchen operations over the additional expense.Vipin Kumar Prajapati, owner of the shop, said, "Earlier, we sold hardly 10 tandoors a month. Now sales have reached around 100 units."